The day before, they had stood at the very top of the rocks, looking out at the horizon. In one direction lay the huge flat plain that led toward the Melting Sea. In another, the mountains led all the way to the Endless Ice.

“I can’t believe we traveled so far!” Kallik had told Yakone. “Sometimes it was really scary—once we had to swim across a huge river, and I was convinced Lusa wouldn’t make it. I practically had to carry her across on my back.”

“You were very brave,” Yakone replied.

Kallik shrugged. “I didn’t feel brave at the time. And some things were wonderful,” she went on, “like at Great Bear Lake, where we joined in the ceremonies for the Longest Day. I’ve never seen so many bears all in one place!”

“Really?” Yakone sounded even more impressed. “We celebrated the Longest Day on Star Island, too, but it was just us.”

Kallik felt a pang of sadness that she would never see Star Island again. Kissimi will be growing big now, she thought, remembering the cub she had rescued. “Do you miss your home, Yakone?” she asked.

The white bear nodded. “I do, but not as much as I’d miss you if I left you to go back there.” He hesitated, then added, “But someday I’d like to see them again: Aga, and Illa, and even Unalaq.”

“Your brother?” Kallik asked, wondering how one mother could give birth to an awesome bear like Yakone, and a bear like Unalaq, who had done everything he could to make trouble for the travelers.

“Yes . . . he wasn’t always such a fish-brain,” Yakone said. “We had some good times together when we were cubs. We used to make burrows in the snow and see who could stay down there the longest. And I used to have races with him and Illa.”

“Who won?” Kallik asked.

“Illa, usually. She’s fast! And in snow-sky, when the sun hardly rose at all,” Yakone added, “we used to hunt seal by starlight. That was awesome!”

The sun had gone down while they were speaking, and stars began to appear overhead. Kallik searched for the brightest star of all, knowing that it pointed out the path to the Endless Ice.

It must have been great, living on Star Island, she thought. I wish we hadn’t needed to leave so soon. I spent all that time traveling to the Endless Ice, and then I never really got to experience it.

Yakone was gazing at the bright star, too. “I think I can smell the Endless Ice on the wind,” he said, a teasing note in his voice.

“Oh, sure!” Kallik gave him a shove. “And I can smell the seals underneath it!”

Yakone’s gaze drifted back to the sky, where more and more stars were appearing. “Do you think Ujurak is up there watching us?” he said.