Page 7 of Sun Warrior

“O’Bryan, can you find your way to that creek just inside Earth Walker territory where we first found sign of Rigel?”

His cousin’s brows shot up in surprise, but he nodded. “Pretty sure I can, even in this smoke. We spent a lot of time coming and going from there.”

“Okay, here’s what you’re going to do. Lead Sheena and Rose and the girls to the creek. You should be able to take shelter there, at the Earth Walker Gathering Site. I’ll find you as soon as I can, but if something happens… get to Mari. She’ll help you. I know she will.”

“Wait, how do I get to Mari?”

“Mari? The girl who saved Captain?” Sheena said.

Nik nodded. “Yes, Mari saved Captain and O’Bryan.”

“She does seem to be a gifted Healer, but I don’t understand. Why are we going to a Scratcher Gathering Site to find Mari?”

“It’s too complicated to explain right now. Will you just trust me?”

Sheena looked from Nik to O’Bryan and made up her mind quickly. “I trust you. Captain and I are alive today because of your Mari.”

“So am I,” O’Bryan added. “But I still don’t know how to find her.”

“Captain can find her—or rather, he can track Rigel. And where Rigel is, there Mari will be, too,” Nik said.

“If the pup’s anywhere near the site, my Captain will find him,” Sheena said.

“Have him search to the southeast. And call for Rigel while you’re searching. Don’t give up. I promise, he’ll eventually come to you.”

“Wait, Cuz. You’re going to be with us soon, right?”

“I’m going to try, but if I don’t make it out of the city you have to find Mari. Tell her—tell her I’m sorry. Tell her I wanted it to end differently.”

“Cuz, I’m not going to have to tell her anything. Don’t get yourself killed. If you can’t figure out how to stop it, get the hell out of the fire. You die in there Mari isn’t going to be the only one pissed at you.”

Nik hugged his cousin quickly. “I’ll do my best, Cuz.”

“If you see my parents…” O’Bryan began, but his words faded and he pressed his palms against his eyes.

“If I see them I’ll do everything I can to get them out,” Nik assured him.

O’Bryan swallowed hard. “That’s all I can ask.”

“Okay, you and Sheena let Rose and the girls rest for just a few minutes more and then get going. It’s too dangerous to remain anywhere near the city. Laru and I are off.”

Sheena touched his shoulder before he could move away. “May the Sun bless you, give you strength, and keep you safe.” She spoke solemnly.

“And you as well, Sheena.” Then Nik motioned for Laru. “Let’s go!”

CHAPTER 3

Mari broke from the path that led back to Nik’s Tribe and plunged into the trees, but she’d only struggled through the underbrush for a short time before she was chewing her lip in confusion. The smoke wasn’t as dense as she moved into the forest and away from the burning city, but it was thick enough to block the sky and confuse her sense of direction. Mari turned in a slow circle, trying to get a feel for exactly how she could skirt the Tribe of the Trees’ territory and not lose too much time making her way to the southeast and the swampier forest where the Earth Walker burrows were located.

She moved off in one direction but came to a blackberry thicket so dense that she and the pup had to back out of the area carefully. Frustration threatened to overwhelm her as Mari searched for any marker that would help her locate the way home.

A few feet ahead of her, Rigel froze. Head, ears, and tail up, he tested the wind. From deep in his chest came a warning growl, alerting her to the fact that they were no longer alone. She’d just begun backing away, Rigel beside her, and was frantically looking for a fallen tree or some thick scrub that might conceal them when Isabel, a young, newly liberated Earth Walker Mari easily recognized, burst into view.

“Mari! Mari! I found you! I can’t believe I found you!” Isabel rushed toward Mari and then staggered to an abrupt halt when she almost ran into Rigel, who was pressed protectively against Mari’s side, still growling a warning. “Mari?” the young woman whispered stiffly through lips colorless with fear. “Help me! Don’t let him get me!”

“Rigel, it’s okay. Isabel is a friend,” Mari told the pup, and patted him on his head, though he had already relaxed and stopped his warning growl. “He’s completely safe. I give you my word that he won’t hurt you,” she said to the girl.

Still wide-eyed with fear, she stared at Rigel. “I don’t understand. Why is a Companion’s Shepherd with you?”