by P. C. Cast
“I think you should do what you believe is best,” Nik said noncommittally.
Maeve’s pup, Fortina, greeted Laru, huffing happily and licking her sire’s muzzle.
“Laru and I need to get to the firebreak,” Nik said.
“Give your father my love—and stay safe, the three of you!” Maeve called as Nik and Laru dashed on.
Laru whined softly. “I know, I know, but there’s no time to tell her about Father. And what would it do to her morale? She’s in charge of saving the Mother Plants. What if she just gave up? Hell, Laru, she’s already going to try to fight her way through a forest fire because she refuses to consider an alternative if it takes her close to Scratcher territory.” Nik talked to his Companion, pouring out his worries as they jogged to the heart of the Tribe. It helped Nik stay focused, and it helped him ignore the pain that radiated up his leg, the terrible ache in his back, and the empty place within him that his father’s death had left. Nik dug deep for the reserve of energy only life-threatening danger and adrenaline can provide and forced himself to keep up with Laru.
Soon the air seemed a little cooler, cleaner even, and Nik knew they were close to Badger Stream. Breathing heavily, he slowed, and Laru dropped to a walk by his side. They climbed up over a rise in the land and paused there, looking down at the group of Companions gathered with their canines. He noticed that most of them were Hunters, as he didn’t see any Shepherds in the area. But everyone, humans and canines alike, was desperately digging a long, wide ditch on the fire side of the stream and clearing all vegetation from yards on either side of it. In the distance he caught glimpses of several groups of Warriors, Shepherds beside them, frenziedly chopping the massive pines that led to the stream—felling them in an attempt to keep the fire from jumping over the water.
But it wouldn’t work—not without a line of sunfire to meet and then extinguish the blaze. Nik knew it. He could see that the Tribe knew it, too, by the grim set of their faces and the hopeless silence that enveloped them.
Nik bent and stared into his Companion’s wise amber eyes. “I don’t know what’s going to happen now. They may try to capture me. If they do … run, Laru. Find Rigel and Mari. I’ll get loose and come to you—but stay safe no matter what happens to me.”
Laru listened closely to Nik. When he was done speaking, very deliberately the big Shepherd turned his gaze to the group of Tribesmen and women. He lifted his lips, showing his magnificent teeth, and growled deep in his powerful chest while he exuded a calm, majestic confidence that reminded Nik of his Sun Priest father.
Nik smiled grimly at his Companion. “Well, that’s pretty clear. Looks like they’re not getting to me unless they go through you. Okay then. Let’s both try to survive this mess.”
Nik’s sharp eyes searched the more distant group until he thought he caught a glimpse of Wilkes, Leader of the Warriors, and a man Nik had long respected. Stealing himself, he headed with Laru down to the stream in the most direct path to Wilkes. As they passed groups of Hunters, some of whom had been part of the attack on the Farm, Nik felt their eyes on him. He heard the susurrus of the Tribe lifting around him. He ignored them and continued to head toward where he hoped he would find Wilkes and his Companion, Odin.
“It might not have been wise for you to come here,” Davis, Companion to the spunky Terrier Cameron, spoke as Nik passed him.
“Wise or not, I had to come. I have an idea that might work to make a firebreak,” Nik spoke grimly to his Hunter friend.
“We’re done with your ideas you fucking traitor!” Thaddeus stepped from the group of men who had been chopping down one of the majestic pines. “Hunters! Take him! Tie him up. We’ll deal with him and his Scratcher whore later.” The somber, soot-faced Hunters descended upon Nik as Laru backed against him, hackles fully lifted, growling ferociously.
* * *
“Where are you leading us?” Isabel asked as she walked beside Mari. The two of them followed Rigel, who kept rushing ahead—and then running back to her whining impatiently when the group lagged too slowly behind.
As she and Isabel made their way through the forest, Mari had been considering this very question. She couldn’t lead the women to her burrow—there were already far too many people who knew how to find her home. If word got out, if just one of these women told one Clansman, Mari, Rigel, Sora, and even Jenna and Danita wouldn’t be safe. And there was no way to know how many of the abandoned burrows were safe—and how many of them were occupied by or in the roving path of Clansmen made mad by Night Fever. So Mari had decided to head to a burrow she knew could hold twenty women and was close enough to her own home that she and Sora could easily take medicines back and forth.
“Well, I’m not leading us anywhere,” Mari said. “Rigel’s getting us back to Clan territory. From there I think we can make the birthing burrow before sunset.”
“The birthing burrow! That’s an excellent idea. There’s plenty of room there, and a full pantry and garden,” Isabel said.
“It’s not quite like you remember it. There have been changes since you were taken, and not all of them have been good, but it’ll suffice until we can figure out how to put the Clan back together again.”
