But Lusa could understand how Yakone didn’t want to be their weak link, especially in a place where there were wolves and hostile bears. A stab of pity shot through her. There has to be a way to show him that he can still walk. . . .

Lusa slept at last and woke to Kallik’s voice, sounding exasperated.

“Yakone, you have to eat something!”

Opening her eyes, Lusa saw Kallik standing over Yakone, the body of a grouse on the floor of the den between them. Yakone gave it a glance, then dropped his nose on his paws and closed his eyes. Lusa could almost taste his misery on the air.

“Please, Yakone!” Kallik begged. “If you won’t eat—”

Yakone’s eyes flew open again. “Stop fussing!” he snapped. “I’m not a cub. If I can’t hunt, I don’t deserve to eat.”

Kallik recoiled. “Fine!” she hissed. “Starve if you want! Just think about yourself. It’s all you ever do.” With a snort of fury, she scrambled out of the den.

Yakone let his nose drop to his paws, but Lusa could see the pain in his eyes and knew how much he hated hurting Kallik. Toklo, who had woken during the argument, opened his jaws to speak, but Lusa shook her head at him and beckoned him to follow her out of the den.

“I’ve got an idea,” she told him, when they were both standing outside the den. “I want you to go hunting.”

Toklo gaped at her; he was still barely awake, and Lusa could tell he was in a grouchy mood. “Are you bee-brained?” he grumbled. “Kallik has gone storming off to the spirits know where, and you want me to leave you alone with Yakone? No chance!”

“It’s daylight. We’ll be fine,” Lusa pointed out. “And it won’t be for long. I just have to find Kallik and tell her—”

“Lusa!” Toklo interrupted. “That’ll mean Yakone is left on his own. You can’t do that!”

Lusa bit back a hiss of irritation. “Just trust me,” she said. “If it worries you, then hide in the bushes over there. Only don’t come out, whatever happens or whatever I say. My plan won’t work unless Yakone thinks he’s alone.”

Toklo hesitated, then let out a sigh. “Okay. But if any wolves turn up, you bet I’m coming out!” He plodded off to the thicket.

When Toklo was gone, Lusa picked up Kallik’s scent trail and followed it until she reached the edge of a stream. Kallik had flopped down in the shallow water, her eyes half-closed.

Lusa sat on the bank beside her. “Hi,” she said. “I have an idea about Yakone.”

Kallik gave her a dispirited glance, shaking her head. “Whatever it is, it won’t work. He’s ready to lie down and die in that den. I’ve done all I can.”