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Racer whinnied when she neared; he seereeted the brown stallion affectionately and patted and scratched the young gray filly; then she hugged the sturdy neck of the dun-yellowthe first lonely years after she left the Clan

Whinney leaned against the young woman with her head over Ayla’s shoulder in a familiar position of mutual support She talked to the ns and words, and anie she had developed with Whinney when she was a foal, before Jondalar taught her to speak his language Ayla told the o with Folara and Proleva Whether the horse understood, or just knew that it would be safer for her and her foal, Ayla was glad to see her retreat to the cliff with the other mothers when she pointed her in that direction

But Racer was nervous and edgy, rown, the young stallion was accusto his daether, but this tio with her He pranced and tossed his head and neighed Jondalar heard him, looked over at the stallion and the wo horse nickered at the man as he approached With two females in his small “herd,” Jondalar wondered if Racer’s protective stallion instincts were beginning to make themselves felt The man talked to him, stroked and scratched his favorite places to settle hio with Whinney and slapped hiht direction

Ayla and Jondalar walked back to the hunters Joharran and his two closest friends and advisers, Solaban and Rusheroup that was left It seemed much smaller now

“We’ve been discussing the best way to hunt them,” Joharran said when the couple returned “I’y to use Should we try to surround them? Or drive them in a certain direction? I will tell you, I kno to hunt for meat: deer, or bison or aurochs, even mammoth I’ve killed a lion or two that were too close to a camp, with the help of other hunters, but lions are not animals I usually hunt, especially not a whole pride”

“Since Ayla knows lions,” Thefona said, “let’s ask her”

Everyone turned to look at Ayla Most of them had heard about the injured lion cub she had taken in and raised until he was full grown When Jondalar told them the lion did what she told him the way the wolf did, they believed it

“What do you think, Ayla?” Joharran asked

“Do you see how the lions are watching us? It’s the sa at theht surprise thee,” Ayla said, then paused “I think we should stay together in a group and walk toward the loudly perhaps, and see if they back off But keep our spears ready, in case one or o after them”

“Just approach them head-on?” Rushemar asked, with a frown

“It ether, we can watch out for each other”

“It seeood plan, Joharran,” Jondalar said

“I suppose it’s as good as any, and I like the idea of staying together and watching out for each other,” the leader said

“I’ll go first,” Jondalar said He held up his spear, already on his spear-thrower ready to launch “I can get a spear off fast with this”

“I’et closer so we can all feel comfortable with our aim,” Joharran said

“Of course,” Jondalar said, “and Ayla is going to be a backup forunexpected happens”

“That’s good,” Joharran said “We all need a partner, someone to be a backup for the ones who throw first, in case theyaway The partners can decide ill cast first, but it will cause less confusion if everyone waits for a signal before anyone throws”

“What kind of signal?” Rushemar asked

Joharran paused, then said, “Watch Jondalar Wait until he throws That can be our signal”

“I’ll be your partner, Joharran,” Rushemar volunteered