River of Lost Bears by Erin Hunter

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

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Kallik

“She’s gone!” Kallik’s breath stopped as water splashed over the boulders onto her paws. This wasn’t supposed to happen.

We were only crossing the river!

Yakone shifted beside her. “Chenoa?” He was staring at the empty space where the black bear’s head had appeared a moment before she was swept, flailing, over the edge. “Chenoa!” His voice rose to a roar before he plunged into the river.

Kallik gasped, her breath flooding back. “Yakone! It’s too late!” She stared, stiff with shock as Yakone swam toward the falls. “It’ll drag you over, too! Come back!”

“Yakone!” Toklo howled. “Don’t be a fish-brain!”

The current swept Yakone closer to Toklo’s boulder. Fear flashed in the white bear’s eyes. The current had grabbed him. He struggled against the water.

Don’t let him fall! Kallik pleaded with the spirits.

As Yakone thrashed, Toklo leaned out and grabbed for his pelt. He caught Yakone’s scruff in his teeth and threw his weight backward, trying to pull him out of the river.

Don’t let go! Kallik’s heart pressed in her throat.

Toklo heaved and Yakone flailed. Suddenly, a wave threw him against Toklo’s rock, and with Toklo’s teeth still locked in his fur, he managed to haul himself out of the water. Kallik stared, numb with shock.

Toklo bellowed at her, “Get to the far shore! We’ll climb down and find Chenoa!”

Does he think she might have survived? Kallik froze for a moment, trying to picture a small black shape falling through the water and splashing harmlessly into the river below. Chenoa was an excellent swimmer. Maybe it was possible that she had been washed up, winded but unhurt, on the shore below the cliffs. Toklo was right; they had to go look for her! Kallik dove from her rock and swam for the shore. Jaws clenched, she reached the bank and waded out.

She turned and saw that Toklo was moving swiftly through the water toward her. Yakone followed, Lusa’s scruff in his jaws. The small black bear held her head above the waves as Yakone carried her through the rapids, struggling free as soon as her paws reached the riverbed.

“We have to get down there and find her!” Lusa raced past Kallik.

“We will,” Kallik promised. She glanced past Lusa to Toklo. He was staggering from the river, hollow-eyed. Yakone shook the water from his pelt as he padded through the shallows.

Lusa hurried for the cliff edge.

“Wait!” Kallik caught up with her. She peered down. On this side of the river, the forest reached the waterfall. Trees clung to the sheer cliff, while rocky soil edged the steep slope. It looked as though the forest was sliding into the gorge. In fact, the presence of roots and soft earth would make for an easier climb than the slippery rocks on the other side. It’s a good sign! Kallik told herself. Chenoa must be down there alive!

Lusa began to climb down, threading herself through the branches. Kallik lowered herself after her, hindpaws first, hanging on to a branch and letting her pads slide over crumbling earth until they reached solid rock.

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