Page 134 of Moon Chosen

“What’s wrong with his face? I don’t think he’s ugly,” Mari said, struggling to her feet.Actually, I think he’s handsome,she thought, but refused to say aloud.

“He’s a Companion. They’re all ugly. Except you, of course. You have some Earth Walker in you, which saves you from looking completely like one of them.”

“Thank you. I think.”

Mari bent and took hold of Nik’s limp body under his arms while Sora hefted his legs.

“You know what we need to figure out?” Sora said as she panted and pulled with one hand, and with the other she used the thick walking stick to hold aside the thick bramble boughs.

“What?” Mari asked.

“We need to figure out how to wrap a rope around your creature’s chest so that he can help us drag bodies and whatnot.”

“Actually, that’s not a bad idea,” Mari said and then laughed at the expression on her young Shepherd’s furry face.

***

“It worked!” Sora exclaimed. Nik stirred and murmured something unintelligible. She frowned at him and dropped her voice to a whisper. “The black things are gone, and so are those pus things.”

“They’re called ulcerations. And the black things were spores.” Mari closed the bandage over the poultice on Nik’s leg, and then straightened, stretching her back.

“Ulcerations and spores. Got it. Can we eat now?”

“I hope so. Is the stew ready?”

“Yes it is, and I added more spice to it this time.” Sora hurried to the hearth and began ladling fragrant stew into their bowls. Mari’s mouth was watering in expectation of Sora’s increasingly delicious cooking when she sat next to the girl and began eating enthusiastically.

“This is good. Really good,” Mari said between bites.

“Thank you,” Sora said. Then she threw Nik a sideways glance. “How long is he going to stay asleep?”

Mari shrugged. “Last time he was out for an entire day. Hard to tell this time, but his body is healing quickly. Sleep will only help, but awake means he’ll be leaving soon. Sora, he knows Jenna,” Mari said.

Sora’s eyes widened. “What? How?”

“He told me that he was with the group of Hunters that captured her.” Mari glanced at Nik. He looked like he was soundly asleep. Still, she scooted closer to Sora and kept her voice low. “He wanted to know why we’re not helpless and dying of sadness like the others they capture, and why Jenna talked to him.”

“Talked to him? Huh?”

“That night—that awful night Xander was killed and Jenna captured—it was just after I’d Washed both of them. So Jenna was totally herself when they took her.”

“Just like Xander knew exactly what he was doing when he attacked them and tried to save Jenna.”

Mari took a big bite of stew and nodded, not wanting to remember that Xander had tried to save her, too. Not wanting to remember Xander’s look of disbelief and hate when he’d realized Rigel was with her.

“What did you say?”

“Say?” Mari shook herself mentally.

“When he asked you why we’re normal?” Sora said.

“I told him slavery kills us.”

“Well, that’s a version of the truth. Do you think there’s any way you can talk him into setting Jenna free?” Sora asked.

“I don’t know, but I’ll try.”

“You can’t let him know we’re Moon Women,” Sora whispered.