River of Lost Bears

by Erin Hunter

  A strange scent woke her. The warm tang of another animal. She lifted her head and blinked in the darkness. Heart quickening, she tried to adjust to the gloom, but the forest shadows made it impossible to see. She felt Toklo stir beside her.

  “Did you hear something?” he whispered.

  “I smelled something.” Kallik licked her lips, gathering scent. There was definitely a warm, breathing body close by. “Is it Hakan?”

  Toklo’s nose snuffled. “No.”

  “Chenoa?”

  “No.”

  The scent was getting stronger. Kallik’s ear twitched as she heard pawsteps. Slowly, silently, she got to her paws. She tried to see her companions in the gloom, but she could only make out the white shape of Yakone’s pelt.

  Toklo stood up. “It must be something after the carcass.”

  “Another bear?” As Kallik spoke, pawsteps scurried in the shadows.

  Behind us! Jerking around, she tried desperately to see through the gloom. Fur brushed the earth. Tainted breath turned the air sour.

  “Toklo?” Shapes were moving around them, fast.

  She yelped as teeth pressed through her fur and sank into her flesh. With a roar she reared, swiping at the creature that had bitten her. Her claws hit fur. Too rough for a bear. Wolf? But the creature was small. And vicious. Another leaped at her, burying its teeth in her flank. She staggered and lost her balance.

  “Wolverines!” Toklo roared, and the ground shook as he stumbled under the attack.

  “What’s happening?” Lusa’s panicked yelp sounded from the darkness.

  Yakone’s pelt flashed past Kallik. “We’re being attacked!”

  Kallik flailed as she fell, trying to shake off the wolverines. They were tearing at her pelt. She struggled to get up, but her hindpaws slipped into the bramble, where countless thorns snagged her fur. She rolled, trying to knock her attackers away, but they swarmed over her. She glimpsed Yakone beyond the brambles. Toklo bellowed several bearlengths away. The wolverines had separated them. Kallik tore her hind leg free with a grunt. She pushed up, desperate to get on her paws, but a wolverine clambered over her shoulder and sank its teeth in her throat.

  Shock sliced through her as she collapsed to the ground. She kicked out, finding only brambles with her paws. The wolverine snarled at her throat, ripping harder at her flesh. Rage surged through Kallik. With a mighty heave, she tore free of the wolverine and hauled herself to her paws. Turning, she swiped with claws spread, catching her attacker with a blow that sent it flying.

  She glimpsed fur darting through the darkness. Something moved at the corner of her eye, and she slammed her paws down. A wolverine collapsed under her blow. With a yelp, it struggled free and raced away howling into the shadows. Turning, Kallik spotted another slippery pelt and lunged at it, snapping with her jaws. She felt fur between her teeth and hauled the wolverine high into the air before tossing it away.

  “Kallik?” Toklo’s voice sounded nearby.

  “I’m okay!” she called back. “Yakone?”

  An angry roar rang through the trees. “Run, you coward!” Yakone sounded triumphant.

  Another wolverine raced away into the woods. Kallik turned, scanning the ground. “Have we chased them away?”

  Toklo’s eyes glittered beside her. “I think so.”

  Yakone bounded toward them. “What were they?”

  “Wolverines,” Toklo growled. “They don’t usually attack in packs.”

  Kallik’s heart lurched. “Where’s Lusa?”

  “Lusa!” Toklo called into the darkness.

  Fear flared in Kallik’s chest. “Can you see her, Toklo?”

  “No.”

  Oh spirits, give us light! Kallik stared into the night-black forest. “Lusa, where are you?”

  CHAPTER SIX

  Lusa

  Lusa pelted through the forest. Pawsteps thrummed after her. She glanced back through the shadows, horrified to see eyes glinting a bearlength behind. Three pairs of yellow eyes! Three wolverines!

  She’d woken to find herself under attack and bolted out of pure terror. Why did I run? Why didn’t I stay with the others? Panic roared in her ears. If she doubled back, could she make it to the others before they caught her? No. The wolverines would cut her off if she turned.

  Lusa scanned the trees, straining to see through the darkness. A pine tree towered ahead. If she could make it up the stretch of trunk to the branches, she’d be safe! She sprang into the air and clung to the bark with her front claws. Scrabbling upward, she hauled herself onto the lowest branch and glanced down.

