Spirits in the Stars by Erin Hunter

Author:Erin Hunter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins US

Chapter Thirteen

Toklo

As Toklo led the way along the top of the cliffs from the white bears’ denning place, he realized that Kallik had caught up and was pacing alongside him.

“How long is this going to take?” she asked in a low voice, with a glance behind to make sure none of the other white bears could hear. “I need to get back to Kissimi.”

Toklo shook his head in exasperation. “How do I know? We’ve got to find the musk oxen first. And then we have to show these other bears how to hunt them.”

“And I’d bet a whole seal Unalaq will make it hard for you,” Kallik said, glaring over her shoulder at the big white bear. “Toklo, do I have to come with you? Kissimi will be scared if I leave him alone for much longer.”

Or one of Aga’s bears might find him. Toklo had more sense than to speak his thought aloud. He didn’t want his ears clawed off. “Okay, Kallik,” he replied. “Just slip away quietly. Take Kissimi back to our den—I’ll make sure we don’t hunt anywhere near there.”

Kallik’s eyes were warm with gratitude. “Thanks, Toklo.”

She dropped to the back of the group, next to Ujurak. A few moments later, when Toklo had to leave the edge of the cliff to skirt a large clump of thornbushes half buried in snow, he noticed that she was no longer there. He just hoped that none of the white bears would start asking awkward questions.

Not long after, Toklo left the cliff edge and struck across open ground to the head of the gully he and his friends had followed when they had first arrived on the island. Tunerq picked up his pace until he reached Toklo’s side. Toklo tensed, expecting a question about Kallik, but all the young bear said was “Where are you taking us?”

“To the place where we found the musk oxen,” Toklo replied. “Unless you know anywhere closer where they might be.”

Tunerq shook his head. “We never bother much with the musk oxen,” he told Toklo. “We always thought they were too big to hunt.”

“Too big and too tough,” Unalaq growled, pressing up to join Toklo at the head of the group. “Who’d want to eat musk ox when they can get seal?”

Toklo swiveled his head to glare at the big white bear. “But you can’t get seal, cloud-brain,” he snapped. “Not until they’re clear of the poison. We already told you that. Are your ears stuffed with snow, or what?”

Unalaq glared back. “I think you’re lying about the seals. And the musk oxen. No bear can catch one of those.”

Toklo shrugged. “Watch and learn, fish-breath.”

Ignoring Unalaq, Toklo led the way down the gully and toward the stretch of ground where the musk oxen had been feeding. There was no sign of them now, but the snow was churned up by the marks of their hooves. Toklo sniffed, picking up fresh scent.

“This way,” he said, flicking his ears in the direction of the scent.

Instead of following the trail immediately, Toklo beckoned to the three white bears.

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