River of Lost Bears Read Online Free PDF Page A

what’s best for her. I’ve raised her since our mother was crushed by a firebeast—” He broke off, his eyes suddenly glittering with grief. “Get out of here. This is my territory! If I see you here again, I’ll rip your fur off!” He lashed out furiously at Toklo.
    Toklo sidestepped, and Hakan’s paws thumped bare earth.
    â€œOkay, I’m going!” Toklo turned away. He didn’t want to fight. Hakan was smaller than him. Besides, he understood the pain of losing a mother. Toklo paused. But what about Chenoa? She’d lost her mother, too. How could Hakan be so unkind to her? Anger tightened his chest and he glanced over his shoulder, wondering whether to remind this bear what a ripped ear felt like. He crushed the urge and walked away, muttering, “You’re not worth the fight.”
    â€œNot worth the fight?” came a bellow behind him.
    Pain burst through Toklo’s body as claws raked his rump. Shocked, he dropped and rolled. Hakan lunged at him again. Scrambling to his paws, Toklo escaped just in time, but Hakan still came for him.
    Toklo reared onto his hind legs, claws stretched out. How does this bear think he can win?
    Hakan rose to meet him. “I’ll show you who’s not worth the fight!” Eyes blazing, the black bear swiped at Toklo.
    Toklo knocked away a blow, then another, but a third caught his cheek. Pain seared through his face, and blood welled around his eyes. He staggered backward and dropped onto all fours.
    Hakan glared at him. “Had enough?”
    Fury pulsed through Toklo. “Back off before I hurt you.”
    Hakan roared and swung at Toklo. His paw thumped Toklo’s ear. Toklo stepped away, thinking fast. He needed to end this fight, but he didn’t want to hurt Hakan too badly, not if his sister really did need him for protection. Ducking, he nipped at Hakan’s hind legs.
    â€œYou fight like a wolverine!” Hakan swung a forepaw at him.
    Toklo struck the black bear’s chest before the jab reached him. Hakan staggered backward, gasping. Toklo lunged after him and swiped again. He landed a blow on Hakan’s shoulder. He held back his full strength, but it was enough to knock Hakan sideways.
    Shock sparked in the black bear’s gaze. He staggered as he fought to keep his balance. Had he finally realized he’d taken on a bear twice his size?
    â€œGet out of here,” Toklo snarled. “Before I really shred you.” Pain flashed in the wound on his cheek.
    â€œDon’t think you’ve won.” Hakan puffed out his chest. “Next time I won’t give up so easily.” Growling under his breath, he limped away between the trees.
    Toklo shifted his paws uneasily. Even though the black bear had started the fight, he didn’t like that he’d come close to hurting a bear smaller than he was just for the sake of proving his strength. He pushed his way through a clump of ragweed and padded onto a soft stretch of moss.
    â€œHello.”
    A whisper from the ragweed made him jump.
    â€œWho is it?”
    The younger black bear crept out and stopped in front of him. Toklo remembered Hakan had called her Chenoa. “Thanks for sticking up for me,” she said. Her gaze clouded as it flicked over Toklo. “Are you hurt? Did Hakan do this?”
    Toklo lifted his head. “It’s just a few scratches.”
    Her eyes were as round as Lusa’s. “You fought for me?”
    â€œIt wasn’t for you.” Toklo wished she’d go away and stop staring at him. His fight with Hakan had been dumb. His pelt bristled hotly. “Has your brother always been such a sore-paw?”
    â€œI guess so.” Chenoa tilted her head to one side. “He’s been worse since I killed our mother.”
    â€œ You killed your mother?” Toklo choked on the words. “But Hakan said a firebeast killed her.”
    â€œIt did.” Chenoa’s eyes glittered