“No,” Kallik admitted, realizing that he still didn’t understand. “But we’re not comfortable here. And Yakone can’t fight wolves every night. If the wolves have left the peaks, then we should go there.” She paused, waiting for what she was saying to sink in, but Toklo just studied his paws. “Besides,” Kallik went on, “we’ll attract too much attention down here. Our white pelts stand out too much. It’s better for brown and black bears to stay in the trees, where they can hide in the shadows . . . while white bears go where there’s snow.”

“I won’t leave the forest,” Toklo said stubbornly.

“I don’t expect you to.” Kallik’s voice was quiet. “Yakone and I will go alone.”

Toklo looked up at her again; Kallik saw that at last he had realized what she was suggesting. “You mean . . . we’ll split up?”

Kallik nodded. “Yakone and I came with you from the Melting Sea to help you find your home. And you’ve found it.”

Toklo blinked. “So you’re leaving?”

“Yes. I haven’t talked to Yakone yet, but I think we should live among the peaks until he’s strong enough to go back to the Melting Sea.”

“But what about Lusa?” Toklo challenged her. “Don’t you want to stay and find a home for her, too?”

Kallik looked around her, gesturing with one paw. “Look at all these trees. This is where Lusa belongs, just like you.” She paused. “Toklo, we always knew our journey together would come to an end sometime. I think this is it.”

Chapter Twelve - Toklo

CHAPTER TWELVE

Toklo

Toklo felt his vision blur as he stared at Kallik. There were too many emotions swirling inside him to say anything. This might be the place where I was born, but it’s full of wolves and hostile bears, and it just doesn’t feel like home. He found it hard to admit, even to himself, but he wasn’t ready for his friends to go yet. He couldn’t imagine living without Kallik—or even Yakone.

“I’m going hunting,” he growled. Swinging around, he headed into the trees.

The forest was full of the scent of wolves; Toklo felt that the stench was lapping at him like greasy water, clinging to his fur. He was surrounded by an eerie silence, as if every scrap of prey had been killed or frightened off in the attack the previous night.

I’ve had it up to here with wolves, and white bears, and everything!