The Burning Horizon Read Online Free PDF Page A

tree.
    Lusa realized that now that they were clear of the dense forest, they could see for long distances again. Heading to look out from a bare outcrop, she let out a bark when she spotted a huge flat-face denning place spread out in the valley below.
    â€œLook!” she exclaimed. “I thought we were in the wilderness!”
    Toklo came to stand beside her. “Well, now we know where all the flat-faces are coming from,” he grunted.
    Lusa stared down at the expanse of flat-face dens that seemed to huddle together in the midst of the forest and mountains that encircled them. Light glinted from the surface of a river that looped around the dens. “I hope we don’t have to go any closer,” she said.
    Kallik left Yakone, who had flopped down under the tree to rest, his eyes closed, and padded over to join Lusa and Toklo. “It might not be so bad,” she said, scanning the valley more closely. “Look, there are a few small BlackPaths, but only one main one leading into the denning place. We just need to cross that and the river, and then we can head toward the sunrise.”
    â€œNow I remember,” Toklo huffed excitedly. “Ujurak and I came this way before, when the Pathway Star guided us to Great Bear Lake the first time. I think it should be okay.”
    â€œThank the spirits,” Lusa murmured, grateful that she could trust Toklo’s memory. I don’t recognize this place at all, she thought as she looked around. Toklo and Ujurak must have traveled this way before I met them.
    Her optimism rose again as she gazed out across the widelandscape. Their way stretched out in front of them. Even the denning area couldn’t daunt her, now that she could see there was a way around it.
    I think Toklo’s right, she told herself. We will make it to Great Bear Lake in time.

CHAPTER THREE
Kallik
    Kallik stood beside Lusa and Toklo on the outcrop as they examined the terrain ahead and began to plan their route.
    â€œWe can’t go near those flat-face dens,” Toklo growled. “And we’ll have to stay alert to avoid the flat-faces wandering through the trees. I don’t know why they can’t just stay on the BlackPaths.”
    Kallik knew she should concentrate on what the others were planning, but she couldn’t stop worrying about Yakone. She kept casting glances back at him where he was resting under the pine tree. His wounded paw had never really healed since the battle with the wolves.
    â€œAre you okay to keep going?” she murmured, padding over to him. “That paw doesn’t look too good.”
    â€œIt’s okay,” Yakone replied.
    Kallik grunted and bent her head to sniff at the wound. Her worries increased as she picked up the sweetish scent of infection.
    â€œToklo! Lusa!” she exclaimed. “Yakone’s paw is infectedagain. We have to find herbs to treat it.”
    â€œHonestly, it’s fine,” Yakone protested, but none of the bears paid any attention to him.
    â€œI’ll go find some,” Lusa promised, and darted off into the bushes.
    Toklo shifted his paws impatiently. Kallik guessed he didn’t want to stay in one place for too long, but they all knew Yakone’s health was more important.
    A few moments later Lusa reappeared with a mouthful of leaves. Kallik chomped them up, enjoying the clean, bitter taste, and trickled the juices into Yakone’s wound.
    â€œThanks,” Yakone said. “I’m sorry for slowing you down.”
    Kallik nuzzled his shoulder briefly. “You’re not,” she responded. “The undergrowth is doing that all on its own.”
    As soon as the bears set out again, they had to head back into denser forest where once again the undergrowth hampered their pawsteps. Toklo fell in beside Kallik, an anxious expression in his eyes. “Is Yakone really okay to travel?” he asked in a low voice.
    â€œI think so. As long as we don’t overdo