Chap. 5

The bears stayed at Tug's den for almost 2 weeks. With Tug's help, Kenai soon became well versed in what was editable and how to spot a trap. Koda already knew much of this, but he even learned about a few plants he didn't know about. Denahi had the most trouble. Though he was learning basics that even Koda knew, He seemed to be having a harder time adjusting than Kenai.

He had willingly become a bear, but for whatever reason he wasn't adjusting as fast as he thought he would. By the end of the two weeks, he had only grasped what Kenai had learned in his journey with Koda. Tug however, was getting restless to go back to the salmon run and once Kenai and Koda had the basics, he left it up to them to teach Denahi.

"Alright Denahi, you try." Kenai watched patiently while Denahi stood motionless above the clear water. A small school of fish swam by. Denahi's paw struck out into the water with a loud splash. A fish, albeit a very small one flipped up onto the bank.

"Hey, you did it Denahi, good job!" Denahi let out a sigh. He was surprised by how different this was from his other life and he was impressed that Kenai had adapted so quickly.

"Thanks Kenai."

"Kenai, are we goin' to the salmon run soon? Tug already went back, and Bucky will probably leave this week. I won-" Koda stopped as Kenai nodded his head.

"Alright Koda, we can go now. You up to the journey brother?" Denahi grinned at the question.

"Come on Kenai, a choice between here and a journey to the gathering? Don't you know your own brother?" Kenai grinned back and began walking down river. Koda fell into step on his right and Denahi caught up on the other side. "Come on then, let's go!" The three brothers began to race down the river.

The summer was waning, and most bears had left the salmon run to head home. When the brother arrived, they were surprised to see how few bears remained.

"Bucky!" Koda ran off to play with a group of five cubs, the only ones left that Denahi could see.

"Why do they all leave, Kenai?" Kenai gazed out over the great river and at the dozen bears remaining. "The salmon only come by in large numbers once a year. You should know that, Denahi." Kenai went down to the water and began to fish. Denahi looked around one more time before joining his brother. After a few minutes, Kenai caught a salmon of fair size, though smaller than the ones he had caught during his first weeks. Denahi caught one shortly afterward, and to the brothers' surprise, it was larger than Kenai's. "Denahi, have you been practicing in secret?"

Denahi grinned. "This is the biggest fish I've caught Kenai. It was just luck."

The brothers climbed up the bank and ate their meal. The great lights were visible in the darkening evening and Koda soon joined them. "Bucky's leaving tomorrow. We haven't even had time to go exploring. Course, Bucky says that while we were gone, this cub, Enak fell off the waterfall, and got his foot trapped under a rock,-"

"Let me guess," Kenai interrupted. "He had to chew his own foot off."

Koda looked surprised. "How'd you know?"

"Koda, have you noticed that Bucky's stories always end with chewing or ripping off a limb?" Koda thought about it for a moment. "I guess..."

"Have you heard anyone else mention the events that Binky talks about?" "Bucky..." Koda corrected without thinking.

"You mean he's been pulling my tail?" Koda looked hurt. Denahi quickly jumped in. "I'm sure he didn't mean to trick you, I bet that he just likes telling fanciful stories."

Before Koda could reply, Kenai spoke. "Come on Koda, it's time for bed, you want to see Bin- I mean Bucky before he leaves, right?" Kenai went up to one of the rock faces and lay down. Denahi took the one right below it. Koda reluctantly climbed up and curled up next to Kenai. The Lights danced overhead, creating patterns that quickly lulled them to sleep.

Denahi looked around. He was standing on the mountain where the lights touch the earth. Sitka stood a little ways back, still a spirit, with the shadow of an eagle shadowing him. Denahi turned and looked to his right. His brother bear, Kenai lay there, asleep with a cub by his side. An adolescent boy stood by his side, a single blanket wrapped around him. Denahi suddenly realized that he was human again, in the hunting outfit he had worn when he had chased Kenai. He looked back at Kenai, who was still a bear. A spear appeared in the hand of the boy, however. He seemed unsure of what to do with it, but then he raised it up above Kenai's heart, and...

"NOOOOO!"

Denahi tumbled off the rock and crashed into the river. The first rays of sunlight danced on the water. He broke the surface and gasped for breath.

"Denahi! Are you all right?" Kenai was climbing down the rocks as fast as he could. Koda was right behind him.

"I'm fine, just... was surprised and slipped." He shook himself, letting water droplets shower the other two. Koda looked a bit reproachful at this. "Surprised? I didn't see anything."

"No, it was, I just, I... I forgot where I was for a moment." Kenai looked concerned but he changed the subject. "Com' on lets catch breakfast. We have a long journey ahead of us."

"Journey? Where are we going Kenai? Will we be back this afternoon? Me and Bucky have to get together before he leaves."

"You should go say goodbye to Bin- I mean Bucky, after breakfast. We won't be coming back here this year. I think it's time we found a den of our own."

"Really?!" Koda's face split into a wide grin. "Our own den? I'm gonna go see Bucky now, can we leave when I get back?" Koda ran up onto the bank and off toward another rock outcropping down river.

"It doesn't take much does it?" Denahi stared after the little cub that was now busy trying to wake up another by pushing him into the river.

"Not really. You'll come with us, won't you Denahi. I mean, I'm sure we can find a pair of dens close to each other..."

"Little Brother, are you saying that you care? Looks like you have been following your totem." Denahi swiped a paw at his brother's ear. "Of course I'll come; I still need a teacher after all."

Kenai went down the bank and into the river. "Good, Koda would have missed you otherwise." Denahi playfully splashed his brother. "Hey Denahi, how about you gather some berries, we should have a good breakfast if we're gonna travel all day."

Denahi nodded and after glancing over the empty feeling river, he trotted off into the woods.