He landed alongside a mother who was just beginning the ascent.

She screamed with fear, and the two-year-old child that was clinging to her released its grip and rolled at Red-Eye's feet.

Both he and the mother reached for it, and he got it.

The next moment the frail little body had whirled through the air and shattered against the wall.
The mother ran to it, caught it up in her arms, and crouched over it crying.
Red-Eye started over to pick up the stick.

Old Marrow-Bone had tottered into his way.