Page 22 of Moon Chosen

7

“Bloody beetle balls! Is he choosing you?” O’Bryan whispered.

Nik didn’t want to move, didn’t want to look away from the pup’s intelligent amber eyes, didn’t want to answer his cousin in case he broke the spell of whatever might be happening.

“Hey, pup! I’m back here.” The Guardian materialized at Nik’s shoulder, resting a hand heavily on the tree and swaying slightly. “Have to go down again, does he?”

At the Guardian’s appearance, the pup turned his attention to the older man and wagged his tail expectantly, sending a little yippy bark at his caretaker.

Nik sucked in a breath, realizing then he’d been holding himself so still and concentrating so hard that he’d forgotten to breathe. His gaze, no longer held by the young canine, automatically went across the platform to the place of honor where his father sat. Sol was watching him so intently that he didn’t have time to school his expression before his son saw it and registered every emotion Sol was feeling—anticipation, sadness, disappointment, and finally, ultimately, pity.

Nik’s chest burned with embarrassment, and he looked hastily away lest he see that the entire Tribe watched him with his father’s eyes.

“Well, pup, I knew I shouldn’t have let you drink all of that water so late, but it is a celebration!” The Guardian swayed and belched, and Nik got a whiff of something a lot stronger than spring beer.

Trying to cover just how rattled he was, Nik nodded and said, “Yeah, he just showed up here, obviously looking for you.”

The Guardian sighed and blinked blearily down at the pup. “Don’t suppose you could hold it until Ralina finishes her tale?”

“I’ll take him down,” Nik heard himself saying.

“Are you sure, Nik? The sun is well set,” O’Bryan said.

“Cuz, we’re just going below for a piss a few paces off the platform. We aren’t going for a picnic,” Nik said.

“That’s right! It’s no problem. No problem at all,” the Guardian slurred. “The pup’s smart—brightest and biggest of all the litter. He never goes outside the torchlight at night.”

“Want me to go with you?” O’Bryan offered.

Nik gave him a quick once-over. His cousin was well into his second pitcher of beer. “No need,” he said quickly. “I’ll take him down and be back before Ralina gets to the part about swaddling the babies in the Mother Plant.”

The older man slapped Nik’s shoulder companionably. “Good man, Nik! You mind if I keep your perch warm while you’re gone? Better view from here than from behind you.” He didn’t wait for Nik to answer, but half sat, half fell into his seat as soon as Nik stood.

“No problem,” Nik said, and then handed the Guardian his almost untouched mug of beer. “Might as well keep this warm for me, too.” When the Guardian gave him a confused look, Nik smiled and added, “That means you can drink it.”

“Well, thank you Nik! Always did say you’re a good man, Companion or not. Oh, you should probably take this with you. Better safe than sorry, you know.” He handed Nik a crossbow with an arrow notched in it.

“One arrow?” O’Bryan said.

The Guardian laughed. “One’s all you need if you’re good enough, and Nik’s damn sure good enough. Pup, go with him!” the Guardian commanded, pointing at Nik.

Nik held the crossbow comfortably, well accustomed to the fit and feel of the weapon, and patted his leg, encouraging the young canine to follow him. Then he slipped as quickly and quietly as possible through the tightly packed people, the pup heeling obediently while Nik ignored the curious looks that were cast his way.

It didn’t take long to get to the winding walkways that spread like spokes of a giant wheel from the Mother Trees out to the mazelike sprawl that encompassed the Tribe of the Trees, and once Nik was free of the prying eyes of the people, he allowed himself to relax and to—if only for just a little while—soak in every moment of his time alone with the pup.

“You are good-looking, no doubt about that,” he told the pup, who padded at his side and glanced up at the sound of his voice, tongue lolling in the canine version of a smile. Nik returned the smile. “And clever, too.”If only you’d choose me, he added—but silently. He wouldn’t say aloud what his soul shouted. It would do no good to tell the pup—he would choose his Companion as his instinct dictated, and that choice couldn’t be manipulated or coerced—but what if someone heard him pleading, begging, praying for that which might never happen? Nik shook his head. “Not going to say it—never going to say it. It’s bad enoughtheyall say it when I’m not around.”

The pup yipped at him and moved restlessly around his feet. “Oh, sorry boy,” Nik said, realizing that he’d reached the lift and had just been standing there, talking to himself. “My head must be full of moss. No wonder you haven’t chosen me.” Nik sighed sadly and patted the pup on his sable-colored head before turning to the door of the nest hanging closest to the lift and using the stock of the crossbow to rap twice on it. “Need to take down a pup,” he called.

The door opened quickly and a young Terrier bounded out, enthusiastically greeting the pup, followed by a lean young man who was wiping stew from his chin. His gaze shot from the pup to Nik, and his face broke into a brilliant smile.

“Nik! Has the big male chosen—”

“To drink too much water too late. Yes. A lot like his Guardian has chosen to drink too much whiskey too early,” Nik interrupted, laughing softly as if he hadn’t given a thought to anything except taking a young canine down to relieve himself. “I don’t have much of a taste for drinking tonight, so I offered to go in his place. Do you mind, Davis?” Nik gestured to the door to the lift.

“Not at all!” Davis hurried from his nest to the lever that released the massive pulley system that served to lift and lower the Tribe and their canine Companions to and from the forest floor more than fifty feet below. “Any time you’re ready.” Then Davis called to the Terrier, who was trying to follow the pup into the square wooden lift cage. “Not you, Cameron. You’ve known a full winter and more. You’re old enough to wait until sunrise.”

“I don’t mind if Cammy comes with us,” Nik said, bending to ruffle the Terrier’s big blond-furred ears. “He can help me keep an eye on the pup.”