Page 56 of Sun Warrior

“But Sora wouldn’t leave you alone,” Nik said.

Mari gave him a sardonic look. “And neither would you. Sora and Nik and Rigel brought me back to life, back to my duties as Moon Womanand Healer of Clan Weaver. Still, the damage has been done. The males are mad with Night Fever, and I don’t know if Washing them will fully relieve their pain and anger and let them come back to themselves.”

“And if they do come back to themselves, how will they be able to live with the things they’ve done?” Danita said.

Mari nodded sadly. “Exactly.”

“That could be why those males attacked us at that deer carcass,” Davis said to Nik. “Does Mari know about that?”

“No, I haven’t had a chance to tell her,” Nik said.

“What is it?” Mari asked.

“It’s how O’Bryan was wounded and got the blight. It was before I went on the foraging mission to Port City—before you found me injured by the Skin Stealers. Davis, O’Bryan, and I were searching for Rigel, and we came upon a slain deer—wasted and hanging to rot.”

“You mean the whole carcass? Someone killed a deer and just left it?” Mari asked incredulously.

“Yeah, and even more bizarre, Earth Walker males were there, waiting, as if they’d set a trap for us,” Nik said.

“But that doesn’t happen. Our males have never trapped Companions, and they definitely wouldn’t waste a deer kill,” Jenna said.

“And yet that’s what happened,” Nik said.

“Yeah, it was bad,” Davis added.

“You’re sure they were Earth Walker males and not Skin Stealers from Port City?” Mari asked.

“Absolutely sure,” Nik said.

“I second that,” Davis said. “I was there. It was a close thing for a while. We almost didn’t escape their trap.”

“Our males are doing things they’ve never done before,” Danita said in a small, frightened voice.

“She’s right,” Jenna said. “Even on a Third Night, our Clansmen can be reasoned with—at least long enough for them to be Washed.”

“They have to be stopped,” Danita said.

“They will be,” Mari said, and then silently added,Either by Washing or by death—they will be stopped.

“What you’re saying is that you want us to watch the perimeter, and I’m assuming tonotkill any Earth Walker males who breech it, but to let them through so you can Wash them,” Nik said.

“Yes. That’s what I’m saying. But Nik, I’m also saying keep your crossbow close and ready. Davis, Antreas, be ready, too. I’ll Wash the males, but if it doesn’t work—or if they are too violent to be helped—shoot them. I won’t have anyone else hurt,” Mari said.

“Understood,” Nik said. Davis and Antreas nodded grimly.

“I’m sorry. I know this is my fault. I should have found the males after Mama was killed. I should have cared more about the Clan than my sadness,” Mari said to Jenna and Danita. The two girls shared a long look before Jenna spoke for them both.

“Leda was your whole world, Mari. Of course you mourned; you’re still mourning. And there was a lot the Clan didn’t know back then—a lot that would have been impossible to explain to Night Fever–crazed males. But everything is different now. We understand what you’ve been hiding and why.”

Danita nodded in agreement. “Now you’re our Moon Woman. We follow you. Always.”

Mari felt the weight of their trust as a great pressure around her heart. It warmed her, but it also frightened her.What if I mess up? What if I make the wrong decision and hurt the Clan even more than it’s already been hurt by me?

And then, drifting down the twisting path before them, the lovely sounds of women’s voices raised in joyous song carried through the night.

“Oh! They’re singing!” Jenna said, clapping her hands together in happiness.

“It’s the Clanswomen! Sora must have already Washed them.” Danita cocked her head, listening carefully. Then her face broke into a delighted grin. “It’s a Beltane melody!”