“Like I remember it or not, it still seems the right place for us to start.” Isabel paused and then continued in one long rush of words, “Mari, I don’t mean to be presumptuous, but do you think you could Wash us again tonight? I know it’s not Third Night, but it’s been so long since many of the women have had a Moon Woman that it would be wonderful for us if you would.”
“Yes, I suppose I could. Or Sora could while I tend the wounded.” Mari glanced around distractedly as the erratic wind changed direction again, sending smoke eddying around them in almost sentient clouds of gray.
“I’m sorry to bother you with that. I don’t mean to create additional burdens.”
Mari shook her head quickly. “There’s no need to apologize. I don’t mean to be distracted, but this wind is so strange—so troublesome. Who knows where it’s spreading that terrible fire?”
“Does it really matter as long as it’s not spreading it into Clan territory?”
Mari glanced sharply at Isabel. She was watching Mari with big, guileless eyes. She truly doesn’t care if an entire Tribe of people burn! And then Mari realized that just a few weeks ago she probably would have felt just as Isabel did. But now Mari knew Nik and Laru, Crystal and Captain, Maeve and Fortina, and sweet, funny O’Bryan. Now they’re real people to me—real people and their canines—it’s terrible to think of them burning to death. Especially Nik … always Nik …
“Mari, I’m sorry. Did I say something wrong?” Isabel was sending worried glances her way.
“I’m not sure wrong is the word I’d use, because I do understand how you feel about the Tribe. They captured you. They enslaved you. What they did is inexcusable. It’s just that I’ve met some of the Tribe—some of them who aren’t monsters—and I realize they’re more like us than they are different.”
Isabel nodded slowly. She opened her mouth to continue the discussion, but Serena’s shrill voice interrupted.
“Isabel! The Clan needs a break. Too many of us simply cannot keep up.”
Isabel and Mari turned to see that Serena had stopped and had the rest of the women halting behind her. They were a ragged, weary group, several of whom had already dropped to the ground, heads bowed, breathing heavily.
“Serena, it’s not me you have to ask for a break. Mari is our Moon Woman, not I,” Isabel said in a firm voice, speaking loudly enough for the entire group to hear.
The older woman turned a reluctant gaze to Mari. “I mean no disrespect, but I am unused to addressing a Moon Woman who has a canine by her side.”
Mari took firm hold of her temper and coaxed her lips to lift slightly in a cool smile. “I understand, Serena. And yet I am the only Moon Woman here, and I will be addressed with respect.”
Serena hesitated and then bowed her head in the ghost of an apol
ogy. “Forgive me, Moon Woman, but the Clan must rest.”
“Then we’ll rest,” Mari said. “But only for a moment. The way this wind keeps shifting worries me. It could drive the fire anywhere. We need to put as much distance between it and us as possible.” Rigel whined and butted his shoulder against her leg. She squatted beside him, petting the young Shepherd. “I know, but they don’t have your limitless energy, sweet boy. We’ll get them home, though, even if I have to nip at their heels.”
Beside her, Isabel stifled a laugh with a cough. Mari glanced up at her, liking the girl more and more.
“I was just imagining you biting at their heels. And Serena thinks she has a problem calling you Moon Woman now. That would really confuse her,” she told Mari, sotto voce.
Mari was laughing softly when she felt Rigel stiffen under her hand. In the next heartbeat the half-grown pup had turned and was staring behind them, scenting the changing wind. His ears and tail were up, but he wasn’t growling and there was no sense of danger coming from him.
“What is it?” Mari turned to peer into the smoke behind them. The little path they’d been following had taken a turn, and she couldn’t see more than a couple of yards behind them. Before she could get any image from Rigel, the pup’s tail began to wag, which was exactly when the Clanswomen at the rear of the group began to scream.
The big Shepherd that trotted from around the bend in the path ignored the panicked Clanswomen. He bounded to Rigel, greeting him enthusiastically. Mari blinked in surprise, and then she, too, was being greeted by the familiar canine.
“Captain! What are you doing out here?” Mari crouched to pet him, feeling along his body for sign of wounds. “Where’s Sheena? Is she with you?”
“We must run! Companions have come for us!” Serena’s cry was taken up by the other women, who began to hysterically rush off the path and into the smoke-filled forest.
“Stop!” Mari shouted, and was surprised when the women actually hesitated. “I know this canine, and his Companion. I don’t believe they mean us any harm.”
“Of course you would say that!” Serena shouted.
“Because it’s the truth!” Mari shot back at her. “Why would I lie and set up my own Clan to be attacked?”
“Your Clan? Aren’t you part Companion?”
“Serena, shut up!” Mari’s exasperation boiled over. “You’re no better than the Companions who refuse to believe we aren’t Scratchers. Not all of them are bad, just like not all of us are good.”
“Oh, Great Goddess! Companions! Run! Run!” several of the Clanswomen screamed.
Mari looked down the path to see a singed-looking O’Bryan stop in shock as he came around the bend and almost ran into the group of Clanswomen scrambling away from him. A heartbeat later Sheena, three other women, and a small black Terrier came into view. They, too, froze with O’Bryan as the women of the Clan milled around in senseless panic.
