Page 106 of Wind Rider

“Yes. I don’t know how or why, but it all started with Him. People have to be warned. Get to the river people, and the mountain people, and even the Wind Riders. Warn everyone. And tell all of the Lynx guides to hide in their dens or flee—but be sure the God doesn’t capture any of your people.”

“My people would die before anyone—even a Death God—could force them to torture their Lynxes to save themselves.”

“You might be surprised. The Skin Stealer disease affects people differently, but all of them behave in a manner unlike themselves.”

“Noted. Don’t worry. I’ll go straight to my Chain and call an emergency meeting. I will tell them everything. We will take to the North Shore Mountains and to the deep, hidden dens only our Chains know of. Death won’t be able to find one Lynx team to guide His abominations.”

“I don’t think it’ll keep Him from going to the Wind Riders, but without a guide He might be delayed long enough for you to spread the warning—and for me to figure out a way to get rid of Him,” Ralina said.

“Kill Death? That doesn’t even sound possible. Stormshaker! What arewe going to do? He could poison the entire world!” Panic colored Dax’s voice, causing Mihos to chirp in concern and press even closer to his Companion.

“Okay, no, listen. Panic won’t help. Death can’t die, but I’ve heard Him say over and over again that He is going to awaken the Goddess of Life like He was awakened, so that She can reign at His side. He slept once—for eons—and He can be put back to sleep.” Ralina paused, then added, meaningfully, “He made me His Storyteller.”

“You think you can get him to reveal how to make him sleep again,” Dax said.

“It’s part of His story, which means He’ll eventually reveal it to me.”

“Ralina, you must not remain here. Think of your Companion if not yourself. Come away with me now—this very moment. Our Chains revere Storytellers. You would be welcomed and respected.”

Ralina rested her hand on Bear’s broad, intelligent head. The big Shepherd gazed up at her, sending her waves of strength. He knew what they must do—even if it cost them their lives.

“Thank you, Dax. I will always remember your kindness, and I would be honored to be Storyteller for a Chain, but I cannot leave. You were right to be afraid. Death could poison this world. I have begun to believe He did it once before, when the ancients and their way of life died. It might be fated to happen again—the destruction of our world and our peoples—but if there is even a slight chance that He can be stopped, I have to try. I have to stay. And you must leave. Now.”

Dax nodded somberly and picked up his travel pack, strapping it to his back. Silently, the four of them lowered to the ground in the lift.

“Head there—through the part of our city that the fire completely destroyed. Everyone avoids it. Stay within the tree line until you get past the Channel lookout platform. My guess is Death will command Thaddeus to have his Hunters track you. They’re fast, Dax. They have the heightened senses of Terriers. You have to move, and move fast.”

Dax flexed his hand open, and the ghostly light of the moon illuminated the Lynx man’s claws. “They are not the only ones with heightened abilities—only I did not get them through disease and torture. No Terrier could catch Mihos; no Hunter will catch me.”

“May the Sun bless and keep you safe, Dax and Mihos,” Ralina said formally.

“And may our Great Stormshaker lend you strength. You will need it, Ralina.” Dax retracted his claws, and then gently, kindly, took her hands in his. “I am no Storyteller, but I give you my oath that I will tell your story—over and over. Your bravery will be known everywhere. I hope we will meet again.” Dax bent and kissed her softly on her forehead. Then he and his Lynx turned and disappeared into the fire-blackened forest.

Slowly, Ralina and Bear made their way to the nest Death had insisted she take as her own. Once inside, the Storyteller dropped to her pallet, put her arms around her Companion, and sobbed brokenly into his thick fur, crying out her fear and loneliness and despair until exhaustion claimed canine and Companion and they finally slept.

CHAPTER 17

PRESENT DAY—DAY DAM—THE PACK

The sun hadn’t climbed far in the sky when the roar of the water sounded throughout the forest. Mari and Nik stood side by side, their Companions beside them and the Pack spreading out along the bank of the tumultuous river.

“I know Antreas described this to us, but I didn’t expect it to be so big,” Mari said.

“Or so loud,” Nik said.

“It makes me feel strange—afraid and drawn to it at the same time,” said Sora.

“It’s like a monster in one of the old myths Mama used to tell me about,” Mari said. “Its name was Charybdis. It was a great, sucking whirlpool creature that devoured entire ships.”

“Seems pretty accurate,” said O’Bryan.

They’d arrived at the Day Dam ruin not long after sunrise, docked their little boats with the Saleesh, and then followed the path that ran along the bank overlooking the incredible ruin.

The river was almost unrecognizable here. Until they’d reached the area surrounding the Day Dam ruins the Umbria had been a wide waterway flanked on either side by tall banks filled with verdant forests. As they got closer and closer to the dam the land had changed—become arid, with the only sections of green being big squares of crops theSaleesh grew and irrigated by harnessing the mighty wind that blew down the gorge to pump river water over the otherwise dry land. And as they drew nearer to the last river ruins they would traverse, the Umbria became deeper and wider, lifting to meet the banks, which were green with corn and grapes, cotton, hemp, and other valuable crops. Now that they were overlooking the confluence of the Umbria and the entrance to Lost Lake the water level had risen to within just a few yards of the path that ran along the bank, and the sound of the churning river was deafening.

“Come! Come!” Father Job, the dour priest who’d met them at the final crossing, waved his arms, motioning at the Pack to follow him along the riverbank.

“Why do they always look like angry birds?” Sora asked Mari.