The Longest Day
Page 24
Lusa reached up to run her cheek along his. “You deserve it.”
“Do you ever see Ujurak?” Kallik asked quietly.
Lusa’s heart clenched with familiar grief. “Sometimes.” She never stopped searching for him, her heart quickening every time she saw an elk wandering alone or an owl swooping through the twilight. “I think I see him, but I’m never sure.”
“I look for him in the stars every night,” Toklo murmured.
“I dream of him,” Kallik confessed. “But I don’t think I’ve seen him for real, not since the fire.”
Toklo shifted on the warm, rocky beach. “He is always with us.”
“We’ll never forget him,” Kallik agreed.
Lusa felt the wind ruffle her fur. “We’ll never forget any of it.” She gazed around at her friends. “You taught me how to be a wild bear.”
“You found me a home!” Toklo exclaimed.
“You gave me a family.” Kallik blinked at them lovingly.
Yakone lifted his muzzle. “We should hunt together, one last time.”
Lusa flinched. “It won’t be the last! There will be more Longest Days. This isn’t the end. And we’ll always be together, in spirit.”
“Oh, Lusa.” Kallik leaned forward and touched her nose to Lusa’s ear. “So much has changed, and there’s still so much change to come. But you’re right. Wherever our paths lead us, we’ll always be together.”
Yakone padded toward the lake. “Let’s see who can catch the biggest fish.”
“That’s not fair!” Lusa bounded after him. “You can swim deeper than me.”
Kallik caught up to her. “Then we’ll catch the fish and you can decide whose is best.”
They passed Aiyanna and Miki, who were sunning themselves while the cubs splashed one another in the shallows.
Toklo broke into a run and plunged into the lake. As Kallik and Yakone waded in after him, Lusa paused at the edge and watched. She saw the three of them reach deep blue water and dive beneath the surface. Sunshine glittered where they’d disappeared. Relishing the warmth on her pelt and the cold water washing around her paws, Lusa leaned forward expectantly, waiting for her friends to come back.
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About the Author
ERIN HUNTER is inspired by a fascination with the ferocity of the natural world. As well as having great respect for nature in all its forms, Erin enjoys creating rich mythical explanations for animal behavior. She is also the author of the bestselling Warriors and Survivors series.
Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.
Books by Erin Hunter
Book One: The Quest Begins
Book Two: Great Bear Lake
Book Three: Smoke Mountain
Book Four: The Last Wilderness
Book Five: Fire in the Sky
Book Six: Spirits in the Stars
RETURN TO THE WILD
Book One: Island of Shadows
Book Two: The Melting Sea
Book Three: River of Lost Bears
Book Four: Forest of Wolves
Book Five: The Burning Horizon
MANGA
Toklo’s Story
Kallik’s Adventure
Book One: Into the Wild
Book Two: Fire and Ice
Book Three: Forest of Secrets
Book Four: Rising Storm
Book Five: A Dangerous Path
Book Six: The Darkest Hour
THE NEW PROPHECY
Book One: Midnight
Book Two: Moonrise
Book Three: Dawn
Book Four: Starlight
Book Five: Twilight
Book Six: Sunset
POWER OF THREE
Book One: The Sight
Book Two: Dark River
Book Three: Outcast
Book Four: Eclipse
Book Five: Long Shadows
Book Six: Sunrise
OMEN OF THE STARS
Book One: The Fourth Apprentice
Book Two: Fading Echoes
Book Three: Night Whispers
Book Four: Sign of the Moon
Book Five: The Forgotten Warrior
Book Six: The Last Hope
DAWN OF THE CLANS
Book One: The Sun Trail
Book Two: Thunder Rising
Book Three: The First Battle
Book Four: The Blazing Star
Book Five: A Forest Divided
Book Six: Path of Stars
Warriors Super Edition: Firestar’s Quest
Warriors Super Edition: Bluestar’s Prophecy
Warriors Super Edition: SkyClan’s Destiny
Warriors Super Edition: Crookedstar’s Promise
Warriors Super Edition: Yellowfang’s Secret
Warriors Super Edition: Tallstar’s Revenge
Warriors Super Edition: Bramblestar’s Storm
Warriors Super Edition: Moth Flight’s Vision
Warriors Field Guide: Secrets of the Clans
Warriors: Cats of the Clans
Warriors: Code of the Clans
Warriors: Battles of the Clans
Warriors: Enter the Clans
Warriors: The Ultimate Guide
Warriors: The Untold Stories
Warriors: Tales from the Clans
Warriors: Shadows of the Clans
MANGA
The Lost Warrior
Warrior’s Refuge
Warrior’s Return
The Rise of Scourge
Tigerstar and Sasha #1: Into the Woods
Tigerstar and Sasha #2: Escape from the Forest
Tigerstar and Sasha #3: Return to the Clans
Ravenpaw’s Path #1: Shattered Peace
Ravenpaw’s Path #2: A Clan in Need
Ravenpaw’s Path #3: The Heart of a Warrior
SkyClan and the Stranger #1: The Rescue
SkyClan and the Stranger #2: Beyond the Code
SkyClan and the Stranger #3: After the Flood
NOVELLAS
Hollyleaf’s Story
Mistystar’s Omen
Cloudstar’s Journey
Tigerclaw’s Fury
Leafpool’s Wish
Dovewing’s Silence
Mapleshade’s Vengeance
Goosefeather’s Curse
Ravenpaw’s Farewell
Book One: The Empty City
Book Two: A Hidden Enemy
Book Three: Darkness Falls
Book Four: The Broken Path
Book Five: The Endless Lake
Book Six: Storm of Dogs
THE GATHERING DARKNESS
Book One: A Pack Divided
Survivors: Tales from the Packs
NOVELLAS
Alpha’s Tale
Sweet’s Journey
Moon’s Choice
Credits
Cover art © 2016 by Wayne McLoughlin
Copyright
THE LONGEST DAY. Copyright © 2016 by Working Partners Limited. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
www.harpercollinschildrens.com
Library of Congress Control Number: 2015946558
ISBN 978-0-06-199649-8 (trade bdg.) — ISBN 978-0-06-199650-4 (lib. bdg.)
EPub Edition © December 2015 ISBN 9780062361868
15 16 17 18 19 CG/RRDH 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
FIRST EDITION
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