Page 40 of Sun Warrior

“Notwe,” Nik said firmly. “Only me. Davis, you have to agree not to follow me—not to try to help me in any way. If I fail—”

“You won’t fail!” Davis said.

“I don’t understand,” Mari said. “Nik, what do you have to go back for?”

“A Mother Plant. We can’t begin a new Tribe without one, not if we want our children and our children’s children to be strong and healthy and filled with sunfire.” Mari began to speak, but Nik interrupted. “Mari, this is one thing I won’t,can’t,compromise on.”

Mari had no idea why the Mother Plant was so important to Nik, but she understood that her father, too, had taken fronds from this magickal fern and that her mother had told her stories about swaddling her in the plant when she was an infant. “All ferns thrive when planted byEarth Walkers. If you get the fern, I’ll be sure it thrives wherever we decide to plant it.”

“Thank you, Mari.” He pulled her into a grateful hug; then he stepped to a spot in the path that was like a mini-clearing. “Laru, to me!” Nik called, and Laru, who had been lying in a bed of moss not far from the trail with Rigel, instantly went to his Companion’s side.

“Cammy, here!” Davis called, and the little blond Terrier, who had been rooting around in a clump of ferns down the trail, sprinted to him.

Davis crouched beside his Terrier, taking his face between his hands and looking into his bright eyes, sharing an unspoken message with the little canine. Then, side by side, the two of them approached Nik and Laru, who stood tall and silent, waiting.

Davis stopped directly in front of Nik. Cameron stopped directly in front of Laru.

“I swear my loyalty to you, Nikolas, son of Sol, Sun Priest of the Tribe of the…” Davis’s voice trailed off and he looked up at Nik questioningly.

“Not Tribe,” Nik said. “Let’s start something completely new. With Mari’s blessing, I say we should call ourselves a Pack.”

“Pack? I like it! It’s a good name,” Mari said.

“Then Pack it is,” Nik said.

“So be it.” Davis continued, “I swear my loyalty to Nikolas, son of Sol, Sun Priest of his Pack. Hereafter, until you no longer have the strength or will to hold the title, you will be my Alpha.” Then Davis leaned forward, twisting his body so that his neck was bared to Nik. Little Cameron watched his Companion and then rolled on his back before Laru, baring his neck and showing his vulnerable belly. Laru sniffed at him and then licked the little Terrier’s muzzle as Cammy wagged his tail, huffing joyously.

“I accept your oath, Davis. And I will protect you with my life,” Nik said, touching his friend’s neck gently and then bowing his head to the Hunter.

“Good. Is that done?” Antreas said. “It’s getting darker every second.”

Nik met Mari’s eyes and said to Davis, “Davis, as your Sun Priest I ask that you swear you will not ever give away the location of Mari’s burrow.”

“You have my word, Sun Priest,” Davis said.

“Mari?” Nik asked.

“That’s good enough for me. Rigel! Lead us home!”

CHAPTER 10

“Hunters! I need you and your Terriers to search for survivors while you put out any hot spots still smoldering. Grab a shovel each and be sure your Companions have their feet wrapped tightly in strips of the thick hide I salvaged from the tanning platform. Even though the rain is helping a lot with drenching the forest, much of the area is still dangerous for paws.” Wilkes faced the group of Hunters who had gathered with the Warriors for instructions.

“Warriors! While the Hunters are searching out survivors within the confines of the city I need half of you to go to the meditation platform and get it set up as an infirmary. Gather all of the Healers you can find, as well as all of the infirmary supplies,” Wilkes continued.

“The infirmary burned to the ground,” said a young Warrior named Renard. He’d been the first Tribesman made Companion when Laru’s last litter had begun to choose. Wilkes thought he looked a little wide-eyed and his young Shepherd, Wolf, seemed unable to leave his leg, but the two had worked well that terrible day and Wilkes was sure they would continue to do so.

“Are you certain, Renard?” Wilkes asked.

“Positive. I saw it happen. There were…” He paused and had to clear his throat and wipe his eyes before he continued. “There were peopletrapped in the infirmary when the trees and the platform caught fire. It’s not something I’ll ever forget.”

Wilkes passed a weary hand over his face. “Okay. Well then, Warriors, let’s see what we can do about medicine and supplies for a temporary infirmary. And I won’t believe all of the Healers perished. Let’s find them. Maybe they got outside the city before it was too late. The rest of you assess how many nests are usable for tonight. Hang tarp over sections of platform that are safe. People can shelter there for right now. Find as many Carpenters you can and get them started on making temporary shelters—especially something that can be used as a kitchen. Any questions?” When no one spoke, he said, “All right then, let’s get moving. We have about an hour until sunset.”

Wilkes hurried away with the group of Warriors and Shepherds, and Thaddeus watched him leave with undisguised dislike, the thought that was never far from him echoing around and around his mind:Why does he get to give the orders just because his Companion is a Shepherd? I’m smarter and stronger. I should be Leader, and not just of the Hunters.

Odysseus whined pitifully, breaking into Thaddeus’s thoughts. He crouched beside his Companion. “I know it hurts. I’m sorry that bitch caused me to drop my dagger. Hang in there a little bit longer, and then you can rest,” Thaddeus told Odysseus as he retied the bloodstained bandage wrapped around the little Terrier’s flank.

“Thaddeus! Where is Latrell?” Thaddeus turned to see a young Hunter named Sean staggering up to him from the smoldering forest. He looked rough—red and singed where he wasn’t covered with black soot. He was carrying his Terrier, Kitto, whose paws were painfully burned.