Erin Hunter - Spirits in the Stars

Ujurak

Ujuraks legs ached as he tried to concentrate on just putting one paw in front of another. He and his friends seemed to have been trudging across the Endless Ice forever, though he knew that only a few sunrises had passed since theyd escaped from the flat-faces near the oil rig.

Glancing over his shoulder, he could see that his three companions looked just as tired as he felt. Toklo, the big brown bear, shambled along with his head down. Lusa stumbled after him as if she hardly knew where she was anymore, her small shape a black dot against the endless white; Ujurak knew they would have to keep a close eye on her, for fear that she would sink back into the longsleep. Even Kallik, who was more at home on the ice than any of them, padded along with a grim expression.

All around them the ice had been carved and twisted by the wind into strange shapes, which sometimes stretched over their heads into the sky. At first they had played hide-and-seek among them; Ujurak let out a small huff of amusement as he remembered how good Lusa was at hiding, in spite of her black pelt. Sometimes they would slide down the frozen drifts, or look for shapes that reminded them of animals. Toklo had growled at an ice pillar that he thought looked like Shoteka, the grizzly who had attacked him at Great Bear Lake.

But were too tired for games now, Ujurak thought. Too tired for anything except this endless slog.

His heart sank farther as he made out a frozen ridge across their path, a wall of ice that disappeared into the distance on either side.

Now what? Toklo grumbled, trudging up as Ujurak slowed to a halt. Dont tell me we have to climb that.

We do, Ujurak replied. He could feel that they were drawing closer and closer to the spirit of his mother, and the tugging on his paws was too strong to be ignored. This is the way we must go.

Once the big grizzly would have argued with him. Now he just let out a snort of disgust. I was afraid you were going to say that.

But how? Lusa asked, stifling a yawn. She and Kallik had plodded up next to them. Its so high and smooth!

Ujurak glanced at Kallik for advice, but the white bear only shook her head in confusion. There were no ridges like this where I lived with Nisa and Taqqiq.

Ill go first, Toklo announced. Ill try to scrape some pawholds in the ice for the rest of you.

Without waiting for the others to respond, he began clawing his way up the slippery slope. Ice splinters showered down as he dug his claws into the surface; Lusa crouched and wrapped her paws over her head. Hey, that stings! she protested.

Come on, youll be fine. Kallik nudged the small black bear to her paws again. You go next, and Ill give you a boost.

Working her shoulders underneath Lusa, the white bear heaved her upward. Lusa scrambled up the slope in Toklos wake, struggling to thrust her paws into the holes the bigger bear had made. She let out a startled yelp as she lost her grip and began to slide down again, her forepaws splaying out against the ice while her hindpaws scrabbled frantically. Ujurak let out a sigh of relief as he saw her drive her claws into a gap in the surface and start climbing again.

You next, Kallik suggested. Ill keep watch for danger.

Ujurak agreed, though he wasnt sure they had much to fear in this desolate landscape. He almost felt that they were the only living creatures left in the world.

By now Toklo had reached the crest of the ridge and turned to call back to his companions. Come on! Its easier on the other side!

Ujurak climbed quickly, his paws strengthened by the feeling that his mother was watching over them, and reached the top of the ridge just behind Lusa.

The small black bear flopped down, panting. I thought we might be able to see land from up here, she said. But its just more ice.

Gazing ahead, Ujurak saw that the ridge on this side sloped down gradually to an ice plain with a broken, choppy surface, like a frozen sea. The sky was covered with clouds, brightening to a milky radiance where the sun was trying to break through, and it was impossible to tell where the land ended and the sky began.

We just have to keep going, Ujurak said.

As soon as Kallik arrived, shaking ice chips from her fur, they set off down the slope.

Im so tired my paws are falling off, Toklo grumbled, padding at Ujuraks side. And my belly thinks my throats been clawed out.

Ujurak pushed his snout into his friends shoulder fur. Well stop to eat soon, he responded, trying to sound encouraging. Kallik will hunt for us.

She is good at that now, Toklo admitted. Hey, Kallik, what about a nice fat seal?

Sure. Kallik raised her head, looking proud that Toklo was relying on her to provide for them. Why dont you three rest, while I go and look for a seal hole?

She paused, swinging her head around and sniffingUjurak guessed she was trying to sense the best place to start searchingthen she plodded off across the ice.

Ujurak led the way to a twisted mass of snow that would give them some shelter against the wind that scoured the frozen plain. Lusa curled up in a hollow, wrapped one paw over her nose, and closed her eyes.

Toklo crouched beside her, scanning her anxiously. I hope shes not falling into the longsleep, he muttered.

Ujurak nodded. Though Lusa had been more cheerful and active since theyd escaped from the flat-faces, he couldnt help worrying just as Toklo did. She needs to reach land. We all do.

The two brown bears huddled closer to Lusa, sharing their warmth, while they waited for Kallik.

Shed better get a move on, Toklo remarked, shifting uneasily. Im starving!

Me too, Ujurak agreed.

Im sick of seal, though, the big grizzly went on. What I wouldnt give for a fresh salmon or a hare!

Ujurak felt his mouth beginning to water, and his stomach rumbled at the thought. Ive heard Lusa muttering about grubs and berries in her dreams, he told his friend. It wont be long now.

Toklos only reply was a disbelieving grunt.

Ujurak couldnt help feeling optimistic. Awareness of his mothers presence tingled through him from his nose to his paws. But he didnt expect his companions to share his conviction. Theyll see, he thought. We must be near the end of our journey.

Time dragged on, and Kallik did not return. Drowsily Ujurak let his mind drift back to the flat-face camp and to Sally, the young flat-face female who had been his friend. He remembered her dark hair and the laughter in her eyes, and the compassion she had shown when she was helping the animals who had been trapped in the oil. He remembered how shocked she had been when shed seen him change back into a bear.

I wonder what she told the others about how Lusa and I disappeared. And will she try to find us again?

A pang of regret throbbed through Ujurak. It was weird to be missing a flat-face, and he knew it was best for them not to meet again. But he did miss Sallys cheerfulness and her kindness.

Im not a flat-face; Im a bear... arent I? Not long ago he had almost lost the sense of who he really was when he had spent too long in whale shape. He didnt want to risk that ever again. Im a bear. And how would I explain myself to Sally if we met again?

Uh... Sally, you see Im mostly a bear, but sometimes Im a flat-face, or a bird, or... he muttered out loud.