“I can cope with anything today,” said Tigermane as they trekked up the quarryside that morning. “Do you know what I mean?” “I do,” said Snowbone. “But keep it quiet, eh?” As they reached their workplace, Snowbone noticed the men with explosives had moved closer. Not dangerously close, but the noise would add to their discomfort. She shook her head despairingly and began. BOOM! The first explosion reverberated around them. A choking cloud of dust rose majestically into the air and an avalanche of stones rattled down the quarryside. The men waited for the dust to settle, then started work. First they searched for cracks in the stone face. Then they took long iron bars and prized them in. Finally, after some strenuous pushing and pulling, they dislodged the mighty boulders, which rolled down unstoppably to the wagons below. The men worked all morning, loosening stone after stone. Snowbone kept her eye on Tigermane. She didn't want her getting too close. This was dangerous.
