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forerunners. But atthe story of the slash marks Fal-Kan set aside hisclaws and listened intently. When Furtig told of hiscounter-marking, the Elder nodded.
    "That was well done. And you say that theseslashes were not deep. Perhaps no more deeply set than these could do?" He held out his hand, extending his natural claws.
    "So it looked." Furtig had long ago learned thatcaution was the best tone to take with Elders.

    Theywere apt to consider the opinions of the young asmisled and misleading.
    "Then this one did not know Gammage."
    Furtig's open astonishment brought him to the discourtesy of actually interrupting an Elder.
    "Know Gammage! But he is a stranger—not of theFive Caves—or of the western People.
    Gammagewould not know him."
    Fal-Kan growled softly, and Furtig, in confusion,recognized his error. But his surprise remained.
    "It is time," Fal-Kan said in the throat-rumblingvoice used for pronouncements against offenders ofcave custom, "that one speak clearly about the Ancestor. Have you not wondered why we have not been favored by his attention lately, during this time of yourgrowing—though it would seem by your actions thatyou have not in truth progressed far beyond a youngling?"Fal-Kan waited for no answer but continued without a pause.
    "The fact is that our Ancestor"—and he did notsay Honored Ancestor or use any title of respect—"isso engrossed by this fear of returning Demons whichhas settled in his head that he raises voice to unite allPeople—as if they were of one family or clan! All People brought together!" Fal-Kan's whiskers bristled.
    "All warriors know that the Demons are gone. Thatthey slew each other, and that they could not maketheir kind any more, so they became fewer and fewerand finally there were none. Whence then would anycome? Do old bones put on flesh and fur and comealive again? But the Ancestor has this fear, and itleads him in ways no prudent one would travel. It waslearned the last time his messenger came that he wasgiving other People the same things he had sent hereto the caves.
    "And—with greater folly—he even spoke of tryingto make truce with the Barkers for a plan of commondefense, lest when the Demons returned we be tooscattered and weak to stand against them.
    When thiswas known, the Elders refused the gifts of Gammageand told his messenger not to come again, for we nolonger held them clan brothers."
    Furtig swallowed. That Gammage would do this!There must be some other part of the story not known.For none of the People would be so sunk in folly as toshare with enemies the weapons they had.
    Yet neitherwould Fal-Kan say this if he did not believe it thetruth.
    "And Gammage must have heard our words andunderstood." Fal-Kan's tail twitched. "We have not seen his messengers since. But we have heard fromour truce mates in the west that there were truce flagsset before the lairs in the north and strangers gathered there. Though we do not know who those were,"Fal-Kan was fair enough to add. "But it may well bethat, having turned his face from his own kin whenthey would not support his madness, Gammage nowgives to others the fruits of his hunting. And this is ashameful thing, so we do not speak of it, even amongourselves, unless there is great need.
    "But of the hunting sign on the tree, that we mustspeak of—all warriors together. For we are not so richin game that we can allow others to take our countryfor their own. And we shall also tell this to the western kin. They come soon for the Trials. Go and eat,warrior. I shall take your words to the other cave Elders."
    The visitors had been in sight of the cave scouts sincemidaftemoon, but their party did not file into theirusual campsite until after nightfall. This was the alternate season when the western clans came to the caves. Next season Furtig's people would cross country for the Trials.
    All the young unmated warriors who were to takepart in the coming contests scattered along the inroad (unless their Elders managed to