On the walk back to the village Ilara was lost in thought. She was nearly home when she was startled out of her reverie by her mother’s voice.
“Where have you been? Have you been wandering away from the village again?”
“Why would I do that?” Ilara answered innocently. Technically it wasn’t a lie, so it was ok.
“Well, just don’t go wondering off. Especially now. The Elders say a herd of wild mammoths is passing this way.”
“What do you know about mammoths?” Ilara asked, trying her best to sound casual.
“Well, they are good to eat, but very hard to catch.”
“Do they ever talk?”
Ilara’s mother gave her a strange look. “Has your grandmother been telling you stories?”