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Ayla listened intently to the instructions This was interesting She had spent years watching wild creatures, especially carnivores, but also ani every detail She taught herself to track theht herself to hunt them, but she had never pretended to be an animal before She first watched the rest of the hunters, then carefully observed the deer

Growing up learning to understand the gestures and e She had a keen eye for detail, for the smallest movements made by the animals She sa they shook their heads to rid the insects and quickly learned to imitate thehow long they kept their heads down and how long they looked around She was excited by this neay to hunt, and intrigued She almost felt like a deer as she moved forith the hunters toward their quarry

Ayla picked out the ani toward it At first she thought she ht try for a fat doe, but she decided she wanted anders, so she changed herbuck instead Jondalar had told her that theall the people, but the hide, antlers, sinew, and whatever else ed to the hunter who killed the animal

When the hunters were alive a prearranged signal The hunters gripped their spears in readiness; Ayla and Jondalar adjusted theirs in their spear-throwers She knew she could have cast her spear long before, but most of the hunters did not have spear-throwers, and her throould have frightened the rest of the deer away, before the others were close enough to hurl theirs

When Joharran saw that everyone was ready, he gave another quick signal Al their spears Several of the huge deer threw up their heads, startled into flight before they realized they were already hit The proud stag bugled a call as a signal to run, but only one doe and her calf followed hiered as they strained to take a step and fell to their knees as he leapt away

The hunters went to check their kills, to huht still be alive, and to verify which one should be credited to whom Each person’s spears were marked with decorations that clearly identified to whoed All the hunters knew their oeapons in any case, but the distinguishing symbols left no doubt and avoided disputes If more than one hunter’s spear found the same mark, they tried to determine which one had made the kill If it was not obvious, the kill was claimed by both and would be shared

It was quickly acknowledged that Ayla’s s buck So on a low bush somewhat away from the rest of the deer and on the opposite side of their approach Not an easy target, and apparently no one else had attempted it, at least no other spear had found it People talked about not only the long-distance weapon, but her skill with it, and wondered howto try, but others looked at the successful hunt and weren’t sure they needed to make the effort

Manvelar approached Joharran and several others of the Ninth Cave, including Jondalar and Ayla “What did you find out about the bison?” he asked

The planning and preparations for the hunt had built up an eager anticipation, but stalking the deer and dispatching them had been so quick and efficient, it had left the hunters with a y that had not been used up

“The herd was ain, toward the surround,” Jondalar said

“Do you really think that they e of the surround today?” Joharran asked “It’s still early, and I wouldn’ta few of those bison”

“We can make sure they do,” Jondalar said

“How?” Kareja asked Jondalar noticed there wasn’t as much sarcasm in her tone as there had been the day before

“Manvelar, do you knohere the surround is? And how long would it take the hunters to get there from here?” Jondalar said

“Yes, but Thefona can tell you that better than I,” Manvelar said The young woood hunter She came forhen Manvelar mentioned her name and beckoned her “How far is it to the surround?”