Ossi was standing beside her nest. “Wake up! It’s not cold-earth yet.” Bright sunshine sliced through the branches above her. She must have slept late. The breeze from the lake had picked up, but Lusa was hot. The forest was stifling. Still drowsy, Lusa heaved herself to her paws. “Has the last trial begun?” she yawned. “It’s about to,” Ossi told her. “That’s why I woke you. I hope you don’t always sleep this late.” Lusa’s pelt prickled. Ossi’s easy familiarity irritated her. She felt that there was something more than friendship in his tone, as though he’d decided after their talk yesterday that she was going to travel home with him after all. She stretched, feeling guilty. Perhaps she was imagining it. “Come on.” Ossi was nudging her from her nest. “Dustu’s about to announce the start of the foraging.” Lusa shook him off. “I want to check Chula’s leg. And Tibik. He seemed sleepy yesterday.” “Hot weather makes everyone drowsy.” Ossi was shifting impatiently from paw to paw.
