Discuss Ayla. Who is she? Why is she alone? Why does she choose to travel north? Why does Ayla not travel in another direction? What does Ayla hope to find? Why does she stop in the valley of horses? Does Ayla really intend to continue her travels? Why or why not?

Why does Ayla kill the horse? Why does Ayla then befriend her kill's baby? What does Ayla hope to receive for saving the horse? Is Ayla's action with the foal a symbol of her loneliness? Explain. What does Ayla's action say about her instinct for survival?

Why does Ayla save the baby cave lion? How dangerous is this action? What might have happened if Ayla had not been able to control the lion? How does befriending this lion help Ayla to survive? How is survival a theme of this novel? How is the...