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The valleys of both the Grass and the little Grass Rivers etter, almost swarass varieties of grass that grew higher than a man in places, and were often mixed with herbaceous forbs The wide variety of plants invitedanirasses and leafy herbs as they rated seasonally across the landscape

Since the main terrace of Two Rivers Rock overlooked the valleys of both The River and Grass River, it made an ideal location from which to monitor the itinerant herds As a consequence, over tireat skill in tracking the es and weather patterns that signaled the appearance of the various anih every Cave hunted, the spears of the hunters of the Third Cave living at Two Rivers Rock brought down rassy floodplains of the river valleys than any of the others

The prie and skill was known by ed by their nearest neighbors They were the ones to whoht and infor, particularly when a roup hunt was considered

Ayla looked toward the left, south The grassy valleys of the two rivers, which joined just below, opened out between high cliffs Enlarged by Grass River, The River flowed southwest close against the base of the tall cliffs, around the rocks of a deep bend, and out of sight, heading for a larger river farther south and eventually to the Great Waters some distance to the west

Then Ayla looked right, to the north, back the way they had coreenoff the h the junipers, silver birches, s, and pines, even an occasional evergreen oak, that marked its course Upstrea turn toward the rising sun, the high cliffs and the i shelter of the Ninth Cave could be seen

Manvelar strode toward theray-haired , Ayla noticed that he walked with vitality and confidence She found it difficult to judge his age After greetings and a few forroup to an unoccupied section on thea midday meal for everyone,” Manvelar announced, “but if anyone is thirsty, there’s water and sos propped up against a stone, with a feoven cups stacked nearby

Most people accepted the offer, thoughcups It was not unco knife in a pouch or carryall of so friends Ayla brought not only her own cup, but a bowl for Wolf People stared with fascination as the ave hi to realize that the wolf, who seemed bound to the woman with an inexplicably mysterious tie, could be so ordinary as to need a drink of water

They settled doith an air of pleasant anticipation, sos to get started Manvelar delayed until everyone was quiet and ready, then he acknowledged a young wo close to him

“We’ve had watchers, both here and at Second View, for the past two days,” he said

“That’s Second View, Ayla,” Jondalar said quietly She looked where he indicated Across the confluence of Two Rivers and its wide floodplain was another s out sharply fro of the line of cliffs that paralleled The River as it continued downstreah it’s separated by Grass River, the Third Cave considers Second View to be a part of Two Rivers Rock”

Ayla looked again toward the place called Second View, then took a few steps to look over the edge down at the water From her perspective, she could see that at its mouth, Grass River broadened out into a ser ay On the right bank of the s east, upstrea water She noticed that the offshoot trail led to the bank of Grass River at one edge of the delta where it ide and shallow, but back from the turbulance of the confluence of Two Rivers It here the Third Cave crossed Grass River

On the other side, a path continued across the valley formed by the floodplain of both rivers for about a quarter of a h, it didn’t offer much shelter beneath it, but a rocky path led to the top, a stone platform from which there was an alternative view of the valleys of both rivers from the opposite side of Grass River

“ … Thefona arrived with infor “I think there are a couple of possibilities for a good hunt, Joharran We’ve been keeping track of athis way, and Thefona has just spotted a good-sized herd of bison”

“Either one would do, whichever we could be est?” Joharran asked

“If it was just the Third Cave, we’d probably wait for the giant deer at The River and pick off a couple at the Crossing, but if you’re looking for a substantial kill, I’d go for the bison and drive them into a surround,” Manvelar said