Page 84 of Sun Warrior

“Stormshaker, no! Unlike canines, Lynxes don’t live with their mates. It’s like your Clan. Our males are solitary. The kittens stay with their mother in her den until they’re about a year old, but then they go out to choose their own Companions and make their own dens, usually far away from their mother’s territory so that they don’t overhunt the food supply. Lynxes don’t mate for life, but Lynx Companions do.”

“That doesn’t make any sense at all,” Sora said.

“But it does. It saves us from being alone. Lynxes enjoy a solitary life, but humans don’t. Well, most of us don’t. If it were up to me, I’d never let any of Bast’s kittens leave our den—or if I did they’d all stay close.” He shrugged. “As far as I know, I’m the only male Lynx Companion who feels like that, which is probably why I’m bonded to Bast. I’m not normal.”

Sora snorted. “Well, you’re definitely in the right place for not normal.” She pointed to the ball of dark fur sleeping on her feet. “Thisis definitely not normal for an Earth Walker.”

“Yeah, which makes my point about Bast always being right.”

“I see what you mean. Bast is going to find the perfect mate for you—someone to stay with you forever,” Sora said, thoroughly enjoying the conversation.

“Exactly!”

“Bast! There you are! I’ve been looking—” Like a whirlwind Danita rushed into the burrow, deflating quickly when she realized Antreas was there, too, and had been in conversation with her Moon Woman.The young woman stopped and bowed respectfully to Sora. “Forgive me. I didn’t mean to intrude. I just thought Bast might like to help me catch crawfish in the stream. I remember you said you liked to add them to the stew.”

At the appearance of Danita, Bast’s aloof demeanor changed dramatically. Kitten-like, she padded to the girl, purring and rubbing against her as Danita giggled and played with the tufts on her ears.

Sora sat up straighter, looking from Danita’s bright young expression to Antreas’s glower.Ah, now this is interesting.“Oh, you didn’t interrupt. And I would love crawfish to add to the stew, but first you might like to get in on this conversation. Antreas was explaining to me why he and Bast were visiting the Tribe of the Trees.”

“Really?” Danita looked up from tickling Bast around her neck.

“Really,” Sora said.

“No,” Antreas said.

“No? You weren’t telling Sora why you were visiting the Tribe?” Danita said, looking vaguely confused and only semi-interested in what Antreas had to say.

“Yes. No. It’s just not common knowledge, that’s all,” Antreas sputtered.

Bast coughed at him.

Sora bit her cheek to keep from laughing. When she was certain she could keep a straight face, she said, “Not common knowledge? The Tribe didn’t know Bast is on a search for your mate?”

“Mate?” Danita said.

“Um…” Antreas said.

Bast coughed again and rubbed against Danita’s legs, weaving around the young woman and purring loudly.

Then Danita utterly surprised Sora. Instead of asking Antreas anything, Danita went to her knees and took Bast’s face between her hands, speaking intently to the feline. “Are you really looking for a mate for Antreas?”

Bast’s purr got several decibels louder and she rubbed her face against Danita’s hands.

Danita shook her head sadly. “No,” she said so softly Sora had to strain to hear her. “Not me, Bast. I can’t.”

“Wait; no one said she was choosing you for my—”

Danita stood and whirled to face the cat man. “Don’t! I know you think I’m a child, butdon’t treat me like I’m a stupid child.Your Lynx likes me. A lot. That’s obvious to everyone, but you need to know that I am absolutelynotinterested in being your mate. You’re not even nice. And I’ve decided I don’t like men.”

“But you can’t refuse to—” Antreas began, looking offended. Danita held up her hand, stopping him.

“I can refuse youanything.You’re not my Moon Woman. You’re not even a Clansman. Don’t you ever try to tell me what to do!” Bast’s pitiful meow had Danita going to her knees and putting her arms around the big feline. “Oh, don’t be sad! I think you’re wonderful! Please say we can still be friends, but me mated to your Companion? No, Bast. I’m even less interested in him than he is in me. Want to chase crawfish with me?”

The Lynx coughed a yes, and when Danita started for the burrow door the feline followed her, pausing only to throw a yellow-eyed glare over her shoulder at her Companion.

“I think you’re in trouble,” Sora said.

“Yeah, for sure.”