Page 105 of Sun Warrior

“Oh, sorry. I’ll be more careful,” Sora apologized, then she squeaked, too, as a little ball of black fur waddled over to her and began licking her toes. “Sunkissed! You scared me. Are you the only escapee?” Sora glanced at the puppy pile and quickly counted four fat, sleeping pups.

“She really likes you,” Lydia said.

“She’s less bothersome than I expected,” Sora said, moving her foot so the pup could get more comfortable.

“Why do you call her Sunkissed?” asked Sarah.

“She has a little spot on her chest that looks like a splotch of sunlight. O’Bryan told me you call that being sun-kissed.”

“What? Did I hear my name?” O’Bryan joined them, holding a basket that smelled of fish.

“I was just telling Sarah about the girl pup being sun-kissed. That is the word, right?” Sora said.

“That’s the perfect word!” O’Bryan bent, scooped up the sleepy pup, and turned her over to expose the splotch of color on her chest. “See, sun-kissed.”

The pup opened her eyes, and Sora could almost swear the little girl canine was frowning. Then she opened her mouth and began to shriek as if O’Bryan were pinching her.

“What are you doing? Give her to me!” Sora stood abruptly and snatched the pup from the openmouthed Companion. She hugged the fat little creature to her chest and the pup immediately quieted.

“I didn’t do anything! I wouldn’t hurt a pup—I swear!”

“Torturing puppies, O’Bryan?” Antreas joined the group while he sniffed at the basket by the Companion’s feet. “Bast sent me an image of fish. Good! Hey, Sora, I’m great at grilling these. Want some help with dinner?”

“That’s very kind, Antreas. Thank you,” Sora said absently as she went back to her seat on the log and put the pup down on her feetagain, but the fat little thing started whining pitifully. “What’s wrong with her?” Sora asked.

“She wants you to pick her up,” Rose said, limping up to them, a small wooden cup filled with beads in her hand. “Was that why she was screaming? Fala almost had a heart attack when she heard her.” The adult dog had gone to Sora, licking and nosing the girl pup, trying to get her to stop whining.

“O’Bryan was torturing her,” Antreas said.

“I was not!”

“Well, it sounded like you were torturing her,” Antreas said.

“You know I wouldn’teverdo that,” he said beseechingly to Rose, who simply smiled wryly at him.

“Okay, okay, everyone stop yelling!” Sora said. “Including you, young lady.” She picked up the pup, who instantly stopped crying. Sora held her at eye level. “Well, now you’re up here. What do you want?”

And then something extraordinary happened. The puppy met her gaze, and suddenly Sora was filled with the most incredible feelings she’d ever experienced. Love, happiness, acceptance, and an indescribable sense of belonging flooded the Moon Woman, and with those emotions came a single name.

“Chloe!” Sora gasped. “Your name isn’t Sunkissed; it’s Chloe!”

“Sora! What are you saying?” Rose rushed to Sora’s side, peering over her shoulder at the puppy.

Sora looked up at Rose and in a voice that shook with the tears that ran unnoticed down her face said, “She just told me her name. It’s Chloe.”

“Great bloody beetle balls! The pup just chose Sora!” O’Bryan said.

“Stormshaker! How is that possible?” Antreas said.

“I have no idea,” Rose said, smiling through tears of her own. “Chloe’s too young, and Sora’s not even a Companion.”

“But it’s true!” Sora’s voice had become frantic, and she clutched Chloe to her chest. “She told me her name, and she—she’s making me feel all sorts of things.” Sora pressed her face into the pup’s fur, breathing in the intoxicating smell of puppy. “Please, you can’t take her away from me!”

“Hey.” O’Bryan went to Sora, touching her shoulder gently. “No one will ever take Chloe away from you. You have my word on it.”

“And mine,” Rose said.

“Mine as well,” “And mine,” said Sarah and Lydia.