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The wo the Journey would take, or ould happen when they arrived Better to think of each day as it came, and plan only for the next day or two Better not to worry about Jondalar’s people, and whether they would accept her as one of them the way the Mamutoi had

“I wish it would stop blowing,” she commented

“I ao visit our neighbors, and see if we can get so better to eat”

They took Wolf with them when they returned to Feather Grass Caathered near a fire over which a large rump was spitted Conversation was slow to start, but it wasn’t long before curiosity becaave way to anilacial steppes had little opportunity to meet anyone new, and the excitement of this chance encounter would fuel discussions and fill the stories of Falcon Ca time to come Ayla beca wo unassisted and laughing out loud, who charmed them all, but mostly Wolf

The young led out her child for his solicitous attention, but when his eager licks entle restraint, even when she grabbed handfuls of fur and pulled, everyone was surprised

The other children were eager to touch hi with therown up with the children of Lion Caentle with the very young, or the weak, and he seemed to know the difference between the unintentional overzealous squeeze from a toddler and the purposeful pull of a tail or ear by an older child He allowed the former with patient forebearance, and he repaid the latter with a warning growl, or a gentle nip that did not break skin but showed that he could

Jondalar , and Rutan told thee had delayed their departure or they would have been there He asked Jondalar about his travels and about Racer, withThey seemed more reluctant to question Ayla, and she didn’t volunteer h the mamut would have liked to have taken her aside for private discussions of more esoteric subjects, but she preferred to stay with the Camp Even the headwoman was more relaxed and friendly by the time they headed back to their own camp, and Ayla asked her to pass on her love and remembrances to Lion Ca

That night, Ayla lay awake thinking She was glad she had not let natural hesitation about joining the Ca stop her Given the opportunity to overcoe or unknown, they had been interested and willing to learn She had learned, too, that traveling with such unusual co reactions fro the way She had no idea what to expect, but there could be little doubt that this Journey was going to be far ined

Read on for an excerpt from

The Shelters of Stone

Book Five in the Earth’s Children® Series

by Jean M Auel

People were gathering on the liesture of welcome, and some held spears in positions of readiness if not actual threat The young woy fear She watched froether on the ledge, staring down, ht there would be She had seen that reluctance to greet them from other people they had met on their Journey It’s not just the, but she felt uneasy

The tallstallion He was neither reluctant nor uneasy, but he hesitated for athe stallion’s halter rope He turned around and noticed that she was hanging back “Ayla, will you hold Racer’s rope? He seeuess they do too”

She nodded, lifted her leg over, slid down from the mare’s back, and took the rope In addition to the tension of seeing strange people, the young brown horse was still agitated around his daer in heat, but residual odors fro Ayla held the halter rope of the brownlead, and stood between the Whinney her head; her horse was ers now, and was not usually high-strung, but she see of people would make anyone nervous

When the wolf appeared, Ayla heard sounds of agitation and alare in front of the cave—if it could be called a cave She’d never seen one quite like it Wolf pressed against the side of her leg and moved somewhat in front of her, suspiciously defensive; she could feel the vibration of his barely audible growl He was ers now than he had been when they began their long Journey a year ago, but he had been little more than a puppy then, and he had become more protective of her after some perilous experiences

As the man strode up the incline toward the apprehensive people, he showed no fear, but the wolad for the opportunity to wait behind and observe the—this moment for more than a year, and first impressions were important … on both sides

Though others held back, a young woer sister iirl had blosso the five years of his absence

“Jondalar! I kneas you!” she said, flinging herself at him “You finally came home!”

He gave her a big hug, then picked her up and swung her around in his enthusiasm “Folara, I am so happy to see you!” When he put her down, he looked at her at arirl when I left, now you’re a beautiful wohtly lint in his eye

She smiled at him, looked into his unbelievably vivid blue eyes and was drawn by their netish that’s what those standing nearby thought, but from the rush of attraction she felt for the man, brother or not, whom she had not seen forbrother with the unusual eyes, who could char playame or activity she wanted to play This was the first ti woman that she was exposed to the full effect of his unconscious charisma Jondalar noticed her reaction and smiled warmly at her sweet confusion

She glanced away toward the bottom of the path near the small river “Who is that woman, Jondé?” she asked “And where did the animals come from? Animals run away from people, why don’t those animals run away from her? Is she a Zelandoni? Has she Called them?” Then she frowned “Where’s Thonolan?” She took a sharp intake of breath at the look of pain that tightened Jondalar’s brow

“Thonolan travels the next world now, Folara,” he said, “and I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for that woman”

“Oh, Jondé! What happened?”

“It’s a long story, and this is not the time to tell it,” he said, but he had to smile at the name she called him It was her personal nickname for him “I haven’t heard that name since I left Now I know I’ht? And Willamar?”

“They’re both fine Mother gave us a scare a couple of years ago But Zelandoni worked her special ic, and she see his hand and starting to lead him the rest of the way up the path

Jondalar turned and waved at Ayla, trying to let her know that

he would be back soon He hated leaving her there alone with the animals, but he needed to see his ht That “scare” bothered him, and he needed to talk to people about the anihtening it was to most people to see animals that did not run away from them

People knew animals All the people they had met on their Journey hunted thee to them or their spirits in one way or another Ani as anyone could remember People knew the environration patterns and seasonalschedules But no one had ever tried to touch a living breathing animal in a friendly way No one had ever tried to tie a rope around the head of any animal and lead it around No one had ever tried to tained that one could be