Page 16 of Sun Warrior

Then the small group of Companions limped into the clearing, and everyone went very still.

Mari went to Sora’s side. “Sora, this is Nik’s cousin, O’Bryan.”

Sora studied the young man with an expression Mari couldn’t read. Then, slowly, she nodded her head. “Hello, O’Bryan. Nik has spoken well of you.”

“You, too, Sora,” O’Bryan said with a tentative smile.

“Really? He didn’t tell you I wanted to let him die?”

O’Bryan’s smile grew less tentative. “Oh, he did tell me that, but he also said you changed your mind.”

Sora snorted. “I didn’t change it. Nik changed it for me.” She looked from O’Bryan to the Companions behind him. “Who are your friends?”

Looking relieved, O’Bryan introduced the rest of the group. Then Sora turned to Mari with an assessing look. “So, Moon Woman, what are we going to do with them?”

“Not we—you. I’m hoping you brought some aloe gel for burns.”

Sora nodded. “I did. I also have Danita and Jenna gathering as much aloe as they can find, and refining it into gel and salves. I thought you might need it.”

“You were right,” Mari said. “It was a good idea to harvest more aloe.”

“Thanks.” She grinned at Mari. “What’s next?”

“Use some of that aloe gel for the Companions. Lydia and Rose are the most badly burned of them. But don’t spend too long on any one person right now. They need to get to safety first.”

“What’s your idea for that? There are, what, about twenty-five or so in this group, with a good half or more of them injured?”

As Sora spoke, Mari led her a little apart from the rest of the group so they could have a measure of privacy. Sora followed her, sharp eyes still assessing the ragged group of survivors as most of them dropped heavily to the ground to rest.

While the two of them moved away from the group, Sora began coughing—a wet, nasty, rattling sound. She turned her back to Mari,trying to stifle the coughs, but Mari saw her shoulders shaking with the effort it took.

“What?” Sora said, wiping her mouth and meeting Mari’s gaze.

“You’re sick,” Mari said softly. She reached toward Sora, intending to examine her, but the young Moon Woman stepped back, shaking her head.

“No, no, no. I’m fine.”

“You’re sick,” Mari repeated. “You look pale, even though your cheeks are flushed. Are you running a fever?”

“Mari!” Sora grabbed her wrist and marched farther away from the group with her. “I. Am. Fine. Or at least as fine as I can be after being attacked, bitten, and almost raped yesterday by Clansmen I grew up thinking were my friends, and maybe even more.”

“That shouldn’t have made you sick,” Mari insisted.

“Really? I disagree. And I looked it up in your mama’s journal. I think she’d disagree, too. My immune system hasdefinitelybeen compromised. That’s why I feel awful. But right now I don’t have the luxury of curling up in our burrow and drinking tea for a week and making your creature bring me things.”

“You want Rigel to bring you things? Are you sure you aren’t delirious?”

Sora frowned at her. “You know he can do all sorts of crazy stuff. He practically reads your mind. So, if I’m sick, I figured he could certainly bring me things. I’m not sure what, but when this is all over and I get a chance to relax I’m definitely going to do as little as possible and get him to do as much as possible. You keep telling me how smart he is—I’m just agreeing with you. Finally.” Sora reached down and patted Rigel on the top of his head. He gave her a doggy grin and licked her hand, which made her grimace. “I just don’t understand why he has to be so slobbery.”

“He’s a Shepherd. Apparently they’re slobberyandsheddy,” Mari said, smiling down at Rigel. “All right. Fine. I’ll pretend like you’re okay if you heed Mama’s journal notes about what a Moon Woman should do when she’s ill.”

Sora sighed. “Already read the notes, and I’ll do what Leda directed. I’ll wash my hands. A lot. And if my cough gets worse I’ll tie a mask around my nose and mouth so that I don’t make anyone else sick.”

“Andremember to care for yourself as well as you care for your patients.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, when I have time. So, back to our group of refugees. What are there, twenty-five or so of them?”

Mari nodded, deciding Sora was correct; they really didn’t have time for her to be on bed rest because of an inconveniently timed cold. “That’s a good count, yes. My idea is that you’re going to lead all of them to the birthing burrows. Make them comfortable. Treat their wounds. Feed them. Isabel will help—so will Jenna, if she can leave Danita,” Mari said. “Actually, it might help Danita to think about someone else’s needs for a while, so be sure you bring her to the burrow, too.”