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Bale nodded. "But not all of us--that'd slow it down; besides, Renn couldn't make
it."
"Yes I could!" cried Renn.
"No you couldn't," said Bale. Then to Torak, "This slope's not too steep. I can get
her up to higher ground; we'll be safe there. You take the boat. You warn them."
"Me, take your boat? You never let anyone--"
"Torak," cut in Bale, "this is your chance to show them you're not a Soul-Eater!"
"If they don't shoot him first," put in Renn.
Torak ignored her.
Within moments Bale had the boat in the water and Torak was ready, but suddenly
he leaped out and ran back to Renn. Untying his knife-sheath, he pressed it into her
hands. "Keep it safe," he muttered.
"But it's yours; you'll need it!"
"No time to explain. Bale will tell you." Over his shoulder he added, "She's after
meandthe fire-opal-- she mustn't get both!"
The World Spirit was turning day to dusk as Torak made the skinboat fly across the
water. Thunder growled. The air crackled with foreboding. The flood could come at
any moment.
In his mind he saw the creatures of Forest and Lake
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fleeing for safety. Elk, deer, and horses racing for the ridges; beaver and otter
scampering up the slopes as best they could; squirrel and marten seeking refuge in
the sturdiest oaks. Even the fish would be hiding at the bottom of the Lake.
And the wolves? This must be why they'd fled the island, because they'd sensed
what was coming. Torak hoped they'd taken the cubs high enough--and that Wolf
was with them.
In the east, the sky was a boiling mass of storm clouds. Soon lightning would lance
the ice river, releasing the awesome fury of the waters behind. Torak pictured the
flood engulfing the Lake: devastating islands, washing away the Otter camp and
everything in its path.
The wind strengthened, and still he paddled. He was almost spent when he reached
the western shore and put in just south of the Axehandle river. No sign of boats or
people. Only the reeds, flattened by the wind.
Leaving the skinboat on the shore, he slipped into a thicket at the foot of the ridge.
The trees moaned, warning him back. For all he knew, the whole slope might be
crawling with hunters on the lookout for him, and all he had was his axe. Not much
use against arrows and spears.
Exhausted, he soon had to stop for breath. He was
wondering which way to go when something leaped from the junipers and knocked
him to the ground. At last Wolf had found Tall Tailless!
In a snap his sadness at leaving the pack was chased away, and he was covering his
pack-brother's face in snuffle-licks.
I couldn't leave you!he told Tall Tailless.I'm back now and I'm never leaving, just
like you said! But Tall Tailless's greeting was rushed and urgent, and Wolf caught
his mood. He smelled Viper-Tongue on his pack-brother. He sensed great worry
and danger.What do I do?he asked.
Find the ravens, Tall Tailless replied. That made Wolf cross.Why them? No,said
Tall Tailless,not the birds. Wolves that smell of raven. Find the pack leader!
Now Wolf understood. Giving his pack-brother a nose-nudge to acknowledge this,
he raced off through the trees.
The great denning place of the taillesses wasn't many lopes away, and he was soon
in the bracken at its edge. Stealthily, he padded forward to find the pack leader. The
denning place seethed with anger, and Wolf heard much snarling among the boar,
wolf, and raven packs. Then he caught the quiet, strong tones of the 292
raven leader. This tailless never yowled loudly. He didn't need to. He had the
respect of all the others.
Placing his paws with care, Wolf crept closer.
The dogs were restless, but on the way, Wolf had rolled in a pile of auroch
droppings, so he approached unsmelled. When he'd got as far as he could, he
crouched down to wait.
Soon the raven leader felt his stare and saw him.
Ah, he was cunning! Like a normal wolf, he grazed Wolf's glance with his own,
then looked away, so the others wouldn't notice. A little later, he left the denning
place: calmly, so as not to awaken suspicions.
When Wolf knew he was following, he headed off to find Tall Tailless.
When Torak glimpsed Fin-Kedinn striding through the willowherb, it didn't occur
to him to hide. He rose to his feet and stood in the open. The Raven Leader saw
him, and his face lit up. Torak's heart twisted. He'd missed Fin-Kedinn more than
he'd realized.
"Torak!" Fin-Kedinn gripped his shoulder. He glanced behind him. "Come. We're
too close to camp, and Aki's nosing around after you." With Wolf trotting after
them, they moved into a wind-tossed thicket. The Raven Leader's sharp eyes
searched Torak's face, and took in the scar on his chest. "Where's Renn?"
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