River of Lost Bears (11 page)

What will happen to me?

Wondering whether she'd ever find a home of her own, Lusa rested against Toklo and slipped into sleep.

 

Lusa dreamed she sat in a patch of soft grass. Around her the forest bloomed, lush and green. Sweet berries clustered above her head. As she reached up and hooked the branch closer with her claws, a growl sounded from beyond the trees.

Lusa stiffened. She let go of the berries and scrambled to her paws. The forest faded. Fear dropped like a stone in her belly as the growl sounded again.

This wasn't part of the dream.
I need to wake up!

Lusa blinked open her eyes. The edge of the forest glowed in dawn light. A roar shattered the air. She jumped as Toklo leaped to his paws.

Hakan was charging from the trees, heading toward Kallik, Yakone, and Chenoa.

“Look out!” Lusa jumped up. Pain seared from her wound.

Kallik and Yakone were struggling to their paws. Chenoa was already rearing up as her brother raced toward them.

“Stay here, Lusa.” Toklo bounded away and stopped shoulder to shoulder with the white bears.

Hakan skidded to a halt a bearlength in front of them. “Why are you all still here?”

Lusa stared. Was Hakan crazy? Picking a fight with three bears twice his size, when they weren't even on his territory?

Chenoa padded forward. “Go away, Hakan!” Her fur bristled along her spine.

Hakan puffed out his chest. “I found feathers and blood in the forest. You've been hunting there.”

Toklo stepped forward. “It's not your territory.”

Hakan curled his lip at Chenoa. “You've been hunting with them, haven't you? How dare you betray me? I have been nothing but loyal to you, yet you give prey to my enemies!”

Lusa saw Yakone show his long, white teeth. Hakan was going to get hurt if he didn't back down. She limped forward. “We're not your enemies!” Wincing at the pain in her rump, she nosed her way between Toklo and Kallik.

Hakan ignored her. “Come home with me, Chenoa.” There was menace in his growl.

Yakone's claws scraped rock as he flexed them.

“Leave her alone, Hakan,” Lusa pleaded.

Kallik leaned forward. “Chenoa, come with us. You don't have to go with him.”

“Yes, she does,” Hakan snapped. “She owes me that much.”

“Chenoa doesn't owe you anything!” Kallik met Hakan's gaze.

“She killed our mother!”

Lusa blinked. What did he mean? She felt Toklo bristle beside her. “Do you know what he's talking about?” she whispered.

Toklo didn't answer. Instead he snarled at Hakan. “You can't blame her for your mother's death!”

Hakan's eyes glittered. “If it wasn't for Chenoa, she'd still be alive!”

Lusa pushed past Toklo and stopped a muzzlelength away from Hakan. He was stocky and scarred, and his hot, sour breath bathed her nose. Weak with pain, she fought to stop trembling. “You must miss your mother, Hakan.” She turned to Chenoa. “You too.”

Chenoa dipped her head.

“I miss
my
mother,” Lusa went on. “I know she's still alive, but I'll probably never see her again.” The words pierced her heart. “But I don't let it stop me from going on with my life and doing what I want to do. If I did, I wouldn't be here.” She glanced back at her traveling friends. “Nor would they.”

Kallik caught her eye, her gaze softening.

“We've all lost someone, Hakan.” Lusa turned back to the black bear.

Hakan's snout dipped. “I don't want to lose anyone else.” He glanced at Chenoa.

“She'll always be your sister,” Lusa reassured him. “But you can't keep her near you just to make yourself feel better. She has her own life. You have to let her go if that's what she wants.”

Lusa held Hakan's gaze for a moment, hope fluttering in her belly.
Please let her go without a fight.

Brown fur flashed on the edge of Lusa's vision. She jerked around. Toklo was backing away. “Come on,” he growled. “This is none of our business.”

Lusa stared after him.
“What?”

Toklo paused. “Hakan's right. Chenoa's his sister. She doesn't know us. She should stay with him.”

