Page 119 of Sun Warrior

Relief flashed across Danita’s face. “Oh, good. Do you mind if shelies down with me for a little while? It’s night, and I’d, um, just rest so much better if I didn’t have to be afraid that males might come back to the burrow.”

“We wouldn’t let them hurt you. Not ever again,” Mari said firmly. “You don’t need to be afraid.”

“My mind knows that, but the rest of me—not so much,” Danita said.

“Bast would love to sleep with you,” Antreas said. “And I’ll know right away if anyone approaches the burrow. Bast will tell me.”

“Thank you.”

Danita beamed a true smile at Antreas, and Mari saw a jolt of surprise cross the Companion’s face. Apparently Antreas had never experienced the full force of Danita’s smile—a smile that turned her from a sweet-faced but rather ordinary girl into a sparkly-eyed beauty. As the Lynx and the girl slowly walked side by side to the stairs leading to the burrow, Antreas’s gaze followed them.

“Better keep in mind what I said.” Sora spoke sotto voice to Antreas.

“Huh?” Mari asked.

“Nothing!” Antreas and Sora said together.

Mari meant to scowl at them and push harder to know what was going on, but Nik held his hand out to her, palm up. And on his palm was a wood carving of a four-legged animal with an arching neck and a sleek, powerful body.

“This is an equine,” Nik said. “And it’s for you.”

“Oh, Nik! This is beautiful!” Mari turned the figure over in her hands, loving the smooth feel of it, completely intrigued by the majestic-looking creature.

“They call them horses, and it’s not an insult,” Antreas said.

“So that’s a Wind Rider.” Sora leaned forward, studying the carving. “And you say they’re big enough for a person to ride?”

“People,” Antreas corrected. “I’ve seen three girls, not much younger than Danita, all on one horse’s back. “But they do vary in size.”

“It’s hard to believe,” Mari said. “But I’m looking forward to seeing them.”

“When they charge across the plains in their herds, they make the ground shake,” Antreas said, gaze distant with remembrance.

“Sounds frightening,” Jenna said.

“Not if they’re your friends,” Antreas said. “Then you know that charge is your protection. There’s nothing that can stand against them, not even a swarm.”

“Great Goddess! Not even a swarm?” Sora asked.

Antreas shook his head. “They can outrun it.”

“Impressive,” Nik said.

“It’s something to look forward to seeing, that’s for sure,” Davis said. He stood, wiping his hands on his pants. “I’m going to relieve Sheena so she can eat. And I think I’ll stay at the birthing burrow again tonight. I like it here, too.” He whistled sharply, and Cammy sprinted from the bone-gnawing group to join his Companion, tongue lolling in a doggy grin.

“Is he evernothappy?” asked Isabel as she reached a tentative hand out to pet the little blond Terrier, who instantly diverted from his path to Davis to allow the girl to scratch behind his ears.

“Nope, Cammy pretty much chooses to be happy, especially now that he doesn’t have to worry about Odysseus bullying him. And feel free to pet him anytime, Isabel. He loves the attention, especially from pretty girls.”

Showing off, Cammy huffed and jumped around Isabel as she giggled.

“He’s a flirt,” Rose said, grinning at the little canine.

“That’s part of his charm,” Davis said. “But that’s enough now. Time for us to go to work, Cammyman!” Davis picked up his empty wooden bowl and tea mug, and with Cammy trotting beside him he headed toward the central bonfire to drop them there before relieving Sheena.

“I have to get more of this wapato,” Mari said to Sora. “I don’t know what you did different to it tonight, but it’s even more delicious than usual.”

“I managed to find a stash of salt in the back of the pantry. That with the garlic makes it scrumptious,” Sora said.