| In one arm, he cradled a stack of books, and in the other, a leather satchel full of feather quills and dozens of tiny glass bottles. |
| For example, the porcupine is defenseless except for its quills, the deer vulnerable except for its speed. |
| The clothing is made from white caribou hides and sewn with sinew, using split bird quills on the seams. |
| By the way, they're born with soft quills, and the quills harden up within about six to eight hours after birth. |
| And there it was, in plain sight by the door, with a small knife, the kind used to sharpen quills, hanging next to it. |
| When the quills begin to loosen, the bird removes them and is then ready to care for the new feathers. |
