The Burning Horizon Read Free Page A

rise, though he knew the sound was only a firesnake racing through the trees along an unseen SilverPath. “I know it can’t reach us up here,” he grumbled aloud, “but it doesn’t belong here, and I don’t like it!” He shuddered at the memory of their journey on the firesnake, the speed and noise and the reek of flat-face stuff.
    He turned his focus back to the mountains. Somewhere far ahead, beyond the rolling hills, was Great Bear Lake, where all the other bears would be traveling for the Longest Day. Toklo had made the journey before, but everything was different now.
    I was so young then, so lost and angry and frightened. I didn’t even know where I was going; I just knew that I had to leave the place where Oka lived because of her grief and her rage. Meeting Lusa and Ujurak was the best thing that could have happened to me. I wasn’t lonely anymore, and they gave me something to live for.
    A pang of grief pierced Toklo as he thought about Ujurak. Is he watching me right now? Looking up, he could see one or two stars still glimmering in the dawn sky, but he couldn’t make out his friend’s star-shape.
    Toklo asked himself whether Ujurak would have told him to stay in his newly won territory. Lusa probably would have been fine traveling to the Longest Day Gathering with Kallik and Yakone, and they could have helped her to find a new home before heading off to find their own. And Kallik andYakone would always have each other, so no bear would be left alone.
    There’ll come a time when I have to make the long journey back here by myself.
    Toklo’s belly churned as he realized that by choosing to travel once again with his companions, he was putting off the inevitable separation.
    A familiar voice echoed in his mind. “Perhaps it’s fitting that the final part of your journey, to claim your own territory, should be alone, like a true brown bear?”
    Toklo caught his breath. Turning, he saw a small, dark-furred bear standing beside him. “Ujurak!” he exclaimed.
    â€œAfter all,” Ujurak continued, as if they were in the middle of a conversation, “won’t you get more respect at the Sky Ridge if the other bears know you as ‘the wanderer’? The bear of all territories, the bear who has seen more of the world than any of them will be able to imagine?”
    â€œMaybe . . .” Toklo murmured.
    â€œOther brown bears will look upon you as fierce and wise,” Ujurak said, “but only if you make it to Great Bear Lake, to the gathering. Nothing is more important than that right now. For Lusa, and for you.”
    Toklo put his head on one side. “What do you mean? Is something going to happen to me at the lake?”
    â€œI can’t say,” Ujurak replied. “It’s something you must discover for yourself. But trust me, it’s vital for you to get there.”
    A rustling sound behind Toklo made him turn his head,and when he looked back, Ujurak was gone. Lusa appeared through the trees, blinking and stretching as she stumbled up to Toklo.
    â€œWhy are you out here by yourself?” she asked through a massive yawn.
    â€œI wasn’t by myself,” Toklo replied. “Ujurak was here.”
    Lusa’s eyes sparkled with excitement, the last of her drowsiness vanishing. “Oh, I wish I’d seen him!” she exclaimed. “What did he say to you?”
    Toklo decided not to tell her that Ujurak had said the gathering would be of huge importance to him. It’s all too mysterious, he decided, wanting to think about it more by himself.
    â€œNot much,” he replied. “Or not much that I understood.”
    â€œDoes he think it’s right for you to go to the lake?” Lusa asked anxiously.
    Toklo nodded. “Yes, he does.”
    â€œI’m so glad.” Lusa let out a sigh. “It feels good having you with us.”
    The glittering edge of the sun was just