Moon Chosen

by P. C. Cast

  “That it does, which means Fala has whelped. You ladies can stay here catching your breath and checking your hair. Odysseus and I are going to join the party.” Thaddeus paused and, with a sarcastic smile to Nik, added, “You’ll be glad to hear this means I won’t be seeking out Sol tonight to give my report, so you’ll have plenty of time to give your excuses to the Sun Priest.” Laughing humorously, Thaddeus sprinted toward the lift, leaving Davis and Nik to frown after him.

  “Fala?” Nik asked Davis.

  “The little black Terrier who is Rose’s Companion. No one’s completely sure, well, no one except Thaddeus, but rumor has it that Odysseus could be the sire of the litter.”

  “Well, I’m glad to hear that a new litter has whelped, even if Odysseus could be the sire.” Nik smiled at Davis, who returned the grin.

  “You know it’s true the canine is reflected in the Companion. I think Odysseus bit Cammy twice for every time Thaddeus yelled at you or me today.” Davis knelt and scratched Cameron under the chin. The little blond Terrier wagged his tail.

  Nik bent and patted the likable canine’s head. “Sorry about that, Cammy.”

  Cammy jumped up, making the breathy ah! ah! ah! that was the Terrier version of laughter.

  “Aw, we’re used to it. Odysseus is as big a control freak as Thaddeus. Plus, Terriers may not have the pelt Shepherds do, but their skin is every bit as thick.”

  “Davis, how ’bout I give you my word that if I ask you to go on another tracking mission with me that it will just be you and Cammy—no others.”

  “Especially not Thaddeus?”

  “Especially not Thaddeus,” Nik agreed.

  “Sounds like a better deal than we got today. But, hey, Cammy likes you. I like you. And I, for one, don’t think you’re wasting your time looking for that pup. If Cammy had disappeared, even before he’d chosen me, I would have never stopped looking for him,” Davis said.

  “Thanks. I appreciate you saying that.” Nik offered Davis his hand, and the younger man grasped it warmly while Cameron danced around them huffing happily.

  “Well, Thaddeus is going to tell everyone that you led us on another ghost hunt, but the truth is we didn’t get to Hunt at all, and I plan to tell people the truth,” Davis said stubbornly.

  “Don’t get yourself in trouble. Thaddeus doesn’t like to be contradicted.”

  “Thaddeus doesn’t like much of anything,” Davis said with a wry smile. “And don’t worry about me. He’ll be too busy gloating over the pups he says are Odysseus’s to bother with anything I might or might not say about what happened today.”

  “Just watch yourself. Don’t cause problems with Thaddeus because of me.” Nik gestured at the lift. Light from a torch was glinting off the metal links of the heavy chain as it lowered to the forest floor. “Lift’s back.” Cammy started nipping playfully at Davis’s and Nik’s ankles, herding them forward. Both men laughed good-naturedly at the canine’s insistence.

  “He wants to join the party,” Davis said when he beat them to the waiting lift.

  “Looks like out of the three of us Cameron’s the smart one,” Nik said, closing the lift door and signaling that it could begin the journey up.

  “I’ve suspected as much since he chose me.” He opened his arms and called, “Come on up here, Cammy!” The Terrier sprang up so that Davis caught him easily, and then he and Nik laughed while Cammy covered his Companion’s dirty face in enthusiastic licks.

  “Ugh, Davis, that is not how you’re supposed to wash up.”

  Nik and Davis peered through the wooden slats of the cagelike lift as it came to rest in its roost above ground. She was standing on the landing, hand on her curvy hip, young Shepherd by her side. It seemed to Nik that both girl and canine were looking at the three of them as if they’d been rolling in scat.

  “Cammy is just being friendly. That’s all. This isn’t how I wash up. I know better than that. Mostly.” Davis put Cameron down and tried to sound nonchalant, but Nik could see that his freshly licked cheeks were now pink, where they weren’t covered with Terrier spit and soot.

  Nik stifled a sigh. Claudia was sexy and beautiful, and had been chosen two years before by Mariah—the largest, smartest canine in the only Shepherd litter to whelp that spring. She was also very aware of the effect she had on the men of the Tribe. Just then the effect she was having on Davis was to turn him mute.

