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Ayla picked up the soiled wrap and headed into the cave Jondalar, noticing he was still holding the spear, leaned it against the wall and followed Ayla was pensive Baby’s return had evoked so many memories She looked at the bison roast, turned the spit, and stirred up the coals Then she poured water into a cooking basket fro on a post, and she put so stones in the fire to heat

Jondalar just watched her, still dazed by the cave lion’s visit It had been shock enough to see the lion leap down to the ledge, but the way Ayla had stepped out in front of him and stopped the massive predator … no one would believe it

As he stared, he had the feeling so was different about her Then he noticed her hair was down He releaolden in the sun She had come up from the beach, and he had seen her, all of her, for the first tinificent body

“ … good to see Baby again Those bison must have been in his territory He probably scented the kill, then picked up our trail He was surprised to see you I don’t know if he reet trapped in that blind canyon?”

“Wha … ? I’m sorry, what did you say?”

“I ondering how you and your brother got trapped in that canyon with Baby,” she said, looking up Lu a flush to her face

With an effort he focused hisa deer Thonolan killed it, but a lioness had been after the saed it away and Thonolan went after it I told him to let her have it, but he wouldn’t listen We saw the lioness go into the cave, and then leave Thonolan thought he could get the spear back, and some of the meat before she returned The lion had other ideas”

Jondalar closed his eyes for a o after that lioness, but I couldn’t stop him He was always reckless, but after Jetamio died, he was more than reckl

ess He wanted to die I suppose I shouldn’t have gone after him, either”

Ayla knew he still sorrowed for his brother and changed the subject “I didn’t see Whinney in the field Shethere lately The way you fixed those straps around Racer’s head worked well, but I don’t know if it was necessary to keep him tied to Whinney”

“The rope was too long I didn’t think it ht be so to remember, if you want them to stay someplace At least Racer Does Whinney always do what you want?”

“I guess she does, but it’s more like she wants to She knohat I want, and she does it Baby just takes oes so fast” Her eyes sparkled with the memory of her recent ride It was always a thrill to ride the lion

Jondalar recalled her clinging to the back of the cave lion, her hair,in the wind Watching her had —as she was So wild and free, so beautiful …

“You’re an exciting woman, Ayla,” he said His eyes carried his conviction

“Exciting? Exciting is … the spear thrower, or riding fast on Whinney … or Baby, is that right?” She was flustered

“Right And so is Ayla exciting, to me … and beautiful”

“Jondalar, you area Joke A flower is beautiful or the sky when the sun drops over the edge I am not beautiful”

“Can’t a woman be beautiful?”

She turned aside from the intensity of his look “I … I don’t know But I aly”

Jondalar got up and, taking her hand, urged her up too “Noho is bigger?”

He was overpowering standing so close He had shaved his face again, she noticed The short beard hairs could only be seen up close She wanted to touch his rough-smooth face, and his eyes made her feel they could reach inside her

“You are,” she said, softly

“Then you are not too big, are you? And you are not ugly, Ayla” He smiled, but she only knew it because his eyes showed it “It’s funny, the ly”