Page 180 of Moon Chosen

Then, along with the delicate, windblown music, Mari heard another sound. She felt Rigel stir where he sat beside her, cocking his head as he, too, listened.

It was a woman crying. Mari was sure of it.

Rigel stood, took a few hesitant steps, and then looked back at Mari expectantly.

“Rigel, donotgo anywhere!” she whispered sternly.

He whined plaintively, then jogged around the Transition nest.

“Rigel!” Mari’s whisper sounded more like a hiss as she hurried after him.

Rounding the side of the Transition nest, Mari saw another, smaller, nest situated close by. Sitting just outside the entrance was a woman. Her face was in her hands and she was sobbing brokenly.

Rigel went to her and touched her with his muzzle. The woman jerked in surprise and then lifted her grief-ravaged face.

“Who are you?” she said, her voice thick with tears. “Wait, I know who you are…”

Mari hesitated, not sure whether she should step forward, or run back to the Transition nest for Nik. Thankfully, a strong hand touched her shoulder and Nik said, “I’ll get him. Don’t worry. Stay here.”

Nik strode toward the woman and Rigel. Mari moved as close as the shadow would let her, listening intently.

The woman looked up at him, wiping at her eyes. “Nik! Isn’t this Laru’s pup? The one you’ve been looking for all this time?”

“Hi, Sheena. Yes, it is the pup,” he said. Mari watched him hesitate, obviously searching for an explanation he could tell her, but Nik didn’t need one. Instead of questioning him further, the woman began crying again with shoulder-shaking, body-wracking sobs. Nik sat beside her and put his arm comfortingly around her.

“I’m sorry, Nik. I’m sorry. It’s Captain—he’s failing. He won’t fight. It’s like his heart was broken along with his leg. He wants to follow Crystal and Grace. I can feel it. I can’t blame him for that. I want to follow them, too.”

“No, don’t say that, Sheena. Shepherds are resilient, but you have to be strong for him.”

The woman shook her head. “I’ve tried, but he’s in so much pain. His leg—it’s infected. He’s dying, Nik.”

Rigel slipped out from underneath Nik’s hand and galloped to Mari. Sitting in front of her, he whined and gave a little encouraging bark. Mari looked into his amber eyes and felt his urgency and his confidence in her.

“Okay,” she told him. “But I hope you know what you’re doing.”

Mari left the concealing shadows and went to Nik and the sobbing, broken Sheena.

“I can help,” Mari said.

“Who are you?” Sheena asked.

“My friend,” Nik said. “And the pup’s Companion. She’s also a Healer.”

Sheena shook her head. “The Healers have given up. They say there’s nothing they can do.”

“Can you help him?” Nik said.

“Rigel seems to think I can,” Mari said. “May I try?” she asked Sheena.

“Yes. Just don’t do anything that will cause him more pain.”

“I won’t. I promise,” Mari said.

Sheena went inside the little nest. Mari, Nik, and Rigel followed. Near the hearth on a thick pallet was a big male Shepherd. His front right leg was splinted and swathed in bandages. Sheena knelt beside his head, stroking him and murmuring his name. The Shepherd opened his eyes, moved his muzzle so that it rested against his Companion, and then he closed them again.

“May I touch him?” Mari asked.

Sheena nodded, wiping at the tears that continued to flow down her cheeks.