Sounds were coming from the no-claw dens, but so far they hadn’t seen any flat-faces outside. Then, about halfway along the BlackPath, the pelt across one of the gaps was suddenly swept aside. A flat-face cub was peering out: a female, with long yellow head-fur.

Kallik and the others froze, pinned under the blazing light of one of the thin trees.

‘Oh, no, she’s seen us!’ Kallik yelped.

But the cub remained still, her face and paws pressed to the shiny stuff covering the gap. Finally she raised one of her pink paws and waved it at them.

‘I think she’s friendly,’ Lusa whispered.

‘Let’s not wait to find out.’ Toklo nudged Kallik. ‘Run!’

With Toklo a bearlength ahead, the bears charged down the BlackPath. Toklo led them around corners and down narrow gaps between buildings until they had left the flat-face cub far behind.

‘Nobody followed us!’ Lusa panted as they came to a halt in an open space.

Kallik looked around, trying to catch her breath and get her bearings. ‘You know something?’ she said after a moment, her heart sinking. ‘I think we’ve been here before. We’re going in circles.’

She raised her head and gazed up at the stars. Guide us, Silaluk, please. We’re lost!

She jumped as Toklo gave her a shove and muttered, ‘Flat-faces coming, cloud-brain! Move!’

Intent on the sky, Kallik hadn’t heard the voices heading towards them. Shivering, she huddled with Lusa and Toklo in the shadow of a big white den, while the group of full-grown males walked past them.

Toklo puffed out a breath when they had gone. ‘They didn’t see us.’ Glancing up and down the BlackPath, he added, ‘We’re no nearer to finding Ujurak. I think we should get out of here.’

‘Hey, Toklo! Kallik!’ Lusa had moved further down the side of the white den, and hadn’t heard what the brown bear said. Her voice was excited. ‘Come and look at this!’

‘What now?’ Toklo grumbled, but he padded over to her, and Kallik followed behind, her curiosity piqued.

‘Look!’ Lusa was gazing up at a row of huge metal cans with lids on the top. ‘Food!’

Kallik’s belly rumbled; she had been trying to forget how hungry she was. ‘Really?’ she asked hopefully.

‘Really,’ Lusa said. ‘Toklo, can you tip one over? Carefully. We don’t want to make more noise than we can help.’

Toklo didn’t move. ‘It’s not a good idea. We need to leave now, before they catch us. Besides, who wants to eat flat-face rubbish?’

‘I’m not leaving without Ujurak,’ Lusa responded stubbornly. ‘And if we’re going to go on looking, we need to eat.’

Toklo let out a sigh. ‘Don’t blame me if it all goes wrong.’