the tops of dwarf alder on the sides of a sunken river;
"...the dens of Aryuk and his family." (The Shield Of Time, p. 139)
When danger threatens during the autumn gathering at Bubbling Springs:
"Aryuk of Alder River seized the lead..." (p. 173)
Thus, when the narrative point of view is not Wanda's but that of Aryuk's fellow Tulat, the dwarf alder and the river near his den become part of his name. To us, this sounds like a title. Aryuk is a leader because he seizes the lead during an emergency but he is not any Lord of the Alder River! His name, "Aryuk," is merely a sound that designates him. He never reflects that it means "Northwest Breeze" in another accent.
The Cloud People leader's name means "Red Wolf" in his language and he will change it several times during his life. Red Wolf is a leader because he gives a lead and is respected, not by virtue of exercising any formal authority. On the contrary, decision making is by consensus between the men and older women. Much of Anderson's account is what I would expect of hunter gatherers that long ago. There was not yet any material basis or need for a state, a body of armed men imposing minority decisions on the rest of society.
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