Aiyanna murmured agreement. “I fought hard to win mine.” Rising to her paws, she pointed her snout farther up the hill. “Come with me,” she invited.

Lusa got up and followed Aiyanna through the trees until they came to the edge of a rocky river that tumbled down from the mountains. Aiyanna padded along the bank until they came to a spot where they could cross the river by stepping-stones.

“Careful!” Aiyanna warned. “They can get slippery.”

Lusa hopped across warily, wondering where Aiyanna was taking her. As Aiyanna jumped onto the opposite bank, a waterbird took off with a loud alarm call and flapped away into the trees. Aiyanna bounded up to the place where it had appeared.

“I’ve had my eye on this for a day or two,” she said.

Lusa ran over to her and saw a nest with three speckled blue eggs. Her jaws began to water at the thought of crunching them up.

“Come on, we’ll take them back to your den,” Aiyanna said.

It was difficult to carry three eggs between them, especially crossing the river, but finally, by passing them back and forth to each other, they made it back to the den among the vines.

“These are for you and Toklo,” Aiyanna said, surprising Lusa. “Just to prove to you that I can be a friend.”

“Thank you,” Lusa responded. “That’s really good of you.”

Aiyanna dipped her head. “I’ll see you around,” she said, and disappeared into the trees.

Lusa watched her go, warmed by the she-bear’s generous gesture. Maybe the forest isn’t such a hostile place after all, she thought.

Chapter Eighteen - Toklo

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Toklo

When Lusa had set out hunting, Toklo slumped to the ground, resentment seething in his belly. Lusa wants to leave, Kallik and Yakone have already gone . . . he thought dejectedly. This is the forest where I was born, but now it’s overrun by wolves and the bear that drove me out with Oka and Tobi. He closed his eyes. There’s nothing I can do . . . nothing.

Then a familiar scent wreathed around him, and Toklo’s eyes flew open. “Ujurak?” he whispered. He looked around, but he was still alone. No familiar brown-bear shape appeared from the undergrowth, but the scent was still there. Toklo felt as if it was stirring him to do something.

Maybe Ujurak is reminding me that I’m never alone, not when he’s watching out for me from the stars.

Toklo rose, feeling energy returning to his limbs, and began searching for his friend. “Ujurak! Ujurak!” he called. There was no answer, but a ptarmigan emerged from a thicket and began pecking around in front of him.

“Ujurak, is that you?” Toklo asked uncertainly.

The bird looked at him, its head cocked on one side, then fluttered off into a bush with a disdainful chack. Toklo stood looking after it, feeling stupid. I’m glad Lusa didn’t see that!