Page 101 of Wind Rider

Mari’s gaze swept her Pack. Those who used to be Tribe of the Trees looked as uncomfortable as Nik—well, except for Davis and Claudia.They looked stoic and kept sharing glances that were easily read. They knew they were in trouble, but didn’t appear sorry. The Earth Walkers were watching the proceedings with open curiosity.

Mari decided right then that she’d had enough.

She moved to Nik’s side and in a voice that carried throughout the beach said, “Isn’t it about time they did mix? How is that any different than us?Than me?”She looked up at Nik. “Than our children?” She made a gesture that took in the whole Pack. “We’re a mixture of Tribe and Clan and Chain, and even Skin Stealer. We’re making this journey so that we don’t have to be bound by the archaic, narrow-minded rules of the past. Don’t you agree, Nik?”

Nik stared at her, and Mari saw the struggle in his eyes—she understood it, too. It was difficult to let go of the beliefs and taboos, but necessary. So, so necessary. And she knew if Nik could not accept this surprise, if he could not move past it and open himself completely to a new way of life, she could not continue to open herself to him. It would break her heart, but Mari would not love a man who wasn’t able to leave behind toxic beliefs that had damaged all of them—and would continue to do so if they allowed it.

Nik’s expression suddenly cleared. He put his arms around Mari and hugged her tightly. “Thank you for being a voice of reason,” he spoke softly into her ear. Then he strode to Davis and Claudia. “I agree with Mari. May the Sun bless this mating and the incredible puppies that will come from it!” As the Pack cheered, Nik embraced Davis and then Claudia, who was wiping her eyes and crying happy tears.

Mari went to little Cammyman, who was sitting quietly beside Mariah. She knelt before the two canines. “Let me be the first to congratulate you two. Puppies are a blessing.” She laughed as Cammy licked her face and Mariah swept the sandy beach with her thick tail. Then Mari stood and repeated with a shout, “Puppies are a blessing!”

But Davis wasn’t done with surprises for the day. He held up his hand, calling for silence.

“Thank you, Sun Priest. And thank you, Moon Women, for blessing our unusual, but happy news. I have one more thing to say, andI’d like to follow Clan tradition with this, because I believe it is a good thing.” While the Pack watched, Davis went to Claudia. Cammy rushed to his side, acting much more serious than was his norm. Davis went to his knees and Cammy mimicked him, lying down. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a crystal shaped like a heart, which he held out to Claudia. It sparkled, catching the morning sun beautifully. “I keep finding rocks and crystals shaped like hearts, and I keep leaving them as offerings to the Goddess, but this morning I realized the Goddess was gifting them to me for a reason. Claudia, you are that reason. Before the Pack I would like to ask that you accept my proposal to formally court you. It is tradition that this be completely your choice. It is also tradition that you be given a gift. This one is from the Goddess and Cammy and me. I hope you accept us, because no person on this earth has ever made me feel as alive as you do, and I want that feeling for the rest of our lives.”

The Pack was so still that Mari decided they must have all been holding their breath.

“Oh, Davis, of course I accept you—you adorably sweet, sexy man! Ooooh! And I also accept this gorgeous crystal.” While the Pack laughed and clapped, and Cammy and Mariah barked joyously, Davis took Claudia in his arms and kissed her in front of everyone.

“So, how long before Mariah has puppies?” Mari whispered to Nik.

“That’syour only question? Oh, no no no. I have way more questions than that,” Sora said, keeping her voice low as she tried not to laugh. “Likehowdid little Cammy mate with Mariah? Did he use a stump? A ditch? And what are those puppies going to look like?”

“I’ll answer the easy question first: Mariah will give birth in about two months. As to Sora’s questions, well, the only one I can answer for sure is the last.” Nik grinned at the other Moon Woman. “The puppies are going to look like love, Sora, pure love, and I couldn’t be happier about it.”

***

After the Pack broke their fast they launched the boats and resumed paddling upriver with a brilliant sense of hope. The news that Mariahwould be having puppies before they reached the Plains of the Wind Riders was such a good omen that everyone shared in the excitement that carried them upriver, even as the days began to blend together into an endlessness that had them all so accustomed to the rhythm of the river that the nights they were able to make camp, and not just tie up anchored together on the water, their legs felt strange—as if they’d forgotten how to be land creatures.

Their bodies hardened along with their resolve to make a new life for themselves. As one, the Pack believed they would make it to the Plains, and they would build that new, harmonious future there—together. Passing the checkpoints controlled by the Saleesh only cemented their resolve, especially as they watched children play happily and innocently. No one—not one person in the Pack—wanted to imagine what would happen to all of those beautiful, innocent lives if their mothers never learned of Dove’s vision and never had the opportunity to choose for themselves if they would remain, as Father John insisted, or flee.

As the sun set the evening before they would reach Day Dam, the Pack turned somber, knowing that the next day would test them, perhaps to the breaking point. But they could not remain silent. They had to warn the Saleesh, even should that warning prove fatal to some of them…

CHAPTER 16

PRESENT DAY—TRIBE OF THE TREES

“My Lord! I present to you Dax and his Lynx, Mihos.” Thaddeus bowed to the God and then stepped aside so that the Lynx Companion got his first full view of Death.

To his credit, the Lynx man’s only sign of shock was that the color drained from his face. His Lynx stayed close to his side, yellow eyes fixed on the God. Dax bowed deeply, following Iron Fist’s example.

“My Lord, I come in answer to your signal beacon.”

“Ten days! It has been ten days since the signal fire was lit calling for a guide from your people.” Death faced the Lynx Companion, who had been led to the platform in the tree that the God rarely left.

“I apologize for the delay, but spring is a busy time, my Lord,” Dax said after he took several steps back, looking startled and out of sorts. The fur on his Lynx’s back lifted, though the big male feline remained eerily silent. “Mihos and I came to you as soon as we completed our previous job.”

Ralina felt sorry for Dax, whom she knew because he was one of the older mercenaries who had been hired by the Tribe several times over the past decade. She’d been called to the God’s platform to witness this next chapter in Death’s obscene conquest of the Tribe, and she sat in her usual shadowy corner of the platform, with Bear lying behind her while she attempted to shield him from Death’s too curious gaze. But thisevening Death only had eyes for Dax—and was more interested in His plan to flee the poisoned forest for the untainted lands of the Wind Riders than He was about obsessing over male Shepherds.

Death’s attitude shifted instantly, as His mercurial temperament was wont to do. Ralina’s stomach clenched. She knew His smile always foretold something terrible.

“Ah, I have been too passionate. Dax and Mihos, you are welcome here, among my People. Please, sit.” Death gestured to the floor of the platform in front of Him, and after only a slight hesitation, Dax sat, Mihos at his side.

Death was, of course, the only person on the platform allowed a chair. He’d had an enormous, water-whitened log dragged up to the platform for Him. Its bleached white roots reminded Ralina of the skeleton of a throne. On it the young women who were Death’s Attendants kept a pallet of pelts so that He could recline in comfort while everyone else either stood or was forced to sit at His feet.

Just looking at Him sickened Ralina.

“I do understand how frustrating it is to wait for a guide,” Dax said.