(1) In Maarkandeya Puraan there is one Drone living in the Vindhyas, whose sons were proficient in Ved. Though this Drone is called a bird, but that cannot be a problem, because the bird might be the symbol used by them. If this Drone's sons are proficient in Ved, it is expected that someone of their race might edit the Ved. Now, this Drone also knew all about MBH - Maarkandeya says- 'O Muni ! Presently I am engaged in evening worship. Hence I do not have time to narrate these things in detail. But I am telling you about the birds which will narrate you the entire content of MBH. Those birds will also remove all your doubts. Sons of the great bird Drone- Pingaaksh, Vibodh, Suputra, Sumuk etc stay in the caves among the hills of Vindhyaachal. They are proficient in Ved. Go and ask them, they will remove all your doubts.'

The confusion of this Drone's identity may have arisen due to MBH link. But surprisingly he has no son named as Ashwatthaamaa.

(2) But even in the MBH we have another Drone - Mandapaal's son (Aadi Parv, SECTION CCXXXV - Khaandav-daha Parv continued)

"Vaishampaayan said, 'O thou of Kuru's race, the Rishi Mandapaal became very anxious about his children, although he had spoken of them to the god of fierce rays. Indeed, his mind was not in peace. Distressed on account of his sons, he addressed Lapitaa (his second wife with whom he then was), saying, 'O Lapitaa, as my children are incapable of the power of moving, how are they? When the fire will grow in strength and the wind begin to blow violently, my children will scarcely be able to save themselves. How will their mother be able to rescue them? That innocent woman will be afflicted with great sorrow when she will find herself unable to save her offspring. Oh, how will she compose herself, uttering various lamentations on account of my children who are all incapable of taking wing or rising up into the air. Oh, how is Jaritari, my son, and how is Sarisrikka, and how is Stambhmitra, and how is Drone, and how also is their helpless mother?"

But again this Drone's son is not given, because it was so young that he could not even fly properly - so this Drone might have or might not have a son in future; and even if he had a son in future, then his name might be or might not be Ashwatthaamaa.

My Note About Point 2
If it is noticed, one finds only the name of Drone at both the places in Maarkandeya Puraan and in MBH. In Maarkandeya Puraan, none of these Drone's children is named as Ashwatthaamaa; in MBH also one cannot know even that Drone had any son too. Thus at both the places Ashwatthaamaa name does not appear.

Besides, it is impossible to happen that a very unknown person's son, whose name is not given at both the places, can be the Ved Vyaas of the next Manvantar. It is just making an argument, only for arguments sake, not taking things seriously.

A Parable About Ashwatthaamaa

As everybody knows that Ashwatthaamaa is immortal, people have witnessed him in this Kali Yug also. But there are some other stories going around about him. After Mahaabhaarat war although Krishn did leave him alive to suffer, still he felt threatened from Arjun, so he took the western route to far places, crossing even the today's Paakistaan, Eeraan and entered Saudee Arabia. He stayed in the desert where no human could be alive. He chose a place where there was nothing to eat.

But since he was a Shiv devotee, he needed water for the Abhishek of Shiv Ling. So he shot an arrow on the ground so hard that there appeared a water stream but not so much so that it should be visible. He prayed to Lord Shiv for help (Mukti), but he could not help as Lord Vishnu (Krishn) had already cursed him to live, although not to live happily, which means that he will have to suffer all kinds of illnesses and pains and loneliness.

With time, civilization grew and more people started to come there. The bright stone (Shiv Ling) emitted a powerful light. If a person gets the feel of that light will get blessed. Today it is covered with black cloth. People call it Makkaa. Legend says, that if a Braahman (Braahman by birth and Braahman by actions) brings the Gangaa water to that place and pours it on that Shiv Ling, some strange thing will happen. This "some thing" is described differently by different sects, some say that all Muslims will die, some say that all non-Hindu will die, some say that that area will be submerged in the sea, etc etc.

Now the situations is, that as you enter Makkaa, NO WATER is allowed to be brought in, cow's meat is touched on your tongue - means things which are written not to be done by a Braahman. So that if any Braahman tries to do this, it is averted, more over, those who possess the knowledge say that others are just waiting for Gangaa to vanish from the earth. We all know that the water level of Gangaa is going down every year.

Have you noticed how the Muslims take round of the Shiv Ling as we Hindu do in our Shiv temples. In a way they pray Lord Shiv, but in more of a Taantrik fashion.