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Ayla had been wanting tofor Jondalar, herself, and the expected baby, and reiant deer buck She wondered where it was, but while she was here she decided she could at least skin the hare that was hanging fro for the baby

“If there’s rooroup in general

“There’s plenty of roolad to let you use some of my tools, if you need them”

“I would, Portula, thank you for offering I do have many tools, I live with Jondalar, after all,” Ayla said with a wry sly “But I don’t have them with me”

Ayla liked the feeling of having people around her all busily engaged in tasks at which they were skilled What a difference from the lonely days in her cave in the valley This wastogether

She quickly gutted and skinned the hare, then asked, “Do you o Down River I’ll pick them up on my way back”

“I’ll watch them,” Portula said “If you want, I’ll take theo, if you’re not back yet”

“Tha

t would be very nice of you,” Ayla said She ar hard to be friendly “I’ll be back later,” Ayla said as she left

After she walked up the log bridge that crossed the creek, she saw Jondalar with several others under the shelter of the first abri The place had obviously been used to knap flint for a long tied chips and flakes left fro flint It would not be wise to walk there with bare feet

“There you are,” Jondalar said “We were just getting ready to go back Joharran was here and said Proleva has organized ameat from one of the bison She does that so well and so often, people are going to get too used to it, I’m afraid But everybody has been busy today, and she decided it would be easier You can walk back with us, Ayla”

“I didn’t realize it was so close to midday,” she said As they started toward the Ninth Cave, Ayla saw Joharran ahead of the this way Heto Portula and the others, and skinning that hare, she thought She noticed hi around the fire

Joharran had seen Lara to tell the craftspeople at Down River about thehow lazy they were, ga wood someone else had collected, but when he saw theht to tell them, too They were members of the Ninth Cave, even if they didn’t contribute much

The men were deep in conversation when he approached and didn’t see hi, “ … What can you expect from someone who says she learned how to heal fro?”

“That woreed