Page 121 of Wind Rider

That night, belly full of potato stew and blackberries, Nik pulled Mari into his arms. Flatrock was just that—a huge rock that lifted from the water. There was no vegetation on it except strange, scrubby bushes that looked more dead than alive, but he didn’t care. He was just glad the hardness he lay on wasn’t bobbing in the water.

“It was even more awful than you described, wasn’t it?” Mari murmured against his chest.

“It was horrible. I’m not sure which was worse, the Monkeys or the Mouth,” Nik said.

“Jenna’s still pretty shaken. Sora brewed cannabis tea for her—and Spencer and Mason. Are you sure you don’t want some?”

Nik tightened his arms around her. “You’re the best medicine I could have right now.” He sighed. “It’s hard for me to imagine being on this lake for another forty or more days, especially when making land between here and the other side means dealing with more of those creatures.”

“Well, Antreas says there are a few other spots we’re going to stop that are like Flatrock—where it isn’t possible for Monkeys to build their dens, so we don’t have to be worried about Mouths or Monkeys.” She snuggled into him. “We’ll make it, Nik. I know we will. Our Pack is strong, and getting stronger.” Mari lifted a little so that she could look into his eyes. “We’re going to have puppies!” And then her smile faded. “Wait, how long will Mariah be pregnant? Oh, Nik, please tell me that canine will not have to give birth in a boat.”

“She’ll carry the pups for about sixty days—give or take a week or so. It’s going to be close, but don’t worry. The Tribe has been watching over birthing canines for generations. If Mariah has to give birth in a boat, all will be well. Claudia will help her—and so will Rose.” Nik chuckled. “And Laru and I will help Davis and Cammy to not lose their minds. I think you’ll find that, like humans, birthing canines and the women who help them show a lot more sense about it than the men watching and waiting.”

“Those puppies are a great blessing,” Mari said.

“New life ushering in a new season for our Pack,” Nik agreed, kissing Mari on top of her head.

“Oh, that reminds me. Did you realize tomorrow is the last day of spring?”

Nik startled in surprise. “Wow, I’ve lost track of time. I had no idea summer was so close.”

“Yeah, me too. Antreas reminded us—and he also reminded us that we need to pick up the pace to be sure we get through the mountains before summer is over,” Mari said. “But we’ll do it. I know we will.”

“I believe you,” Nik said, tilting Mari’s chin up so he could smile into her beautiful gray eyes. “I feel like I can do anything with you and our Pack beside me.”

Then Mari kissed him, washing the horrors of the day away with her scent and taste and touch—and her love.

CHAPTER 19

PRESENT DAY—PLAINS OF THE WIND RIDERS—MARE TEST

On the last day of spring River woke well before dawn to ready herself for the Mare Test. Truth be told, she was amazed that she’d had to wake. She hadn’t expected to sleep. At all. But sometime after moonrise River had slept soundly enough to have a strange dream. She and Anjo and Ghost had been on the prairie, aimlessly searching for someone. River couldn’t quite understand who was missing, but in the dream she felt that person’s absence deeply—almost as deeply as if Anjo had been missing. Ghost felt it, too, and was even more upset by it; River knew him well enough by now to read his moods, even if she didn’t have the same connection with him she had with her Anjo. The stallion was depressed, and as they searched the prairie he became more and more agitated, neighing with heartbreaking sadness and loss, until tears leaked down his face, as they had at the Presentation when he didn’t Choose a Rider. They searched on and on, until they came to the Rendezvous Site, which was near the base of the Rock Mountain range.

Suddenly a dove flew from the mountains, heading straight at Ghost. The stallion’s ears pricked forward, then he lifted his magnificent head and called a greeting that shook his whole body. The dove landed on Ghost’s back, perching there and rubbing its beautiful head against the stallion’s silver mane while Ghost nickered happily.

Then the dove turned its head to face River and Anjo, and River was overcome with emotions. She’d never seen such a lovely bird. Its feathers were all the colors of a mother-of-pearl shell. River felt a wash of incredible tenderness for the bird, and was instantly drawn to it—and at that instant she realized this was the same gray bird she’d seen in the vision the phantom quartz had sent her, the bird that had been wounded and chased by the evil blue wave. River’s heart hurt for the little dove. She wanted to keep it safe—to cherish it—and that was even before she noticed that the sweet creature had no eyes.

“Dove?” River called out in her dream, and that’s what woke her.

“Oh, good, you’re up.” April hurried into the small tent River shared with Anjo during bad weather. That night the weather hadn’t been bad, but the mare had slept inside with River anyway, as Anjo understood that her Rider was anxious about the coming Test and rested better with her mare near.

Anjo raised her head and blinked sleepily at April, nickering a greeting under her breath.

“Good morning to you, too, Anjo. I’ve put your grain mash in a feeder next to Deinos. She’ll keep you company while you eat,” April said.

River sat up, rubbing sleep from her eyes. “Thank you, April. And, Anjo, don’t forget—no grazing. Just eat the mash and then drink a little water and come back here so we can wrap your legs and dress your mane and tail.”

Anjo nuzzled her Rider, lipping her hair playfully.

River giggled and kissed her muzzle. “Yes, I know you’re not nervous, but I am. So, hurry back.” The gorgeous mare trotted out of the tent, leaving the sisters alone.

“Anjo does look magnificent. She’s completely shed her winter coat, and I love that she’s such a beautiful mixture of gray and white that she looks almost as silver as Mother’s Echo. And the black up to her knees is distinctive. I hope her foals have her coloring,” April said as she handed her sister the tray she’d carried into the tent. April stared at the oatmeal and nuts and the healthy dollop of honey in the center of it.

“She does look good, and she’s in peak shape.” River stared at the bowl. “I don’t think I can eat this.”

“You have to. You’ll need the energy—just like Anjo. And do not forget that about midday you need to eat the apples and nuts in your travel pack, and give Anjo—”

“A few handfuls of the molasses grain,” River interrupted, speaking through a big bite of oatmeal. “I know, I know. And I’m eating. Promise.”