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Joharran felt the fur, but was more aware of the war wolf! And he didn’t see touched

Ayla observed that his hand was not as stiff, and that he actually attempted to rub the place she indicated “Let hiain”

When Joharran brought his hand around toward the wolf’s nose, he widened his eyes again, with surprise “That wolf lickedbetter—or worse Then he saw Wolf lick Ayla’s face, and she seemed very pleased about it

“Yes, you were good, Wolf,” she said, shed up his mane Then she stood up and patted the front of her shoulders The wolf jumped up, put his paws on the place she had indicated, and as she exposed her throat, he licked her neck, and then took her chin and jaw in his entleness

Jondalar noticed the gasps of astonishhtening the familiar act of wolfish affection must seem to people who didn’t understand His brother looked at hi to her?”

“Are you sure that’s all right?” Folara asked at nearly the saer keep still The other people wereindecisive nervous movements as well

Jondalar smiled “Yes, Ayla is fine He loves her, he would never hurt her That’s hoolves show affection It tookas she has, ever since he was a fuzzy little cub”

“That’s no cub! That’s a big wolf! That’s the biggest wolf I ever saw!” Joharran said “He could tear her throat out!”

“Yes He could tear her throat out I’ve seen hi to kill Ayla,” Jondalar said “Wolf protects her”

The Zelandonii atching breathed a collective sigh of relief when the wolf got down, and stood by her side again with hishis teeth Wolf had that look that Jondalar thought of as his wolf grin, as though he was pleased with himself

“Does he do that all the time?” Folara asked “To … anyone?”

“No,” Jondalar said “Only to Ayla, and so particularly happy, and only if we allow it He’s well behaved, he won’t harm anyone … unless Ayla is threatened”

“What about children?” Folara asked “Wolves often go after the weak and the young”

At the mention of children, looks of concern appeared on the faces of the people standing nearby

“Wolf loves children,” Ayla quickly explained, “and he is very protective toward the or weak ones He was raised with the children of the Lion Camp”

“There was a very weak and sickly boy, who belonged to the Lion Hearth,” Jondalar contributed “You should have seen theether Wolf was always careful around him”

“That’s a very unusual animal,” another man said “It’s hard to believe a wolf could behave so … unwolflike”

“You’re right, Solaban,” Jondalar said “He does behave in ways that seem very unwolflike to people, but if olves ouldn’t think so He was raised with people and Ayla says he thinks of people as his pack He treats people as though they olves”

“Does he hunt?” the man Jondalar had called Solaban wanted to know