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She felt a nudge behind her and reached up to stroke Whinney’s sturdy neck, grateful that her friend had reminded her that she was not alone When she lived in the valley, after she left the Clan, for a long time the horse had been her only companion She hadn’t noticed the slack in Whinney’s rope as the horse ave Racer a bitusually found friendship and comfort in each other, but when the mare came into season it had disturbed their usual pattern

More people—how could there be soearnestly with the brown-haired man, then he waved at her, and s woman, the brown-haired man, and a few others Ayla took a deep breath and waited

As they approached, the wolf’s growl became louder She reached down to keep hiht, Wolf It’s just Jondalar’s kin,” she said Her cal, not to appear too threatening The signal had been difficult to teach hiht She wished she knew of a touch that would calm her

The group with Jondalar stopped a little distance back, trying not to show their trepidation, or to stare at the animals that openly stared at thee people approached them Jondalar stepped into the breach

“I think we should start with for at the brown-haired man

As Ayla dropped both halter, ropes in preparation for a formal introduction, which required contact with both hands, the horses stepped back, but the wolf stayed She noticed the glint of fear in the h she doubted that thisif he had a reason for wanting formal introductions immediately She looked closely at the unfamiliar man and was suddenly rereith Powerful, proud, intelligent, competent, he had feared little—except the world of the spirits

“Ayla, this is Joharran, Leader of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii, son of Marthona, former Leader of the Ninth Cave, born to the hearth of Joconan, former Leader of the Ninth Cave,” the tall blond rinned, “not to mention Brother of Jondalar, Traveler to Distant Lands”

There were a few quick smiles His comment relieved the tension soive the entire list of their nanations, titles, and acco with their titles and accomplishments—and some did But as a matter of practice, except in the most ceremonial of circumstances, just the primary ones werepeople, especially brothers, toand sometimes tedious recitation of one’s kinships, and Jondalar was re him of past years, before he was burdened with the responsibilities of leadership

“Joharran, this is Ayla of the Mahter of the Mammoth Hearth, Chosen by the Spirit of the Cave Lion, and Protected by the Cave Bear”

The brown-hairedwoesture of welconize any of her ties, and he wasn’t entirely sure which were most important

“In the name of Doni, the Great Earth Mother, I welcohter of the Mammoth Hearth,” he said

Ayla took both his hands “In the nareet you, Joharran, Leader of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii,” then she smiled, “and Brother of the Traveler, Jondalar”

Joharran noticed, first, that she spoke his language well, but with an unusual accent, then he becan look, but when she smiled, he s of Jondalar’s remark and let Joharran know that his brother was important to her, but mostly because he could not resist her smile

Ayla was an attractive woman by anyone’s standards: she was tall, had a fir dark blond hair that tended to wave, clear blue-gray eyes, and fine features, though of a slightly different character from those of Zelandonii women But when she smiled, it was as if the sun had cast a special bealoith such stunning beauty, Joharran caught his breath Jondalar had always said her s that his brother was not immune to it

Then Joharran noticed the stallion prance nervously toward Jondalar, and he eyed the wolf “Jondalar tells me we need to make some … ah … accommodation for these aniht

“The horses just need a field with grass, near water, but we need to tell people that they shouldn’t try to get close to the unless Jondalar or I am with theet used to them,” Ayla said

“I don’t think that will be a proble theher “They can stay here, if this small valley is appropriate”

“This will be fine,” Jondalar said “Though we may move them upstream, out of the way a little”

“Wolf is accusto near me,” Ayla continued She noticed Joharran’s frown “He’s becoht cause a commotion if he can’t be close by”

She could see his resemblance to Jondalar, particularly in his forehead knotted orry, and wanted to smile But Joharran was seriously concerned This was not a ti of warm familiarity

Jondalar, too, had seen his brother’s worried frown “I think this would be a good time to introduce Joharran to Wolf,” he said

Joharran’s eyes flew open in near panic, but before he could object, she reached for his hand as she bent down beside the e wolf’s neck to settle an incipient growl—even she could smell the man’s fear; she was sure Wolf could