From up above, Lusa could hear the sound of howling. A moment later Izusa looked down from the top of the cliff. “Did it work?” she called.

“It worked fine!” Lusa replied. “Are you and the cubs safe?”

Izusa snorted with amusement. “Perfectly. The wolves went right past us, limping off down the ridge as if all the bears in the forest were still after them.”

“Great!” Lusa said. “Thanks for everything.”

“Thank you, Izusa!” Kallik called hoarsely.

“Glad to help! Good luck on your journey!” With that, Izusa vanished.

Lusa turned back to the other bears. “We did it!” she cheered.

“We sure did,” said Aiyanna. “The forest belongs to the bears again.”

She and Makya both pressed close to Lusa, their eyes glowing. “Thank you,” Makya said warmly, nodding to Kallik. “We could never have done it without you and your friends.”

“We all did it,” Lusa responded, and glanced back at the old bear. “You were great, Maniitok.”

Maniitok ducked his head. “My pleasure,” he mumbled.

“There’s one thing that puzzles me,” Aiyanna said. “Who was that brown bear who burst out of the trees when the wolves broke away? I’ve never seen him around here before, have you, Makya?”

Makya shook her head. “No, and I couldn’t find him afterward.”

Kallik met Lusa’s gaze, an unspoken question in her eyes. Lusa gave her a tiny nod.

“Oh, he’s another friend of ours,” Lusa said. “He never stays long, but he’s always around when we need him.”

Chapter Twenty-Five - Toklo

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Toklo

Toklo finished the last mouthful of grouse and stretched his jaws in a huge yawn. The sun was hot on his fur as he stretched out comfortably beside the den in the vines.

Two sunrises had passed since he and his friends had driven the wolves out of the forest. Since then they had done little except rest and take care of their wounds. Toklo knew they had been very lucky. Even he and Yakone, who had fought the wolves by the ravine, had nothing worse than strained muscles and a few scratches. Kallik had been exhausted but unhurt, so Toklo had told her to stay in the den and catch up on some sleep. Lusa had foraged for herbs and Toklo had hunted, but they had spent the rest of the time resting and sunning themselves.

Now the four bears were sitting under a redwood tree.

“Last time when I traveled to Great Bear Lake with Toklo and Ujurak,” Lusa said, “we walked along the ridge. But I don’t think we should go that way now.”

“We can’t, with the shaft blocked,” Kallik pointed out. “We’ll have to travel lower down, among the trees.”

“Yes,” Yakone agreed. “At least until we’re clear of angry wolves!”