Page 138 of Moon Chosen

“I guess I haven’t thought about it, but you’re probably right. Pregnant women eat a lot, so it figures their food would be extra good,” Mari said. She smiled at Sora. “And that just made me want to hurry.”

“Well, we’re almost there. Hey, I have a thought. I’m going to see if I can get shoots from their herb garden. Yours is sadly lacking for edible herbs, which means what I’ve been cooking for us is sadly lacking in seasoning,” Sora said.

“I’m fine with whatever you want to cook and however you want to cook it. You’re a good cook,” Mari said.

“Thank you. I like to cook, probably because I’m a big fan of eating.”

“Whatever the reason—I’m glad. Mama was better at it than I am, but you’rereallygood.”

“Yes, I am!” Sora grinned, then her expression sobered. “Hey, what are you going to tell the Clanswomen about all of that?” She made a finger-fluttering gesture that took in Mari’s short blond hair, her delicate features, and her clean, uncamouflaged skin.

“I’m going to tell the truth,” Mari said resolutely.

“The whole truth? As in telling them about your creature, and by creature I mean Rigel and not Nik.”

“Nik isn’t mine, but no. I’m not going to tell them about Rigel or Nik. At least not right now. I think finding out about me will be enough for them to take in without adding a canine and a wounded Companion,” Mari said.

“You might never want to tell them about Nik,” Sora said.

“What I’m hoping is that one day very soon I’ll have to tell them about Nik because they’ll need to know the reason why the Companions aren’t enslaving the Clan anymore.”

“You know, I thought you were a complete pessimist at first, and you can be. But you’re also oddly idealistic. I think you must get that from your father,” Sora said.

“I don’t know, Leda always looked at the positive in every situation,” Mari said.

“So, you’re actually an idealist. Well, I try to be a realist, so do you mind if I’m the teacher for once and give you a little advice?”

“I don’t mind,” Mari said.

“Don’t tell Nik how to cure the blight. Ever. Don’t ever tell him or anyone from their Tribe,” Sora said.

“But they can’t cure it anyway, even if they know how to make the poultice. They can’t draw down the moon,” Mari said.

“What if they can draw down the sun, though? I watch you do something like that when your skin glows. Aren’t you just drawing down the sun then?”

“Maybe, but I haven’t asked Nik about that yet.” Mari thought about the jolt of heat and energy that had sizzled through her the day her mother had died and she’d accidentally set the forest on fire. “I think you’re right, though. The glowing is a reaction to the power of the sun. I just don’t know anything about controlling it.”

“I’ll bet the Tribe does,” Sora said.

“You’re right. I’ll take your advice. I won’t tell Nik what I used to make his poultice. At least not yet I won’t,” Mari said.

“If it was up to me, you’d never tell him or any of them. Knowledge is power, Mari. Keep your power.”

Mari nodded in somber agreement.

They walked on in silence, both lost in their own thoughts, until Mari heard the happy sound of water bubbling over smooth stones. “Oh, look—there’s the stream. The burrow is just around the bend. Do you smell food? I don’t smell food yet.” Mari sniffed the air.

“I don’t. I’ve never been here when there hasn’t been something delicious all ready to eat.” Sora sniffed the air, too.

The two women rounded the bend and then began climbing up the boulders that had been arranged as wide steps, making the door to the burrow easily accessed. Mari looked up, smiling in anticipation, and the smile slid off her face.

The door to the burrow was broken. It hung drunkenly, as if a giant had flung it open. The fecund Goddess that was carved into the doorframe had been cracked as the door had shattered so that it looked disturbingly as if she had been cut in two.

Sora hurried up the last of the stairs, stopping at the doorframe. Her fingers traced the ruined image gently, as if she could smooth away the destruction with a touch.

“Wait, Sora.” Mari spoke softly, taking out her slingshot and several smooth stones. “Let me go in first.”

“Oh, Goddess!” Sora whispered, sending frightened, furtive looks inside the darkened burrow. “You don’t think there are Clansmen in there, do you?”