After a while the ragged bushes parted and into the clearing came a living thing, a huge and powerful wolf that padded back and forth before the cave-mouth, then stood staring up at the staff-bearer with round, yellow eyes. Some minutes later another joined it, a great, bristling brute that circled nervously, glancing up at the dark-cloaked man, who still stood with eyes closed. Another came, and another, until the space before the cave-mouth was filled with the milling, jostling beasts, snarling and slavering, snapping at each other. Each one was bowstring-tense like dogs that sense predator or prey, and all of them kept well clear of the steps to the cave.
The staff was lowered at last as its bearer opened his eyes. Out of the ever-moving sea of beasts there rose a man. He was naked, wi