Chenoa's eyes widened. “But I thought—”

Toklo cut her off. “Thanks for the help, Chenoa, but it's time we moved on.”

“Toklo!” Kallik sounded shocked. “Lusa's injured, remember?”

“I'll carry her if I have to.” Toklo dipped his head to Hakan. “Your sister's been a great help, but we're leaving now. I promise you won't see us again.”

Lusa saw Yakone and Kallik exchange glances. They were as confused as she was.

Toklo nudged Lusa with his muzzle. “Come on.”

She staggered as he jostled her away down the shore. “But we can't just—”

“It's for the best.” Toklo halted. “Do you want me to carry you?”

Lusa shot him a furious look. “No, thank you!” She didn't care how much it hurt to walk. She glanced back at Kallik.

The white bear was leading Yakone after them. Chenoa watched them go, her eyes clouded with confusion.

“Toklo!” Lusa called out, but Toklo was stomping away along the shore.

“Come on, Lusa,” Kallik whispered gently as she passed.

“But it's not fair,” Lusa objected.

“There's nothing we can do.” Kallik headed away after Toklo, Yakone at her side.

Swallowing her anger, Lusa followed. Her wounds stung like fire, but she kept walking. There was no way she was asking for help. Especially from Toklo! What was up with him? Perhaps he just wanted to get home, back to brown bears. Lusa could understand that. It'd been great having another black bear around. She hadn't been the only small bear anymore. And Kallik clearly enjoyed having Yakone with her. Was Toklo just jealous that he was the odd one out? Was that why he'd abandoned Chenoa?

But did it really matter anymore who was a brown bear or a black bear or a white bear?
We're like family, aren't we?

Her pelt pricked with unease.
But Toklo's going home; Kallik and Yakone will return to the ice. We're not bound like kin at all.

Stones rolled beneath her paws and she stumbled, choking back a squeak of pain. Her vision darkened, Kallik and Yakone melting together as though she was seeing them through water. She felt a nose nudge her flank.
Yakone.
He was easing her up onto his shoulder with Kallik's help.

Weak with relief, Lusa hung there, rolling with the movement as he padded on beside Kallik. The thick fishy scent of him filled her nose, and she let the forest blur in front of her eyes. She buried her nose deeper into his pelt.
We
are
like family!

But what had happened to Toklo? Why had he abandoned Chenoa? Yesterday he had been so fired up, ready to defend her. Why had he stopped caring? Anger surged through Lusa.
Chenoa saved my life!
Didn't that count for anything?

The stony shore gave way to dry, crackly sedge stalks. Yakone waded through them, Kallik at his side. The heavy clouds shielded the sun, and a brisk breeze chilled the air.

“Are you glad to be back by the river?” Kallik asked Yakone.

“I like anywhere I can see the sky,” Yakone answered. “Besides, it's too easy to get lost in the woods.”

“Not when we were with Ujurak,” Kallik murmured wistfully. “He always knew the route. There were signs only he could see.”

Lusa felt Yakone's pelt twitch beneath her. “Like what?”

“The way plants grew in a certain direction,” Kallik explained. “Or stones that seemed to block the wrong path.”

“Plants and stones?” Yakone huffed. “I prefer a nice, wide-flowing river. It's a lot easier to spot.”

Lusa closed her eyes. Their voices gradually blurred into a single murmur as she drifted into sleep.

Movement woke her. Yakone was sliding her into a bed of bracken. Lusa lifted her head and gazed around. The river here ran smooth and flat, lapping at a long stretch of pebbly shore. Toklo was sniffing at the bushes edging the tree line, rearing onto his hind legs now and then to peer into the woods. “Are we stopping?” Lusa murmured.

“Yakone's tired,” Kallik told her gently.

Lusa felt hot with embarrassment. The clouds showed late, fading light. Yakone must have been carrying her for ages. “Sorry!”

