Erin Hunter - Smoke Mountain

Kallik

Toklo

Lusa

Lusa

Kallik

Kallik

Toklo

Kallik

Lusa

Lusa

Toklo

Kallik

Lusa

Toklo

Kallik

Toklo

Toklo

Lusa

Lusa

Toklo

Kallik

Lusa

Kallik

Lusa

Toklo

Kallik

Toklo

Lusa

Kallik

A soft breeze ruffled Kalliks fur, bringing with it the scents of fresh water and strange bears, as she climbed the rocky slope behind Toklo and Ujurak. Scrubby tufts of grass poked through cracks in the boulders, and tiny pebbles rolled under her paws. A faint orange glow lit up the edge of the sky; the night was already ending, although it felt as if theyd been walking for only a short time.

Kallik turned to look for her brother, Taqqiq. He was shambling along several steps behind her, batting small rocks down the hill with a ferocious paw swipe every few paces. He didnt look thrilled to be on this journey with the brown bears. Kallik wondered what he was thinking. Once, long ago, she used to be able to tell just by looking at him. Now, after so many moons apart, he felt like a stranger.

Beyond him, far below the ridge they were climbing, Kallik could see the vast blue shimmer of Great Bear Lake reflecting the rising sun. She spotted several shapes moving on the lakeshore. Bears were steadily leaving the Longest Day Gathering, heading back to their homes in forests, on mountains, and on the vast stretches of ice that would return now that the sun had given up its hold over the sky. There were so many bears that Kalliks keen nose could smell them all the way up herethe mingled scents of damp fur and muddy cubs. All the white bears shed met were going back to the Melting Sea, where Kallik and Taqqiq had been bornwhere their mother, Nisa, had died. From her high position she could see how most of the bears were staying away from one another, deliberately picking out separate paths so they could travel alone.

Not Kallik. She wasnt alone anymore.

A cold black nose nudged her left side, and Kallik swiveled her head around to look down at the tiny black bear cub beside her.

Its strange to be leaving them all behind, isnt it? Lusa said in a hushed voice, matching her tone to the quiet pre-dawn stillness around them. Her eyes were huge in the pale light. I hope they all make it back to their homes. There was a wistful note to her voice as the cub watched every other black bear set off in the opposite direction. She shook herself. But Im glad youre here, Kallik. It feels right having you with us.

Me and Taqqiq, Kallik prompted.

Lusa glanced back at the other big white bear. Kallik followed her gaze and saw that her brother had a tendril of moss hooked around one claw. He was twitching his paw angrily, trying to get rid of it. His teeth were bared, and he muttered something under his breath.

Yeah, you and Taqqiq, Lusa said, but Kallik could hear the drop in enthusiasm in her new friends voice. She decided to change the subject. Hopefully Taqqiq would start acting like her brother again soon, like the cheerful, playful cub he had been when they lived on the ice with Nisa, and then the others would feel friendlier toward him.

I cant believe the sun is coming up already, Kallik said, tilting her head toward the horizon at their flanks. She and Lusa had started walking again, padding over the cold gray stone to catch up to Toklo and Ujurak. I thought that after the Longest Day the nights would be longer. Weve barely had any time to follow the Pathway Star.

Well still be able to see it for a while, Lusa said, raising her nose to the sky where the bright star glittered. And we have Ujurak. He knows where were going.

Kallik blinked, remembering the endless scorching days she had spent traveling to Great Bear Lake, never knowing where she would end up. Its nice to have someone to follow for once, she commented quietly. Ive been lost for so long. She looked up and saw that the two brown bears up ahead had stopped to drink from a small stream that trickled between the rocks. The rising sun tinged their fur a golden color.

But you did what you were trying to do, Lusa reminded her as they quickened their pace, both of them thirsty after the nights walking. You found your brother.

Yes, I did, Kallik said. Although that didnt go quite the way I expected it to.

Toklo swung his shaggy head around to watch them scramble across the rocks toward him. His brown eyes were expressionless, as if he didnt care if they made it or not. Kallik wished she knew how she could make him like her. Maybe if she proved that she could be usefulor if Toklo realized that Taqqiq was not as bad as he thought.

The stream bubbled icy and cold against Kalliks paws. She wished it were deeper so she could lie down in it and cool off.

Brrrrr! Lusa huffed as she dabbed her paw in the water. She lapped up a few drops, her long pink tongue flicking in and out. Its freezing!

Its perfect, Kallik said. She buried her nose in the water and then shook her head as Taqqiq caught up to her, spraying him with icy droplets. Taqqiq, it feels like snow, doesnt it?

Not really, Taqqiq growled. You told me we were going to find real snow. How do we even know there will be any in this direction? At least back at the Melting Sea we know there was snow, once.

Itll snow again here sometime, Ujurak said. He looked up at the cloudless pink-and-gray sky. I mean, maybe not soon. But I know it will, once fishleap is over.

Fishleap? Taqqiq curled his lip. What is that?

Black bears call it leaftime, Lusa jumped in. When the days are long and hot.

Ohthey mean burn-sky, Kallik said to Taqqiq. We just have to wait for snow-sky to return.

If it returns, Taqqiq muttered. He raked his claws across the bare rocks with a harsh grating sound. Kallik winced.

Why dont we just keep going? Toklo suggested, and Kallik could hear the forced patience in his voice. Lusa, theres a tree up ahead. Maybe you could climb it and tell us whats in front of us. He jerked his head at a tall, scraggly tree that stood on its own among the rocks. The rocky slope of the hill kept going up beyond it, covered in patches of yellow grass and a few leafy green bushes.

Sure! Lusa agreed. She bounded across the stream and trotted over to the tree. Her paws flashed as she leaped onto the trunk. In a few moments, she was racing up through the branches.

Wow, Kallik said. She climbs fast!

Doesnt she? Toklo said, giving Taqqiq a faintly smug look.

Taqqiq snorted. I guess black bears have to be good at somethingtheyre useless otherwise.

Kallik could see the fur rising on Toklos shoulders. Taqqiq, she said quickly, do you smell any prey? It would be great to eat before we move on.

Her brother sniffed the air. His eyes narrowed. Maybe He began pacing up the stream toward a clump of bushes.