Page 73 of Wind Rider

Dove reached out blindly, and Mari took her hands. “Forgive me, Moon Woman! The danger is not living. Please, tell everyone to return to their pallets. I am so, so sorry.”

“Not living?” Nik asked, rushing up to join them. “Explain!”

Dove raised her pale face. “Spirits. They came to me in my dream. They were all around us—watching.”

“But dead, right?” Mari asked.

“Yes, dead. I give you my word,” Dove said.

“Can they harm us?” Mari said.

“I—I think they can, but I sense that they will not.” Dove answered slowly, as if considering each word.

“Antreas! All is well. Everyone may return!” Mari called up the beach to where the Pack had gathered with the huge stone behind them.

They muttered and sent Dove dark, confused looks, but the Pack made their way back to their pallets and their watch spots. Mari sat cross-legged before Dove, still holding the girl’s cold hands.

“If it’s okay with you, I’m going to take Laru and Rigel and walk the perimeter of the camp,” Nik said.

“That’s a good idea,” Mari said as Nik left and Sora hurried up to the women.

“What was all of that about?” she asked.

“It seemed so real, but it must have only been a dream. Forgive me, Moon Women,” Dove said, her hands trembling in Mari’s.

“What kind of dream?” Antreas asked, joining them without Bast. Mari glanced around, finding the big feline curled up beside Danita in the pallet she shared with Isabel and Jenna.

“Terrible. They were pressing all around me. Watching. Always watching. Always near the river. Cold. They made me so cold.” Dove shivered, and Mari rubbed her hands.

“Her skin is freezing,” Mari said.

“Lily, I have tea brewing for those taking the second watch. It would help warm Dove if you got her some,” Sora said, sitting beside Mari and studying Dove closely. “No dream has ever made me lose my color and my warmth.”

“It wasn’t a dream. Or not just a dream.” Antreas sighed, and looked at Mari. “I didn’t think I needed to say anything until we were farther upriver, and then I was only going to warn you and Sora. I didn’t believe anyone else would be intuitive enough to feel them.”

“Who are they?” Dove asked, her voice still shaky.

“Spirits of the ancients,” Antreas said, his voice low so that it wouldn’t carry. “This land that runs along the river is lush, well irrigated—an excellent place for a Tribe or Clan, or even a Lynx Chain to settle. But the Saleesh are the only people who live near it.”

“The spirits must tolerate them,” said Dove.

Lily returned, and Mari guided Dove’s hands to wrap around the wooden mug.

“That’s what the Saleesh say,” Antreas explained.

“And you were going to wait untilwhento tell us this river is haunted?” Sora frowned at Antreas.

“Until after we passed the Bonn Dam tomorrow. I have never led anyone who could sense the spirits this soon. Truth be told, in all my journeys I have only had two other people who sensed them at all, and that wasn’t until we were just before the entrance to Lost Lake, where they are strongest. I’veneversensed them.”

“So they aren’t dangerous?” Dove asked.

“Only if we attempted to settle by the river,” said Antreas.

“Then what would happen?” Lily said, her voice tremulous.

“Crops would fail. Babies would wither in our wombs. We would go mad. We would go mad.”Dove’s voice took on a strange, singsong rhythm.

“Good thing we’re not settling here.” Mari spoke matter-of-factly. She stood, brushing the sand from her. “Sora, let’s walk among the Pack and let them know that all is well.”