Kallik realized he was trying to make the parting easier for her by taking charge. She was grateful to him, but she knew that nothing could make it better. She rose to her paws. “I guess this is good-bye, then.”

Toklo ducked his head awkwardly. “Take care. Watch out for wolves.”

“We’ll never forget you.” Lusa padded up to Kallik and Yakone in turn and brushed her muzzle against their pelts. “May the spirits be with you.”

“You too.” Kallik felt as thought a huge paw was squeezing her heart until it would burst. “And we won’t forget you, either.”

“Good-bye.” Yakone dipped his head to the other two. “I’ve learned so much from you.”

With a last look at her friends, Kallik turned and padded into the trees beside Yakone.

As they headed up toward the ridge the forest was quiet, but it felt peaceful rather than threatening. Kallik was more aware than ever of the beauty of lush growth and dancing sunlight, but at the same time she knew she would never belong there. Even though she hated saying farewell to Lusa and Toklo, she was itching to feel the crunch of snow beneath her pads.

A rustle in the bushes behind her alerted Kallik, and she turned to see a young deer burst out into the open and run straight past her. Her muscles tensed for the chase, but then she relaxed and watched it vanish behind a bramble thicket.

Yakone hadn’t moved, either. “I think the trees are sending us prey to tempt us to stay here,” he said with a snort of amusement. “But we have to save our strength for the climb.”

Kallik nodded. “I know. I hope Toklo catches it.”

She padded on beside Yakone, following the slope of the hill through the forest. Eventually they reached a narrow shoulder of land, where they struck upward to reach the ridge. She walked slowly for Yakone’s sake, taking a last look around and noting the landmarks that had become so familiar.

We’ve been here long enough to get used to the forest by now. There’s the bush like a crouching bear . . . and the stream where Toklo and I caught a ptarmigan . . .

“Yakone,” she said in sudden panic, “do you think we’ll still be able to find food in the snow? After all, the wolves couldn’t find any. . . .”

Yakone touched his snout briefly to her shoulder. “At least we won’t be competing with the wolves for prey,” he pointed out. “They’re all down here in the forest.”

“You’re right,” Kallik agreed. “And our white pelts will blend in better up there. Hunting will be more natural for us. We’ll be fine.”