page104 (1/2)

Joharran took a deep breath, then looked at his fair-haired brother “Your ht, and you as well, Jondalar Perhaps now is the time to let those lions know they are not welcome to settle down so close to our homes”

“This would be a good time to use spear-throwers so we can hunt fro,” Jondalar said It was for just this sort of thing that he had wanted to come home and show everyone the weapon he had developed “We may not even have to kill one, just injure a couple to teach them to stay away”

“Jondalar,” Ayla said, softly Now she was getting ready to differ with him, or at least to ain, then raised her eyes and looked directly at him She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind to him, but she wanted to be respectful “It’s true that a spear-thrower is a very good weapon With it, a spear can be thrown froreater distance than one thrown by hand, and that makes it safer But safer is not safe A wounded anith and speed of a cave lion, hurt and ith pain, could do anything If you decide to use these weapons against those lions, they should not be used to injure, but to kill”

“She’s right, Jondalar,” Joharran said

Jondalar frowned at his brother, then grinned sheepishly “Yes she is, but, as dangerous as they are, I always hate to kill a cave lion if I don’t have to They are so beautiful, so lithe and graceful in the way they th gives thelint of pride and love “I always thought Ayla’s Cave Lion tote inner feelings for her, a hint of a flush colored his cheeks “But I do think this is a time when spear-throwers could be very useful”

Joharran noticed that most of the travelers had crowded closer “How many are with us that can use one?” he asked his brother

“Well, there’s you, and roup “Rusheood Solaban’s been busysome ivory handles for tools for soot the basics”

“I’ve tried a spear-thrower a few tiood at it,” Thefona said, “but I can throw a spear without one”

“Thank you, Thefona, for re me,” Joharran said “Nearly everyone can handle a spear without a spear-thrower, including woet that” Then he directed his coe “We need to let those lions know that this is not a good place for the a spear by hand or with the thrower, come over here”

Ayla started to loosen her baby’s carrying blanket “Folara, would you watch Jonayla for er sister, “unless you’d rather stay and hunt cave lions”

“I’ve gone out on drives, but I never was very good with a spear, and I don’t seem to be much better with the thrower,” Folara said “I’ll take Jonayla” The infant was now thoroughly awake, and when the young woly went to her aunt

“I’ll help her,” Proleva said to Ayla Joharran’sblanket, just a few days older than Jonayla, and an active boy who could count six years to watch out for as well “I think we should take all the children away fro rock, or up to the Third Cave”

“That’s a very good idea,” Joharran said, “Hunters stay here The rest of you go back, but go slowly No suddenaround, like a herd of aurochs And e pair off, each group keep together They will probably go after anyone alone”

Ayla turned back toward the four-legged hunters and sawin their direction, very alert She watched the ani characteristics, helping her to count the female casually turn around—no, a male, she realized when she saw his otten for a moment that the males here didn’t have manes Theone that she knew quite well, did have some hair around the head and neck, but it was sparse This is a big pride, she thought,words, possibly asones

While she watched, the big lion took a few rass It was surprising hoell the tall thin stalks could hide anie

Though the bones and teeth of cave lions—felines that liked to den in caves, which preserved the bones they left behind—were the same shape as their descendants that would someday roam the distant lands of the continent far to the south, they were e In winter they grew a thick winter fur that was so pale, it was almost white, practical conceal Their suh still pale, wasthem a rather tattered, mottled look

Ayla watched the group of mostly women and children break off from the hunters and head back to the cliff they had passed, along with a few young men and woned to guard them Then she noticed that the horses seeht she should try to calnaled Wolf to come with her as she walked toward the horses

Whinney seelad to see both her and Wolf when they approached The horse had no fear of the big canine predator She had watched Wolf grow up from a tiny little ball of fuzzy fur, had helped to raise hio back behind the stone ith the woive Whinney nals, but she wasn’t sure how to tell the o with the others and not follow her

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