From the time she was a calf, Onattie was always going out on her own exploring rather than stay by her mother's side as the rest of the calves did at that age. More than once a passing hunter or warrior would have to pull her hide out of the fire when the local beasts desired veal as their supper. She was often witnessed trying to talk with the animals and win them with gentleness, even when faced with certain harm or even death. When it came to assign tasks, the chief had no problem deciding what her task should be in the larger scheme of things.