Page 13 of Sun Warrior

“I owe you a life debt, Mari. So does Nik. I’m going with you,” O’Bryan said.

“My Captain and I owe you a life debt as well,” Sheena said. “I’m not sure what’s going on, or who you really are, but you saved my canine and me. Because of that I choose to trust you.”

“Thank you, O’Bryan and Sheena.” Mari looked questioningly to the Companion with the Terriers.

“My name is Rose. This is my Companion, Fala, and her litter. Idon’t know you, Mari, but I do know Nik and Sheena and O’Bryan. If they trust you, so will I.”

The two younger women who both seemed more severely injured than the other Companions had slid to sitting positions, with their backs against a mossy log. The older of the two, who had painful-looking burns up and down the left side of her body, spoke up. “I’m Lydia, and this is my sister, Sarah. If you’ll help us, we’ll trust you.”

Mari smiled. “Thank you. And I’ll be sure those burns of yours are treated as soon as possible, as well as your sister’s ankle.” She turned back to the Clanswomen. “What do the rest of you choose?”

Isabel spoke from the middle of the group. “You are my Moon Woman. I will always trust you and abide by your will.”

Several of the Clanswomen nodded in agreement. Mari looked at Serena. “You’ve heard from the Companions. They are refugees of a terrible tragedy. They have lost their homes and their families. No matter what the other Companions have done, or will do, these five do not mean any of us harm.”

“Not this instant they don’t. They need our help. What happens after we help them?” Serena said.

“I don’t know what happens, but trust has to start somewhere, and I’m saying it should start here and now,” Mari said firmly. Then she gentled her voice and continued. “But I do understand not being able to trust. I’ve lived like that, which is why I choose not to live like that again. Each of us has to make our own choice, though, and if you would rather hold to the old ways than consider accepting them and changing, I wish you the brightest of blessings as you continue your life elsewhere.”

“Either way, if we take them in I have lost my home,” Serena said.

Mari shook her head. “No, Serena. It doesn’t have to be like that. You can gain a new home—one that is better than what we’ve known before.”

“I don’t want better. I want what I used to have—whatwe allused to have. Your mother would have never let this happen,” Serena said.

Mari’s voice flattened. “The love of my mother’s life was a Companion. You have no idea what she was really like—what she really wanted. Leda would rejoice at the Clan and Companions coming together peaceably.”

“You’re talking about a Leda I didn’t know. I only knew the Leda who was my Moon Woman, and who devoted her life to caring for her Clan.ThatLeda wouldn’t have allowed Companions among us. No. I won’t trust these people.” Serena gestured angrily at the Companions. “I’ll never trust them.They enslaved us! They killed our men! They watched us die in captivity for countless generations!They have proven that they aren’t trustworthy. Good-bye, Mari. Your mother would be ashamed of you.” Without another word, Serena left the path and disappeared into the smoky forest. Three women quietly followed her. None of them so much as glanced at Mari.

Mari pushed the hurt Serena’s words had caused away from her and scanned the remaining Clanswomen with sharp, questioning eyes. “Anyone else?”

“We are your Clan, Moon Woman.” Isabel bowed low to her, arms open with her palms facing up in the traditional acknowledgment of a Clan’s Moon Woman. “We follow you.” The women who remained mimicked her actions, bowing respectfully to Mari.

“All right then, I don’t think the Gathering Site is far from here, and that’s the boundary of Clan territory.” Calling to Rigel, Mari set the image of the creek and the familiar Gathering Site in her mind, knowing that from there they could easily make it to the birthing burrow. She bent in front of her Companion and took his furry face between her hands, kissing him on the nose affectionately. Then she concentrated, sending the image to the Shepherd as she commanded, “Go, Rigel! Lead us there!”

With a happy bark, Rigel galloped away, following the little deer path they’d pretty much stayed on since crossing the last stream. He stopped just as the path was curving, looked over his shoulder at the mixed group of watching Companions and Clanswomen, and barked enthusiastically again, causing Sheena to sigh softly.

“I forget how much energy young canines have,” Sheena said, patting Captain on the head before nodding at him, saying, “Go ahead—join Rigel.” Barking like a pup, Captain bounded after the young Shepherd.

“Okay, everyone. That’s the way we’re going. Not much longer now and you’ll find safety for the night,” Mari said as she motioned the Clanswomen to get up and follow Rigel and Captain. “Isabel, could you go to the front of the group and be sure everyone is keeping up with Rigel while I have a word with O’Bryan?”

“Of course, Mari.” Isabel hurried after the pup.

The Companions followed even more slowly than the Clanswomen, being sure there were several yards between them and the Earth Walkers. Mari went to the two most seriously wounded young women, helping them to their feet.

“You—you don’t look like a Scratcher,” said Sarah, the younger of the two, who leaned heavily on Lydia and looked as if she might have broken her ankle.

“You’re Sarah, right? May I look at your ankle?” Mari asked.

“Yes, I’m Sarah. Are you really a Healer?”

“I am, and we don’t call ourselves Scratchers. We’re Earth Walkers.”

“And she’s a great Healer,” O’Bryan said. “She healed me of the blight.”

Sarah and her sister exchanged startled glances, then the girl said, “Yes, you may examine me.”

Mari quickly felt Sarah’s ankle, deciding that it wasn’t broken after all but severely, painfully sprained. Automatically, Mari started tearing strips from the bottom of her tunic as she spoke to the young man who was watching her every move. “O’Bryan, do you know what chickweed looks like?”