  The wolverines were swarming up after her.

  They can climb! Spirits, save me!

  Lusa pulled herself higher. Balanced on her hindpaws on a branch, she reached above her head and swung onto the next. A wolverine snapped at her rump. Yelping, she scrambled higher. The wolverines clamored below her, teeth bared. Their greedy eyes shone in the darkness. They weren’t going to give up easily.

  Lusa clung on tight. Her claws ached. She reached for a higher pawhold, but her legs slipped beneath her, weak from running. She flopped onto the branch. Send me strength before the wolverines reach me! She peered through the shadows, wondering if she could make it to the next tree, but its tips hardly grazed the closest branch. She’d never make the jump.

  “Toklo! Kallik!” she howled into the trees.

  An owl screeched overhead, but there was no reply from her friends. How far had she run? She searched the trunk for the face of a bear spirit. There was nothing but bark. She was completely alone, apart from the animals trying to drag her out of the tree.

  Hot breath grazed her hind legs as the wolverines stretched hungrily up. Lusa kicked out, and her paw hit something. Glancing down, she saw one of the wolverines tumble off the trunk, and she heard the thump as it hit the forest floor. A second later a sharp bite scorched her rump as teeth clamped deep into her flesh. She felt the agonizing weight of a wolverine hanging from her. Shrieking, she fought to kick it off, but it clung like a burr.

  Pain seared through her, red-hot and unbearable. Roaring, she struggled, too terrified to look down. Then she felt her flesh tear. With a tortured yelp, she glanced at her rump.

  The wolverine had gone! Something had torn it away, taking a chunk of her with it. Half-blind with agony, Lusa struggled to see what had happened. A dark shape moved below her. Lusa heard the snarl of a bear.

  Toklo?

  No, she couldn’t smell his scent.

  Another bear!

  Lusa froze. Was it attacking her, too?

  Bark ripped beneath fierce claws as the bear hauled itself higher. Another wolverine yelped and disappeared. A thick-furred paw swung beneath Lusa, and the last wolverine fell, squealing, to the ground.

  Lusa closed her eyes and hung on to her branch. Would the bear keep climbing until it was high enough to reach her?

  “It’s okay,” a voice barked below her. “They’re gone. It’s safe to come down.”

  Lusa clung on harder. “Who are you?”

  “Chenoa.”

  Relief flooded Lusa. Hakan’s sister! Toklo had met her before.

  “Are you Lusa?”

  “How did you know?” Lusa slowly eased herself downward.

  “I just guessed.” The black bear backed away from the tree as Lusa slid onto the forest floor.

  Lusa’s wounded rump stung furiously. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice shaking.

  Chenoa sniffed her. “Are you okay?”

  “I think so.” Lusa swallowed against the pain. “You came just in time.” She stared at Chenoa. “You were so brave!”

  “Lusa!” Kallik’s panicked call sounded through the trees. A moment later the white bear crashed through a swathe of bracken. “There you are!” She raced over and pressed her muzzle against Lusa’s cheek. “What happened?”

  “They chased me up a tree.” Lusa pressed against Kallik, relieved to feel the warmth of her thick, white fur.

  Toklo pushed t
hrough the undergrowth, Yakone on his heels. “Is she okay?”

  Lusa couldn’t stop trembling. “They were dragging me down when Chenoa saved me.”

  “Chenoa?” Toklo stared at the young she-bear. “What are you doing here? We’re a day’s walk from Hakan’s territory.”

  “I followed you.” Chenoa met Toklo’s gaze. “Didn’t you know you were in wolverine country?”

  Toklo shifted his paws. “I was too busy smelling for bears.”

  Yakone snorted. “How come you didn’t smell Chenoa?” he grumbled.

  Chenoa gazed at him, her eyes widening with surprise. “I’ve heard of white bears, but I’ve never seen one.” She stretched her muzzle toward Kallik. “Now I’ve seen two.” Her eyes shone in the darkness.

  Toklo interrupted. “Can we talk in the morning once we’ve had some sleep?” He began to head back toward the brambles.

  “You can’t sleep here!” Chenoa dashed into his path. “The wolverines will keep coming back. They see you as a threat to their own prey.”

  Toklo halted. “Where should we sleep, then?”

