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The twelve hunters from the Third Cave and the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii started out together walking directly toward the pride of massive felines They were armed with spears, tipped with sharpened flint, or bone or ivory sanded to a smooth, round sharp point Some had spear-throwers that could propel a spear much farther and with more power and speed than one thrown by hand, but lions had been killed with just spears before This ht be a test of Jondalar’s weapon, but it would test the courage of the ones ere hunting even more
“Go away!” Ayla shouted as they started out “We don’t want you here!”
Several others picked up the refrain, with variations, shouting and yelling at the anio away
At first the cats, young and old, just watched therass that hid theh they weren’t sure what to do The ones who retreated with cubs returned without them
“They don’t seem to knohat tohunters, feeling a littlemale suddenly snarled at them, everyone jumped with a start, and stopped in their tracks
“This is not the ti ahead
They started out again, their forether again as they continued on All the lions startedinto the tall grass, but the bigof a roar as he stood his ground Several of the other big cats were arrayed behind hi up the scent of fear from the human hunters, she was sure the lions were, too She was afraid herself, but fear was so that people could overcome
“I think we’d better get ready,” Jondalar said “That male doesn’t look happy, and he has reinforcements”
“Can’t you get hirunts that was usually a precursor to a lion’s roar
“Probably,” Jondalar said, “but I’d rather be closer, so I can be
more sure of my aim”
“And I’ood my aim would be from this distance We do need to be closer,” Joharran said, continuing to march forward
The people bunched together and kept going, still shouting, though Ayla thought their sound was more tentative as they drew closer The cave lions became still and seee herd that didn’t behave like prey animals
Then, suddenly, everything happened at once
The bigsound, especially froe He started toward the, Jondalar hurled his spear at him