Page 45 of Wind Rider

“Courting me? We just began a journey to practically the other side of the world. No one has time to court,” Sora said.

“Nik does.”

“That’s Nik. He’s weird. I’ve known it since the first moment I saw him.”

“I’m pretty sure Antreas is courting Danita, whether she knows it or not,” said Mari.

“I thought Bast was courting Danita for Antreas.”

“Same thing, isn’t it?”

“Well, they’re weird, too—and by ‘they’ I mean Bast and Antreas, though I like them. O’Bryan isn’t going to court me. He’s too—I don’t know—‘unsure of himself’ I guess is the best way to describe it. Plus, he’s probably already figured out that it’s not such a good deal to be with a Moon Woman. Our first responsibility is always to our Pack.”

“We’ll see. And I think you’ve misjudged O’Bryan. He ran back into a forest fire to save puppies—thispuppy is alive and bonded to you because of him.” Mari tickled little Chloe under her chin.

“You do have a point there, and I didn’t say he lacked bravery, but he definitely lacks experience with women, and I am a woman who prefers a confident man.”

“Give him time, Sora. I have a feeling about O’Bryan.”

“You know, you didn’t use to be so nosy,” Sora said.

“You wanted to be friends, remember?”

“Can I take that back?” Sora teased.

“Nope, too late. But I promise not to say ‘Told you so’ when O’Bryan starts courting you.”

“Drink your tea,” Sora said.

Mari did, but only after she stopped giggling…

***

“Tell me again why we’re looking in the scrub and debris on the ground for these eggs instead of in the trees,” Danita asked Antreas as she trudged after him, picking her way over fallen logs and around nettle clumps.

“Gulls don’t ever lay their eggs in trees. They build a mound of grasses, twigs, and really anything they take a fancy to, but they build it on the ground,” explained Antreas. Bast chirped at him, alerting him to another spot of nettles. “Careful there.” He pointed. “Bast says there are more stickers ahead.”

“Ugh. But thanks. I hate nettles.” Danita moved lithely around the sharp-tipped clump. “So, gulls just aren’t very smart? I certainly wouldn’t build my nest on the ground. That seems like I’d be asking for danger.”

“They are smart. Remember why this island is called Spirit Island?”

“Yeah. You said that it disappears when it rains.”

“Most of the winter and spring almost this entire island does, minus a few of these bigger, heartier hackberry trees, which means the island is uninhabited. The gulls wait until the spring rains are over and then they build their nests. Nothing can get them out here, except another bird.”

“Huh. I guess that is pretty smart. I think I’d still build my nest in a tree, though,” she said. Then her eyes were caught by a large mound of grass and dry twigs that was on top of a pile of water-whitened logs. “Hey, I think I found a nest!”

Antreas hurried to her side and followed her pointing finger. “I think you did, too! I’ll climb up there and—”

“Hey, no way! I found the nest—I’m going to collect the eggs.” Danita hurried to the pile of river debris and began climbing it. When she came to the spot that held the nest she reached in and then lifted a large, speckled egg. “Is this one?”

“Yes! Good job! There should be more, though.”

“There are! There are three of them.” Danita took the three eggs, putting them carefully in the bodice of her shirt, before she began climbing down—but part of one of the logs gave way beneath her foot and she tumbled backwards, windmilling her arms as she unsuccessfully tried to regain her balance.

Bast yowled and sprinted toward Danita, but Antreas was closer. He caught her as she fell, knocking them both to the ground, though he was careful that Danita landed on top and not under him. “I got you!” he said.

“Great Goddess, I hope I didn’t break my eggs!” Danita peered down her shirt, and sighed happily. “All safe and uncracked.” Then she swiveled at the waist to look at Antreas—whom she was sitting on. She grinned. “Comfy?”