Chapter 7 Summary

The short summer is spent preparing for the long winter months ahead. The days are occupied with hunting, fishing, gathering, and storing food. Creb spends a lot of time with Ayla, trying to teach her the Clan's language. It is easy for Ayla to learn the verbal aspects of the language, but for a long time she does not comprehend the hand signals that are the Clan's main source of communication. Finally, she begins to understand, and after that moment she is constantly watching the Clan members. She works hard to learn the language and make up for all the time she has lost, unable to communicate.

Clan culture dictates that it is extremely impolite to stare into someone else's hearth. One day, Broud is being scolded by Brun, and he catches Ayla staring at him intently. She is merely trying to understand...