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When Ayla was through talking to the horses and turned around to face the people, Lanidar asked her, “Where did the surround come from? It wasn’t here yesterday”

Ayla sether and built it yesterday afternoon,” she said

When Ayla returned fro a meal with the Nineteenth Cave, shethat she wanted to build an enclosure for the horses, and explained why Joharran stood up on Zelandoni’s stool and talked about Ayla’s desire to create a safe place for the horses Most of the people ere at thewere still there, as well as many people fro how strong it had to be, and several suggestions were , most of them moved up the meadow and pitched in to build the corral The ones ere not from the Ninth Cave were curious about the horses anyway, and most of those ere didn’t want to see the horses accidentally hurt or killed They were a novelty that brought added distinction to their Cave

Ayla was so grateful, she didn’t knohat to say She thanked theh, and felt a debt to the Zelandonii that she didn’t kno to repay Working together brought people closer together, and she felt that she got to know so to include the horses in the hunt, which was planned for the followingBoth Ayla and Jondalar rode the horses and deestions much more acceptable If the hunt was successful, the Matrimonial would normally take place the next day, but since Dalanar and the Lanzadonii had not yet arrived, they were prepared to wait a few days, though so anxious

Ayla put halters on the horses and led theate that Tor a hole beside one of the support posts for the base of a pole to which the gate was attached and used a loop of rope to slip over the top Rope loops also served as hinges She was beginning to feel a closer tie to the Nineteenth Cave When she brought the horses up close, Mardena backed away fast They were so er up close Folara immediately stepped into her place

“I haven’t seen the horses nearly asWhinney’s face “Everyone has been so busy ith that bison hunt where Shevonar died, and the burial, and getting ready to come You said once you’d let me have a ride on a horse”

“Would you like to do it now?” Ayla said

“Could I?” she said, her eyes gloith pleasure

“Letblanket for Whinney,” Ayla said “Would you and Lanidar like to give theet it? He has some food they like in that bowl”

“I’et so close,” Mardena said

“He’s already close, Mardena,” Denoda said “But she’s there…”

“Mother, I already fed them once They know me, and you can see they know Folara,” Lanidar said

“They won’t hurt hi over there”

She pointed to an arrangeate It was a traveler’s cairn that Kareja had made for her Ayla only had to remove a few rocks to reach the space inside where she could keep a few things, like a leather riding blanket The rocks were overlapped in such a way that rainwater would flow over the top and not seep inside The leader of the Eleventh Cave showed her how to put them back to keep the inside dry Si several well-used routes with e materials and often a warm cloak inside Other cairns had dried food inside Occasionally both would be in one cairn, but the food cairns were broken into ers, the most frequent offenders, usually vandalized and scattered everything

Ayla left thelanced back,the large herbivores eat out of their hands, while Mardena stayed back, acting nervous and looking concerned, and Denoda watched Ayla walked back and casually tied the riding blanket on Whinney’s back Then she led the mare to a stone