Page 116 of Sun Warrior

“And for the rest of us, it will be as it was before—the Tribe will hunt us, capture some of us, and leave the rest to live our lives in peace.”

Adira didn’t say it as a question, but Nik spoke up in answer. “They may. They may also hunt you harder than they did before.”

“But you don’t know for sure,” Adira said.

“No, I don’t.”

Adira turned to Sora. “Then why don’t you stay and be our Moon Woman? I understand why Mari must leave and it is right that the Companions go with her, but you are an Earth Walker, fully one of our blood. Why not stay here, where you belong, with your true people?”

Sora answered with no hesitation, “Because I want a different kind of world—the kind where we don’t judge each other by Tribe or Clan, the kind where we can be free to be ourselves, the kind of world Mari and Nik want to make together. Adira, for most of my life my only desire was to be Moon Woman for Clan Weaver, but now I want more.”

Adira looked beseechingly from Danita to Isabel. “Would one of you stay? Would you be our Moon Woman?”

Danita’s eyes went wide with shock and she began to shake her head while Isabel said, “No, Adira. We want more, too.”

Adria’s shoulders slumped in defeat. “But where will you go?”

Mari met Antreas’s gaze and nodded encouragement. His voice rang throughout the clearing. “I will lead our Pack through the mountains to the Plains of the Wind Riders and the new world we will build there!”

CHAPTER 26

It wasn’t a Third Night, but Mari and Sora had decided before they joined the Gathering that the Clanswomen could use an extra boost, especially after they’d just been told they needed to leave the homes to which they had so recently returned. Also, it was an excellent way to begin Danita’s Moon Woman apprenticeship, with an added bonus that it would be a very public beginning, leaving no doubt as to the seriousness of the undertaking. After the gasps and whispered chatter caused by Antreas’s proclamation about leading the Pack to Wind Rider territory had died down, Mari called, “Danita, please join Sora and me for the Washing of the Clan.”

Danita had been standing a little to the side of Antreas and Bast—the Lynx always seemed to be within view of the young Earth Walker—and Mari watched her eyes widen in surprise and her face flush with nerves when she called her name. But Danita didn’t hesitate. She moved quickly to Mari and Sora, taking her place between them.

“You’re going to hold our hands,” Mari explained. “And we’re going to do a simple call to the moon. You just join us in saying the last part of the invocation when we squeeze your hands.By right of blood and birth channel through me / the Goddess gift that is my destiny!Do you think you can remember that?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, then you’ll walk through the Clan with us. You only need do one thing—just focus on being a conduit for the moon,” Mari said.

“Moon power is cold, so don’t let that shock you,” Sora added. “Instead of accepting the power for yourself, you have to remember that you’re just the means through which it is Washing the Clan.”

“It might help to imagine you’re like a riverbed, or maybe a pathway, and the moon magick is like water flowing effortlessly through you,” Mari said.

“You might feel dizzy and even sick. That’s normal,” Sora explained.

“Just remember to keep focused. You’re going to do well; I just know it,” Mari said. “Ready, Sora?”

“Ready!”

“Danita? Ready?”

“Absolutely!” Danita said, doing a good job of covering her nerves with enthusiasm.

Mari and Sora each held one of Danita’s hands; then they raised their faces to the darkening sky. Mari nodded briefly in encouragement to Danita when she turned her face upward. She could feel the watching crowd and sent a silent prayer to the Earth Mother:Please help Danita have a positive first experience.

Mari drew three deep breaths in and out, relaxing and centering herself. Sora did as well, with Danita mimicking them. Mari began the invocation with a shout.

“Moon Woman I proclaim myself to be!”

Sora continued:

“Greatly gifted, I bare myself to thee.

Earth Mother, aid me with your magick sight.

Lend me strength on this special night.”