  “The river’s not far,” Chenoa told him. “That’s outside their territory.”

  Kallik tipped her head. “How do you know?”

  Chenoa shrugged. “My mother used to bring Hakan and me here when we couldn’t find enough food in our own territory. She told us wolverines were mean.” She glanced at Lusa. “But I’ve never seen them attack bears.”

  Yakone growled. “They must have fish for brains.”

  Lusa’s paws trembled. Her rump felt like fire. “Will we really be safe by the river?”

  Chenoa nodded. “I can show you the way.” She padded through the trees.

  Yakone lumbered after her. “Thank the spirits we’re all safe.”

  “And Chenoa!” Kallik fell in beside him.

  Lusa limped after, not wanting to be last. She glanced over her shoulder, relieved to see Toklo close behind.

  Chenoa led them past their sleeping place by the brambles and on through the forest. Lusa winced with every step. Her pelt felt cold where blood soaked the fur. She could feel it getting sticky and matted as she moved but kept going, desperate to be safely out of wolverine territory. “That’s the river!” She heard its roar with a rush of relief.

  “I didn’t realize we were so close.” Kallik picked up the pace.

  Lusa struggled to keep up. Breathless, she followed Kallik and the others as they broke from the trees into moonlight. Wind lifted her fur, stinging like fury where it touched her wolverine bites. The river tumbled and surged, spraying the rocks lining the shore.

  Chenoa nodded toward a stretch of smooth stone. “Can you sleep there? It’s hard, but it’s safe.”

  Yakone sat down. “Let’s just hope nothing comes out of the river and attacks us.”

  “Like what?” Toklo rumbled. “Bear-eating fish?”

  “I can sit guard if you want,” Chenoa offered.

  “No,” Kallik told her firmly. “They’re just joking. It’s been a tough night. You rest. You must be as tired as we are.” She moved closer to Lusa. “I’m sure we’ll be safe here.”

  “I hope so.” Lusa leaned against her, weak with pain.

  Kallik stiffened. “Are you okay?”

  “Just a few bites,” Lusa murmured. “They’ll feel better in the morning.” The moon lit dark stains on Kallik’s white fur. “Did they hurt you?”

  “I’m fine,” Kallik promised. She leaned closer. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  Lusa nodded. “I just want to sleep.”

  “Keep an eye on her, Kallik.” Toklo padded across the stones and settled at the far edge.

  Kallik nudged Lusa toward Yakone and settled down beside her.

  Squashed between the two white bears, Lusa let herself relax. As their bodies softened into sleep, she closed her eyes. At once, snapping teeth flashed in her mind. She buried her muzzle into Kallik’s fur and tried to imagine catching fish in the shallows.

  One fish. Two fish. Three fish . . .

  As she counted, her thoughts slowed until at last her muscles loosened and she slid into a fitful slumber.

  The sky was heavy with cloud when Lusa woke. It was hard to tell where the sun was, but from the warmth in the air, she guessed it was late. Kallik was stretching beside her while Yakone stood in the shallows, yawning as water washed around his paws.

  Lusa sat up. She winced as pain sliced through her rump.

  “Thanks again, Chenoa.” Toklo was standing at the water’s edge with the young black she-bear. The fur along his spine twitched. He looked uncomfortable. “But I think you should stop following us.”

  Lusa pricked her ears.

  Chenoa shuffled her paws. “I just wanted to see the bears you were traveling with.”

  “And now you’ve seen them.” Toklo glanced into the forest. “You should go home. Hakan will be worried.”

  “You told me to stay away from him.”

  Toklo dipped a paw in the water. “I meant find your own territory, not follow us.”

  Chenoa flattened her ears. She looked scared.

  How bad is that bear? As Lusa gazed at Chenoa, she felt breath on her rump. She flinched, hot with pain. “You’re really hurt!” Kallik stared at the bloody stone where Lusa had been lying.

  “Stand up and let me look,” Kallik ordered.

  Wincing, Lusa struggled to her paws. Sleep hadn’t soothed the pain. It had just made her hind legs stiff.

  “Those are nasty bites!” Kallik sniffed Lusa’s wounds. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

  “I didn’t want to—” Lusa gasped as her hind legs buckled. The sky flashed above her as she collapsed with a thump onto her side.

  Yakone bounded out of the river. “What’s wrong with Lusa?”

