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The First observed the young woman closely and was convinced there wasHer reasons weren’t in character She was an excellent healer, and she was curious, learned quickly, and obviously enjoyed it She wouldn’t neglect a mate and children, and if there were rimes that she had to be away, there would always be so, she was almost too attentive Look how much time she devoted to those ani to help whenever anything needed to be done, and she took on more than was required

The First had been i Lanoga to care for her youngest sister and the other children And the way she was helping the boy with the deforood Zelandoni did She had naturally assu to have to discover her real problem, because one way or another, the First was deter to be One Who Served The Great Earth Mother She had to be brought in, it could pose too great a threat to the stability of the zelandonia to have soe and innate skills outside of their influence

People ses tied on him, made of Marthona’s fiber h the main ca, and he seemed to be a caricature of a fierce, wild meat-eater Many stopped to ask hoas, or to offer the opinion that he was looking good But he stayed very close to Ayla He was so unhappy the first time she left him behind that he howled, then broke loose and found her Soun to weave tales about the ho loved the woman

She had to train hiain to stay where she told hi with Jondalar, or Marthona, or Folara, but he also felt defensive about the territory of the camp of the Ninth Cave, and she had to retrain him not to threaten visitors People, especially those ere close to her, were aly unlimited patience with the aniht that itto have a wolf that obeyed commands, but they weren’t sure it orth the tih, that her control of her aniic

Ayla was beginning to relax, thinking that he was finally getting co man—she heard him introduced as Palidar of the Eleventh Cave—caot close to his with real menace She had to hold hirowled under his breath The young ized profusely Willa around watching were surprised

“I don’t knohat’s wrong with hi defensive about his territory Wolf doesn’t usually behave like this, but he’s had so over it,” Ayla said

“I heard he was hurt,” the young man said

Then she noticed that he wore a necklace of wolf teeth and carried a pack decorated olf fur “Can I ask where you got the wolf fur?” she asked

“Well … most people think I went out and hunted wolf, but I’ll tell you the truth I found it I actually found tolves, and they ht because they were really torn up One was a black feray wolf, was e some of the fur”

“And you’ve got the gray male on your pack,” Ayla said “Now I think I understand Wolf h

t, that’s how he got hurt I knew that he’d found a friend, probably the black fe, and I don’t think he was actually etting to know each other She was either the lowest-ranked female of the local pack or a lone wolf from another pack”

“How do you know that?” Tivonan asked Several

“Wolves like wolves to look like wolves I think they can read each other’s expressions better if they have nor Wolves that are out of the ordinary, all black, or all white, or spotted, are not accepted as well—except I was told by some Ma, white wolves are more normal But the odd one, like that black wolf, is often the lowest ranked in a pack, so she probably left them and becaes in between other wolves’ territories, looking for a place of their own, and if they find another lone wolf, they uess is that the wolves of this region were defending their territory against the t ones,” Ayla said “And though he’s big, Wolf was at a disadvantage He only knows people He was not raised around wolves He would know sos, just because he is a wolf, but he never had brothers and sisters, or aunts and uncles, other wolves to teach him olves learn from each other”

“How do you know all that?” Palidar asked

“I watched wolves forto hunt, I only hunted meat-eaters, not food animals I’d like to ask you a favor, Palidar,” Ayla said “Can I trade with you for that wolf fur? I think the reason Wolf is growling and threatening you is that he sht with, at least one of them, and he likely killed that one But they also killed his friend and aler for you to wear it around him You should never come here with it because I don’t knohat Wolf would do”