Page 109 of Sun Warrior

“I like the way the Clan is ruled,” Nik said honestly. “You’ve never enslaved another people, have you?”

Mari’s lips twitched up. “No, we have not.”

“And you don’t intend to?” Nik said.

“Absolutely not,” Sora said.

“And you also don’t intend to subjugate men in general?” O’Bryan spoke up.

Sora laughed. “How in the world would we do that?”

O’Bryan smiled at the Moon Woman. “I don’t think there’s much a Moon Woman can’t do if she puts her mind to it.”

“Well, my mind definitely doesn’t want to subjugate anyone—and that includes men,” Sora said.

“Good to know. I’m still in,” O’Bryan said.

Sora nodded slightly to Mari. “So are we,” Mari said. “We’ll be a Pack!”

“Um, that’s nice. I like the sound of it,” Jenna said. “But where is our Pack going if we have to leave our homes?”

There was a long stretch of silence. Mari tried to think of the right answer. Should she recommend they follow the scattered Clan Weaver and go south, or west to the coast? Or even north to the Winterlands or Whale Singer territory? But how would that be any different? Earth Walker Clans would be no more accepting of their mixed Pack than the Tribe of the Trees would be. Sure, none of the Clans would try to enslave them, but the Clans also wouldn’t welcome them and very well might try to execute any Companion who trespassed on their territory.

“I know where we should go.” Into the silence Antreas spoke the words that would forever change the future of their combined peoples. “The Plains of the Wind Riders.”

Nik sat up straight, anticipation animating his handsome face. “Wind Riders! And you know the way!”

“I do, but that doesn’t mean once we’re there—and keep in mind it’s a long, dangerous journey—they’ll accept us and let us settle on their plains.”

“But you must think we have a chance or you wouldn’t have mentioned it,” Nik said.

“I do.” Bast padded up. She sat beside Antreas and looked up at him as a mixture of purr and her strange coughing meow rolled from her throat. “Bast agrees, and Bast is always right. I can lead us to the plains, but it’s up to all of us once we get there to show the Equine Companions that we deserve a place in their land—that our presence will be a benefit to them.”

“And if we can do that, they’ll let us stay?” Mari asked.

“They will. It’s their way. But you should know that if we don’t impress them they will force us to leave, and if we don’t leave they will execute us,” Antreas added.

“That won’t happen,” Nik said.

“They’ll want us to stay,” Mari said, nodding her agreement.

“What’s an equine?” Danita asked.

“An animal with hooves like a deer, only they aren’t split. They’re bigger than the largest stag you’ve ever seen, and their Companions ride them,” Antreas told her.

“Are you making that up?” Danita asked, frowning at the cat man.

“No, he’s telling you the truth,” Nik said. “I’ve wanted to meet a Wind Rider since my mother told me stories about them when I was a boy. She saw one once, and used to carve little equine figures for me to play with.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard stories, too,” Sheena said. “Crystal’s grandfather talked about them. He made a trade run decades ago to the plains and was mesmerized by the huge equines and their beautiful riders. He told her they were majestic.”

“They’re also a strong matriarchy, which is something they have in common with Earth Walkers, and our new Pack,” Antreas said.

“So, we’re agreed? I get a Mother Plant, and we move our new Pack to the Plains of the Wind Riders,” Nik said, eyes shining with excitement.

“We’re agreed. Let’s announce to the rest of the Clan tonight and see who wants to join us,” Mari said. “Antreas, we’re going to need to knoweverything we need to do to get ready to travel—and even though the Tribe is preoccupied right now with recovering from the fire, my intuition tells me the sooner we leave the better.”

“Well, your intuition is right, and not just because of the Tribe. We have a small window to cross the Rocky Mountains before snow closes the passes. We’re lucky it’s still early enough in the spring to make the crossing possible at all. I’ll get a list together of what we’ll need,” Antreas said.