“I came here to find a healing den, like the one where the flat-faces took you,” Lusa explained in a rush. Pointing with her paw, she added, “It’s that big white den over there. I thought I’d find some flat-face herbs there, like the ones they gave you. But I can’t get in!” Her voice rose to a wail. “And even if I could, I don’t know what I’m looking for!”

Ujurak blinked at her.

He knows it was a stupid plan, Lusa thought miserably.

But then Ujurak nodded. “That could work,” he said. “It was a great idea, Lusa, and you’re very brave to try it on your own.”

“But I failed,” Lusa whimpered. “And now Yakone will die. Unless you can do something to help us?”

Ujurak rubbed his snout against her head. “You look so tired, little one. Just sleep now.”

Lusa didn’t want to sleep; she was too worried about Yakone. But exhaustion crashed over her like a massive black wave. She saw Ujurak’s face, loving and confident, growing smaller and smaller until it faded away and left only darkness.

Chapter Eight - Kallik

CHAPTER EIGHT

Kallik

Kallik woke in the night and looked up through the tangled branches that covered the den to see the stars twinkling high above. She could just make out Silaluk, forever running around the Pathway Star, forever fleeing from Robin, Chickadee, and Moose Bird.

Nisa told me that story in the birth den with Taqqiq, Kallik remembered. It seems like such a long time ago.

She shifted uncomfortably, feeling the heat that rose from Yakone’s body. She wondered if she would ever see the ice again. Should I have stayed on the Melting Sea with Taqqiq and the other white bears? she asked herself again.

Guilt flooded over her once more. If she and Yakone had stayed, then Yakone wouldn’t have been injured, and they wouldn’t be stuck in this den now, like a couple of squirrels, hot and dusty and hungry. . . .

And perhaps Lusa wouldn’t have been lost, either. She only went off on her own because she wanted to help Yakone.

Two sunrises had passed since Lusa left. Toklo and Kallik hadn’t dared go very far to search for her, though on the day before they had each made several short forays.

I called for her until I lost my voice, but there was no trace of her.

By the time the sun went down, Kallik had been convinced that the wolves had taken Lusa. What if they had battled over the same prey and they had killed her?

“But there’s no sign of a struggle, or blood,” Toklo had pointed out. “Lusa wouldn’t have given up without a good fight.”