Page 61 of Wind Rider

“I suppose that makes sense. Rigel’s certainly obsessed with chewing. I wonder if we could come up with something better for our young canines to chew on than sticks and rocks and whatever else they can fit into their mouths,” said Mari.

“That’s a thought. Maybe we could weave a smaller version of a net ball and offer that to the pups. At the very least it wouldn’t splinter in their mouths,” said Sora.

“I’ll talk to some of the older women about it. They can weave almost anything into being,” Mari said. Then they sat in easy silence as Sora added herbs and handfuls of dried vegetables to the stew she was preparing. “I like watching you cook,” Mari told her friend.

“Does that mean you’re actually paying attention so that your dismal cooking skills get better?” Sora asked.

“Absolutely not. I like watching you like I watch the river. I enjoy gazing at the mystery—not trying to become the mystery.”

“I’m going to take that as a strange compliment,” Sora said.

“It was meant as one.” Mari tilted her head back and looked up at the rock that dominated the landscape almost as much as the wide river did. “That thing is enormous. It gives me a weird feeling. I’m not sure I like it.”

“Antreas told me they call it Rooster Rock, though I am not sure why,” Sora said, looking up at the rock with Mari. “Of course, I don’t have any idea what a rooster is, so it might have looked just like that.”

“I kinda like it,” Danita said, plopping down beside them after kissing Chloe on the top of her head. “It looks so strong and wise. Antreas told me a rooster is a bird. He said they have them on the Plains of the Wind Riders and their eggs are almost as delicious as gull eggs.”

“Oooh!” Mari’s attention instantly shifted from staring at the hulking rock to Danita. “Did he say there might be gull eggs here? They were delicious.”

“He and Bast went to look. Antreas didn’t sound hopeful, but Bast did.”

“Then I will happily plan for gull eggs. That feline knows things,” Sora said.

“She sure does,” Danita agreed.

Mari and Sora shared a glance, then Sora cleared her throat and said, “So, Danita, it appears as if Antreas is courting you.”

“Yes,” she said, but Danita’s gaze went down and she picked at the pebbles around her feet.

“You accepted him?” Mari asked.

“Yes,” Danita said, her eyes still downcast. “But I shouldn’t have.”

“Do you not like him?” Sora said.

“No! I mean, yes. I like him. A lot.”

“But as a friend? You’re not attracted to him?” Mari asked.

“I’m attracted to him,” Danita said softly.

Sora and Mari shared another look before Mari spoke gently. “You can talk to us. It might help.”

Danita lifted her head. Tears pooled in her eyes. “I like him. I may even love him. I know I love Bast. But it was selfish of me to accept his courtship, because I can’t ever be his mate.”

“Because you’re afraid you can’t have sex with him?” Sora asked.

“Sora!” Mari said.

“What? I’m just saying what we’re all thinking.”

“Sora’s right. It’s what I’ve been thinking, because it’s the truth,” Danita said miserably.

“Hey,” Mari said. “It’s only the truth right now. It doesn’t have to be the forever truth.”

“I know a little of what you’re feeling,” Sora said, stirring the bubbling cauldron. “Thanks to Nik I was attacked, but not raped. I think I understand as much as anyone who has not lived your experience can. Even though logic tells me Jaxom was not himself when he and the other two Clansmen attacked me—and I know Jaxom. I’ve known him all my life, so I also know that in his right mind he wouldneverhurt me. Still, I can barely look at him without being filled with anger. And I have not allowed a man to touch me intimately since that horrible day.”

“Do you think you’ll ever be able to be touched by a man, by a mate, again?” Danita asked.