Page 11 of Sun Warrior

As she and Isabel made their way through the forest, Mari had been considering this very question. She couldn’t lead the women to her burrow—there were already far too many people who knew how to findher home. If word got out, if just one of these women told one Clansman, Mari, Rigel, Sora, and even Jenna and Danita wouldn’t be safe. And there was no way to know how many of the abandoned burrows were safe—and how many of them were occupied by or in the roving path of Clansmen made mad by Night Fever. So Mari had decided to head to a burrow she knew could hold twenty women and was close enough to her own home that she and Sora could easily take medicines back and forth.

“Well, I’m not leading us anywhere,” Mari said. “Rigel’s getting us back to Clan territory. From there I think we can make the birthing burrow before sunset.”

“The birthing burrow! That’s an excellent idea. There’s plenty of room there, and a full pantry and garden,” Isabel said.

“It’s not quite like you remember it. There have been changes since you were taken, and not all of them have been good, but it’ll suffice until we can figure out how to put the Clan back together again.”

“Like I remember it or not, it still seems the right place for us to start.” Isabel paused and then continued in one long rush of words, “Mari, I don’t mean to be presumptuous, but do you think you could Wash us again tonight? I know it’s not Third Night, but it’s been so long since many of the women have had a Moon Woman that it would be wonderful for us if you would.”

“Yes, I suppose I could. Or Sora could while I tend the wounded.” Mari glanced around distractedly as the erratic wind changed direction again, sending smoke eddying around them in almost sentient clouds of gray.

“I’m sorry to bother you with that. I don’t mean to create additional burdens.”

Mari shook her head quickly. “There’s no need to apologize. I don’t mean to be distracted, but this wind is so strange—so troublesome. Who knows where it’s spreading that terrible fire?”

“Does it really matter as long as it’s not spreading it into Clan territory?”

Mari glanced sharply at Isabel. She was watching Mari with big,guileless eyes.She truly doesn’t care if an entire Tribe of people burn!And then Mari realized that just a few weeks ago she probably would have felt just as Isabel did. But now Mari knew Nik and Laru, Crystal and Captain, Maeve and Fortina, and sweet, funny O’Bryan.Now they’re real people to me—real people and their canines—it’s terrible to think of them burning to death. Especially Nik… always Nik…

“Mari, I’m sorry. Did I say something wrong?” Isabel was sending worried glances her way.

“I’m not surewrongis the word I’d use, because I do understand how you feel about the Tribe. They captured you. They enslaved you. What they did is inexcusable. It’s just that I’ve met some of the Tribe—some of them who aren’t monsters—and I realize they’re more like us than they are different.”

Isabel nodded slowly. She opened her mouth to continue the discussion, but Serena’s shrill voice interrupted.

“Isabel! The Clan needs a break. Too many of us simply cannot keep up.”

Isabel and Mari turned to see that Serena had stopped and had the rest of the women halting behind her. They were a ragged, weary group, several of whom had already dropped to the ground, heads bowed, breathing heavily.

“Serena, it’s not me you have to ask for a break. Mari is our Moon Woman, not I,” Isabel said in a firm voice, speaking loudly enough for the entire group to hear.

The older woman turned a reluctant gaze to Mari. “I mean no disrespect, but I am unused to addressing a Moon Woman who has a canine by her side.”

Mari took firm hold of her temper and coaxed her lips to lift slightly in a cool smile. “I understand, Serena. And yet I am the only Moon Woman here, and Iwillbe addressed with respect.”

Serena hesitated and then bowed her head in the ghost of an apology. “Forgive me, Moon Woman, but the Clan must rest.”

“Then we’ll rest,” Mari said. “But only for a moment. The way this wind keeps shifting worries me. It could drive the fire anywhere. Weneed to put as much distance between it and us as possible.” Rigel whined and butted his shoulder against her leg. She squatted beside him, petting the young Shepherd. “I know, but they don’t have your limitless energy, sweet boy. We’ll get them home, though, even if I have to nip at their heels.”

Beside her, Isabel stifled a laugh with a cough. Mari glanced up at her, liking the girl more and more.

“I was just imagining you biting at their heels. And Serena thinks she has a problem calling you Moon Woman now.Thatwould really confuse her,” she told Mari, sotto voce.

Mari was laughing softly when she felt Rigel stiffen under her hand. In the next heartbeat the half-grown pup had turned and was staring behind them, scenting the changing wind. His ears and tail were up, but he wasn’t growling and there was no sense of danger coming from him.

“What is it?” Mari turned to peer into the smoke behind them. The little path they’d been following had taken a turn, and she couldn’t see more than a couple of yards behind them. Before she could get any image from Rigel, the pup’s tail began to wag, which was exactly when the Clanswomen at the rear of the group began to scream.

The big Shepherd that trotted from around the bend in the path ignored the panicked Clanswomen. He bounded to Rigel, greeting him enthusiastically. Mari blinked in surprise, and then she, too, was being greeted by the familiar canine.

“Captain! What are you doing out here?” Mari crouched to pet him, feeling along his body for sign of wounds. “Where’s Sheena? Is she with you?”

“We must run! Companions have come for us!” Serena’s cry was taken up by the other women, who began to hysterically rush off the path and into the smoke-filled forest.

“Stop!” Mari shouted, and was surprised when the women actually hesitated. “I know this canine, and his Companion. I don’t believe they mean us any harm.”

“Of course you would say that!” Serena shouted.

“Because it’s the truth!” Mari shot back at her. “Why would I lie and set up my own Clan to be attacked?”