The Melting Sea by Erin Hunter

down her sides, checking her injuries. “There’s an herb you can use,” he told her. “It grows close to the ground, with narrow, grayish leaves. You’ll find it beside streams, under the soil. It has a bitter taste, but it should take the pain away and help the wounds heal.”
    His slightly frantic tone told Lusa how worried he was. She took a pace back to stop his desperate examination of her injuries. “I’m fine, really,” she assured him. “Thank you for rescuing me.”
    Ujurak’s expression grew somber. “You shouldn’t have been there,” he said. “Bears don’t need flat-face food! Didn’t you learn that from our journey? You can find your own food now, you and all the other bears.”
    Lusa backed away even farther, shocked by how stern Ujurak sounded. “Okay, I’m sorry,” she said. “I just wanted to help the others.”
    Ujurak’s voice softened. “You can help by finding leaves they can eat and signs of prey. You won’t help them if you go off and get attacked by dogs.”
    Lusa nodded. “I know.”
    She followed Ujurak as he led her back across the plain, halting when the pile of grass and sticks came into sight.
    â€œCome with me,” she begged Ujurak. “Kallik and Toklo will be so happy to see you!”
    Ujurak shook his head, making his long, thin ears flap. “No, not like this,” he said. “I am with you all, always. Remember that.”
    Lusa let out a long sigh. She wanted Ujurak to be with them in his old bear shape, just as he had been on their first journey, but she knew that was impossible now. “Good-bye, Ujurak,” she said. “And thank you so much.”
    â€œGood-bye.” Ujurak touched his wet nose to Lusa’s ear. “We will meet again.”
    Reluctantly Lusa turned away and limped toward the pile of sticks where her friends were sleeping. When she looked back, there was no sign of the dog, and no pawprints in the snow where it had walked.
    â€œDon’t leave us, Ujurak,” she whispered into the air.

CHAPTER NINE
Kallik
    Kallik sprang to her paws, shaking , as a roar sounded close to her ear. Sleep still clung to her, and it took her a moment to realize the fearsome sound had come from Toklo. “What’s happening?” she asked.
    â€œWake up, Kallik. It’s Lusa.” Toklo was standing by the pile of sticks with Lusa beside him. “Look at her—she’s covered in blood!”
    Morning had come while Kallik slept, though the sun was hidden behind clouds. The ground was covered with wisps of white mist. Through them Kallik stared at Lusa; her fur was matted with blood, and one of her ears was torn. The tang of blood hit Kallik’s throat. “Lusa, what happened?” she gasped.
    â€œI tried to find some food by the flat-face dens,” Lusa explained, her head bowed miserably. “You know, like we used to. But the flat-faces sent dogs to attack me.”
    â€œI’ll mangle them!” Toklo exclaimed, tensing his muscles as if he was about to dash off across the plain. “I’ll spread their guts from here to the Melting Sea!”
    â€œNo!” Lusa stood in front of Toklo, blocking him. “Ujurak came in the shape of a dog, and he helped me to fight them off.”
    â€œUjurak!” Toklo’s eyes lit up. “He’s here?” Calling Ujurak’s name, he ran out onto the plain.
    Kallik chased after him, with Lusa by her side and Yakone, just struggling out of sleep, bringing up the rear.
    â€œToklo, wait!” Lusa called. “He isn’t here anymore.”
    Toklo halted and turned back. Sympathy pierced Kallik like a thorn as she saw his downcast expression. “Why didn’t he stay?” Toklo asked angrily. “He didn’t even say good-bye!”
    Lusa padded up to him and reached up to touch his shoulder with her muzzle. “He wants you to