Page 66 of Sun Warrior

“Seriously, Mari. Now isn’t the time for guesswork.” Sora frowned at her. “If I have to, I’ll go back to the burrow and get—”

“Moon Woman, you just need to be Washed and you’ll be cured like Jaxom!” Mari said, exasperated at her friend. “Is that tea ready yet?”

“It’s steeping,” Nik said.

“Well, try to steep faster,” Mari said. “And Sora, you try to not say anything.”

“Washed?” she whispered.

“Washed,” Mari said firmly. “But first I want you drugged.”

Sora stared at her, and Mari was sure she saw a crimson tint beginning to shine from deep within her friend’s dark pupils.

“Where’s the goldenrod salve?” Mari asked.

Sora motioned to one of the wooden containers on the shelves that framed the hearth.

“I’ll get it,” Nik said.

“Nik, would you also bring in the baskets we left outside the door? I need the fresh bandages and some of that salve you said smells like newly cut hay.”

“Will do.”

“Bedstraw salve?” Sora asked.

“That’s good. You remembered. Do you remember what the salve made from the bedstraw flowers and leaves is used for?”

“Stops bleeding and helps skin eruptions,” Sora said.

“I think you’re a much better student than I am a teacher,” Mari said.

Sora’s snort ended in a coughing fit. When she could speak again she said, “Don’t you think I need something stronger than bedstraw? Isn’t that just for minor skin problems?”

“Exactly, which is what you’re going to have after I Wash you of this illness.”

Nik returned with the baskets. Mari went through them quickly, finding the salve and the bandages she needed. While Sora downed the bitter but potent poppy tea, Mari cleaned and bandaged her wounds, trying to keep her expression neutral, even as she saw that many of the blisters were so red and swollen that her friend sucked in her breath when she touched them. But the tea worked its magic, and soon Sora’s head was lolling and she was obviously having a hard time focusing on Mari.

“Hey, did you see the puppies-s-s?” Sora slurred.

“I did,” Mari said, tying off the last bandage around Sora’s wrist.

“Sunkissed. One is s-s-ssunkissed.”

“Really?” Nik perked up. “You mean like with a splotch the color of the sun on it?”

“Yep. And it’s onher.It’s aher.And the s-s-splotch is in the shape of a crescent moon,” Sora said.

“That’s great news!” Nik said. Then, seeing Mari’s confusion, he explained, “It’s a fortuitous sign for the Tribe if a dark-colored canine is born with a sun-colored patch of fur. We call it being sun-kissed. It foretells good luck.”

“Are you sure?” Mari said. “Seems like the Tribe’s luck hasn’t been so good lately.”

“Not the tree Tribe. His. Nik’s new Tribe. His Pack!” Sora’s wobblyarm lifted and she pointed at Nik before dropping it back to her lap and nodding off to sleep.

“Wow, strong tea,” Mari said.

“Don’t I know it! You two kept me drugged for how long?” Nik said.

“You were wounded and almost dead,” Mari said.