Page 59 of Wind Rider

“Sore, but not terrible. And nothing has broken open. I am looking forward to a real rest tonight, though.” Nik’s voice lifted. “Hey, it’s Third Night, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Good. I love it when you draw down the moon. It’s magickal to watch, and even more magickal to be on the receiving end of the Washing.”

“There was a time not so long ago when I couldn’t imagine ever saying this, but I love it, too. I wish Mama were here. She used to tell me over and over how wonderful it was to draw down the moon for the Clan, and I refused to believe her. Back then I resented anything she did for the Clan. I’m sorry about that. I’m sorry I never got a chance to tell her she was right.”

“She knows,” Nik said. “Just like I believe my father knows Laru is safe and happy with me, and that I have found my home with you and our Pack.”

“Our Pack—our family. We made the right decision to leave—to start new.”

He glanced over his shoulder again at her. “Were you questioning it?”

Mari shrugged. “Yes and no. And certainly not after the Skin Stealer attack. No one in that forest is safe anymore. But it’s hard to leave everything I’ve ever known—and harder to be responsible for leading a whole Pack to leave everything they’ve ever known. But I feel a lightness in my spirit that tells me we’re headed in the right direction.”

“Yeah,awayfrom the God of Death,” Nik said.

“Well, yes. But we could’ve headed to the coast, or north to the Winterlands and the Whale Singers, or even far south to where they never see snow. We could’ve found an isolated place to call our own. There’s just something about the Plains that feels right.”

“For as long as I can remember I’ve dreamed of seeing a horse and meeting the Wind Riders. Hard to believe it’s actually going to happen.”

“Maybe you’ll make friends with one of the Riders and you’ll actually get to sit on a horse’s back,” Mari said.

“Ha! Nowthatmakes paddling down this river worth it,” Nik said.

“Hey! Heads up!” Antreas’s deep voice carried across the water, and the Pack quieted their private conversations and gave the Lynx Companion their undivided attention as he paddled up and down their loose line of boats. “The next ruin is not far ahead. This one is minor, but only because the river is so wide and deep here. Most of the bridge is well beneath the water. As long as you follow directly behind me you will pass safely. Do not hesitate. Do not stop paddling.” Antreas, in his small boat with Danita, put his paddle down near the larger boat that held Rose, her puppies, Sora and Chloe, O’Bryan, Sheena, and her big Shepherd, Captain. “Rose, are the pups stowed?”

“Yes!” She held up a slinglike contraption that was similar to the one Sora tucked Chloe away in close to her chest, like a pouch. “Everyone has a puppy snuggled into one of these.” Rose quickly demonstrated—securing the sling around her and then stuffing two puppies into it. Their little black heads were barely visible, but their bright eyes peeked out.

“They look like baby owls!” Danita said, making the Pack laugh.

“Safely tucked away baby owls!” Rose said. “Don’t worry. I won’t chance losing another pup.” She looked around until she spotted Jaxom in a nearby boat. “Thanks to Jaxom I get a second chance at keeping this little oneinsidethe boat.” Rose beamed a grateful smile at the young Clansman as his cheeks flushed pink.

“Okay, then, is everyone ready?” Antreas asked.

“Ready!” the Pack responded.

“Follow me!” Antreas and Danita sliced the water, expertly propelling their boat to the front of the line as the Pack bowed their backs, focusing on staying in their wake.

Antreas had been right, of course. Now that she was looking for it, Mari could easily see the disruption in the glassy river that signaled a ruined bridge. As she squinted against the sunlight she spotted sections of metal stuck up out of the water, but that was really all there was to see—just a swirling of currents and a few metal shards. Antreas andDanita glided between two of the protruding pieces of metal easily. They paddled several yards upriver and then paused, turning to encourage the rest of the Pack through.

Nik and Mari chose to bring up the rear again, and they paddled through the ruin with no problem. If she ignored the metal ruins of the bridge, Nik’s white knuckles on his paddle and the tug of a strange current were the only things that marked this section of the river as dangerous, and Mari—along with the rest of the Pack—was feeling very confident as she joined the rest of the boats.

“We all made it safely!” Rose said, lifting a puppy victoriously.

“We’re getting great at this!” Isabel called from one of the large boats she shared with Davis and his Cammyman, Spencer, Dove, and Lily.

“Yes we are!” Danita lifted her paddle over her head as the Pack cheered—unbalancing her boat. She, along with Antreas and Bast, would have been dunked in the river had Antreas and Bast not quickly counterbalanced.

Suddenly all boats went silent as Danita hung her head in shame.

“Everyone—don’t get over overconfident,” Antreas said, but not before taking Danita’s hand and smiling kindly. “It’s okay. It’s very easy to capsize these boats, especially the little ones.”

“I thought I was doing so well,” Danita said, lifting her head, but still looking miserable.

“You are!” Antreas assured her. Then he turned his attention to the watching Pack. “Youallare doing well. You were cautious and attentive, and you did exactly what I asked of you.” He paused, his eyes scanning the river behind them. Finally he pointed, and the Pack turned to follow his finger. “See that big ball of roots and debris?”

Mari held her hand over her eyes against the sun. “I see it!”