page227 (1/2)

Available spring 2011 from Crown Publishers

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The band of travelers walked along the path between the clear sparkling water of Grass River and the black-streaked white liht bank They went single file around the bend where the stone wall jutted out closer to the water’s edge Ahead a s place, where the floater spread out and beca around exposed rocks

Before they reached the fork in the trail, a young wo wide as she stood perfectly still, staring ahead She pointed with her chin, not wanting towhisper of fear “Lions!”

Joharran, the leader, lifted his ar the band to a halt Just beyond the place where the trail diverged, they no pale-tawny cave lions rass was such effective caht not have noticed them until they were much closer, if it hadn’t been for the sharp eyes of Thefona The young woood vision, and though she was quite young, she was noted for her ability to see far and well Her innate talent had been recognized early and they had begun training her when she was a sirl; she was their best lookout

Near the back of the group, walking in front of three horses, Ayla and Jondalar looked up to see as causing the delay “I wonder e’ve stopped,” Jondalar said, a fa his forehead

Ayla observed the leader and the people around him closely, and instinctively moved her hand to shield the warm bundle that she carried in the soft leather blanket tied to her chest Jonayla had recently nursed and was sleeping, but htly at her mother’s touch Ayla had an uncanny ability to interpretwhen she lived with the Clan She knew Joharran was alarhtened

Ayla, too, had extraordinarily sharp vision She could also pick up sounds above the range of nor and feel the deep tones of those that were below Her sense of smell and taste were also keen, but she had never compared herself with anyone, and didn’t realize how extraordinary her perceptions were She was born with heightened acuity in all her senses, which no doubt contributed to her survival after losing her parents and everything she knew at five years Her only training had come fro the years she studied ani herself to hunt

In the stillness, she discerned the faint but fas of lions, detected their distinctive scent on a slight breeze, and noticed that several people in front of the group were gazing ahead When she looked, she saw sorass see and three or four adult cave lions As she startedforward, she reached with one hand for her spear-thrower, fastened to a carrying loop on her belt, and with the other for a spear fro on her back

“Where are you going?” Jondalar asked

She stopped “There are lions up ahead just beyond the split in the trail,” she said under her breath

Jondalar turned to look, and noticed movement that he interpreted as lions now that he knehat to look for He reached for his weapons as well “You should stay here with Jonayla I’ll go”

Ayla glanced down at her sleeping baby, then looked up at hiood with the spear-thrower, Jondalar, but there are at least two cubs and three grown lions, probably er and decide to attack, you’ll need help, someone to back you up, and you know I’m better than anyone, except you”

His brow furrowed again as he paused to think, looking at her Then he nodded “All right … but stay behind lanced back “What about the horses?”

“They know lions are near Look at them,” Ayla said