Page 143 of Sun Warrior

Wilkes coughed, cleared his throat, and finally managed, “He should be surrounded by his Hunters in deep mourning. As I was packing to leave, I overheard the news. Odysseus died today.”

“Sunfire! I was right. He has gone completely mad.” Claudia felt all the blood drain from her face. “Hang on. I think I’m going to be sick—” She staggered a few feet away and vomited the contents of her stomach.

“Hey, are you okay to travel?” Wilkes went to her quickly, holding back her hair and supporting her with a strong arm as she retched miserably.

“No, I’m not okay, but we have to travel. And I’m puking because Thaddeus disgusts me more than because I’m sick.”

“All right. Tell me about it while we walk,” Wilkes said. “You can walk now, right?”

“Right. Where exactly are we going?”

“Southeast, to Earth Walker territory.”

“You know where Nik and Mari are living?” Claudia asked.

“No.”

“Then how do you plan on finding them?”

“I don’t. I plan on them finding me. Now tell me about the latest poison Thaddeus is spewing.”

***

As dusk softened the light fading over the birthing burrow, Mari and Sora turned to Danita. She stood between them, and Mari thought she looked particularly lovely. Sora had dressed her hair, weaving the feathers of a rare raptor to frame her face, making her look exotic and beautiful.

“Are you ready?” Sora asked.

“I think so,” Danita said.

“You’re going to do great,” Mari said.

“I’m really nervous.”

“Everyone is their first time,” Sora assured her. “I first danced my name in front of Mari while she scowled at me. I almost cried.”

Mari frowned at her. “I wasnotscowling at you! I was—” A look from Sora broke off Mari’s words. She looked from her Moon Woman friend to the pale, quiet girl standing between them whose face and shoulders still showed the yellowed and purpled evidence of the violence she so recently survived. “I think the point is, Sora’s right. We are all nervous the first time. What Mama told me might make it better for you—it did for me. Remember that you’re not dancing for the Clan or for your friends or for any particular male. You’re dancing with joy for the Great Goddess, sending an introduction to the moon. Forget everything except that.”

“Just dance for the Goddess and the moon,” Sora repeated, smiling kindly at Danita.

“I can do that,” Danita said. “But do you think the Great Goddess will mind that I’mbroken?”

Mari took Danita’s shoulders in her hands and forced the girl to meet her eyes. “You are not broken. The men who brutalized you—theywere broken. The Goddess knows that. I promise.”

“The Great Mother will strengthen you. Just ask it of her and she will always, always answer her Moon Woman,” Sora said.

“But I’m not a Moon Woman yet,” Danita said.

“Really? What does your heart say about that?” Sora asked.

“It says I want to be a Moon Woman more than I’ve ever wanted anything,” Danita said.

“Heart is what makes a Moon Woman—heart and spirit and tradition,” Mari said. “That’s what Mama always told me.”

“If Leda said it, then it must be true!” Danita suddenly perked up. “I am ready.”

“Okay then. Let’s do this,” Mari said.

Side by side, the three young Moon Women descended the stone stairs to their Pack, waiting in the clearing beside the stream. As they reached the clearing, Rigel rushed up to them, gently carrying a complaining Chloe by the scruff of her neck.