The Longest Day Read Online Free Page A

again?” The thought had been nagging in her belly like homesickness.
    â€œOf course.” Yakone turned to head down onto softer ground. Around them, stunted bushes and spiky grass covered the sandy earth. They were nearing the shoreline, where white bears lay in the shade of a stand of pines.
    â€œLusa and Toklo would never leave you without a proper good-bye,” Yakone murmured, his flank brushing hers.
    Kallik hoped it was true. The brown bears looked smallfrom here. Would they allow a white bear to wander onto their stretch of shore? She couldn’t see Toklo among the others, and by now Lusa would be lost in the shelter of the forest with the other black bears.
    They slithered down a steep slope and crossed a marshy pool. Muddy water sloshed around Kallik’s legs. Instinctively she glanced at Yakone’s injured paw. The wound from the flat-face trap, which had ripped away two of his toes, had healed now, but the scar was still delicate.
    Yakone caught her eye. “It’s not hurting,” he grunted, reading her thoughts.
    â€œI just like to make sure you’re okay.”
    He splashed water at her playfully. “I can look after myself, you know.”
    Kallik lifted her muzzle. “Of course you can. But you like that I care.” As she climbed onto harder ground, she felt her spirits lift. They were finally here! Which familiar faces would they see? Anticipation sparked beneath her pelt, and she quickened her pace.
    Their path took them close to a strange flat-face construction, a tall thin tower built of white stone. This is where my journey began! Kallik had first met the others here, when Lusa had rescued a black bear cub from Taqqiq and his friends. Brambles had grown around the tower since last suncircle. Kallik couldn’t make out the hole that led into the hollowed-out stone.
    A whole suncircle of traveling! The journey had taken her farther than she could ever have imagined; it had led her toYakone. And now she was back, with Yakone still at her side. “Come on!” She broke into a run.
    Crossing the stones, Kallik splashed into the lake and sank joyfully into the water. It flooded over her flanks, quenching the heat in her fur. Yakone waded in after her and flopped down in the shallows. Kallik rolled over, rubbing her dusty pelt among the pebbles and feeling the grit float free. Water flooded into her nose and eyes as she dipped her head underneath.
    â€œYakone? Is that you?”
    A voice from the shore made her sit up. Her fur streaming, she blinked at the white bear calling from the edge of the lake.
    Yakone heaved himself to his paws. “Illa?” he barked in disbelief. “What are you doing here? The Star Island bears haven’t been to the Longest Day gathering for suncircles!”
    Kallik pushed herself up. Yakone and Illa had lived together on Star Island, before Kallik had met them. And Tunerq was with her.
    Yakone gazed at the young male. “You’ve grown!”
    â€œWe’ve eaten well since you taught us how to hunt musk ox,” Tunerq answered.
    â€œGreat!” Yakone’s gaze slid past Tunerq. “Is Unalaq here?”
    Kallik felt her heart sink. Unalaq was Yakone’s brother. He had objected to everything she, Toklo, and Lusa had suggested when they’d tried to help the bears of Star Island. He’d even fought with Toklo.
    She felt secretly relieved when Illa shook her head. “He stayed with Aga. She said that she was far too old for such ajourney, and Unalaq decided that she shouldn’t be left alone. Of course, Aga objected and said she could look after herself, but you know how stubborn Unalaq can be.”
    Yakone snorted. “I remember. But Aga’s stubborn, too. They’re probably quarreling right now about the best ice hole to fish at.” He paused. “Is Aga well?”
    â€œShe’s fine,” Illa assured him. “She told me which route to follow to find the lake.