Page 23 of Wind Rider

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It didn’t take long for Mari to fall into a rhythm with Nik. They remained at the rear of the line of boats, but that didn’t bother Mari at all. Their pace was slow but steady, and once Mari felt more secure with her ability to paddle, she was able to look around them.

Her first shock came from how intimidating the river was. Antreas had guided them to the center of the expanse of water. He’d explained days earlier that they would have to travel upstream until they came to Lost Lake, and so Mari wasn’t surprised to have to stroke against a current. She just never imagined the river would be so wide. Even with the silver light of the moon reflecting from the water, both banks were only indistinct smudges against the night.

She’d never been out on the water at night. Actually, Mari had never been in a boat at all, and she suddenly felt too far removed from the safety of the earth and the familiarity of her burrow, which had her thoughts turning to her mama.

If only Mama had lived to join us on our journey! She would be so excited—and so proud of us all.

Then with a little shock of surprise, Mari realized that her words to the Pack about how proud she was of them and how they would survivetogether could have—would have—been spoken by Leda, and she felt a wash of bittersweet happiness.

Thank you, Mama.She prayed silently.Thank you for raising me to be ready to take on the responsibility of leadership—even when I thought it impossible that I’d ever become a Moon Woman.

From the ballast on her right, Rigel whined, clearly feeling her inner turmoil. She shook herself mentally.

“Hey, sweet boy, all is well. It’s just a lot of water.”

“Yeah,” Nik grumbled. “A lot.”

She poked his back gently with her paddle. “Hey, I’ll bet you’ve been out on the river many times.”

“True, but not this one. Though it really doesn’t matter. I hateallrivers.”

“Hate? That’s a pretty strong emotion,” Mari teased.

“Strong, but honest. Actually, I hateanybody of water that’s so deep and dark I can’t see through to the bottom.”

“Would you rather face the river or the Skin Stealers?” Davis, who was in the boat directly in line in front of them, called over his shoulder to Nik.

“I’d rather face neither,” said Nik.

Davis chuckled. “Well, look at it this way—the river, no matter how much you hate it, is getting us away from the Skin Stealers.”

“And Thaddeus,” Mari added.

“That’s true,” Nik agreed. “And I’ll take the river over Thaddeus any day.”

“Ah, see! A bright spot,” said Davis.

“It’ll be better in the daylight,” said Mari.

“Yeah, so we canseewhat’s going to kill us,” Nik muttered.

“Hey, Jaxom, how’s Fortina doing?” Mari changed the subject.

“She is beyond wonderful!” Jaxom called back.

Mari could see that the pup had finally moved off her new Companion’s lap so that he could paddle more easily, but she was still pressed against him.

“I am glad she Chose you,” Nik surprised Mari by saying. “I saw how Maeve was treating her. I know Maeve was infected by the sickness, butthat is no excuse. Wilkes and Claudia were also infected, and they didn’t turn on their Companions. Tribal law has severe penalties for anyone who abuses a canine. It shows how low the Tribe has fallen that Maeve felt free to strike and abuse that pup where everyone could see.”

“It’s Thaddeus,” said Davis. “His hatred is contagious, though I don’t understand why anyone would choose hate over happiness.”

“He believes power will bring him happiness,” Mari said. “And for whatever reason, enough of the Tribe believe it, too, so he now has supporters willingly following his hateful lead.”

“Maeve hurt her.” Jaxom’s sad voice drifted with the current back to Mari. “Not so bad physically, although I know she beat my Fortina.” He had to pause and clear the emotion from his throat before continuing. “It is the mental pain she caused this precious girl that hurt her the worst. Fortina couldn’t understand what she was doing wrong—why her Companion hated her.”

“Maeve let anger control her after Father’s death,” Nik said. “She wanted someone to blame. Thaddeus gave her that.”