Page 50 of Wind Rider

Sora shrugged and tucked Chloe into the sling that held the puppy close to her heart. “Might as well. It’s part of Chloe’s culture. Maybe she’ll like it.”

Rigel bounded up to Mari, wagging eagerly. “There you are! Ready to greet the sun?”

But before they could join Nik, Mari felt a touch on her back.

“Moon Woman?”

She turned to see Lily and Dove. “Yes?”

“Might we join the greeting of the sun, too?” Dove asked.

“Of course,” Mari said firmly. “Come with Sora and me.” Mari watched how Lily guided Dove as they joined Nik, who frowned slightly at the two Skin Stealers, but said nothing.

Nik stood a little way in front of everyone, and even Mari held back a few steps, mimicking the other Companions. Wilkes led the way. He and his Odin chose to stand behind and to the left of Nik. Claudia and her Mariah were beside him. Davis rushed up, with Cammyman bouncing and huffing happily. Rose was next, with Fala and four of her five pups curling up in the sand.

Sheena and her Captain stepped into place to the right of Sora, with O’Bryan beside her. Then Rigel barked twice, and Mari felt his encouragement. She glanced behind them to where the young Shepherd was staring to see Jaxom and Fortina hanging back and looking very unsure.

“Please, Jaxom. Join us,” Mari said.

“Yeah, Jaxom!” O’Bryan motioned to the empty spot beside him. “Come on up here by me. Your Fortina will love greeting the sun.”

Jaxom’s cheeks were red, but when Fortina trotted up to O’Bryan, he followed.

And then Mari watched Jenna step into place behind her. Danita joined her, with Bast and Antreas. Then it was as if the Earth Walkers collectively decided it was okay, and they all—the entire Pack—spread out across the beach.

Mari was blinking to keep her tears from leaking down her face when Nik turned. She saw him start in surprise when he realizedeveryonehad joined them—and then his eyes, too, went suspiciously wet.

“Thank you.” Nik’s voice carried across the beach. “This means more to me than I can put into words. Just—justthank you.”

“This would make Sol so happy,” O’Bryan said.

Nik nodded and wiped at his eyes. “Yes. Yes it would. And I dedicate this sun greeting to my father, the Sun Priest Sol of the Tribe of the Trees.”

“To Sol!” said the Companions.

“To Nik’s father, Sol!” Mari shouted.

“To Sol!”echoed the rest of the Pack.

Nik met Mari’s gaze and whispered, “I love you so much.”

Mari could only smile and nod. She knew if she spoke she would burst into emotional tears.

Nik turned and faced the rising sun. He lifted his arms, and the Companions followed him. Mari lifted her arms as well, nudging Sora to do the same. Directly behind her she heard Lily whispering to Dove, describing what was happening, as well as giving her directions as everyone raised their arms as if to embrace the sun.

Nik threw back his head so that he was staring directly at the sun.Every canine on the beach turned his or her muzzle up so that they too were gazing at the bright yellow ball of fire.

“Behold the wonder of our Pack!” Nik shouted. “Pack! Behold the first beams of our lifeline—our salvation—our sun!”

Though Mari couldn’t see Nik’s eyes, she knew they’d changed color, from a warm, mossy green to a shining yellow-gold that was perfectly mirrored in Laru’s eyes. Nik laughed, a sound of pure joy, as he embraced the sun. She saw filigree patterns lift from within Nik’s body to glow from under his skin—patterns that mimicked the Mother Plant, the enormous fern that the Tribe wrapped every infant in for the entire first year of his or her life, that magickal plant somehow absorbing into their bodies to create a mystical bond with the sun, a bond that was shared with their Companions.

Mari knew all of this intimately, because her father’s blood had gifted her with the same magick, and the Mother Fern fronds he’d stolen for her and that her mother had swaddled her in as an infant had made sure that magick was awakened by the sun. Delicate fern filigree patterns lifted from her skin, and Mari threw back her head, staring at the blazing ball of light, reveling in the warmth and strength that swept from Rigel to her, further solidifying their unbreakable bond.

She heard Sora gasp, and glanced to her right to see her friend staring up at the sun, looking directly at it, as her pup’s eyes glowed with light. Surprised, Mari’s gaze found Jaxom. The Earth Walker, too, was staring directly at the sun, an expression of shock slackening his young, handsome features. Beside him, pressed against his thigh, Fortina’s eyes blazed.

Interesting…Mari thought, wondering how sunlight, shared with their bonded Companions, would affect Earth Walkers, but there was no time to follow her thoughts.

“May the blessings of the Sun be with us today!” Nik turned and addressed the Pack, closing the sun greeting.