Then a fearsome snarling ripped the night, and a lean, gray shadow appeared at the opening of the den. Roaring, Toklo leaped upward, lashing out with claws and teeth. The wolf vanished, but a moment later more of them loomed out of the darkness. They were all around the den, trying to force their way through the brambles, letting out furious snarls and yelps as the prickly tendrils tore at their fur.

Kallik drew closer to Yakone, desperately afraid that his injury wasn’t healed enough to fight.

“Don’t worry about me! I can fight for myself!” he told her, letting out a bellow as he flung himself at the nearest wolf.

Kallik felt a moment’s joy at Yakone’s recovery of confidence and power before the wolves were upon her, and there was no more time for thought. The night filled up with howling and snapping teeth, the trampling of paws and the crashing of bodies thrusting through the protective undergrowth. The wolves seemed convinced the bears had something they wanted.

Back-to-back with Yakone, Kallik tried to defend the rear of the den. She was battered on all sides by wolves that sprang out of the darkness, their teeth bared as they tried to sink their jaws into her pelt. Her thick fur helped to protect her, but she knew that her white coloring made her a target. The wolves, gray as the shadows, were almost invisible to her, but she struck out at them and felt a fierce satisfaction when her claws connected with flesh.

A wolf leaped on top of her and Kallik staggered, knowing that if she fell, she would feel its fangs in her throat. Recovering, she flung it off and bit down hard on its sinewy gray shoulder. The wolf yelped, tore itself away, and vanished into the darkness. Kallik spat out a mouthful of fur and plunged forward to drive off the next attacker.

Briefly she caught a glimpse of Lusa, lashing out from the shelter of her bush whenever a wolf got too near. Her black fur hid her, so her attacks seemed to come out of nowhere.

Kallik had no idea how long she stood there in the den, slamming her paws down on any wolf that came within reach. Gradually the night grew quieter, and the wolves weren’t attacking so fiercely. But she didn’t let herself relax. Determined to keep going, she kept on aiming blows at shadows that seemed to melt into the darkness.

When she felt a paw land heavily on her shoulder, Kallik spun around and reared up, ready to strike down with all her strength.

“Wait!” Yakone exclaimed, pulling out of the way. “It’s me. You can stop fighting now. The wolves have gone.”