“You don't have to apologize. You can't walk yet.” Turning, Yakone headed for the river. “I'm going to cool down.”

“How are your wounds?” Kallik sniffed at her rump.

“They hurt,” Lusa admitted. “But the plant juice has helped.” The scorching pain had definitely eased. She sniffed her bracken bedding. “Did you make this for me?”

“Yes.” Kallik patted at a stray strand of brittle fern. “I want you to rest comfortably.”

Lusa lay back, enjoying the springy softness. “Thanks, Kallik. And tell Yakone I appreciate him carrying me.”

“He knows.” Kallik lumbered away after Yakone, who was already splashing in the water downstream.

“I'm sorry, Lusa.”

Toklo's voice surprised her. She jerked her muzzle around. Toklo was standing behind her, his eyes dark.

“What for?” Did he regret leaving Chenoa?

“I should have saved you from the wolverines.”

Lusa blinked.
How?
“It was dark, and I was too far away.”

Toklo frowned. “It's up to me to keep you safe. I let you down. I should have made sure you slept closer to me.”

Lusa bristled. “You're not responsible for me. I can look after myself!”

Toklo tipped his head. “So you keep saying.”

Anger surged beneath her pelt. “Why do you keep acting like you have to be in charge of everything? It isn't all about you, all the time!”

“I never said it was!” Toklo defended himself. “I just want you to be safe!”

“What about Chenoa?” Lusa demanded hotly. “She needed rescuing, but you walked away. It's
her
you let down, not me.” She rolled over and closed her eyes tight.
You did let me down, Toklo. I thought you were kind, but you're not.

Behind her, Toklo sighed heavily.

Please change your mind about Chenoa.
Lusa held her breath, praying Toklo would relent and go back for the young she-bear. Pebbles swished as he padded away.

Disappointment jabbed Lusa's belly. She lay still, listening to Kallik and Yakone calling to each other as they hunted in the river.

“The fish are slow here!”

“They're swimming into my paws!”

“Come on, Toklo! Join us!”

Lusa lay limply. She'd slept all day, but tiredness dragged at her bones. Too weary to be angry, she let sleep draw her in again. She dreamed she was beside a river. A rowan tree stretched delicate branches above her head. Sunshine dappled through the leaves onto her back, and beneath her paws the earth felt soft.

Where am I?
Lusa scanned the river, which was no more than a rippling brook. It didn't look like any place she'd been before.

Paws scuffed the earth beside her.

Lusa turned, gasping in surprise.
Ujurak!

The brown bear hadn't changed since she'd last seen him. He was hardly bigger than she was. Cub fluff still softened his face. Yet his pelt was glossy, as though it had never been touched by wind or rain. His gaze met hers steadily, and Lusa realized she was wrong.

Ujurak
had
changed. She saw wisdom in his round, dark eyes. She looked closer.
Is that starlight shining in them?

“It's good to see you, Lusa!” Ujurak pressed his muzzle happily against her cheek.

“Where are we?” Lusa asked. “Why are you here? Is this your new home? Or is it my dream? Where are the others?”

“Lusa?” Ujurak interrupted her gently. “I have something to show you.”

Lusa frowned. “What?”

But Ujurak was already padding away, climbing the slope up from the brook, his paws hardly brushing the grass, leaving no pawprints as he wove between the slender trees. Lusa scampered after him, relieved to feel that her wounds hadn't followed her into her dream. She broke into a gallop as Ujurak reached the top of the slope, and caught up with him as he stopped. Ahead, the trees opened into a clearing. Lusa's eyes widened.

A full-grown brown bear was piling stones at the center of the clearing, wedging sticks between them to hold them in place, while a cub sat and watched her.

“It's Toklo!” Lusa recognized the cub's face, even though he was much younger than the bear she knew now. He had the same serious expression, his shoulders hunched with worry. Lusa turned to Ujurak. “That big bear's Oka, isn't it? His mother?”