Page 149 of Wind Rider

“And Rigel and Mari saved him!” Davis said.

“Will Cammy make it?” Antreas asked.

Mari lifted her head and tossed back her hair. “He will. We all will. We’re bound, all of us, by strength and devotion and love. Nothing isgoing to tear us apart—especially not a watery death. Don’t worry about brave Cammyman. Tonight I will draw down the moon and be sure he heals quickly and completely.”

While the Pack cheered, Dove’s hand sought and found Mari’s. For her ears alone she said, “But He will find us eventually.”

“Not today. Death is definitelynotcatching ustoday.Now, help me by holding Cammy still.” Mari placed Dove’s hands in the proper positions, and then she bent to the task of sewing his lacerations while the numbing salve soaked in so that she could amputate his mangled tail.

CHAPTER 21

ROCK MOUNTAINS—THE PACK

They made land mid-morning the next day, beaching the boats for the last time. Mari stared up at the mountains that seemed to touch the sky above them. They were covered with huge old pines, making her suddenly and terribly homesick.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Nik put his arm around her.

“It is—and not just because it’s dry land,” said Mari. “Makes me miss home,” she added softly.

“After we cross them we will be home. Forever,” said Nik, kissing her gently.

“Kissing later—working now,” Antreas said, striding past them and dragging his canoe behind him. “Be sure to pull all the boats well up past this waterline.” He pointed. “I’ve allowed for three days to tear apart the ballasts and convert them into litters to carry our supplies.” Antreas paused and smiled as Davis waded to shore, cradling Cammyman in his arms. Behind him Mariah was making her way to dry land beside Claudia, who was carrying a basket filled with all eleven of her newborn pups. “And they’ll also carry our little hero, his mate, and a litter of puppies.”

The Pack safely beached the boats and then gathered around Cammy, Mariah, and the pups, oohing and aahing over the newborns and praising Cammyman, who huffed in pleasure.

“How are they?” Mari asked, peering into the basket at the sleeping mound of pups.

“They’re as perfect as their mother and father,” said Claudia happily as she leaned into Davis and he slipped an arm around her.

“And Mariah is just fine?” asked Adira hesitantly. “Giving birth out there must have been difficult.”

Claudia smiled at the older woman. “Mariah is completely well. And thanks to your weaving skills, she was very comfortable on the ballast. All those blankets you made for her were perfect.”

“I was happy to do it. I have found that I like puppies.”

“Who wouldn’t? Look at them!” Jenna said, peeking around her at the pups.

“Their colors are really interesting,” Nik said, bending to get a closer look at the litter. “I see a lot of Cammy’s blond, but also sable, like Mariah.”

“I wonder who they’ll look more like,” Sora said.

“I wonder how big they’ll be,” said Wilkes, looking over Nik’s shoulder. “They seem to be several different sizes.”

“Why are their eyes closed? Is something wrong?” asked Mason.

“Nothing is wrong,” Claudia said. “Puppies are born with their eyes closed.”

“That tiny blond one is so, so sweet.” Jenna reached out to touch the pup, but she hesitated and turned to Mariah, who was sitting beside the basket watching everything. “May I touch your puppy?”

Mariah’s tail wagged and she licked Jenna’s face. Giggling, Jenna turned to Claudia. “I guess that’s a yes?”

“It’s definitely a yes, and Mariah thanks you for being considerate enough to ask first.”

“Puppies are a blessing, but we should establish some rules, especially as so many of our Pack don’t know much about puppies,” Rose said.

“What we do know your puppies have taught us,” Sora said, kissing Chloe on the nose before unwrapping her from her swaddle and letting her sniff around the beach and explore with her rapidly growing brood of brothers and sisters.

“And you all have done so well learning.” Rose grinned at Sora.