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Ayla noticed that Danella seemed a little apprehensive “I think Wolf wants towolf?” she asked

“No, of course not I have never been this close to one before Why do you think he wants to meet me?”

“He is drawn to certain people sometimes He loves babies—Jonayla crawls all over him and even if she pulls his hair or pokes at his eyes or ears, he never seems to mind When we first arrived at the Ninth Cave, he acted like this when he saw Jondalar’s mother He just wanted to meet Marthona” Ayla suddenly wondered if Wolf had sensed that the woest Cave of the Zelandonii, had a weak heart “Would you like to meet him?”

“What do I have to do?” Danella said

The visitors to Sun Vieere standing around watching The ones ere fa, others were interested, but Stevadal, Danella’s mate, was concerned

“I’m not sure about this,” he said

“He won’t hurt her,” Jondalar said

Ayla handed Jonayla to Jondalar, then led Wolf to Danella She took the woh the process of Wolf’s introduction

“The way Wolf recognizes someone is by scent, and he knows that when I introduce him to someone like this, they are friends” Wolf sniffed at Danella’s fingers, then licked them

She sue is smooth, soft”

“Some of his fur is, too,” Ayla said,

“He’s so warm!” Danella said “I’ve never touched fur on a war throbbing”

“Yes, that’s how a living animal feels” Ayla turned to the leader of the Twenty-sixth Cave of the Zelandonii “Would you like to meet him, Stevadal?”

“You ht as well,” Danella said

Ayla went through a sier to return to Danella, and walked near her when they continued on to Sun View They found places to sit—logs, padded stones, soround The visitors took out their cups from pouches attached to their waist bands They were served tea by the few people who had not gone to the Meeting Ca them both Danella’s and Stevadal’s mothers, who had stayed to help the leader’s mate When Danella sat down, Wolf sat beside her, but he did look at Ayla, as though asking for permission She nodded, and he put his head down on his paws that were stretched out in front of hi him now and then