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“I will not make a claim to any other lions that may have been pierced by one of my spears, but I would like the spear back,” Ayla said “This lion has only my spear in it, so I will claim it I will keep the skin and tail, the claws and the teeth”

“What about theto eat some?”

“No The hyenas can have it as far as I’m concerned,” Ayla said “I don’t like the taste of the meat of meat-eaters, especially cave lions”

“I’ve never tasted lion,” he said

“Neither have I,” said Morizan of the Third Cave, who had paired up with Galeya

“Did none of your spears reach a lion?” Ayla asked She saw theative response “You’re welcome to this one’s meat, if you want it, after I bury the heart, but I wouldn’t eat the liver if I were you”

“Why not?” Tivonan asked

“The people I greith believed the liver of meat-eaters could kill you, like a poison,” she said “They told stories about it, especially of a selfish woman who ate the liver of a cat, a lynx, I think, and died Perhaps we should bury the liver, too, with the heart”

“Is the liver of animals who eat any meat bad for you?” Galeya

asked

“I think bears are all right They eatelse, as well Cave bears don’t eat ood I knew soet sick,” Ayla said

“I haven’t seen a cave bear in years,” Solaban said He’d been standing close by, listening “There aren’t many around here anymore Have you really eaten cave bear?”

“Yes,” Ayla said She consideredthat cave bear meat was sacred to the Clan, eaten only for certain ritual feasts, but decided it would just encourageto answer

She looked at the lioness, and took a deep breath It was big and would be a lot of work to skin She could use so people who had been asking her questions None of thee now, and though they hadn’t landed a spear, they had been a willing part of the hunt and exposed theive each of you a claw if you’ll help me skin this lioness,” she said, and watched them smile back

“I’ll be glad to,” Palidar and Tivonan said almost simultaneously