River of Lost Bears (31 page)

“Can you find a safe path for us?” Toklo looked warily at the sodden peat stretching on all sides.

“Yes!” Lusa promised. She glanced past Kallik and Yakone. Had the coyotes gone? Perhaps they'd given up. She sniffed for them, stretching onto her hindpaws to taste the air. A faint musky scent touched her tongue, but she couldn't see any pelts in the shadows.

“Let's hurry.” Toklo headed back to the white bears. “It'll be dark soon.”

Lusa dropped onto all fours and snuffled the earth. The firmer soil had a sandy smell. She followed its scent, pressing with each pawstep to make sure it would take the weight of Toklo, Kallik, and Yakone. Where the trail threaded between clumps of sedge, she felt thin stems crisscrossing beneath her pads. The channels between them were firm underpaw where their roots knotted to make smooth walkways over the boggy ground.

She sniffed out a path, darting one way, then the other, until the peat turned to soil and sedge gave way to grass. The ground sloped up into woodland. Trees stretched toward the sky, bright with budding leaves. Birds twittered in the branches, announcing the coming of dusk.

Lusa scampered higher. Behind her, the other bears stumbled. “Can I help?” Lusa called.

“Just keep finding the easiest trail,” Kallik puffed. Her paws were thick with mud from the marsh. Her belly fur was spiked and filthy.

The hill was short and steep. Panting at the top, Lusa peered back down, scanning the undergrowth for coyotes. She could see the marsh through the branches and narrowed her eyes as she spotted shadows moving at the edge.

Panic sparked beneath her pelt as her friends caught up with her. “They're still following us,” she breathed.

“I know,” Toklo growled. “Can you see the river?”

Lusa scrambled up a rowan tree and peered from the branches. Ahead rolled hill after hill, glowing orange in the setting sun. But there was no sign of the silver river threading between them. “I can't see it,” she called down. She searched the horizon for Toklo's mountains. There was nothing but forest and sky.

Were they even headed in the right direction?

She looked back across the marsh. Beyond it, the sun was sliding toward the trees.
We must be going the right way.
She scooted down the tree and landed beside Toklo. “Follow me.” She trotted over the crest of the hill, shivering as the forest descended into dusky shadow.

Shadows pooled in the valley like black water. Lusa reached the bottom first. Toklo, Kallik, and Yakone halted beside her, flanks heaving as they caught their breath.

Kallik glanced up the next hill. “I can't go on much farther.”

Lusa's nose twitched. The stench of coyote rolled toward them. She bounded a short way up the next slope. Warm light bathed the summit. “Look,” she called. “We're almost at the top.”

Grunting, Toklo, Kallik, and Yakone pushed after her.

“You can do it!” She willed them on, wishing she was strong enough to help carry Yakone. “Not far to the top.” She chased the sunshine farther and farther uphill, but shadow was following them, stretching up the slope as the sun slid toward the far horizon. By the time they reached the top, it had set.

Lusa's heart sank. The sky was purple beyond the trees as clouds rolled in. Soon it would be dark. She scanned the slope behind them, belly tightening as she spotted eyes flashing from the shadows. “Hurry!” she urged.

Her friends caught up with her, heat pulsing from them. The air smelled of blood. Lusa wrinkled her nose at its thick stone tang. Yakone's paw was oozing.

“Can you make it over another hill?” Lusa glanced anxiously down the slope.

Kallik nodded. Toklo huffed. Perhaps the next hill would give them shelter. Maybe they'd find a cave. That would protect them from the coyotes, wouldn't it?

Lusa led them over the top and headed down into shadow. The ground grew stony. Rocks slithered under her paws. She squinted to see ahead, but clouds had swallowed the last of the sun. No moon lit the forest. They were lost in darkness.

“Which way now, Lusa?” Toklo asked.

“I can't see—” Lusa yelped as her forepaw slipped from under her, spraying stones. She thumped to the ground, hardly feeling any pain as she heard pebbles clattering far below. Her pelt bushed in terror. “Stop!” she barked to Toklo. “Cliff!” The earth dropped away beside her. Wind ruffled her pelt.

