Page 180 of Wind Rider

“Bloody beetle balls, are those Wind Riders?” O’Bryan pointed toward one end of the valley.

“Yes! Those are definitely horses!” Antreas said.

A cheer lifted from the valley, drawing Mari’s gaze to their right. “Do you know what they’re doing?” she asked Antreas. “There’s a whole group of people over there.”

“It looks like some kind of race. Well, I guess we won’t have time to prepare to meet the Wind Riders after all,” he said.

“We’ve had plenty of time,” Danita said. “For months we’ve been—”

“I have to get down there,” Dove interrupted. “Now. Lily, guide me. Quickly—quickly!”

Lily stared at her friend in confusion. “But, why do you—”

Instead of arguing with her, Dove reached out, searching with her hand, calling, “Mari! Moon Woman! I need you.”

“I’m here, Dove.” Mari took her hand.

“Help me. Please. I have to go to the valley.”

“Can you tell me why?” Mari asked.

“I—I do not know. I only know I must go there. Now.”

“Dove, we’re all going there.” Antreas spoke gently, clearly as concerned as Mari by Dove’s sudden mood change.

“Not fast enough! It has to be now! Faster than the Pack will travel. Please, Moon Woman—I beseech you!”

Mari looked at Sora, and the other Moon Woman shrugged.

“Okay, Dove. I’ll take you. Here, hold on to my arm. The path is still steep in some places—and there are roots you can trip over.”

“I have my stick. Do not think you need to slow because of me.”

“All right. Let’s go then.”

“I’m coming with you,” Nik said. “And so are Rigel and Laru.”

“Sounds good to me,” Mari said.

“Most Wind Riders have never seen a canine, but they know of them. I don’t like it that you’re rushing down there with them,” said Antreas.“So, I’m coming with you.” He looked over his shoulder at the rest of the Pack.

“We can make it down there just fine,” Sora assured him. “Go with them!”

Mari could feel the tension that gripped Dove’s slight body as she pulled the Moon Woman forward with her, forcing her to half slide, half jog down the widening path.

They’d reached the floor of the valley when one of the horses—the golden one Mari had watched race ahead of the other three—stopped, faced the mountains, and trumpeted a cry that seemed to fill the air around them.

Dove’s body jerked at the sound, and her grip tightened on Mari’s arm so desperately that they would leave fingerprint bruises the next day.

“Take me to him!” Dove cried.

“But, he’s a horse. And there’s someone on him,” Mari said—utterly confused.

“Doesn’t look like that matters. He’s heading our way,” Nik said.

“Nik, Mari, be sure you keep Rigel and Laru close,” Antreas warned.

Mari had just projected a picture to both Shepherds of them remaining close by when the creature stormed up to them, followed by a white horse with dusky mane and tail being ridden by a dark-skinned girl who didn’t look any older than Dove. They were coming fast, trying to catch the golden horse—and behind them, farther back, came a whole group of horses, all carrying riders.