Page 140 of Sun Warrior

“They say you’re too hot. Okay. Well. Let’s find a stream and cool you off. You’ll be good as new in no time. Then you and I will go after that bitch who caused this, and we’ll get our payback. Doesn’t that sound good, big guy?”

Odysseus opened his eyes. They were rimmed with red and looked brighter than normal. His tail wagged weakly.

“I knew it! Don’t you worry. You’ll be fine soon, and Nik and Mari will get what they deserve.”

And you deserve power!The thought exploded through his mind—foreign, yet familiar, and becoming more and more familiar.

I wonder if I’m going mad,Thaddeus thought.

Does it matter as long as you rule?

I don’t have a Shepherd. I can’t rule the Tribe of the Trees.

And yet you can, if you have the power to take rather than ask permission!

Thaddeus kept walking—not noticing that the sun was dropping lower and lower in the sky. Not noticing when he entered the edge of Earth Walker territory. All he noticed was the conversation going on within his mind. He didn’t come to himself until he heard the sound of water. Thaddeus blinked, as if awaking after a long sleep. He looked around, hardly believing where his feet had taken him.

Thaddeus recognized the clearing instantly.

“This is where that Scratcher bitch’s mother died.” He glanced down at Odysseus, who barely opened his fever-bright eyes. “See? There’s acreek here and those stupid statue things the Scratchers grow. Let’s get you some water, big guy.”

Gently, Thaddeus crouched beside the edge of the crystal creek, easing Odysseus from his arms and supporting him as he pointed his cracked muzzle toward the water.

“Go on, drink. It’ll help you.”

Odysseus whined softly and turned his head away.

“Look, you have to try. I know you’re not going to like this, but I’m going to hold you in the water.” As Thaddeus spoke, he unwrapped the bandage from around the Terrier’s flank. The scent of rot lifted from the oozing wound. Thaddeus ignored it. “I’m going to carry you into the water. It’ll wash some of that puss and crap out of the woundandcool you down.”

But as Thaddeus lifted his Companion and began carrying him farther into the creek, the Terrier started whining in earnest and squirming so violently that his wound completely broke open.

“Hey, hey! Stop. Okay, okay. I’ll wait a little while.”

Feeling hollow, Thaddeus sloughed from the creek with Odysseus in his arms. He made his way to one of the ridiculous statues and collapsed next to it, leaning against it as he placed Odysseus on the soft moss beside him.

Odysseus’s eyes were closed tightly, but he was panting and whining softly.

I have to help him! I have to stop his pain!Thaddeus screamed in silent impotence.I can’t lose him!

Then, miraculously, the words that had been drifting through Thaddeus’s mind came to him once again, only this time they felt different—as if they were flowing directly from Odysseus.

You’ll never lose Odysseus. Your flesh has joined. Your spirits can now join, too. It is simple. But you must choose. If you choose Life… your Companion will be healed and all will eventually go back to how it used to be. You will be a Hunter, but not the Lead Hunter. Your Tribe will be led, but not by you.

If you choose Death… your Companion’s life will end, butit will fuel a new life for you. Death will lend you power. Death will let you rule. And Odysseus shall always be with you.

Thaddeus went to his knees in front of Odysseus. The little Terrier was lying on his side. His panting was fast and pain filled. Thaddeus framed him with his hands.

“Odysseus, can you hear that?”

The canine opened his eyes and looked directly at his Companion, sending Thaddeus waves of pain and sadness and, finally, acceptance.

“You can hear that! What do I do? What dowedo?”

Make your choice. Now!

Slowly, Odysseus shifted his body so that he could bare his neck and belly in open submission to his Companion, though his gaze still met and held Thaddeus’s.

He wants to die,Thaddeus realized.