At the thought, sickness washed through his belly and throat and tears nearly blinded him. He forced a shuddering breath into his lungs. Unless, perhaps, he could claim one of these creatures as his spirit brother ... He centered his courage in his belly and prepared to jump to the next star.

But from behind him came the sound of panting, and he felt hot breath on the backs of his legs. Turning, he beheld Wolf racing up the stars toward him. Wolf's coat was gray streaked with black, and his lolling tongue was red while his eyes glowed green.

His great paws splayed wide with every stride he took, and Kerlew noticed every black nail. Then his eyes met Wolf's, and in that moment he knew his brother.

He set his feet well and lifted his hand. Palm out he waited for Wolf, and when he was but a few stars away, Kerlew cried out, 'I claim you as my spirit brother.'

Wolf didn't pause but laughed savagely as only the wolves can. 'Fool!' he howled.

'You cannot claim me here!' With a sudden leap he sprang high over Kerlew's head, beyond the reach of his outstretched hand. To the next star and to the next he sprang.

The great white herd of sky caribou suddenly marked his coming. They threw up their antlered heads and bellowed to one another in fear. As one creature, the whole herd leaped into flight, bounding away across the night sky with Wolf panting behind them.

All this Kerlew saw in a teetering instant. The winds of Wolf's passage swept his balance away. His arms flapped vainly as he tried to keep his precarious perch, and then he was falling, tumbling down between the stars that snagged and caught at him like brambles. The bright light of the moon faded into a mellow darkness as he fell, and to his ears came the far sound of Wolf's hunting cry. Kerlew knew he called to his brothers, and he snatched at the words as they whispered past his ears.