  “Hello, Claudia.” Nik sent her his most charming smile. “Nice of you to welcome a Hunter home.”

  Claudia raised a golden brow sardonically. “It’s my turn at the Lift Watch. I welcome everyone home. And, just so you know, there are no decent seats left at the celebration. The landing was overcrowded within a few minutes of the whelping announcement. Might as well take your time getting washed up—properly.”

  “Thanks for the info, and Davis and I appreciate seeing your pretty face, especially after how hard we worked putting out that fire. Don’t we, Davis?”

  Claudia’s expression changed instantly, turning from smug to genuinely concerned. “Fire? In the forest? Thaddeus said nothing about that.”

  “Huh, that’s strange. He must have been too distracted by the news of Fala whelping,” Nik said, shrugging.

  “That’s no excuse to keep such important news to himself,” said Claudia.

  “We’re definitely in agreement about that,” Nik said, nodding at Davis until he nodded jerkily along with him. “Hey, Davis, you should make the report to the Elders about the fire. You know, since Thaddeus is busy.”

  “Someone certainly needs to, and soon. Where was the fire?” Claudia asked.

  Nik sighed internally and sent the blushing Davis an answer the woman look, which worked on the young Companion like a prod.

  “Oh, uh, over in Scratcher territory by that creek they were gathered at yesterday.” Davis glanced at Nik, who nodded almost imperceptibly. “We, uh, think a Scratcher girl must have knocked over a campfire and started the fire accidentally.”

  “Scratchers really shouldn’t be allowed to live on their own. They’re sullen children. I’ll bet the fire wasn’t on their side of the creek, was it?”

  Davis and Nik shook their heads in tandem.

  “No, of course not. Was anyone hurt?” Claudia was studying Davis with new interest as she spoke.

  “My hands are a little blistered, and Cammy’s fur got singed,” Davis said, holding out his dirty hands, palms up.

  “A Scratcher woman fell and broke her neck. She died,” Nik heard himself say.

  “I meant people, not Scratchers,” Claudia said, throwing a dismissive glance in Nik’s general direction before she turned back to Davis.

  “Then Davis and Cammy got the worst of the injuries.” Nik quickly changed the subject, not liking the hollow feeling of wrong that had begun to settle in his gut when people talked about Scratchers.

  “Are you sure Cameron is okay?” Claudia knelt and held her hand out to the Terrier, who eagerly trotted to her, licked her hand, and then almost licked the big, watching Shepherd, too, but at the last instant tucked his tail and raced back to Davis. Claudia’s soft laughter was melodic and almost as lovely as her lush body and thick mane of golden hair. “Oh, little guy, don’t worry. Mariah likes Terriers.” Still smiling, she stood. “Your Cammy seems to be moving just fine, but you better keep an eye on him. I assume by all the dirt on his feet that he was helping smother the fire. Burned paws can be pretty sore, and take a long time to heal.”

  Looking worried, Davis knelt, picked up Cammy and held him so that he was on his back, dirty paws splayed. “Would you take a look at his paws?”

  “Yes, of course,” Claudia said.

  “Davis, Claudia, I need to find Sol and let him know what happened today. I’ll tell him that you’re going to report to the Elders about the fire, right, Davis?” Nik said. Too busy with Cameron to pay much attention to him, Nik nodded absently. “Yeah, yeah, no problem. I’ll do that as soon as Claudia’s done checking Cammy.”

 
“Okay, good. See you later, Davis.” The two Companions, their heads bent together over Cammy’s paws, waved absently.

  Nik hurried away thinking that Claudia would do well to see the value in Davis. He wasn’t Companion to a Shepherd, but he was kind and brave, and the kid had a sense of humor—unlike Claudia most of the time. The sound of Cammy’s huffing and Claudia’s soft laughter drifted after him with the rain and Nik’s smile was self-satisfied.

  Good luck, Davis. You’re going to need it.

  * * *

  Thaddeus hated Nik. He’d only recently realized just how much. Nikolas, son of Sol, was soft and spoiled and useless.

  “That’s what happens when your daddy makes sure you have everything your little heart desires,” he told Odysseus, who panted up at him in complete accord. “Oh, but that’s right—even his Sun Priest daddy can’t force a canine to bond with him. Poor, poor Nik.” His voice was thick with sarcasm and hatred. “What I wouldn’t give to put poor, poor Nik in his place!”

