River of Lost Bears Read Free Page B

snorted and padded down to the river’s edge. With a growl, he jumped in and stood in the shallows while the water raced around his paws. “You know why the water here is in such a hurry, don’t you?” His eyes flashed, suddenly mischievous.
    Lusa took the bait. “No, why?”
    â€œBecause it wants to get to the Melting Sea, where it can be proper water.”
    Toklo tore a strip from his fish. “Don’t tell me you prefer it salty!”
    Yakone lapped from the river. “This stuff’s got no taste.”
    â€œDon’t be mean about the forest!” Lusa scowled at Yakone. “At least you can drink river water without being sick.”
    â€œOw!” Kallik’s yelp made Lusa jump.
    â€œWhat’s the matter?”
    Kallik was twisting desperately, trying to reach something in her flank.
    Lusa stiffened. Had something bitten Kallik? She glanced along the crevice running between the rocks beside her. Were there snakes here?
    Toklo nosed Kallik’s muzzle out of the way, then plucked a pinecone from her fur.
    â€œI sat on it,” Kallik complained, and lapped at her sore flank.
    Lusa snorted with laughter. “Just be glad it wasn’t a teasel.”
    Kallik blinked at her. “A teasel?”
    â€œLike a pinecone but much pricklier,” Toklo explained.
    â€œGreat.” Yakone padded heavily from the water. “More forest treasures to discover.”
    Lusa gazed at him earnestly. “You’ll get used to it,” she promised. “And then you’ll see what a wonderful place the forest is.”
    As she spoke, a deep growl rang from the trees. Lusa’s pelt bristled with fear. “What was that?”
    Toklo was already beside her, teeth bared. “I’m not sure,” he said, letting the fur stand up along his spine, “but it sounds fierce.”

CHAPTER THREE
Toklo
    Toklo flexed his claws. He had started to recognize the scent flooding from the forest. “Get behind Kallik, Lusa.” He pushed in front of the two white bears. “I’ll deal with this.”
    Lusa hesitated, staring wide-eyed into the trees.
    â€œNow!” Toklo’s growl hardened, and Lusa scrambled backward, fur on end. Toklo was cursing his own stupidity. I should have realized this was some bear’s territory. How had he missed the scent? I’m such a fur-brain! Splashing about in the river like this was my home.
    The bramble bushes swished ahead. Toklo stiffened as a black bear swaggered from the trees. He was full-grown, half as big again as Lusa, and though still a head smaller than Toklo, his body was lean and tough looking. His muzzle was scarred, his ears torn. His muscles were solid beneath his bristling pelt. This was a fighter.
    The black bear stared at them, eyes hard as flint. “What are you doing here?”
    Toklo stared back. “We’re just passing through.” If it came to a fight, he’d win easily, just because he was so much heavier than the black bear.
    â€œAnd helping yourself to my fish,” the black bear snarled. He took a step forward, clearly not intimidated by Toklo’s size.
    Toklo thought fast. Perhaps this bear was more dangerous than he looked. Perhaps he had friends nearby. Whatever, this wasn’t a battle worth fighting. “Sorry about the fish,” he said. Toklo heard a growl rumble in Yakone’s throat, suggesting the white bear would rather fight than apologize, and he shot him a warning glance. We don’t need to prove we can beat a black bear! “We’ve been away from the forest for a while,” Toklo went on. “We’re not used to smelling out territory yet.”
    The black bear peered past him at Kallik and Yakone, muzzle wrinkling in disgust. “ They shouldn’t be here.”
    Kallik strode forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with Toklo. “Who says so?”
    Toklo’s fur lifted along his spine. Kallik’s tone