Page 132 of Sun Warrior

“I think that’ll change as we practice. Plus, now there are two of us.” Mari jerked her chin in the direction of Danita. “With a very likelythird. So, we can start sharing the duties. Did you know Bast told Antreas that Danita does have the power to draw down the moon?”

“That cat knows stuff,” Sora said. “It’s a little creepy. Canines are much better.” She nuzzled Chloe, who made sleepy annoyed puppy noises in response.

“Oh, please. Just a few days ago you were complaining about Rigel and all creatures canine.”

“Well, I’ll still complain about Rigel, but this little girl is spectacular.” Sora kissed Chloe, waking her completely so that the pup started whining in earnest. “Oops, I shouldn’t have woken her. She’s hungry. Gotta take her back to Fala.”

“I’ll come with you. I need to check on Lydia’s and Sarah’s wounds.”

“Should we call Danita?”

Both gazes went to the earnest dark-haired girl who was diligently dancing a pattern that spelled out the letters of her name across the soft, waiting earth.

“Nah,” Sora said. “Let her practice. It helps her nerves. And she’s within calling distance of the rest of the Pack—no harm in leaving her here.”

“Okay.” The two Moon Women began to follow the stream back to the burrow. “Hey, I’m starting to think Antreas may actually be interested in Danita—as in potential mate interested.”

“Well, he did listen when I told him how to court an Earth Walker,” Sora said.

“He asked?”

“More like he put his foot directly into his mouth with Danita and then I educated him. But he seemed to listen.”

“Life just gets more and more interesting,” Mari said, ruffling Chloe’s fur.

“I did used to say I never wanted to be bored,” Sora said.

“So, all of this is your fault?” Mari teased.

“Probably. And you’re welcome.”

CHAPTER 29

“Okay, one more time,” Danita told herself aloud. She spread her arms, tilted back her head, and began to trace aDinto the earth while she attempted to do as Sora had instructed—be graceful and joyful. Danita had decided to settle, at least for the moment, for not tripping over her own feet. She moved alongside the stream, adding letters to her dance and feeling more and more confident—especially after Sora and Mari had left. Danita liked both Moon Women—very much actually—but she was also extremely self-conscious around them. They always seemed so sure of themselves! Maybe she’d be like that one day in the future. “I hope so,” she sighed to herself as she finished the last letter in her name, and then she went to the stream, lifted up the mid-calf-length tunic she was wearing, and waded gratefully into the cool, clear water.

Danita splashed water on her face and arms while her feet found smooth stones. Her toes dug into the mixture of river rock and mud. The feeling was delightful. She kept wading in the stream, not paying much attention to the fact that she was moving with the small current away from the burrow. A sparkle caught her eye and Danita bent to pick up a crystal of a size that fit perfectly into the palm of her hand.

“It’s the shape of a heart.” She spoke softly. Closing her eyes, she gripped the crystal, holding it close to her breast. “Thank you, GreatGoddess. Thank you for this sign of your favor.” Reluctant to leave the stream and the magic moment it helped to create, Danita waded farther downstream, keeping a sharp eye out for any more special signs of the Goddess’s favor. Finally, her feet getting cold, she climbed out of the water and onto a gently sloping moss-covered bank. Choosing a wide, flat boulder not far from the stream, Danita lay back on it, staring up at the sky creatures the puffy clouds were creating.

She was drifting off to sleep when a strange sound brought her senses instantly alert. Danita turned, sliding quietly off the boulder to crouch beside it, silently cursing herself, heart hammering in her chest.I should have never waded so far alone!

A flash in the trees on the opposite side of the stream caught her eye, and Danita turned so that she could peer across the water and remain concealed by the boulder and the thickly clumped ferns that surrounded it.

At first she didn’t realize what she was seeing—it seemed so strange, so impossible.Could this be real, or am I asleep and dreaming?

Her breath caught in her throat as she realized she was indeed awake and what she was witnessing was very real.

Antreas and Bast were racing through the forest. But they weren’t simply running, or even jumping over fallen logs and other forest debris. Bast and Antreas were leaping from tree to tree! Lynx and man appeared to fly, and they were playing some kind of silly game, where Bast would run up and swat Antreas on the butt (or anywhere a paw could swipe) and then she’d take off and it would be Antreas’s turn to race after his Companion until he could tag her and then the game repeated all over again.

Danita stared at Antreas as he shouted at Bast, “Hey, watch those claws! You scratched my butt!”

The Lynx chirped at him, in a voice so filled with sweetness that Danita knew the big feline was making fun of her Companion.

“Oh, you think that’s funny, do you? Watch yourself. I’m going to be pulling that black-tipped tail of yours!” And Antreas took off after his Lynx, chasing her around, over, and up trees, logs, and boulders.

Danita was surprised to find herself grinning broadly at the two of them. Of course Bast was spectacular. Danita adored the big feline. What was unexpected was the reaction Danita was having to Antreas. He looked so young and happy that for the first time Danita thought she might consider him handsome. She kept watching him and received a second surprise.His hands! They’re changed!Danita squinted as the afternoon sunlight caught what should have been a human hand, glinting off dagger-sharp talons that had taken the place of fingernails.

“Wow. That’s incredible.”