As they trudged past a thicket of thornbushes, an Arctic ground squirrel sprang out of the branches, almost under Kallik’s paws. She launched herself after it, and managed to bring it down with a swift blow to the head.

‘Well done!’ Toklo exclaimed, trotting up to give the prey a sniff.

‘Thank the spirits,’ Kallik said. ‘They knew what we needed.’

She picked up the squirrel and carried it into the shelter of a rocky outcrop that jutted from the hillside at the edge of the trail. Lusa followed her a few moments later, carrying a couple of thorn branches that still bore some late berries. Her eyes were sparkling. ‘It’s a feast!’ she said, dropping the branches beside the body of the squirrel.

‘Maybe for you, small one.’ Kallik gave her friend an affectionate nudge. ‘Toklo and I are getting so big, it’s harder to fill our bellies.’

Looking around for the brown bear, Kallik spotted him a few bearlengths away, gazing up at the treecovered mountain slopes. ‘Hey, Toklo!’ she called. ‘Aren’t you hungry?’

The young grizzly jumped, then galloped to the side of the trail and crouched down with Kallik and Lusa to share their prey. The night was growing colder, and though the rocks sheltered them from the worst of the wind, Kallik could still pick up the scent of ice, blown from the ocean. Peace spread through her as she ate her share; Ujurak was safe, and she knew that soon she would be able to return to the ice.

‘We did it,’ Lusa said when they had finished the squirrel and were nibbling on the last of the berries. ‘We’ve saved Ujurak, working together. We’re a great team!’

Kallik murmured agreement, but Toklo was silent. Faint apprehension tingled in Kallik’s paws when she saw the distant look in his eyes.

‘Ujurak isn’t our responsibility any more,’ he announced.

Lusa looked puzzled. ‘But he’s still our friend.’

‘I know, but . . .’ Toklo let his voice trail off, then took a deep breath. ‘Ujurak is safe now,’ he said. ‘His life isn’t in danger any more, and we have reached the end of our journey. This is a place where we can live safely, with plenty of food and shelter. It’s time that I followed my own path.’

‘What?’ Lusa yelped, her eyes wide with dismay. ‘You can’t leave us now, Toklo. You can’t!’

‘I have to,’ Toklo replied.

Hesitating slightly, he reached forward and touched his nose to Kallik’s, then to Lusa’s. Then he turned towards the trail the caribou had followed, long before, winding up to a pass that led into the mountains. With a panicky squeal, Lusa scrambled in front of him and blocked his path.

‘Toklo, please don’t go,’ she begged.