The Longest Day Read Free

Fish had been scarce and the bears had decided that one bear’s swim to the island would be an offering of respect to Arcturus.
    Toklo remembered the spirits of Oka and Tobi swimming beside him, his mother and brother boosting him up against the currents and urging him on as exhaustion dragged at his fur. As he’d swum back from the island, Toklo had caught a huge salmon and carried it to the others. They’d greeted him enthusiastically, knowing the salmon was a sign that their bellies would be full once more.
    The breeze lifted Toklo’s fur, and he felt strangely peaceful. I belong here as much as I belong in my own territory. I will come to the gathering every suncircle, he silently promised Arcturus.
    He headed toward the gathering of brown bears. They seemed agitated. A single bear lounged on a cluster of rocks, but the others moved as they talked, shifting restlessly from paw to paw.
    Curiosity sparked beneath Toklo’s pelt. Had something happened? He quickened his pace. Will they remember me?
    â€œToklo!” A sturdy, coarse-furred bear nosed his way from the crowd. “You came!”
    Toklo broke into a run, pebbles swishing beneath his paws. As he reached the bear at the edge of the group, he chuffed happily. “Shesh! It’s good to see you!”
    Shesh wrinkled his graying snout. “You smell like you’ve traveled far. Is that mountain scent in your fur?”
    â€œYes. And forest scent and sea scent and river scent,” Toklo told him proudly. He examined Shesh. No new scars marked his pelt, and he was fatter than last burn-sky. “You look like you’ve had a good season.”
    Before Shesh could answer, angry snarls erupted behind him.
    An old male swiped a paw at a younger bear. “You know nothing about where to hunt!”
    â€œI know better than you !” the young bear snapped back. “Only a cloud-brain thinks that pine forests are good for hunting.”
    â€œThe prey is rich there.”
    â€œBut what bear can run through such thick forest?”
    â€œYou must be clumsy!”
    â€œAny bear is clumsy compared with a deer.”
    The two bears glared angrily at each other.
    Toklo looked around for Oogrook. The wise old bear could put a stop to the argument before it turned nasty.
    But Oogrook wasn’t here.
    Toklo lifted his muzzle. “ All forest is good for hunting. We should thank Arcturus for the prey it brings us.”
    Shesh nodded. “Toklo’s right, Tuari.” He caught the young male’s eye before glancing at the older bear. “Holata, you should be teaching Tuari instead of arguing with him.”
    Holata dropped onto all fours, grunting. “It’s impossible to teach a young bear anything.” His gaze flashed to Toklo. “They think they know everything already.”
    â€œAnd you don’t?” Tuari sank grumpily onto his front paws.
    The other bears shifted around them, pelts twitching uneasily.
    â€œWhere’s Oogrook?” Toklo asked.
    Shesh looked down at his paws. “Oogrook died.”
    Toklo blinked. “How?”
    Shesh shrugged. “He was old. He didn’t wake up from his long sleep.”
    Toklo didn’t want to believe it. He wanted to tell Oogrook about his journey. The old bear would understand how brave he’d been, how much he’d lost, and how much he’d achieved. With Ujurak, Kallik, and Lusa, Toklo had brought the spirits back so the wild would be safe. He’d helped Ujurak returnto his home among the stars. Oogrook would have realized that he’d been right to put his faith in the young cub who had swum to Pawprint Island and carried a salmon back to shore.
    Sadness pierced Toklo’s belly. “Are you sure he’s dead?”
    â€œWenona saw his body. She lives in the territory beside his.” Shesh beckoned Toklo with a jerk of his muzzle. “Come, we have laid a tribute to him.”
    Toklo followed Shesh through