Page 162 of Sun Warrior

“And we also thought we’d start a new tradition with you,” O’Bryan said.

“I like the sound of that,” Mari said. “What’s the new tradition?”

“In our City in the Trees we greeted each sunrise with our Sun Priest, absorbing the morning light and giving thanks to the Sun,”Davis explained. “You share moonlight with us—so we thought it was only right that we all share the morning sunlight with you.”

“Not that you need us to call down the sun. Anyone who can call down sunfire doesn’t need help with that,” O’Bryan said.

“But it’s better together,” Sheena said. “We wanted to share that with you, and with your permission we’d like to start sharing it with the Earth Walkers, too.”

Mari blinked in surprise. “But you know Earth Walkers can’t absorb sunlight.”

“Well, we didn’t know about moon magick until you shared that with us, and even though we can’t channel that power like you can, it feels great when you do it,” O’Bryan said.

“Yeah, so we were talking about it and we thought that maybe Earth Walkers might be able to feel something if Companions, as a group, call down sunlight,” Sheena said.

“And if they can’t, maybe they’ll find some beauty in it. Like we have found when we watch you draw down the moon,” Rose said.

Mari couldn’t imagine the sun making her feel any warmer than her Pack was making her feel. “I think that’s a wonderful idea! Thank you.” She glanced at Nik and saw that he was smiling through eyes that were suspiciously wet.

“I agree with our Moon Woman. That’s a wonderful idea,” he said.

“Then lead us, Sun Priest,” O’Bryan said. “And let us absorb the morning sunlight.”

Mari could feel the jolt that went through Nik when his cousin called him Sun Priest, and she squeezed his hand with encouragement, repeating, “Yes, lead us, Sun Priest.”

“All right then.” Nik met Mari’s eyes. “I know the perfect place for this, but I need your permission to go there, and your help.”

Perplexed, Mari moved her shoulders. “Okay, where?”

Nik pointed up—to the spot above and behind the little burrow that was a secret clearing where Mari and Leda had spent a lifetime drawing down the moon and dancing their names joyously into the earth.And where Mari had buried her beloved mama, near the image of the Goddess Leda had cared for her entire life.

Suddenly finding it hard to speak, Mari nodded, picked up her thick walking stick, and headed back into the bramble thicket, counting on Nik to be sure everyone was safely following her.

“Sheena and Captain, Rose and Fala, you haven’t been inside the bramble thicket before, so you should stay close behind Mari. She’s going to hold the thorny branches aside for you. Davis and Cammy and O’Bryan, you know the drill. I’ll bring up the rear.” He grabbed two more walking sticks, hidden under branches at the edge of the thicket, tossing one to O’Bryan. “Use this to catch the branches as Mari lets them go.”

“Got it,” O’Bryan said.

“Ready, Mari,” Nik called.

It took longer than usual to wind up and around and get everyone safely and mostly unscratched to the clearing. Mari was the first to step out onto the carpet of fragrant blue flowers. She breathed deeply, savoring the scent that would always remind her of her mama.

“This is spectacular!” Sheena said, stepping out into the clearing.

“How did you get these flowers to bloom up here? Isn’t it the wrong time of the year for forget-me-nots?” Rose asked.

“It is,” Mari said after swallowing the knot of emotion in her throat. “And I didn’t get them to bloom. The Goddess did.”

As a group, they turned to the statue of the Earth Mother that seemed to be emerging from the earth, half reclining in the center of a field of flowers. This idol was the largest Mari had ever seen—and rightfully so. It was the idol that had been created and tended by Clan Weaver’s Moon Women for generations. Her skin was the softest of mosses, and her hair was fashioned from the most delicate maidenhair ferns in the forest. Her face was a flawless oval of obsidian, carved to appear both serene and watchful.

Mari began automatically to bow to the Goddess when Davis walked right past her, going to stand directly in front of the idol. He gazed up at her for several long moments, with Cammy beside him being uncharacteristically quiet. Then he bowed deeply, placing his hand over his heart.

When he turned to look back at the group, Mari could see tears washing down his face. “I can feel her! Can’t you feel her?”

Mari decided right then that she was going to stop being surprised by anything this new Pack did.

“She’s beautiful, but I don’t feel anything,” Sheena said.

“I don’t, either,” said Nik. “But I love her face—how she looks calmandready to leap up to protect her children.”