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Jondalar turned to look, and noticed movement that he interpreted as lions now that he knehat to look for He reached for his weapons as well “You should stay here with Jonayla I’ll go”

Ayla glanced down at her sleeping baby, then looked up at hiood with the spear-thrower, Jondalar, but there are at least two cubs and three grown lions, probably er and decide to attack, you’ll need help, someone to back you up, and you know I’m better than anyone, except you”

His brow furrowed again as he paused to think, looking at her Then he nodded “All right … but stay behind lanced back “What about the horses?”

“They know lions are near Look at them,” Ayla said

Jondalar looked All three horses, including the new young filly, were staring ahead, obviously aware of the huge felines Jondalar frowned again “Will they be all right? Especially little Gray?”

“They know to stay out of the way of those lions, but I don’t see Wolf,” Ayla said “I’d better whistle for him”

“You don’t have to,” Jondalar said, pointing in a different direction “He ”

Ayla turned and saolf racing toward her The canine was a ht with other wolves that left hiave hinal that she used when they hunted together He knew it meant to stay near and pay close attention to her They ducked around people as they hurried toward the front, trying not to cause any undo commotion, and to remain as inconspicuous as possible

“I’lad you’re here,” Joharran said softly when he saw his brother and Ayla with the wolf quietly appear with their spear-throwers in hand

“Do you kno many there are?” Ayla asked

“More than I thought,” Thefona said, trying to seem calht there were rass, and now I think therepride”

“And they are feeling confident,” Joharran said

“How do you know that?” Thefona asked

“They’re ignoring us”

Jondalar knew his e felines “Ayla knows cave lions,” he said, “Perhaps we should ask her what she thinks” Joharran nodded in her direction, asking the question silently

“Joharran is right They knoe’re here And they kno many they are and how many we are,” Ayla said, then added, “theylike a herd of horses or aurochs and think they le out a weak one I think they are new to this region”

“What makes you think so?” Joharran said He was always surprised at Ayla’s wealth of knowledge of four-legged hunters, but for some reason it was also at times like this that he noticed her unusual accent more

“They don’t know us, that’s why they’re so confident,” Ayla continued “If they were a resident pride that lived around people and had been chased or hunted a few times, I don’t think they would be so unconcerned”

“Well,to be concerned about,” Jondalar said

Joharran’s brorinkled in a way that was so er brother’s, it made Ayla want to s would be inappropriate “Perhaps it would be wiser just to avoid them,” the dark-haired leader said

“I don’t think so,” Ayla said, bowing her head and looking down It was still difficult for her to disagree with a h she kneas perfectly acceptable a the Zelandonii—after all, so, at one time, Joharran’s and Jondalar’s mother—such behavior from a woman would not have been tolerated in the Clan, the ones who raised her