Page 27 of Wind Rider

“Keep paddling, Mari,” Nik said. “We might be able to get close enough to her to throw in a line and snag her.”

“I’ve got her!” Jaxom shouted, and before anyone could tell him no, he dove out of his boat, heading for the struggling pup.

“I have to keep paddling!” Davis shouted over the hysterical whines and pitiful, panicked barks that erupted from Fortina as she stood, stress-panting and looking like she was going to jump in after her Companion.

“Stop her, Mari!” Nik shouted. “Don’t let Fortina go after him.”

Mari concentrated quickly, sending soothing thoughts to Fortina and an image of Jaxom, safely back in the boat. She could feel the raw panic coming from the young Shepherd, but the pup didn’t leap into the frothing water.

“I can’t stop!” Davis yelled as his boat hit the currents by the ruins. “Gotta keep stroking!”

“I got her!” Jaxom shouted.

“This way, Jaxom!” Mari called. “Swim to us!”

Jaxom changed direction, heading toward them. Thankfully, the currents near the ruins hadn’t caught them yet, and Jaxom was a strong swimmer. He reached them, and would’ve been swept past had Mari not stuck her paddle out for him.

“Grab on!”

Jaxom did so, and Mari pulled, helping him get close to the boat.

“Here, take her,” Jaxom gasped while he held on to the paddle with one hand and almost threw the waterlogged pup into the boat, where she huddled at Mari’s feet, whining, coughing, and shivering.

“Got her!” Mari said. “Your turn.”

“No. I’ll capsize you. Give me the rope.”

“But, Jaxom, you have to—”

“He’s right,” Nik interrupted. “There’s too much current here and our canoe’s too small. He’ll pull us over if he tries to get in. Here, Jaxom.” Nik tossed the rope to him. “Tie this around your chest under your arms. We’ll pull you through. Just keep your legs as close to the surface as possible—notbeneath the boat. There’s always wreckage waiting to snag you near these ruins.”

“Got it,” Jaxom yelled, treading water as he tied the rope around himself. Then, hand over hand, he made his way along the side of the canoe to position himself just off the stern. There he held on, kicking to remain as close to the surface as possible.

“The current has us. We have to go now. Stroke, Mari! Stroke!” Nik shouted.

Mari shut out everything except the cadence Nik and the rest of the Pack were calling. She gripped her paddle and used all of her strength to fight the water, battling the sucking current. She wanted to turn around and be sure Jaxom was still there—wanted to be sure they weren’t dragging him under the water and drowning him—but if she did that, if she hesitated, she and Nik could capsize and join Jaxom in the seething blackness.

And then it was suddenly easier! Mari was only fighting against the usual current, and the hulking metal giant was behind them.

Mari looked to Rigel’s ballast first. Her pup was there—wet, but safe. His father, Laru, looked even more waterlogged, but was also still safely strapped to his ballast.

“Jaxom?” Mari called, trying to look over her shoulder and still keep stroking.

There was a pause, and Mari saw nothing, and then Jaxom’s head broke the surface as he coughed and gagged.

“Here!” he gasped. “Still here!”

“Hang on—we’ll get you to the others,” Nik said.

Mari’s shoulders burned and the palms of her hands, wet from sweat and river water, had begun to ache in time with her heartbeat, but shekept her head down and continued to drive the little boat forward in time with Nik.

“Okay, okay, hold,” Nik finally said.

Struggling for breath, Mari put her paddle down and turned. Jaxom was there, holding tightly to the rope that kept him tethered to their boat.

“Did he get her? Is she alive?” Rose was calling across the water as they joined the Pack.

“She’s fine,” Mari said. “Jaxom saved her. I have her right here.”