Page 10 of Sun Warrior

Nik and Laru plunged into the area of the forest that held the City in the Trees. They moved fast, with Nik shouting directions to the straggling wounded to make their way south—to catch up with O’Bryan and Sheena, to find the creek that served as the western boundary of Scratcher territory and follow it until they came to an abandoned Gathering Site. He didn’t know what else to tell them. With the path to the Channel cut off, he was torn. Part of him wanted to gather the wounded and lead them to safety himself, but the other part of him, the more reasonable part, won. What good would it do to get a few people out if the entire forest was engulfed in flame?

If the fire wasn’t stopped that could very well happen—it could even reach Earth Walker territory.

So Nik and Laru ran on.

At first he was worried that people would stop him—question him. But the horror of the forest fire was all-encompassing. Those who actually spoke to him seemed only relieved when they saw that Laru was by his side and that the two of them were rushing toward the heart of the blaze.

“They think we’re joining Father, and they’re sure Father will save them,” Nik said to Laru as the big Shepherd jogged by his side, dodging around ferns and jumping over logs and ditches. The tall, majesticpines above them were vomiting confused, terrified people and canines, who were all expecting a miracle from their Sun Priest.

Nik and Laru sped past the six Mother Trees. Tribeswomen were gathered below, catching bundles that were being hurriedly lowered to them in a rush of barely controlled panic. He glanced up and up and could just make out a flurry of activity that was the Tribe harvesting the precious Mother Plants from the boughs of the trees, wrapping them in dampened cloths, and then stacking them on litters that were lowered quickly to their waiting caretakers.

“Nik! Laru!”

Nik felt Laru pause. The Shepherd had recognized the woman’s voice—as had Nik. It was Maeve, his father’s lover, who was Companion to Fortina, the biggest female pup in Laru’s last litter.

I can’t tell her about Father. Not here. Not now.

“Maeve!” Nik shouted over his shoulder as he and Laru ran past the Mother Trees. “Try to make your way south—to the creek that’s on the edge of Scratcher Territory.”

“No, Nik!” she shouted back at him. “We have to get to the Channel and the Farm. That’s where we’ll find safety.”

Reluctantly, Nik stopped. “The fire’s spread along the western ridge. The way to the Channel is cut off.”

“Then we’ll go east. I’m not taking Mother Plants into Scratcher territory!” She locked her gaze with Nik. “No matter how friendly some of them seem.”

Nik studied Maeve. She’d met Mari. She knew Mari had healed O’Bryan. She might even know Mari had healed Sheena’s Captain, and still her voice and body language made it clear that she didn’t trustScratchers.

“I think you should do what you believe is best,” Nik said noncommittally.

Maeve’s pup, Fortina, greeted Laru, huffing happily and licking her sire’s muzzle.

“Laru and I need to get to the firebreak,” Nik said.

“Give your father my love—and stay safe, the three of you!” Maeve called as Nik and Laru dashed on.

Laru whined softly. “I know, I know, but there’s no time to tell her about Father. And what would it do to her morale? She’s in charge of saving the Mother Plants. What if she just gave up? Hell, Laru, she’s already going to try to fight her way through a forest fire because she refuses to consider an alternative if it takes her close toScratcher territory.” Nik talked to his Companion, pouring out his worries as they jogged to the heart of the Tribe. It helped Nik stay focused, and it helped him ignore the pain that radiated up his leg, the terrible ache in his back, and the empty place within him that his father’s death had left. Nik dug deep for the reserve of energy only life-threatening danger and adrenaline can provide and forced himself to keep up with Laru.

Soon the air seemed a little cooler, cleaner even, and Nik knew they were close to Badger Stream. Breathing heavily, he slowed, and Laru dropped to a walk by his side. They climbed up over a rise in the land and paused there, looking down at the group of Companions gathered with their canines. He noticed that most of them were Hunters, as he didn’t see any Shepherds in the area. But everyone, humans and canines alike, was desperately digging a long, wide ditch on the fire side of the stream and clearing all vegetation from yards on either side of it. In the distance he caught glimpses of several groups of Warriors, Shepherds beside them, frenziedly chopping the massive pines that led to the stream—felling them in an attempt to keep the fire from jumping over the water.

But it wouldn’t work—not without a line of sunfire to meet and then extinguish the blaze. Nik knew it. He could see that the Tribe knew it, too, by the grim set of their faces and the hopeless silence that enveloped them.

Nik bent and stared into his Companion’s wise amber eyes. “I don’t know what’s going to happen now. They may try to capture me. If they do… run, Laru. Find Rigel and Mari. I’ll get loose and come to you—but stay safe no matter what happens to me.”

Laru listened closely to Nik. When he was done speaking, very deliberately the big Shepherd turned his gaze to the group of Tribesmen and women. He lifted his lips, showing his magnificent teeth, and growled deep in his powerful chest while he exuded a calm, majestic confidence that reminded Nik of his Sun Priest father.

Nik smiled grimly at his Companion. “Well, that’s pretty clear. Looks like they’re not getting to me unless they go through you. Okay then. Let’sbothtry to survive this mess.”

Nik’s sharp eyes searched the more distant group until he thought he caught a glimpse of Wilkes, Leader of the Warriors, and a man Nik had long respected. Stealing himself, he headed with Laru down to the stream in the most direct path to Wilkes. As they passed groups of Hunters, some of whom had been part of the attack on the Farm, Nik felt their eyes on him. He heard the susurrus of the Tribe lifting around him. He ignored them and continued to head toward where he hoped he would find Wilkes and his Companion, Odin.

“It might not have been wise for you to come here,” Davis, Companion to the spunky Terrier Cameron, spoke as Nik passed him.

“Wise or not, I had to come. I have an idea that might work to make a firebreak,” Nik spoke grimly to his Hunter friend.

“We’re done with yourideasyou fucking traitor!” Thaddeus stepped from the group of men who had been chopping down one of the majestic pines. “Hunters! Take him! Tie him up. We’ll deal with him and his Scratcher whore later.” The somber, soot-faced Hunters descended upon Nik as Laru backed against him, hackles fully lifted, growling ferociously.

***

“Where are you leading us?” Isabel asked as she walked beside Mari. The two of them followed Rigel, who kept rushing ahead—and then running back to her whining impatiently when the group lagged too slowly behind.