River of Lost Bears by Erin Hunter Page A

sky beside Oka and Tobi with the sun hot on his back. “When Tobi and I were cubs, I thought that there was only sunshine and water in the whole world.”
    Lusa gazed calmly into his eyes. “You must miss Tobi.”
    She woke me up to ask about Tobi? Toklo’s paws pricked with irritation. “So?”
    â€œBut you don’t like talking about him.”
    â€œHe’s dead. There’s not much to talk about.”
    â€œSo you’re not going to think about him ever again?” Lusa sounded angry.
    â€œNo.” Why did she suddenly care about Tobi?
    â€œAre you never going to think of Chenoa, either?”
    â€œChenoa?” Had a bee flown into Lusa’s ear? “What are you talking about?”
    â€œI know why you left her,” Lusa declared. “You were scared she’d end up traveling with us, and you don’t want to be responsible for another bear.”
    â€œI just want to get home, that’s all.”
    â€œThen why not let her travel with us? Her legs are as long as mine. She wouldn’t hold us up.”
    Toklo opened his mouth, but no words came out.
    Lusa went on. “You feel responsible for Tobi’s death, don’t you? When Oka drove you away, you thought it was because you’d let him die.” She shook her head fiercely. “That’s not true. It wasn’t your fault he died. It wasn’t your fault Ujurak left. And the wolverines attacked me because I ran away, not because you didn’t stop them.”
    How do you know I feel like that? Toklo stared in astonishment as more words flooded from the black bear.
    â€œYou’re not responsible for us, Toklo. You may be bigger and stronger than me. You may be more used to the forest than Kallik or Yakone. But it doesn’t mean you have to protect us from everything. We’ve traveled as far as you, Kallik and I. We’ve seen the same things and survived the same dangers. Our fate is our own. Our lives are not in your paws.” She sat back on her haunches and stared at him. “Do you understand?”
    Toklo felt unease tightening his belly. “But I have to look after you.”
    â€œNo! You don’t!” Lusa pressed her muzzle against his cheek. “We travel with you because you’re good and kind and loyal. Not because we need you to look after us. We look after one another. You’re not responsible for everyone. And if Chenoa traveled with us, you wouldn’t be responsible for her, either.”
    Toklo felt suddenly light, his breath coming deeper and easier than it had for a long while. He understood why Lusa had woken him. “You want me to go back for Chenoa.”
    She nodded.
    â€œCan we trust her?” Toklo gazed along the shoreline. “Remember Nanulak? I trusted him, but he lied from the start.”
    Lusa shrugged. “That was Nanulak, not Chenoa. Chenoa hasn’t asked us for anything. But you’ve seen how Hakan bullies her. And you know that if he keeps blaming her for their mother’s death, she’ll never stop grieving.”
    Something seemed to loosen in Toklo’s chest.
    Lusa pressed on. “She needs our help, Toklo.”
    â€œBut I’m going home.” Toklo dipped his head. “What’s going to happen to Chenoa when I get there?”
    â€œShe’ll still have me.” Lusa stared at him. “She can help me find my home.”
    Toklo blinked. He hadn’t thought about what would happen to Lusa when he reached the mountains. He stiffened. Lusa alone? But not if Chenoa was with them . . . His belly tightened. “I’ll go back for her.”
    â€œI’m coming, too.” Lusa paced in front of him.
    â€œNo.” Toklo was firm. “You’re injured. Besides, Chenoa already trusts me. She’ll believe me when I tell her she can’t waste her life trying to make Hakan happy.”
    Along the shore, Kallik and Yakone got to their paws and