Page 165 of Sun Warrior

“Tomorrow night—or dawn the day after at the Channel,” he repeated. “Not even death could keep me away. You have my oath on it.”

“Good. I’ll keep your oath.” Mari turned to Laru. “Take care of him, and take care of yourself, too.” She kissed the big Shepherd on the top of his head. Instead of wagging his tail and licking her, Laru met her gaze, flooding her with love. Mari wiped her eyes, saying, “Thank you, my friend. Thank you.”

Rigel went to Nik, jumping up on him and staring into his eyes. Mari was surprised by the young Shepherd’s behavior—he rarely jumped on anyone. She was also surprised to see that he’d grown so much that his paws almost reached Nik’s shoulders.

“I’ll come back. Safe. I give you my oath, too. You be sure Mari stays safe, too,” Nik told Rigel. Then, acting more like himself, Rigel licked all over Nik’s face.

Rigel went to his sire then. Laru and he touched noses and Rigel bowed his head, exposing his throat to his Alpha. Laru licked him affectionately before he began trotting after Cammy and Davis.

Nik took her in his arms one more time, hugging her so tightly that it took her breath away. Then he was gone, jogging after his Companion, his broad shoulders and muscular back disappearing into the forest.

He didn’t look back. Mari was glad. She didn’t want him to see her clutching Rigel as she sobbed silent tears into her Companion’s soft coat.

***

They made excellent time and it wasn’t even midmorning when Nik and Davis reached Crawfish Creek. They followed the path they’d once believed was a simple deer path but now knew it was a trail made by the feet of generations of Earth Walkers going to Gathering. The trail brought them to the west bank of the creek where it was easy to climb down to water level.

“Let’s cross here. This side of the creek gets really steep if we follow it much farther north,” Nik said.

“I remember,” Davis said. “The current doesn’t look bad here, either.” He motioned for Cammy to swim across the creek, which he did with Laru joining him.

The water was cold, but it felt good after their walk, which had been mostly uphill. Nik bent and splashed his face, then cupped his hands and drank thirstily—until he heard the sound.

Davis was already on the east bank, laughing at Cammy as he rolled around in the moss, trying to dry himself.

Nik hurried to Davis. “Did you hear that?”

“All I heard was Cammy.”

Nik moved closer to the water and faced north. Davis hushed the little Terrier, and they all stood, listening, with Nik.

The all too familiar sound drifted down the creek. Nik and Davis, as well as Laru and Cammy, instantly went on alert.

Davis moved to Nik’s side, straining to hear more. The sound came again, accompanied by another—similar yet different.

“Are two people coughing?” Davis whispered to Nik.

Nik nodded. “Sounds like it to me. Could be Earth Walker males who have been infected, like Jaxom and Mason were.”

“At least we know how dangerous they are.” Davis mirrored Nik’s actions as both young men pulled their crossbows from the slings across their backs, notching arrows at the ready.

More wet, nasty coughing drifted to them, followed by a terrible retching sound.

“Definitely that damn Skin Stealer disease,” Nik said quietly. “Look at Laru and Cammy. They’re focused ahead of us and on this side of the creek. Let’s cross again and approach from the west bank. I remember it looks down on the creek and the clearing beside it. If they’re Skin Stealers, we can take them out from the cover of the ridge.”

“And if they’re diseased Earth Walkers?”

Nik sighed. “If they’re Earth Walkers and we can get past them without engaging, that’s what we do.”

“If they see us?”

“Then we protect ourselves,” Nik said grimly.

“This is the first time in my life I’m hoping we run into Skin Stealers and not Earth Walkers.” Davis touched his friend’s shoulder. “You know Mari will understand. She would expect us to protect ourselves.”

“I know. I also know she can heal them so that they’re like Jaxom and Masonafterthey were Washed—just decent guys who were infected with a terrible disease.”

Davis nodded. “I hear you. I don’t like it, either, but we don’t have much choice.”