  Odysseus whined and Thaddeus stopped his tirade to bend and ruffle the Terrier’s ears. It was as he straightened that the dizziness hit him. Thaddeus staggered, clutching at his head. He fell to his knees, trembling.

  “Hot,” he murmured. “I’m so damn hot. Must be coming down with something.”

  Odysseus pressed himself against his Companion’s body, shivering in fear.

  “Hey, I’m fine. I just need to get rid of this damn headache. Had it on and off the past couple of days. Putting out that damn Scratcher fire didn’t help it, that’s for sure.” Thaddeus scrubbed at his eyes with his palms. Damn eyes had been burning almost as long as he’d had the headache. “Yeah, the smoke was probably real good for whatever has been bothering my eyes,” he continued to mutter. “Nik’s fault. All Nik’s fault!” Anger boiled within him, rising with his body temperature.

  Odysseus whined again pitifully.

  Thaddeus patted his head. “Hey, I said I’m fine. Relax boy. Actually, I’m better than fine. Forget the headache and the eyes—I’m thinking with real clarity for the first time in my life, and I’m telling you, O, it’s time for a change in the Tribe of the Trees.” His hand left the wiry fur of his Terrier and he began scratching his arms as he stared off into the distance. He blocked out the waves of worry Odysseus was blasting him with—he blocked out the strange headache and his burning eyes. He blocked out everything except the anger that seemed to pulse through his body along with his heartbeat. “No, it’s not right. Not right at all that someone like Nik has it better than us just because his daddy bonded with a Shepherd. I’ve never known one Shepherd who had your nose, O. Not one. But do you get credit for that? Hell, no. If I don’t do something to change it, you and I will never be anything but Hunters, taken for granted by the Tribe.” Thaddeus scratched ferociously at his arms, not noticing that his skin had begun to slough off. “Well, I’m going to do something to change it. When I’m done you and I are going to finally get what we deserve, that I promise you.”

  As he spoke the promise, something within Thaddeus shifted. There was a great, blasting pain that radiated through his head that felt like his mind was splitting apart. Thaddeus vomited, suddenly and violently, spewing black-flecked blood and bile all around him.

  On all fours now, Thaddeus gulped air, trying to steady himself. Odysseus was licking his face almost hysterically. With a shaking hand, Thaddeus pushed the Terrier aside, murmuring wordless reassurance to the little canine.

  And then, as quickly as the nausea had hit him, it dissipated, taking with it all remnants of the headache and burning eyes.

  Thaddeus sat back on his heals, drawing in a deep breath.

  The pain didn’t return.

  He wiped his mouth on his sooty shirt.

  The pain still didn’t return.

  He drew another deep breath. He felt better. A lot better. Good, actually, really good.

  Thaddeus stood. He began to walk, then jog, then, with a feral grin, he kicked into a run and sprinted down the path, fleet and powerful as a stag.

  He didn’t notice that Odysseus was struggling to keep up with him. He didn’t notice anything except the new power that coursed through his veins.

  18

  Nik knew his father would be easy to find, even during a crowded whelping party, so he took his time washing off the smoke and dirt and sweat and changing into clean clothes. Then Nik simply followed the sounds of celebration.

  Claudia had been right. The Tribe didn’t just fill up the huge landing area that surrounded the Mother Trees that served as hosts for the precious Mother Plants, they filled it up and spilled over, finding seats all along the walkway system that circled through and around family nests, artisan pods, lookout landings, and a plethora of bachelor pods. Nik paused, grabbing a thick bough and hefting himself up so that he could take in the happy chaos that was the thriving Tribe celebrating the birth of a litter of Terriers.

  Music and scents of pots of simmering wild rice, mushrooms, and vegetables heavily seasoned with garlic and spring onions competed with laughter and cheers as the Sky Dancers performed from the aerial bars and ropes tethered to the uppermost branches of the trees surrounding the landing. The dancers were dressed in brightly decorated costumes. Their hair—both men and women—was dyed all sorts of colors, everything from beet red to camellia pink and dogwood blue. Nik watched them gracefully dive from perches to twirl and twist and grab a swinging bar, just long enough to lift and then dive again—always in time with the music. They looked like beautiful birds, and Nik cheered along with the rest of the Tribe as the music came to a crescendo and the dancers seemed to defy gravity with their grand finale. Then he made his way through the crowd, smiling and returning greetings as partiers who had obviously been partaking of the much beloved spring ale jostled him.

