Kallik hesitated, then let out a long sigh. “It’s hard . . . but I think Lusa’s right. If there’s a chance to help Yakone, we have to take it.”

Toklo gave Lusa a long look, as if he was sizing her up. Then he nodded curtly. “Okay. But I still think you’re bee-brained.”

“Great!” Excitement surged up in Lusa again. “I’ll start right away.”

“Try not to do anything stupid,” Toklo said.

Kallik rose to her paws and padded along beside Lusa for a few bearlengths. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I pray that Silaluk will watch over you.”

Lusa touched her snout to her friend’s shoulder. Kallik didn’t say Ujurak, she thought sadly. We all feel like we’re on our own now. None of us know if Ujurak is still watching over us.

Chapter Five - Lusa

CHAPTER FIVE

Lusa

Lusa plunged down the slope toward the river that she’d seen from the treetop. It will take me almost all the way to the flat-face denning place.

But now that she was on her own, the trees seemed eerily quiet, more close-packed than the part of the forest where she had left her friends. She kept all her senses alert for danger, scanning the ground for the small pawprints that would betray the presence of wolves. A creaking sound scared her, and she spun around, only to realize that it was just an ancient oak tree shifting in the wind. She crouched down in a clump of ferns when an unfamiliar scent tickled her nose, and watched as a fox trotted across her path. As she set off again, her heart was pounding.

Have I taken on too much? It’s such a long way . . . but I have to help Yakone! I have to!

Sunhigh came and went, and Lusa trekked on, stopping only to tear off some leaves from a particularly juicy-looking bush. As she munched the succulent greenery, she heard the crunch of large pawsteps. At the same moment the scent of brown bear washed over her; the strong smell of the leaves had masked it until the bear was almost upon her. He was big, old, strong, moving confidently through the bushes. Could it be Old Grizzly?

Lusa hurled herself into the bush and peered out from beneath the lowest branches. The huge brown bear lumbered by, his head swinging from side to side as if he was looking for prey. Lusa froze, hoping that the smell of the bush would hide her scent, like it had hidden his from her. He’s massive!

The brown bear paused, sniffing the air suspiciously, and Lusa squeezed her eyes shut, convinced that her last moments had come. When she dared to look again, the bear had swung around and was plodding away into the undergrowth. Lusa waited until she was sure he had gone before she crawled out of the bush again.

Thank the spirits! He never saw me.