“Older wounds?” Toklo remembered the evidence of the fight that he and Lusa had found the day before. “Was it you who fought some wolves over a deer?”

The older bear drew himself up with a touch of pride. “Yes, that was me,” he replied gruffly. “I drove off those mangy beasts—four of them!” Rounding on Aiyanna, he added, “What do you think of that?”

“I think the rest of the pack came back to get revenge,” Aiyanna retorted. “Perhaps you should have left them alone with their catch.”

“And let them take over the whole forest?” Chogan said. “Never!”

“He’s right,” Toklo told Aiyanna. “Someone has to stand up to the wolves.”

“You’re a stranger, so keep your snout out of our business,” Chogan barked at him. His gaze flicked past Toklo to Lusa, who had padded up quietly and was listening wide-eyed to the exchange. “Oh, now I know who you are,” Chogan continued. “I’ve heard about the black, brown, and white bears who’ve moved in. Where are the white bears?” he added with a sneer. “Have you fed them to the wolves?”

Toklo opened his jaws to snarl a furious reply when Lusa jumped in. “They’re safe,” she told Chogan.

Chogan gave a surprised grunt. “So are all of you trespassing on my territory? Didn’t you notice my scent marks, you stupid young bears?”

“We’re not trespassing,” Toklo pointed out. He wanted to give this ungrateful bear a good wallop around his ears, but he restrained himself. “We came to save your hide, or have you forgotten?”

Chogan shrugged that off. “Just go,” he snarled. “Find a home of your own, if black and brown bears are living together these days.”

“I don’t think Toklo is used to scent marks,” Aiyanna suggested. “He’s been sniffing around my territory, too.”

Toklo bristled. I only wanted to see where Tobi is buried. “Come on, Lusa,” he said. “We’re leaving.”

Aiyanna padded after them as they climbed the slope out of the hollow; Toklo was aware of Chogan’s angry gaze boring into his back until he was hidden by the trees.

“I can’t believe how ungrateful he was!” Lusa exclaimed.

“He’s a miserable old bear,” Aiyanna said. “Everyone knows to leave him alone. He’s been here longer than any of us can remember, and no bear ever threatens his territory.”

“I’m not surprised,” Toklo muttered. “No one would want to put up with the stink of his mangy pelt!”

Toklo and Lusa padded together with Aiyanna until they crossed the scent marks of Chogan’s border.

“You fought well,” Toklo told Aiyanna, though he couldn’t help thinking that if Kallik and Yakone had still been here, they wouldn’t have needed her help. “Is that how you deal with wolves?”