As much as he hated to admit it, Toklo had a grudging respect for the she-bear, and for how she had carved out her own territory, even though she was so young. And he didn’t want to make enemies where he didn’t have to, not if he was planning to find a territory of his own near here.

Sighing, he turned away, heading past Lusa and back down the path. “I’ll ask Aiyanna the next time I see her,” he decided. “I don’t want to get into a fight over this.”

Even as he retreated, he felt as if every muscle in his body, every hair on his pelt, was pulling him toward his brother’s burial mound. But he remembered Aiyanna’s defiant gaze and how ready she had been to fight, even though he was bigger and stronger than her. If I go to visit Tobi, it has to be with Aiyanna’s permission.

Setting a faster pace, in case he was tempted to go back, Toklo plunged downhill again, following the course of the stream with Lusa scrambling after him. Their path led them through thick green undergrowth, which tugged at their pelts and dotted them with leaves. Toklo began to relax.

“This feels more like home!” he murmured.

“But it’s still way too quiet,” Lusa pointed out.

Toklo had to admit she was right, although when they reached the valley bottom he could hear more birdsong, and there were hints of prey-scent in the air.

“Maybe the wolves haven’t hunted this far yet,” Lusa suggested.

Toklo let out a grunt. “If they haven’t, it’s only a matter of time.”

He still hadn’t tracked down any prey when Lusa halted, pointing with her snout to a spot on the other side of the stream. “That looks like a place where we might find good herbs for Yakone,” she said. “I know we’ve got the flat-face stuff, but I want the big, soothing leaves that are good for wrapping his paw.”

Without waiting for a response from Toklo, she waded across the stream, which was wider and deeper here. Rocks jutted out on the other side; Lusa had to pad along a narrow ledge between the boulders and the water.

“Lusa, watch out!” Toklo called.

Lusa waved a paw before vanishing around a bend, where a rocky outcrop cut her off from sight. A moment later Toklo heard her squeal in shock.

“Lusa!” he called. Great spirits! What has the bee-brain done now?

Toklo plunged into the stream and raced after his friend, stumbling and slipping and casting up waves in his haste to reach her. As he skidded around the bend, he spotted Lusa standing safely on dry land, staring at two small brown heads that were peeping over the top of a rock.

“Look, Toklo! Bear cubs!” she exclaimed.