  Sol was at his usual place on the landing. Seated beside him in the place of honor Nik recognized the very happy and very clearly drunk Rose, Companion to Fala. With a great sense of relief Nik did not see Thaddeus, though most of the Elders were present and seated just behind Sol.

  Noticing his son approaching, Sol waved and smiled a welcome. Nik nodded respectfully to his father, and then greeted Rose. “Congratulations on Fala’s whelping. How many pups did she have?”

  “Five!” Rose slurred. “Sssshe had five! Big, black, and healthy. By all the gods, my girl did a good job.” Rose raised her mug, which Nik noticed was almost as big as a pitcher.

  “To Fala!” she yelled.

  “To Fala!” Nik and those closest to them repeated the cheer. Then he stepped closer to his father. Sol scooted aside so that Nik could sit beside him.

  “Bring my son a mug of ale!” Sol called.

  Almost instantly a mug of foamy spring ale was shoved into his hand. “Nice celebration,” Nik said after taking a deep drink.

  “I think new pups are the best type of celebration,” Sol said.

  Nik raised a brow at his father. “How much celebrating have you been doing?”

  Sol mirrored his son’s look. “Not too much to interfere with hearing your report. That is, if you have anything to report to me.”

  Nik lowered his voice and leaned into his father. “I do, but not here.”

  Sol nodded once before turning to Rose. “Companion, duty calls me. But again I congratulate you on Fala and her pups. May the Sun bless you and them, and help you all to thrive.”

  “Thank you, Ssssol,” she slurred.

  Sol looked over his shoulder at the Lead Elder. “Cyril, would you take my place? I need to speak with Nik.”

  “Of course!” The white-haired man moved with a litheness that would put much younger men to shame as he and his gray-muzzled Shepherd moved forward. “Should I take your ale for you as well?”

  Sol smiled. “That, my friend, I shall take with me. I have a feeling I’ll need it after Nik and I talk.”

  Cyril’s moss-colored gaze went to Nik. Nik nodded and smiled at the old man. “Greetings, Cyril.”

 
“Greetings to you, Nikolas. Do you really need to speak with our Sol, or is he using you as an excuse to find his bed early?” Cyril dropped his voice in the pretense of a whisper. “You know, he is getting old.”

  Nik grinned. “That’s what I keep telling him.” Out of the twelve Elders who made up the ruling Council of the Tribe, he’d always liked Cyril best. He was the only Elder who seemed to care to stay in touch with the younger Tribe members—and he was the only Elder who had kept his sense of humor after he was appointed to the Council.

  “If I’m finding my bed early, it’s because of the lovely, shapely Companion who so often joins me there,” Sol said. And while Cyril laughed, the Sun Priest cuffed Nik gently and said, “Come on, you.”

  “Yes, sir. I’m coming,” Nik said. “Cyril, Thaddeus should be along shortly. He’s going to report to you about a fire that we put out today in Scratcher territory.”

  “Fire?” Sol paused, moving back to stand close enough to Cyril that his voice wouldn’t carry far. “Was anyone injured?” Sol asked.

  “No Companion was hurt badly. Davis and his Cameron are a little singed. I don’t think Thaddeus or Odysseus were hurt at all.”

  “That’s right! Let’s drink to Thaddeus and his Odysseus! The sire to my Fala!” Rose raised another sloppy mug and the crowd cheered.

  Sol sighed. “I see now why Thaddeus didn’t report.”

  “Being the Companion of a sire is no excuse,” Cyril said.

  Nik kept his face carefully neutral, but concerned, as he mentally put a check on the side of the good guys. Now Davis would be thanked for reporting while Thaddeus would be given a much deserved reprimand. Mission accomplished, Nik thought.

  “Go on with Nikolas. I will be here waiting for Davis and his report. Shall we call a Council meeting after dawn?” Cyril said.

  Sol glanced at Nik, who almost imperceptibly shook his head.

  “I don’t think it’s necessary to call the Council to admonish Thaddeus,” Sol said.