Toklo and Kallik stumbled to a halt, Yakone slithering between them, as Lusa lay, stiff with fear.
It's going to be okay.
She tried to calm herself, but her terror began to spiral. The air stank of coyote. “We're trapped!”

“No, we're not.” Toklo was following the cliff edge. “There's a way down.” He turned, his eyes shining in the darkness. “Yakone, I need you to walk this next bit.”

Yakone growled.

“Can you do it?” Toklo asked.

Lusa got to her paws.

Kallik was breathing fast. “Can you do it, Yakone? Can you get down the slope?”

Toklo chimed in. “I'll be ahead of you, Kallik and Lusa behind. We'll steady you where we can, but the path's steep. Will you try?”

Yakone took a deep, shuddering breath. He lifted his muzzle, and Lusa saw his gaze harden. “Yes,” he growled.

Lusa peered over the edge. The world disappeared into a pool of darkness. She had no idea how far the valley was below them. For a moment she thought of plunging over the edge, falling, falling, with the roar of water in her ears …
No! Don't think of Chenoa! Not now!

Toklo was already heading down the path. As Yakone and Kallik moved off, Lusa followed. The path was stony, slippery underpaw. She spread her claws, digging them in where she could to get a grip. Kallik's rump swayed ahead of her.
Please let Yakone make it!
Cold air buffeted her side. Rock brushed her pelt.
Just keep moving.

Toklo was taking it slow. Lusa saw his eyes flash every now and then, as he looked over his shoulder. “Are you okay, Yakone?” he called.

Yakone grunted.

“He's okay!” Kallik barked.

The path steepened. Lusa's heart pounded. How could Yakone grip with a wounded paw? She saw Kallik lean forward and hook her muzzle around Yakone's rump, pressing him against the cliff face.

Lusa blinked. The sky was clearing. Moonlight was glowing through thinning clouds. She could see a stream sparkling at the bottom of the cliff. Wide pebble beaches stretched along either side. Bushes dotted the shores, while plants clumped at the water's edge. Gnarled trees jutted from another cliff beyond. They were climbing down into a gorge. She glanced up, scanning the sky for Ujurak.
Are you watching?
A dark shadow caught her eye. The stones at the top of the cliff were moving. Lusa stared, puzzled for a moment. Then dread swept through her. Those weren't stones. The coyotes were watching.

No!

Eyes glinted against the starry sky.

“Toklo!” Lusa's voice trembled.

“I know,” Toklo growled. “Don't look at them. They won't follow.”

They're waiting for Yakone to die.

White fur flashed in front of Lusa, moving too fast for the slope.

“Yakone!” Kallik barked with terror.

Lusa froze. Yakone was falling!

Kallik thrust out her forepaws and snagged his pelt. “Help!”

Toklo whirled around and grabbed Yakone's scruff as the white bear tumbled over the edge. Panic jolted Lusa to life. She darted forward, squeezing past Kallik, and snatched at Yakone's pelt until she grabbed fur between her teeth. Her paws skidded on grit as his weight dragged her forward. Closing her eyes, she strained to pull him up. Stones showered down into the gorge as Kallik trembled beside her. A growl rolled in Toklo's throat as, together, they hauled the white bear back onto the path.

With a grunt, Yakone rolled limply toward the cliff face.

As Lusa collapsed, gasping for breath, she heard whining above. She looked up. The coyotes were pacing excitedly. Lusa bared her teeth.
He's not dead yet!

Toklo heaved himself to his paws.

Kallik straightened and shook out her pelt. “Yakone?”

The white bear growled and stood up, his shoulders at an awkward angle as he tried to keep his weight off his injured paw.

“It's not far,” Toklo told him. “Hang on to my tail.”

Lusa steadied her breathing as they limped to the bottom.

Kallik stumbled onto the beach. “We have to stop.”

“I know.” Toklo's eyes were dull in the moonlight. He glanced at the cliff edging the far shore. “Let's build a nest against the rock.”

