Page 164 of Wind Rider

“It needs milk,” said O’Bryan, his gaze searching the Pack until he found Claudia. “Excuse me,” he said as he started pushing his way through the crowd to her.

Mari and Nik followed. She understood what O’Bryan intended—and she hoped it would work.

Once he reached Claudia he wasted no time. “This is a newborn wolverine kit—that’s what Antreas says to call a baby wolverine. Its mother is dead on the ledge.” O’Bryan pointed up. “From down there I could see that there’s an opening to a den on the face of the cliff above us. The mother must have somehow fallen, and the pup came with her. Her neck was twisted at a weird angle, so I’m thinking she died instantly, but she must have broken the fall for her kit. May I show it to you?”

Claudia was already looking with obvious curiosity at the mewing baby in his hands, and she nodded. “Of course!”

He opened his hands, and Claudia gasped. “It looks so much like a puppy!”

Davis moved up beside her and touched the kit hesitantly. “It really does.”

“It’s going to die without help. Claudia, I would like to ask that you allow Mariah to feed the kit. Please. It would mean a lot to me.”

“Before you answer, I just want to add some common sense,” said Antreas. “I have never known of a wolverine to tolerate the presence of a human, a canine, or a feline. They are ferocious and solitary. I am not saying we should let this young one die. I only want you to understand you might be saving a creature that will turn on you, on a pup, on any of us.”

Danita slid her hand into Antreas’s and spoke in a clear voice that carried through the watching, waiting Pack.

“Didn’t you tell me Lynxes are solitary as well—always?”

“Yes, that’s true,” said Antreas.

“But you and Bast were not happy with that life. You wanted—neededour Pack. So, just because people see wolverines one way, like people see Lynxes, that doesn’t hold true foreveryLynx.” Beside her, Bast chirped in agreement.

Antreas looked at Mari. “What do you think, Moon Woman?”

Mari answered without hesitation. “I think that’s a newborn who needs our help, and I wouldn’t want to withhold that help because we’re judging the baby by the mother. Sora?”

“I am in complete agreement with you,” said the other Moon Woman.“We are not heartless. Nor are we cruel. And we would have to be one or both to allow a newborn to die.”

“Claudia?” O’Bryan asked.

“I agree with our Moon Women. That’s a baby—not an enemy. And maybe if we take it in and love and nurture it, the baby won’t grow up to be an enemy. But I cannot answer for my Companion. It is Mariah’s decision, and I will abide by that.”

“I agree, with one additional thought,” Davis said. “I hope very, very much that Mariah agrees.”

Mari saw that the Pack was nodding in response to Davis’s comment, and it made her heart soar to see their compassion.

“Let’s ask her,” said Claudia, leading the way to their litter.

Cammy was curled up beside Mariah, who was nursing her puppies and looking utterly content. As they approached, Cammy and Mariah pricked their ears, sniffing the air curiously.

“Go ahead, show her. And then ask her. I’ll let you know if she has any questions,” said Claudia.

O’Bryan went to Mariah. He still had the kit in his hands, cradling it against his chest, trying to keep the baby warm.

“Mariah, I need to ask a large favor. I found this newborn wolverine kit by its dead mother. It’s going to die, too—soon, if it doesn’t nurse and stay warm. Would you please allow it to nurse with your litter?”

Mariah looked from O’Bryan to her Companion.

“She would like to sniff it,” explained Claudia.

“Oh, sure.” O’Bryan sat on the side of the litter and held the kit so the female Shepherd could inspect it.

As Mariah sniffed the baby, Cammy limped to join her, his stub wagging in welcome. Then Mariah nuzzled the kit and licked it—tentatively at first. Then, as it wriggled and cried pathetically, she whined and licked it some more.

“Oh, that’s my kind, wise girl!” Claudia’s eyes were shining with tears when she told O’Bryan, in a voice that carried throughout the Pack, “Mariah will mother the kit!”

“Oh, thank the Sun!” O’Bryan said. “Now?”