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“Let him smell your hand first,” she said “That’s Wolf’s formal introduction” The wolf had learned from previous experienc

e that it was important to Ayla for him to accept within his pack of humans the people she introduced to him in this way He didn’t like the smell of fear, but sniffed the man to become familiar with him

“Have you ever really felt the fur of a living wolf, Joharran?” she asked, looking up at hi his hand to feel the ani and itchy, and he loves to be scratched behind the ears,” she continued, showing him how

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”