The Mantooth

guard by the door, while Kalus continued work on a spear. He had labored far into the night preparing the shaft, the narrowest and straightest of th

well?' he asked

rested as she brought it down again, no longer oppressed by the curving, serrated walls and close proximity of her friends. A deeper, a

placed one edge against a flat rock on the floor, then drew out his round hammer-stone and carefully chipped away at either side of the base. It

his strength and its thickness would allow. When he had done and undone this several times, he finally found the best pattern, and with a grunt of exertion took the

, though the spear (and her stomach

ed tools and clothing for the winter..... And meat.' Was there a trace of fierce lust in his

t, shouldn't you have don

er. Let the big cats make their kill. Let hyenas strip the carcass. Let them all

d rebuked. 'Wh

ly in his hand. He checked it for balance, found the best grips, tested the grain and strength of th

red toward the entrance.

This place is begi

better to confron

hree bodies are better than two. But bring the kn

d's breadth shy of