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Kobe and Eva… Khochu’s two best friends, and he had lost both of them. The cat did it, the cat did it, the cat did it.
Khochu wanted to scream, shout, and rage in his grief, but couldn’t because he still had to get the others to safety. What if he lost Nikita, too, the first woman he ever loved? The negative thoughts, along with memories of Eva and Kobe, filled his mind as he led the others toward the lake.
Khochu remembered his childhood: him, Eva, and Kobe playing in the sun, wrestling with joy, and cuddling in Eva’s wings when another snowstorm arrived. That felt like so long ago, but it wasn’t. They hunted together and cared for Khochu’s parents through their darkest times—when Khochu thought he would lose them for sure. Why was the world so cruel? What if the ancestors had lied, and the new beginning wasn’t one at all?
Khochu sniffed and clenched his fist. He felt his parents’ hands on his shoulders, but brushed them off. Until they accepted Nikita, he wanted nothing to do with them.
The tribes stayed alert during the trip, but then one hunter asked, “Are you sure you know what you’re doing, kid?”
Khochu didn’t, but felt he had to at least try to be brave: make it up to his friends. It would only be a matter of time before the cat struck again.
The memories continued to bombard him, though, and he noticed he had gone a little off the path, so he quickly went the right way.
The towering icebergs soon drew closer, signaling to Khochu that they were almost at the lake and the cave where he had killed that bear the first day he had met Eva.
No, Khochu couldn’t grieve—not now, and not ever. “We’re almost there,” he glumly told the tribe members.
***
Where Kobe, Eva, and the others were, Eva slowly stood in the snow mound and fluffed her feathers. Her dark eyes shifted to the other tribe members, with Nikita leading them. She looked at Kobe, who was resting in the snow, licking his wound. He was weak, but still Kobe: loyal and brave like his friend.
If only Eva could tell Khochu that he was destined for greatness. Her home across the land bridge was stunning: with tall forests, vast lakes, and much warmer, with plenty of food. Kobe had to hang on—at least until he and Eva found a way to tell Khochu that the ancestors weren’t wrong.
The condor urged Kobe to stand. For a moment, they debated whether to chase after Khochu or help Nikita and the other tribe members. Then they nodded at each other and turned left, heading toward Nikita. Khochu had the chiefs with him—if he could get them to agree. Nikita was young, with no chiefs to aid her.
The young girl heard the dog and bird behind her and lowered her spear, glancing over her shoulder. “Eva and Kobe.”
The animals nodded.
***
There was the lake: large, frozen over, and at the base of a few tall mountains and icebergs. Another idea had come to Khochu’s mind, but he needed Eva… if she was all right.
He saw the cave where he had slaughtered the bear and furrowed his brows, focusing on another dark cloud on the horizon. Khochu had to find a way to safely get the tribes to that cave until they came up with a plan for the land bridge.
Yerik and Priven paused the tribes for a moment and watched Khochu, who searched the lake. It looked like large parts of it were thicker with ice, while others were thinner. He could get everybody across it; he merely needed to find a way to lure the cats away from them to the thin ice.
Well, it was time for something stupid. Eva and Kobe had proven their bravery; it was time for Khochu to repay the favor. He was also the animal whisperer.
Khochu faced the chiefs. “Yerik and Priven”—he gestured at the cave across the lake—“get the people to that cave.” He noticed his mother and father giving him worried looks.
Yerik scoffed, hands on his hips. “And what will you do?” His face told Khochu he hoped Yerik wasn’t thinking what he thought.
“I’m the animal whisperer,” Khochu said. “You guys are two strong chiefs. I’ll stay behind and lure the predators away from you guys and onto the thin ice.”
Vika lunged toward him. “Khochu, no!” She grabbed his shoulders and hugged him. “I can’t lose my baby boy, too.”
Khochu smiled and gripped her hands. “Mom, you won’t. I’ll make you and Father proud.”
“Khochu…” Vika and Sasha hugged him, and Khochu returned their hugs.
“Just please,” he begged his parents, “when this is all over, you guys will reconsider Nikita.” He felt a blush, just thinking about her, but kept it from showing.
His parents hesitated, but before they could say anything, Khochu pushed them into the tribes and nodded at Priven and Yerik. “Please, Priven and Yerk. Save as many people as you can.” With that, he tightened his grip on his spear and left his parents, rushing through the armed tribes. He had to do this; it was his duty as the animal whisperer—and it would hopefully force the tribes to work together.
Khochu slid across the ice and snow, soon leaving the tribes behind. He planted his feet, blew his long hair out of his face, and tightened his grip on his spear.
It wasn’t long before pounding feet were heard over the ice mound he and the others had crawled over. “Nikita!” Khochu said, grinning at the sight of her leading the rest of the tribes.
“Khochu!” she shouted back.
While she drew closer, Khochu’s mind went into overdrive. Whatever was about to happen—it was stupid, but Khochu was also the key to everything.
He just needed to believe.
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