Page 164 of Sun Warrior

CHAPTER 36

Mari stood with Nik under the big cedar that marked the entrance of the path that would lead him and Davis to Crawfish Creek and the Gathering spot that had brought so much pain and so much joy to them.

“Cammy and I will give you two some privacy,” Davis said. He went to Mari, shyly asking, “May I hug you, Moon Woman?”

“Of course!”

Mari pulled him into a hug, but before he let her go the young Companion whispered into her ear, “The Goddess wants you to take her face with us.”

Mari stepped back, blinking in surprise. “What?”

Davis blushed. “I, um, didn’t want to say this in front of everyone. It felt too private, like something for you to know alone. But she definitely wants to come with us. Bring her face, Moon Woman. She’ll be the first idol we create when we finally get to the Wind Rider Plains.”

“But who will watch over Mama if I take her with us?”

“Oh, Mari! Your mama’swiththe Goddess. She’ll be coming with us, too. And you do know that the idol up there or any of those other idols they’re notreallythe Great Earth Mother, don’t you?”

“I know it here.” Mari pointed to her head, just as Davis had done not long ago. “But not here.” She shifted her hand to her heart.

“Trust your Goddess. She’s everywhere. Remember, she found me in the Tribe of the Trees before I even knew her name,” Davis said. “Good-bye, Moon Woman. I’ll see you, and our Pack, soon.”

“Bye, Davis.” Mari knelt and Cammy trotted up to her. She hugged the little Terrier as he rubbed his head against her happily. Grinning, she looked up at Davis. “What is he doing?”

“He’s giving you what I like to call Terrier lovin’. You’re officially part of his Pack now,” Davis said.

“Why, thank you, Cammyman,” Mari said, taking his face between her hands and kissing him squarely on the top of his nose. With his tail wagging and his tongue lolling with canine joy, he trotted after Davis.

“Is it my turn for hugs and kisses?”

Mari stood and stepped into Nik’s arms. She buried her face in his chest, breathing in the scent of him as she held to him tightly.

“I love you,” she said.

“And I love you.”

“Don’t die,” Mari said.

He leaned back, lifting her chin with his hand so that she looked into his eyes. “I won’t.”

“Swear it,” she said.

“I swear that I won’t die. Not yet. We have a world to build and babies to make,” he said.

She smiled through her tears. “Yes, we do. And remember—you belong to an Earth Walker, and we do not let our mates just disappear.”

His brows shot up. “Mate?”

“Yes, mate. If that’s okay with you,” she added.

“It’s better than okay. Um. Isn’t there a ceremony we should perform, or something?”

“Absolutely, and you’re going to love it, which is all I’m going to say right now. Curiosity will give you more incentive to remain not dead.”

“This is all the incentive I need.” Nik bent and kissed her, filling her world with his touch and taste.

She didn’t want to let him go. She didn’t ever want to let him go.

Reluctantly, she stepped from his arms. “Tomorrow night—or dawn the day after at the Channel. I’ll see you then.”