River of Lost Bears (24 page)

Shoving his muzzle under the cub's flank, he heaved it up onto the top of the boulder. The cub lay on its side panting, coughing up water.

Toklo held still against the rock. The rushing water pushed hard, nudging him downriver. He glanced back. Kallik was signaling, her gaze clear once more. The flat-faces pelted along the shore, waving at the cub as they neared. They'd never be able to reach it across the wide channel of roaring water.

“You're safe,” Toklo huffed at the cub.

The cub scrambled backward, a scream gurgling in its throat.

“I won't hurt you!” Toklo promised desperately.

The cub stared at the water, then back at Toklo. Uncertainty shone in its eyes.

He's going to jump!

“No!” With a snarl, Toklo ducked around the far side of the rock to block it. The current snatched him and tried to drag him away. But Toklo fought it, gripping onto the rock. Anger surged through him. The river was trying to kill him, just as it had killed Chenoa!

“Leave us alone!” Toklo roared at the water.

The cub screamed as Toklo flung his paws over the edge of the boulder and gripped on hard. Toklo froze.

Stop.

Swallowing back his rage, he heaved himself around the rock until the current pushed instead of pulled. Then he tried to look kindly at the cub.
I won't hurt you.

The cub met his gaze.

I want to help you.
Keeping quiet, Toklo willed the cub to understand. Where was Ujurak? If he were here, he could change into a flat-face and explain.

Ujurak's not here anymore.

The flat-faces screamed. Toklo could see them pointing and waving, their brightly colored pelts flashing at the corner of his gaze. But he didn't take his eyes off the cub.

Trust me.

The cub lost the stiffness of cornered prey.

That's right,
Toklo urged.
You'll be safe with me. I promise.

Slowly, the cub crept nearer. The water battered Toklo's spine, but he ignored it. He tipped his head, softening his gaze like he used to when he was begging Tobi to play with him. He held his breath as the cub lifted a paw and reached out toward him.

The flat-faces screeched like trapped foxes. Toklo forced himself to ignore them, holding still as the cub touched his snout.
Come on.
His heart felt close to bursting, but he didn't move. The cub's eyes were round with hope. Its fingers crept gently over Toklo's snout and touched his head. Slowly, Toklo hunched his back until it was clear of the water, pressed alongside the cub's boulder. He saw the cub's eyes flick along his spine.

He's wondering whether to climb on.
Toklo held still.
Come on,
he pleaded.
You understand. I know you do.

Gingerly, the cub slid a pink paw across Toklo's shoulders. Toklo didn't breathe. The little flat-face slithered like a snake over his pelt. Then, with a rush, the cub clambered onto his back. Toklo felt a surge of relief as the cub's claws dug into his fur and gripped on. He felt its hind legs pressing hard against his flanks. The flat-faces leaped wildly around the shore. Toklo took a breath, steadied himself, then launched away from the boulder.

The current hit him hard, and he tipped sideways. The cub gripped tighter as Toklo fought to right himself. Paws churning, he pulled himself forward, fighting the river, his gaze fixed on the shore. He hit a trough in the waves and dropped. Shock knocked out his breath. The cub's grip loosened, and with a jolt of horror, Toklo felt it slide from his back. Whipping around, he lunged and grabbed at the cub with his jaws a moment before the current snatched it away. Snagging its loose pelt in his teeth, he dragged it close. The river pulled, but Toklo held firm, his paws aching as he fought the tide. The cub twisted in his grip, then grabbed Toklo's pelt and hauled itself onto his back once more.

It held harder this time, its claws dragging at Toklo's pelt. Toklo hardly noticed. The cub could tear out a whole clump of fur, just so long as he got it to safety. He forced his way on until suddenly the current eased. Toklo fell limp as he hit smooth water, swimming in steady strides till the riverbed scraped his paws. He waded into the shallows and padded from the water.

The flat-faces were howling a few bearlengths away. Toklo scanned them for firesticks. He couldn't see any. The cub slid from his back and raced toward its kin. Toklo backed away. If they had firesticks, they'd use them now. He tensed, but the flat-faces only stared. Their hostility had gone. One caught his gaze, its eyes wide with wonder. Another grabbed the cub and hauled it into a frantic embrace.

Warily, Toklo backed into the water, then turned and swam for the far shore. The river pushed him downstream once more. He didn't fight it; instead he focused on moving forward until, exhausted, he felt pebbles beneath his paws.

As he heaved himself from the river, Kallik, Yakone, and Lusa galloped toward him. Lusa reached him first, sending him staggering as she rushed into him. “You saved the cub!”

Toklo glanced at Kallik, relieved to see her safe on the shore. “Are you okay?”

“Just a bump,” she answered, lowering her head so he could see the swelling behind her ear. “It'll mend.”

“It'd mend quicker if Chenoa was here to find herbs.” Toklo scowled at the river. “You didn't get the cub,” he hissed under his breath. “That's one life you couldn't take.”

Kallik's head throbbed. She stumbled after
Toklo as he headed for the trees, Lusa at his heels. He was still dripping from the river, while the flat-faces squealed and hooted on the far shore.

“You shouldn't have risked your life for a
flat-face
!” Yakone called behind her.

She turned to look at him. “I risked my life to make sure Toklo was safe.”

“Toklo didn't need your help!”

