Page 160 of Wind Rider

“Are you two ready to go next?”

“No!”

“Yes!”

They’d answered together, and Spencer pushed Jaxom’s shoulder. “Hey, don’t worry about it. I’ll take the front of the litter.”

Fortina, who was always at Jaxom’s side, barked encouragement. “Okay, then Fortina and I will follow you.”

“Everyone ready to follow Jaxom and Spencer?” Mari asked.

The Pack nodded, though Mari saw several pale faces among her people. O’Bryan, Sora, and Jenna were in line behind Jaxom and Spencer. O’Bryan nodded enthusiastically. “I’m ready to cross! This is lots better than battling Mouths and Monkeys,” he shouted down the line, eliciting nervous smiles and nods of agreement.

“The bridge is really just a larger, longer version of the walkways that connected our nests and platforms,” Nik said.

“It sure is,” said O’Bryan. He looked at the Earth Walkers around him,grinning easily. “This will be easy. Those bridges are sturdybecausethey have the ability to sway. So, don’t be afraid.”

“Oh, I guess that does make sense,” said an obviously nervous-looking Sora, who had returned with Jenna and their pups to stand beside O’Bryan.

“We’ll cross together,” said O’Bryan. “I’ll show you how.”

“Thank you!” Sora’s voice was filled with relief as she and Jenna tucked their pups back into their slinglike carriers.

“If any of you are feeling too nervous, pair with someone from the Tribe,” called Mari.

“Yeah, I’ll be happy to come back and help you over,” said Nik.

“As will I,” said O’Bryan.

From farther down the line Lydia, Sarah, and Wilkes echoed their words.

Rose and Sheena jogged up. Their hunting satchels were bulging with newly killed game.

“Lily, are you okay to cross with the pup?” Rose called out to her.

“He’s already crossing,” Lily responded. “He’s on the litter with Cammy and the pups.”

“That’s perfect!” Rose said. “I’ll carry the other two across if Sora and Jenna are fine going together.”

“We’ll be fine crossing with O’Bryan,” said Sora, still looking pale and shooting nervous glances at the swaying bridge.

“Okay, let’s go,” Mari said. “Nik, would you please lead. Then Lily can follow you. Dove will follow her—holding on to the back of her tunic—and I’ll come after Dove, keeping a hand on her in case she gets unbalanced.”

“Thank you, Moon Woman,” Dove said, smiling and turning her face to Mari. “My balance is usually excellent, but I’ve never crossed a swaying bridge before.”

“Well, I did very briefly at the Tribe of the Trees, and it wasn’t entirely unpleasant,” Mari said.

“I wish I could see it,” said Dove as they stepped out on the wooden slats of the moving bridge.

“No you don’t,” said Lily firmly.

The crossing went surprisingly well. Mari simply didn’t look down. Not once. She stared at the other side of the bridge, where Danita was calling encouragement. Halfway across Lily stumbled, catching the toe of her shoe on an uneven slat of wood. As she tripped Dove’s grip on her tightened, so that in a turnabout of the norm, it was she who righted Lily, and not the other way around.

“Oh, thank you!” Lily said, running a hand across her damp brow.

“You are most wel—” Dove began, but panicked yips and whines from the litter in front of them interrupted her.

Mari looked over Nik’s shoulder to see the little gray bearded pup Lily had so recently been babysitting standing up at the edge of the litter, staring back at Lily, obviously upset.