The Mammoth Hunters - Jean M. Auel [220]
After she changed, Ayla went into the annex to check on the horses, and reassure them, but she noticed a hesitation and a resistance from the mare when she went to pet her.
“You smell the wolf, don’t you, Whinney? You will have to get used to it. Both of you. The wolf is going to be here with us, for a while.” She held out her hands and let both horses sniff them. Racer backed off, snorted and tossed his head, and sniffed again. Whinney put her muzzle into the woman’s hands, but her ears flattened back and she bobbed indecisively. “You got used to Baby, Whinney, you can get used to … Wolf. I’ll bring him out here tomorrow, when he wakes up. When you see how little he is, you will know he can’t hurt you.”
When Ayla went back in, she saw Jondalar by the bed looking at the wolf puppy. His expression was unreadable, but she thought she saw curiosity and something like tenderness in his eyes. He looked up and saw her, and his forehead furrowed in a familiar way.
“Ayla, why did you stay out so long?” he said. “Everyone was getting ready to search for you.”
“We didn’t plan to, but once I saw that the black wolf I killed was nursing, I had to see if I could find her pups,” Ayla said.
“What difference did it make? Wolves die all the time, Ayla!” He had started out talking to her in a reasonable tone, but his fear for her safety was putting an edge on his voice. “It was stupid to go tracking after a wolf like that. If you had found a wolf pack, they could have killed you.” Jondalar had been beside himself with worry, but with relief came uncertainty, and a touch of frustrated anger.
“It made a difference to me, Jondalar,” she flared, jumping to the defense of the wolf. “And I am not stupid. I hunted meat eaters before I hunted anything else. I know wolves. If there had been a pack, I would not have backtracked to her den. The pack would have taken care of her pups.”
“Even if she was a lone wolf, why did you spend all day chasing after a wolf puppy?” Jondalar’s voice had gotten louder. He was releasing his own tensions as well as trying to convince her not to take such chances again.
“That puppy was all that mother wolf ever had. I could not let him starve because I killed his mother. If someone hadn’t cared about me when I was young, I would not be alive. I have to care, too, even for a wolf puppy.” Ayla’s voice had risen, too.
“It’s not the same. A wolf is an animal. You should have better sense, Ayla, than to threaten your own life for the sake of a wolf puppy,” Jondalar shouted. He couldn’t seem to make her understand. “This is not the kind of weather to be out in all day.”
“I have good sense, Jondalar,” Ayla said with anger flashing in her eyes. “I was the one who was out. Don’t you think I know what the weather was like? Don’t you think I know when my life is in danger? I took care of myself before you came, and faced far worse dangers. I even took care of you. I don’t need you to tell me I am stupid and don’t have sense.”
People who were gathering at the Mammoth Hearth were reacting to the quarrel, smiling nervously and trying to make less of it. Jondalar glanced around and noticed several people smiling and talking among themselves, but the one who stood out was the dark man with the flashing eyes. Was there a hint of condescension in his broad smile?
“You’re right, Ayla. You don’t need me, do you? For anything.” Jondalar spat, then seeing Talut approaching, he asked, “Would you mind if I moved to the cooking hearth, Talut? I’ll try to stay out of everyone’s way.”
“No, of course I don’t mind, but …”
“Good. Thank you,” he said, and grabbed his bedding and belongings from the bed platform he shared with Ayla.
Ayla was stricken, beside herself to think he might really want to sleep away from her. She was almost ready to beg him not to leave, but her pride held her tongue. He had shared her bed, but they hadn’t shared