“How could I know that?” Kallik sighed and closed her eyes. Her side ached. Her flank had hit the boulder harder than her head. It hurt when she walked, and she didn't dare cough. She'd hacked up water after reaching shore, and the pain had made her eyes sting.

Yakone caught up with her. “I'm sorry.” He touched his muzzle to her cheek. “I was just worried about you.” His breath grazed her swollen ear.

Kallik met his gaze. “I couldn't let a cub drown. Not even a flat-face one. I couldn't let Lusa see another death, not so soon after Chenoa.”

“I know.” Yakone swung his head and watched Lusa and Toklo disappearing among the trees. The flat-faces were pointing from the other bank. “Let's get out of sight.”

Kallik let him guide her up the beach and into the forest. The shade eased her throbbing head, but a root tripped her up, and the jolt sent pain shooting through her flank.

“Great spirits!” Yakone cursed as he stumbled behind her.

“We can head back to the shore soon,” she promised. “Once we're away from the flat-faces.”

A bit later, Yakone waded through a sea of quillwort, heading for the river. He paused at the tree line and called over his shoulder, “It's clear.”

Undergrowth parted and Toklo appeared, Lusa on his tail. “What's up?”

“The flat-faces are gone.” Yakone pushed through bracken onto the rocky shore.

Toklo shrugged and followed. Kallik hesitated, catching her breath.

Lusa stopped beside her. “Are you okay?”

“Just bruised,” Kallik told her.

“You can lean on me.” Lusa pressed gently against her as they padded from the trees.

The sun was beginning to slide toward the treetops, but it was a while before dusk. There was still plenty of time to walk. Kallik's heart sank. She wanted to rest.

“I'm hungry,” Yakone announced as she reached him.

“Already?” Kallik stared at him. His belly never started growling until sunset.

He leaned forward and whispered in her ear, “I want to give you a chance to rest.”

“Thanks.” Kallik pulled away. “But I can speak for myself.”

“But you won't, will you?”

Kallik was surprised by the anger in his tone.

Yakone turned his back. “Do you want to come fishing, Toklo?”

Toklo squinted upstream, where the river curved between hills. “We shouldn't be wasting time.”

“Kallik needs to rest,” Yakone told him bluntly.

Lusa frowned. “Why didn't you say so, Kallik?”

“She shouldn't need to,” Yakone muttered. “She nearly drowned back there.”

Kallik stretched her nose toward Lusa. “I'm fine,” she promised. She didn't want Lusa to worry.

Yakone stalked away. “Are you coming, Toklo?”

Toklo's eyes darkened as he looked at the river. “I'll hunt in the woods,” he growled, heading for the trees.

Lusa scampered after him. “I'll find some roots.”

Kallik watched Yakone splash into the river. Weary, she sat down, relieved to be resting. Her vision softened and blurred as she watched Yakone fishing. His white head popped up, then disappeared. Every now and then he'd carry a fish to the beach, drop it, and head back into the water.

Bracken swished behind her, and Kallik scented Lusa. The black bear's paws crunched over the pebbles.

“Birch root.” Lusa settled beside Kallik and began chewing on an earthy stem. Kallik listened to her in sleepy silence.

“You were really brave,” Lusa commented.

“When?” Kallik turned.

“Trying to save the flat-face cub.”

“Toklo saved it.”

“But you tried.” Lusa chewed her root a little more. “I was so scared when you hit the rock. Did Ujurak help you climb out of the water?”

Kallik paused. Would Lusa feel better if she believed Ujurak
had
helped? She shook the thought away. She should be honest. “No,” she confessed.

Lusa gazed into the distance, the root in her paws. “Perhaps he was helping Toklo.”

Kallik sighed. “Maybe.”

Lusa looked at her sharply. “You don't sound sure. Do you think Ujurak has abandoned us?”

“Of course not!” Kallik lied. Her chest tightened. “Why would he?”

“But what if he has?” Lusa fretted. “We might be going the wrong way and we'd never know!”

Kallik pressed gently against her. “This is Toklo's journey now,” she told her. “He knows where he's going.”

“I hope so.” Lusa swallowed a piece of the root. “He deserves to find his home.”

“We all do.” Kallik's thoughts flicked back to the Melting Sea. She could see Taqqiq charging across a wide stretch of ice. Her paws tingled, imagining the delicious coldness of snow. She remembered swimming through smooth, bottomless ocean.

The stones rattled as Yakone padded toward them. His jaws were filled with a good catch of fish. He dropped them at Kallik's paws. Kallik scooped up a trout, her belly rumbling in anticipation. “Thanks, Yakone.”

He settled beside her and reached for a salmon.

Toklo called from the trees. “Poor prey here.” He bounded across the shore, empty-pawed.

Lusa blinked at him. “You didn't catch
anything
?”

Kallik pushed a fish toward him. “Yakone caught plenty.”

Toklo shook his head. “I'm not really hungry.”

Kallik took another bite of her trout and watched the sun slide toward the trees.
Had
Ujurak helped Toklo save the flat-face cub? She glanced at him hopefully.

Toklo was staring into the distance, lost in thought. He looked weary. A frown creased his brow. Kallik sighed. If Ujurak had been with him when he rescued the cub, she was sure he wouldn't look so worried.

Kallik woke into darkness. Something was wrong. She shifted in the wide nest they'd lined with bracken. There was a space beside her. Alarmed, she sat up. Toklo and Lusa were fast asleep, but Yakone was gone. Her heart lurched. She scanned the moonlit shore.