“Give him one more chance,” Lusa urged her. “He’s only acting like this because he doesn’t want to hurt you anymore.”

Kallik half sat up, water streaming from her pelt. “Huh?”

“I think Yakone is afraid of being too weak to keep up with us, or protect us,” Lusa explained. “He’s afraid to try walking in case he can’t.” She could see Kallik was unconvinced.

“Well, he’s being ridiculous!” the white bear said.

“Just think about how much he gave up to be with us,” Lusa reminded her. “To be with you. His family, his home on Star Island . . . He’s been so strong, so brave in getting this far. How can he imagine a future when he isn’t as strong?”

Kallik blinked. She rose to her paws and clambered out of the stream. “I hadn’t thought about it like that. Maybe you’re right. I’m going to go to the stupid cloud-brain right now and tell him that it’s okay.”

“No!” Lusa raised a paw to stop her friend. “Stay here. I’ll bring him to you.”

Kallik looked bewildered. “How?” she asked.

Lusa gave an excited little bounce. “Just wait and see!”

Charging through the trees, Lusa burst into the den as if all the wolves in the forest were chasing after her. “Toklo!” she gasped. “Come quick! Kallik is trapped under a rockfall!”

But only Yakone was in the den; Lusa was relieved to see that Toklo had obeyed her and stayed hidden in the bushes.

Yakone sat up, alarm in his eyes. “What happened?” he barked.

“Kallik is stuck under a rock,” Lusa panted. “It rolled down the bank of the stream on top of her. I can’t lift it! You’ll have to come and help.”

Terror flashed into the white bear’s eyes. For a moment he hesitated; then he hauled himself to his paws. Staggering, his chest heaving with deep breaths, he took a pace or two across the den floor. Yes! You can do it! Lusa shouted in her mind, though outwardly she remained silent, afraid of distracting Yakone.

Limping badly, but with his jaw set determinedly, Yakone lurched forward and dragged himself out of the den. “Which way?” he demanded as Lusa scrambled after him.

“Follow me!”

Lusa headed back toward the stream where she had left Kallik. Inside she was fizzing with excitement, but she forced herself to go slowly, giving Yakone the chance to figure out how to balance on three and a half paws. He stumbled along, muttering angrily as he tripped over stones or collided with trees, but he kept going. Gradually he picked up speed, still limping, but getting used to the different motion.

As they approached the stream, Lusa heard Kallik’s voice. “Yakone! Is that you?”

“I’m coming!” Yakone roared in reply. “Wait there!”

“What?” Kallik asked, appearing from behind a tree.

Yakone let out a huff of relief. “You freed yourself!”