Toklo sighed. “Okay, okay, I’m sorry. It’s great that you caught some food, but you know it’s not safe to go off on your own. Not with wolves around—and that brown bear Maniitok told us about.”

“I didn’t go far,” Kallik told him, still annoyed. After all we’ve been through, doesn’t he think I can take care of myself? Then she forced herself to take a deep breath. She knew she was just on edge from her worry about Yakone, and the stress of being here in this stifling, eerie forest, so very, very far from her beloved oceans of ice and snow.

Back by the stream the group enjoyed the grouse, though Kallik noticed that Yakone didn’t eat much.

“Time to get moving,” Toklo announced once the bears were through.

Kallik rose reluctantly to her paws. She knew that Toklo was right; it was too dangerous to stay in one place. But Yakone was so ill that she was afraid that traveling would take more strength than he had left. I’ll have to help him, and hope he can stay on his paws.

As soon as they set out, Kallik realized how much more nervous Toklo was today than the day before. His glance was never still, flicking here and there as if he expected an enemy behind every bush. Just like I told him yesterday, Kallik thought. You can’t see what’s creeping up on you among all these trees.

Toklo kept on darting from the front of the group to the back, as if he couldn’t decide whether he wanted to lead or bring up the rear to watch for danger from behind.

“Toklo, stop it!” Lusa exclaimed after a while. “You’re making me tired! You know where we’re going, so you should lead us. I’ll keep a lookout behind.”

Toklo replied with no more than a grunt, but to Kallik’s relief he stopped skittering about and forged on steadily up the hill.

Kallik trudged along beside Yakone, who was weaker than ever, his pawsteps unsteady. She had to guide him around roots and low branches, and took almost his entire weight against her shoulders when they had to cross a stream. Yakone blundered on as if he didn’t know where he was anymore.

“We need to hunt,” he murmured. “Kallik, can you find a seal hole?”

Toklo glanced back, alarm in his eyes. “Yakone, we’re not on the ice,” he said. “There are no seals—”

“Shh,” Kallik interrupted, her heart twisting with pain at Yakone’s weakness and confusion. “Don’t tell him that,” she whispered to Toklo. “Let him think he’s somewhere safe.”

Toklo looked as if he was going to argue, then let out a sigh. “Okay, Kallik. Whatever you think is best.”