“While you do that, I’m going to see what’s up ahead,” Toklo announced. “Lusa, keep watch.” He swung around and headed up the hill before any bear could reply.

Lusa shrugged, dropping her leaves beside Yakone. “He always has to be doing something,” she said.

It wasn’t long before Toklo returned. Kallik had finished dressing Yakone’s wounded paw and was trying to rouse him to eat some of the painkilling leaves. She started as the bushes rustled, half expecting an attack, then relaxed as Toklo emerged into the open.

Lusa, too, had turned alertly toward the noise. “Did you see anything?” she asked Toklo. “Any wolves?”

Toklo shook his head. “No wolves, other bears, or prey,” he replied. “But we still need to get moving. I want to reach the top of this hill before nightfall.”

Kallik glanced down at Yakone, who was sunk deep in unconsciousness. She wasn’t sure how they were going to continue on, yet she knew Toklo was right. We have to keep going, however difficult it is.

“There’s a hollow just on the other side of the ridge, where we can spend the night,” Toklo continued, as Kallik began to wake Yakone. “It’s sheltered, and there aren’t as many trees, so it’ll be harder for anything to sneak up on us.”

“Sounds great,” Lusa said.

With a huge effort, Kallik managed to get Yakone onto his paws. The white bear mumbled something, but Kallik couldn’t make any sense of what he was trying to say. He seemed to have shrunk since they left the firesnake, his pelt hanging loosely on his bones, and his eyes glazed with fever.

When they set out, Yakone could barely walk, and as the slope grew steeper, he kept slipping back, his limp paws unable to get a solid grip on the dry earth. Kallik was taking almost all his weight by now, boosting him along on her shoulder. The top of the hill never seemed to get any closer.

“This is no good,” Kallik panted, letting Yakone slump to the ground again. “Toklo, let me see if there’s an easier way to get up there.”

Toklo’s ears twitched impatiently. “Okay, but hurry,” he said.

Kallik padded along the side of the hill, scanning the undergrowth. Eventually she spotted a track that wound back and forth with a shallower slope. It was a longer route to the top but would be much easier for Yakone to manage.

“Over here!” she called.

Her friends made their way toward her with Toklo supporting Yakone, while Lusa once more brought up the rear and kept an eye out for danger. But as soon as Toklo reached Kallik and began to examine the track she had found, he stiffened and gave the air a long, careful sniff.

“What’s wrong?” Kallik demanded.