Page 113 of Moon Chosen

“Sora, by now you should know that I’d do anything for Rigel. He led me here. He won’t let you kill this man. I don’t think he could make it much clearer that he wants me to help. Sothat’swhy I’m going to examine him—for Rigel.”

Rigel moved then, but only enough so that Mari could examine Nik, and he remained between Sora and the man, shooting Sora menacing looks whenever she moved.

Mari didn’t see the spearhead at first. She only saw that Nik had a wicked gash on his head, which was spreading scarlet-colored water down his face and body. She took a quick inventory of his legs and arms. His right thigh was cut. But the wound was a simple tear. It would need stitching, but it appeared to be a simple laceration. His left shoulder had been battered terribly, and it was already purpling. It was as she was trying to lift him that she saw the extent of the shoulder injury.

“Oh, this is bad,” Mari told Rigel. “Most of it has broken off, but the head of the spear is buried in the back of his shoulder.”

“Most merciful thing you can do is to take this really sharp knife and slit his throat,” Sora said.

Rigel growled at her.

“Tell your creature that I’m just being logical,” Sora said.

“Yes, I know how tempting it is to think about biting her,” Mari told Rigel. “But I can’t handle two wounded people right now.”

“Two woundedpeople? Mari, he’s not a person. He’s a Companion—our enemy. Do you think he would give a second thought to helping either of us if we’d washed up wounded by his bathing pool? And I’ll answer that for you—NO. No, he wouldn’t.”

Mari squatted back on her heels and looked up at Sora. “I’ve seen this Companion before. He’s been looking for Rigel.”

“Great Goddess! That’s even more reason to kill him,” Sora said.

“He was there when Mama died,” Mari said softly. “He was kind to her.”

“Him? Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.” Mari wiped away a tear. Then, decision made, she stood and brushed her hands on her pants. “Sora, I’m not going to kill him. You’re not going to kill him. And we’re not going to leave him out here to be eaten by the swarm.”

“You can’t be serious! Think logically. Where are you going to nurse him?”

“In my home, of course,” Mari said.

“That’s ludicrous! You can’t bring a dying Companion into our home!”

“Sora, it’s notourhome. It’smyhome. Mine and Rigel’s, and that’s exactly where I’m going to bring him.”

“Because he seemed to show some compassion for your dying mother and your crazy canine is attached to him? Don’t you hear how ridiculous that sounds? Companions have tracked us, enslaved us, and killed us generation after generation. Letting this one into your home and your life is a mistake that could cost you—and me—ourlives! I told you the Clan would accept you because of your talent, and I still believe they would. But Iknowwhat they’d do if they found out you saved a Companion. You have to know the stories, too, about how our ancestors tried to help them. Earth Walkers did a kind thing, and Companions repaid us with death and slavery.”

“Sora, I’m half Companion. I’ve had questions my whole life that my mother could only guess at the answers to. This man—this Nik—he can answer my questions. All of my questions. So he’s coming to the burrow and I’m going to heal him. If you don’t like it then you can live somewhere else,” Mari said.

“I don’t have anywhere else to live, and you know it,” Sora said.

“Then help me. I’ll find out what I need to know from him and then I’ll send him on his way,” Mari said. “Please, Sora.”

“And you don’t expect that he’ll bring down the force of his Tribe on us after you send him on his way?”

“I won’t give him the opportunity. I won’t let him know where the burrow is,” Mari said stubbornly.

“How are you going to do that?”

“The same way Mama did when one of the Clan was so severely injured that she had to stay at our burrow to be nursed. It didn’t happen often, but when it did Mama covered the woman’s face and walked her around until her sense of direction was completely confused.”

Sora chewed her bottom lip, staring at the still form of the wounded man. “I don’t have much choice, do I?”

Mari sighed. “Sora, I’m sorry about this. I do understand that it’s dangerous, but what I need from him outweighs the danger. Rigel knew it—that’s why he led me here. I have to try to save him. I have to try to find out about the other part of me.” Mari raised her newly washed arm. The delicate fernlike patterning wasn’t glowing, but her skin was a tanned, sun-kissed color. “I don’t even know why my skin glows sometimes in the sunlight—and then, like now, doesn’t. I don’t know how big Rigel is going to get or even exactly how I’m supposed to take care of him. I don’t know who part of me is at all.”

Sora met her eyes. “Is it that hard—that not knowing?”

“It’s terrible. It makes me feel like I’m a stranger to myself.”