Wapi and Yas peered out from behind their mother, and Izusa signaled to them with one paw to stay back, as if she still didn’t entirely trust Kallik.

“I’ve come to ask for your help,” Kallik said, and she explained what was happening in the forest on the other side of the ridge, and about their plan to drive the wolves back.

“I knew the wolves had gone down there,” Izusa said when she had finished, “but I didn’t realize how much trouble they’d caused.” She let out a snort that was half-amused, half-annoyed. “You don’t seem too bothered about sending them back to trouble me.”

“The ridge is the wolves’ real home,” Kallik pointed out, feeling guilty. “And there’s plenty of prey here for everyone now.”

Izusa nodded reluctantly. “True. I admit it’s been peaceful without the wolves, but they’ve never been that much of a problem for us before. They know not to mess with me,” she added, showing her teeth.

“Once we’ve driven them back up here, they’ll be even less likely to mess with you, or any bear,” Kallik said.

Izusa nodded. “You could be right. . . . Tell me what you want me to do to help. But I’m not sure if I’ll be much use. My cubs can’t travel all the way to the forest, and they’re too small to be left alone.” As she spoke she turned to Wapi and Yas and drew them both closer to her. “They’ve been scared to venture far since the avalanche,” she explained.

“You won’t have to go as far as the forest,” Kallik said. “If we chase the wolves up the shaft, could you set off the avalanche from the top? Just a small one. One you can control, but big enough to block the shaft.”

Izusa stared at her. “There’s no way you could make that work!” she gasped.

“Yes, we can,” Kallik encouraged her. “The shaft is narrow, and before I go I’ll pile up snow and rocks and stuff at the top so that it takes only a tiny movement to bring it all down.”

Izusa blinked. “But will it be safe, with all those angry wolves around?” she said at last.

“I think they’ll be more scared and exhausted than angry,” Kallik assured her. “They’ll just want to find a place to shelter.”

Izusa glanced down at her cubs, then back at Kallik. “Okay,” she said reluctantly. “After what you did for me and my family, I’ll give it a try.”

“Thank you!” Kallik said with feeling. “I know it’s a big risk for you. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”

Izusa huffed. “I hope not!” she teased with a flash of humor.

“We were just going to eat,” Wapi piped up. “Would you like some deer? Or do white bears eat snow?”