Page 145 of Sun Warrior

“You found the mead again, didn’t you?” Mari took her plate from him as the four of them walked to a spot at the edge of the campfire circle that was a little shadowy and less populated than the center of the busy circle.

“Actually, O’Bryan found an Earth Walker named Spencer. Apparently, Sora put her in charge of the mead. He charmed Spencer into digging up another barrel of it. Don’t ask me how. I’ve known him my whole life, so it’s hard for me to find him charming.”

Mari grinned. “I think he’s charming.”

“Oh, you do?” Nik pressed his shoulder into hers. “Do I need to be worried?”

Mari’s grin turned into laughter. “No! But I do like O’Bryan, and heischarming. And considerate. And tall.”

“I’m feeling worried.”

Mari bumped him with her shoulder. “Is it odd that I want to make it clear that you don’t need to be worried about your cousin and yet I’m enjoying the fact that you’re worried? I think that’s a paradox.”

“I think that’s a woman,” Nik mumbled.

“What was that?”

“Nothing. Not one thing. Your trout’s getting cold. Let’s eat.”

Mari sat, cross-legged, with her back to a log. She expected Rigel to lie down, along with Laru, beside them, but both Shepherds remained standing, tongues lolling, ears pricked, looking around the clearing.

“What’s going on? Is something wrong?” Mari asked quickly, though she didn’t pick up any warnings from Rigel—just hungry expectation.

“Rigel! Laru! Cammy! Fala! Bast! Come on!” Sheena’s voice carried across the clearing as Laru and Rigel stared at their Companions.

“Okay, go!” Nik said, laughing.

Laru sprinted off, but Rigel remained, slobbering and staring at Mari.

“Are you starving him?” Nik asked, bumping her shoulder much as Mari had just bumped his.

She frowned at him. “Of course not. I just don’t know what’s going on.”

“Oh, sorry! Of course you don’t. Sheena’s calling the canines, and apparently a Lynx, too, to their dinner. She’ll have raw rabbit mixed with vegetables, grains, and eggs dished out for them. It’s the way of the Tribe—and now the way of our Pack. We all eat together.”

Mari looked at Rigel, who was staring at her, drool dripping from his muzzle, but not moving from her side.

“Sweet boy, go!” she told him. He barked joyfully and sprinted after his father. Mari laughed. “I’ve never been that happy to eat.”

“Canines feel things more intensely than we do. It’s part of the beautyof being bonded to one. If you concentrate on Rigel while you’re eating, your dinner will seem especially delicious.”

“Really? That’s fabulous!” Mari said. She closed her eyes and thought about Rigel—thought about how much she loved him and how just by pressing against the side of her leg he could make her feel special and protected. Suddenly she was utterly ravenous. “Hand me that trout. I need food,” she said.

Nik chuckled. “Far be it from me to stand between a Companion’s food and her hunger.”

Mari didn’t even notice that it took her no time at all to clear her plate. She only knew that everything she tasted was delicious and she was suddenly feeling very full and very, very satisfied.

“He’s going to make you sleepy now if you don’t separate from him,” Nik said.

“Huh?” Mari said around an enormous yawn.

“Stop thinking about Rigel!” Nik said sharply.

Mari blinked, surprised at his tone. She frowned at him. “Why are you yelling at me?”

“I’m not. Are you feeling less sleepy?”

Mari thought about it. “Well, yes, I am.”