Page 181 of Moon Chosen

Mari crouched beside the big canine. She ran her hands over him lightly, feeling the unnatural heat that radiated from his infection-ravaged body. Even through the splint and bandages, she could see how much his leg was swollen, though he didn’t seem to be injured anywhere else.

“Is it just his leg?” she asked Sheena.

“That and his heart,” Sheena said softly, still stroking him.

“Sheena’s mate, Crystal, and her Shepherd, Grace, were killed the day the Skin Stealers ambushed us,” Nik explained.

“I’m so sorry,” Mari said.

Sheena just nodded, never taking her gaze from Captain’s face.

“Can you help him?” Nik asked.

“Yes,” Mari said.

“Do you need me to carry him outside?” Nik asked.

Sheena began to protest, but Mari smiled and touched her arm gently. “It’s okay. Nik doesn’t need to take him anywhere, but I do need a moment alone with your Captain. I give you my word I will only help. I will not cause him any pain.”

Sheena looked from Mari to Nik to Rigel, and then back to Nik.

“You can trust her,” Nik said.

Sheena blew out a long breath, her shoulders slumping miserably. “I could use a mug of ale. I’ll go get one.” She bent and kissed Captain’s muzzle, whispering, “I’ll be right back. I love you.” Moving slowly and stiffly, like a woman thrice her age, Sheena stood and shuffled from the nest.

“You really don’t need me to carry him up to Father’s platform for you? I will, you know, even though it’ll be hard on him.”

Mari smiled at Nik. “Usually, when I draw down the moon I am only a conduit for its power. It goes through me, but doesn’t stay with me. Tonight I had, well, I’m going to call it a premonition, and I saved some of the moonlight for myself, but now I know it wasn’t meant for me. It was meant for Captain.” She closed her eyes and rested both hands on the canine’s splinted leg. This time finding her center was easy, and once she was there she sketched a picture in her mind of her hands glowing and that glow spreading over Captain. Not just his leg, but all of him—his head, his body, and his heart—mostly his heart.

When she felt him stir beneath her hands, Mari quickly added a smiling image of Sheena to her picture. Then she opened her eyes to see that the Shepherd had raised his head and was staring at her. Mari smiled. “Hello, Captain.”

The big canine’s tail thumped—hesitantly at first, and then with more enthusiasm as Sheena entered the nest and rushed to his side. He greeted her, licking her face and trying to crawl onto her lap. Laughing and crying at the same time, Sheena hugged him, telling him how much she loved him and how strong and brave and wonderful he was.

Quietly, Mari stood. Nik took her hand and they left the nest together. They paused outside. Filled with gratitude, Mari turned her face to where the moon peeked through the thick boughs of the tall, watchful trees. Nik stood beside her silently, still holding her hand.

“Nik, Mari! There you are.” Sol rushed up to them. “What are you doing over here? You were supposed to stay—”

“Wait, don’t go yet!”

The three of them turned as Sheena rushed to Mari. She took her hands and held them tightly in hers. “Thank you isn’t enough. I can’t ever repay what you’ve done for me.”

“What has happened?” Sol asked.

Sheena turned her tear-stained face to Sol. “You know Captain was dying?”

“Yes,” he said solemnly, pain shadowing his kind eyes. “I am so sorry, Sheena.” There was a rustling in the entryway to the nest behind them, drawing Sol’s gaze. Mari watched his eyes widen and she knew what she’d see before she turned her head to look.

Captain was standing in the doorway. He swayed a little, but his eyes were bright and his mouth was open, tongue lolling, in a canine grin. Slowly, he limped to Sheena, leaning against her as she dropped Mari’s hands to crouch beside him and put her arms around him.

“He’s walking!” Sol blurted. His gaze shot to Mari. “You did this?”

“She did,” Sheena said. “Somehow she brought my Captain back, but she didn’t just heal his leg—she healed his heart, and by doing that healed mine as well.” Her gaze went back to Mari. “Who are you?”

“She’s a miracle,” Sol said.

“She’s a goddess,” Nik said.

A tide of emotions washed through Mari, filling her to overflowing. When she spoke she heard her mother’s voice mixed with her own. “I’m not a miracle or a goddess. I’m a Moon Woman.”