Page 162 of Moon Chosen

Jenna shook her head again. “Did you say Mari andSora?”

“Yeah, I don’t like Sora much, though,” Nik said.

“This—this doesn’t make sense,” Jenna said. “What about—” Then the girl pressed her lips into a white line and stopped speaking.

“Were you going to say what about Mari’s mother, Leda?”

Jenna’s pale face flushed pink with shock. “H-how do you know her name?”

“I told you—Mari healed me and I was at her burrow.” He paused, and then in the kindest voice he could manage, added, “Leda is dead.”

Tears filled the young girl’s eyes and made slashes of a white trail down her dirty face. “No,” she whispered brokenly. “Leda can’t be dead.”

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Jenna bowed her head and sobbed. Helplessly, Nik watched until, tentatively, he reached out and patted her back gently. When her sobs faded to small hiccups and she wiped her face on the edge of her shirt, Nik offered her the water skin again. She took it, and even though her hands trembled, drank deeply.

“Jenna, will you help me?” he asked.

She looked at him through puffy, red eyes. “No one can know where Mari lives.”

“I won’t tell anyone. I give you my word.”

Jenna shook her head. “No. You don’t understand. I don’t even know exactly where she lives.”

Nik ran his hand through his hair. “Can you get me close to her burrow?”

Jenna moved her shoulders restlessly. “Maybe.”

“I promise you that I’m not trying to trick you or Mari. How about this—you get me as close to her burrow as you feel comfortable. Then we’ll wait and see if she finds me. If she does, she can choose.”

“Choose?”

“Yes. She can choose whether or not to help me,” Nik said.

“But you said you would trade my life for your cousin’s. If Mari says no—”

“If Mari says no you stay free,” Nik interrupted. “You’re not going back to Farm Island no matter what.”

“Why? Why would you do this? You wouldn’t free me that night. Why do you free me now?”

“Everything is different now.” Then, with a small smile, he added, “Plus, I know Mari, and I believe she’ll do the right thing.”

Jenna stared at him for a long time, until Nik didn’t think she’d answer him. But just as he was trying to figure out what else he might say to convince this girl to help him, she actually smiled and said, “You do know Mari! I’ll help you.”

***

“Hey, I can go get the snares. I know how much you hate doing that. And, plus, I’ve had a nap and—” Mari’s words were smothered by a huge yawn.

Sora snorted. Mari’s eyes were bruised with exhaustion. She was pretty sure the girl hadn’t slept a full night for a week. “I see how rested you are. Do I hate checking the snares for rabbits? Yes. But you were up most of the night with Danita.” Sora glanced at the pallet. “She’s finally sleeping, and it’s time for you to sleep, too. I’ll get the snares today. It’ll be your turn tomorrow.”

“Really? You don’t mind?”

“Well, I mind, but I’ll do it anyway. Plus, you’ll be fresh and rested so you can get up with her again tonight if she has more of those dreams.” Sora shuddered and lowered her voice. “I thought she was going to cry herself sick.”

“Yeah, it was bad, but I did find Mama’s recipe for peaceful sleep. While you’re out could you gather some more lavender? Mama’s journal said to pack it around someone who is having troubled sleep. It soothes night terrors.”

“She’s definitely having night terrors,” Sora said. “I’ll get plenty. Anything else?”