Lusa saw Yakone sway on his paws. “I need to lie down,” he mumbled.

Kallik brushed against him. “Come on.” She steered him toward the stream. “Let's get a drink, then I'll make you a nest.”

Yakone stumbled into the shallow stream and lapped at it blindly. Lusa padded after him, relieved to feel cool water wash around her paws. She dipped her muzzle in the stream and drank until her belly hurt. She hadn't realized how thirsty she was, or how tired.

When they'd drunk, Yakone rested against the cliff while Toklo, Lusa, and Kallik collected leaves and moss for a nest.

“Here, Yakone.” Kallik tucked a large clump of water-weed beneath his head. Lusa peeled moss from a stone and dipped it in the stream. She laid it, dripping, beside Yakone's snout. “In case you get thirsty.” His nose was dry and hot. Lusa frowned. Was the wound turning bad? She gasped, remembering. “I was going to find herbs!”

She dashed away, splashing downstream, sniffing from one plant to another.

Toklo caught up with her. “Don't run off by yourself,” he hissed.

Lusa jerked up her head. “I promised to find herbs!” How had she forgotten something so important? Her heart thumped in her chest.

“Do you know what you're looking for?” Toklo scanned the water's edge.

Lusa shook her head. “I wish I'd listened harder when Ujurak was with us. He knew so much. I should have tried to learn.”

Toklo sighed. “We didn't know we were going to lose him.”

Lusa met his gaze. It was misted with grief. As sadness welled in her throat, a sharp, bitter scent touched her nose. “Hornwort!”

Chenoa's herb!

She splashed downstream and tore out a mouthful of leaves, then bounded back to Yakone. The white bear was asleep, his breath steady. Lusa sniffed his injured paw. The stream had washed it clean. Quickly, she chewed up the leaves and dressed his wounds.

As she admired her work, her belly rumbled. The long day's trek had left her hungry. “Did you see any fish in the stream?” she asked Toklo as he paced in front of the nest.

“Only minnows.”

Kallik settled beside Yakone and laid her snout on his shoulder. “Come and rest, Toklo.”

“Someone needs to keep guard.” He glanced at the cliff they'd climbed down.

Lusa followed his gaze. The coyotes were still pacing at the top, silhouetted against the stars. “They won't attack while Yakone's still alive,” she reminded him.

“But they might come to check,” Toklo growled.

“I can take first watch,” Kallik offered.

Toklo shook his head. “No, I'll do it. I'll wake you at moonhigh.”

Lusa sat up. “What about me?”

“Kallik will wake you.” Toklo turned and walked along the edge of the water.

Weary and anxious, Lusa nestled in beside Yakone. The warmth of his fur soothed her, but the pungent smell of blood made her wince. Would it chase her through her dreams? She watched the stream sparkle as it passed, her eyes soon glazing. Exhausted, she drifted into sleep.

“Lusa.” It seemed only a moment before Kallik was waking her with a gentle nudge. “It's your turn to keep watch.”

Lusa stretched, her paws quivering. The predawn sky was milky white. Toklo was snoring beside Yakone. “Any trouble?” she asked Kallik.

“The coyotes started down the slope a few times, but turned back,” she told her.

“They must know that he's still alive.” Lusa glanced uneasily at Kallik. The white she-bear looked ragged with worry. “Go to sleep,” Lusa told her softly. “I'll wake you if there's danger.”

“Thank you.” Kallik touched her nose to Lusa's head, then settled beside Yakone.

Lusa headed for the stream. She sat down, letting the water swish over her pawtips. The coyotes sat as motionless as rocks at the top of the cliff. Anger surged through her.
We can't live like prey for the rest of the journey!
Were the coyotes going to hunt them forever?
If Yakone could just get well, they would leave us alone.

Lusa flexed her claws. She was going to find every plant Ujurak ever used. She'd recognize their scent if she found them. She lifted her muzzle and glared at the coyotes. One raised its head and gazed back, ears pricked against the dawn sky.