  “Wolverines bites.” Kallik thrust her muzzle toward Lusa’s. “You’re going to be okay, Lusa,” she promised. “We’ll take care of you.”

  Lusa swallowed. “I’m sorry,” she whimpered. She was going to slow them down.

  Toklo hurried over. “Lusa?”

  “She’s hurt.” Yakone sniffed at her wounds, eyes dark with worry.

  Lusa tried to struggle to her paws. “I’ll be okay.”

  Kallik nosed her gently down. “You need to rest.” She began lapping Lusa’s pelt with soothing strokes of her tongue.

  Lusa lay limp, suddenly weary with pain.

  Toklo peered at her bloody, matted fur. “What would Ujurak have done to make it better?”

  Chenoa squeezed between Toklo and Kallik. “Who is Ujurak? You mentioned him before.”

  “He used to travel with us,” Kallik answered softly. “He was a brown bear. He knew a lot about plants that make wounds better.”

  “Where is he now?” Chenoa asked.

  Lusa glanced at Kallik. Who was going to explain?

  Yakone stuck his muzzle closer. “You can’t make wounds better. They have to heal by themselves.”

  Kallik shook her head. “Some plants make wounds heal more quickly.” She frowned. “I just wish I could remember what they were.”

  Chenoa’s eyes brightened. “I know an herb my mother used to stop scratches from going bad.” She bounded away over the rocks, heading downstream. “It’s this way,” she called. “I’ll get some. It grows in the shallows, between rocks.”

  “We should go with her,” Yakone suggested. “Those wolverines might still be around.”

  Lusa lifted her head. “Don’t let them hurt her!”

  “We won’t,” Kallik soothed. “Yakone and I will go with Chenoa.”

  Toklo shook his head. “Let’s stick together. It’s safer.”

  “But Lusa can’t walk,” Kallik pointed out.

  Lusa pushed up with her forelegs. “I can try.” Her paws shook. Pain flashed from her haunches.

  Toklo ducked and shoved his snout beneath her. “Help her onto my shoulders,” he told Kallik.

  With a nudge, Kallik heaved Lusa up onto Toklo’s back. L
usa gasped, her wounds stinging like fire, then flopped with relief as her paws straddled Toklo’s wide pelt.

  Toklo twisted his muzzle to see her. “Comfortable?”

  His fur felt thick and warm beneath her. “Yes,” she sighed.

  “You’re heavier than the last time I did this,” Toklo huffed with amusement.

  Lusa remembered the days on the ice when she’d been too sleepy to walk. “That’s because I’m older,” she sniffed.

  Chenoa was disappearing around a bend in the river.

  “Come on.” Walking slowly, Toklo headed after the young she-bear. Lusa gripped on with her forepaws as he rocked beneath her.

  By the time they caught up with Chenoa, she was pawing leaves from a plant growing thickly at the water’s edge.

  Kallik sniffed the pile she’d made. “This is the plant that Ujurak used!”

  Lusa watched from Toklo’s shoulders. “Will it stop the stinging?”

  “Let’s see.” Kallik motioned to Toklo to lean down. As he did, Lusa began to slide. Her heart lurched, but Kallik caught her scruff gently between her teeth and eased her onto the soft grass lining the shore.

  Lusa lay panting, as tired as if she’d walked the shoreline herself. Chenoa chewed a mouthful of her leaves and licked the pulp lightly over Lusa’s wounds.

  Kallik leaned closer. “Make sure you cover all of it.”

  Lusa screwed up her eyes when it stung like a swarm of bees. Then, suddenly, the pain in her rump started to ease. She let out a slow, deep breath.

  “Better?” Chenoa looked at her with concern.

  Lusa nodded. “Thank you.”

  Chenoa shrugged. “I’m glad I could help.”

  Lusa looked guiltily at her friends. She was keeping them here when they should be traveling. But the grass beneath her felt so soft, and the river rumbled past like an old friend.

  Kallik’s belly rumbled. “Is anyone else hungry?”

  “I am,” Yakone confessed.

  “I know a good fishing spot,” Chenoa told her. “Do you want me to show you? You can come, too, Toklo.”

  “Is it far?” Toklo scanned the tree line. “We should stay close to Lusa.”

  “I’ll stay with her.”