Page 25 of Sun Warrior

“Nik! There you are!” The call came from above, and Nik looked up to see Wilkes grabbing a line to rappel down to them. He landed lightly beside Nik, who stood to face him, but the tall Warrior looked past Nik to Mari. He bowed low to her before saying, “I ask again for your forgiveness. Please. I hated what I had to do to your Rigel, but it was the only way I could think to get you mad enough to call down sunfire.”

Mari studied him warily. “You would have killed Rigel.”

“No,” the Warrior said firmly. “I would not have, but you needed to believe I would have—and so did Rigel. But had you not called down sunfire, we all would have been killed. Forgive me. The Tribe does not abide violence against any canine.”

“Someone should tell Thaddeus about what the Tribe does and doesn’t abide. Seems like he doesn’t know the rules,” Mari said.

“Oh, he knows them,” Davis spoke up. “He just thinks he’s above them.”

“He’s wrong,” Wilkes said. “I’ll prove that after we get through this mess.”

“How can you be sure of that?” Mari asked.

“I’m Leader of the Warriors. As long as I hold that position, I give you my word that I will bring Thaddeus to justice before the Council.”

Mari let out a long, exhausted breath. “I forgive you, and I’ll hold you to your word.”

“As well you should,” Wilkes said.

“I’ll hold you to your word, too,” Nik said. “And I’m glad to see that you survived the swarm.”

“You, too,” Wilkes said, nodding at the others. “I’d like you to come with me, Nik. And Mari, too.” The Leader of the Warriors bowed to Mari respectfully again. “I believe she’s a great Healer, and the Tribe has need of her. Also, we must get this mess with Thaddeus straightened out, and you two can help do that.”

“No,” Mari said.

“No,” Nik echoed.

Mari went to Nik’s side, sliding her arm through his in an obvious gesture of solidarity. Rigel moved to stand beside her, just as Laru stood next to his Companion. “First, I am going to go to my Clan. They need me, and they are my priority. And I already told you the condition you have to meet if you want me to return and share my healing with your people. Your Council must give me their word that the Tribe will never take another Earth Walker captive,” she said.

“And I go with Mari, though I’ll return to testify to the Council, and to see that Thaddeus is made to take responsibility for what he has done,” Nik said.

“Nik, I don’t think I can let you leave.” Wilkes spoke slowly, reluctantly.

“You have no choice,” Mari said. She lifted one hand, spreading her fingers and holding her palm out, as if she was readying herself to call down more sunfire. “I understand why you threatened Rigel. But now I know how to call down sunfire, and I swear to the Great Earth Goddess if youeverthreaten Rigel, Nik, Laru, me, or anyone under my protection again, I will call down sunfire and the consequences to the forest—to your people—be damned!”

Wilkes moved several paces back, giving Mari’s hand wary looks. “Hey, like you said, I only did what had to be done for our Tribe. There’s no need for more fire. Let’s talk about this instead.”

Surprising Nik, Antreas moved so that he was standing beside Laru. “So, you’re admitting this young woman saved your entire Tribe?” He shot the question at Wilkes.

“She did, and we thank her for it,” Wilkes said.

“You thank Mari by holding her and her mate prisoner?” Antreas said.

“It’s not right,” Davis said as he and Cammy moved to stand beside Rigel and Mari, too.

“No, it sure isn’t.” Claudia joined the others as they faced the Leader of the Warriors.

“So, you’reallleaving with Mari?” Wilkes said, shaking his head in disbelief.

There was a long silence, which Antreas broke after he and his Lynx shared a look. “I go with Bast. Bast is ready to leave. Finally. And it seems she wants to go with Mari.”

“Really?” Mari peered around Nik to look at the big, silent feline, who regarded her back through unreadable yellow eyes.

Antreas shrugged. “Really. Mind if I tag along with you?”

“I don’t mind,” Mari said. She paused for a moment, looking from Davis to Claudia. “I don’t mind if either of you and your canines would like to come with us, too. I can’t promise you a City in the Trees, but I can promise you warmth and safety if you can promise me that you will be open to living peacefully with Earth Walkers.”

Davis spoke first. “The truth is that I’m sick of Thaddeus. I’ve had it with his bullying and his hatred. He’s getting worse and worse, and he’s affecting the Hunters. They’re changing, and I don’t like what they’re changing into. So I’m going to follow Nik.” The young man smiled shyly at Mari. “And his Earth Walker who can call down sunfire.”