“No, please! Everything’s okay! You don’t have to run. We’re not going to hurt you!” O’Bryan shouted over the hysteria of the Clanswomen while the ragged-looking women behind him stood, rooted in place, staring openmouthed at the frightened Earth Walkers.
Mari cleared her throat, and as she strode through the group of women to face the Companions she borrowed her mother’s sternest voice, speaking over the cries of women and happy greeting barks of canines.
“Clanswomen, be quiet and get behind me! Rigel, with me!” Instantly the group went silent as they scrambled to get behind her and her pup rushed to her side, alert and on guard.
O’Bryan’s fire-ruddy face split into a wide grin. “Mari! I found you!” He hugged her quickly.
“Mari? What is she doing with those Scratchers?” Sheena said, stepping up beside O’Bryan before she called sharply for Captain to come to her.
“O’Bryan, who else is with you besides these women?” Ignoring Sheena, Mari shot the question at him.
“No one. I don’t think.”
“I don’t think isn’t good enough. Tell me the truth. Now,” Mari said firmly. She wasn’t sure what she was going to do if there was a whole gang of Companions trailing after O’Bryan. She glanced surreptitiously at the sky. The sun was there—somewhere above the smoke and clouds. She’d called down sunfire once before. Surely she could again to protect the Clan. Couldn’t she?
O’Bryan’s brow furrowed in confusion and then suddenly cleared. “Oh no, Mari. You don’t need to worry. None of the Warriors or Hunters followed me. They’re all trying to stop the fire.”
“And Nik? Where is he?”
“He’s back there, Mari.” O’Bryan’s honest face was too easy for Mari to read, and she felt her stomach lurch with foreboding.
“Back there? Collecting more of the wounded?” Mari tried not to believe what her gut already told her was the truth.
O’Bryan shook his head slightly. “Not exactly. He’s gone to the heart of the city to try to make a firebreak.”
Mari’s body went cold. “He’s in danger, isn’t he?”
“He is. The fire’s a nightmare, especially with the wind continually changing. Mari, the City in the Trees is being destroyed.” O’Bryan’s singed face was set in worried lines. “And after he told me about Thaddeus and Sol…” His words trailed off and he glanced nervously at Sheena and the other three women who were grouped together behind him.
“Thaddeus? What about Thaddeus?” One of the wounded women stepped up to stand on the other side of O’Bryan. A little black Terrier was at her side and wrapped in her shirt she was holding what Mari realized with a start of surprise was a bunch of puppies!
Mari opened her mouth to answer the Companion, but O’Bryan cleared his throat quickly, sending her a sharp look. Mari nodded a slight acknowledgment before saying, “Let’s get to safety, tend to the wounded, and feed everyone—then we’ll finish this discussion.”
“Nik told me to get to the creek. You know, the one where your mother…” O’Bryan paused, looking uncomfortable.
“You mean Crawfish Creek and our old Gathering Site,” Mari finished for him.
“Yes. Nik thought it would make a decent campsite. And he said you’d be able to find us easily there, too.”
“That’s where he’s meeting you?” Mari asked.
“Yes. If he makes it out,” O’Bryan finished reluctantly.
“I have a better idea. But first, let’s get everyone to the Gathering Site,” Mari said.
“You’re going to let them come with us?” Serena had stepped away from the group of Clanswomen behind Mari and was facing her with a storm-cloud look. “Companions? Who, just yesterday, were our captors.”
Mari turned so that she could look from Serena and the Clan to the Companions’ group. She drew deeply from the anger that was simmering within her—that had been simmering within her for most of her life.
“This is going to end now. Serena, these people are wounded and exhausted. There are even puppies—just babies—with them. They are no threat to us. I am your Moon Woman, and a Healer. I am going to care for them, just as I cared for Nik when I found him wounded, and it’s because I chose to help him instead of letting him die that you are now free. If you can’t handle that, if you can’t get past your hatred for them, then you should make your way back to your burrow, and eventually to another Clan.” Mari looked from Serena and the women of the Clan to O’Bryan. “And if there are any Companions among you who insist on calling us Scratchers and enslaving us, leave now. We won’t follow you. We won’t hurt you. But we also won’t help you.”
“I owe you a life debt, Mari. So does Nik. I’m going with you,” O’Bryan said.
“My Captain and I owe you a life debt as well,” Sheena said. “I’m not sure what’s going on, or who you really are, but you saved my canine and me. Because of that I choose to trust you.”
“Thank you, O’Bryan and Sheena.” Mari looked questioningly to the Companion with the Terriers.
“My name is Rose. This is my Companion, Fala, and h
er litter. I don’t know you, Mari, but I do know Nik and Sheena and O’Bryan. If they trust you, so will I.”
The two younger women who both seemed more severely injured than the other Companions had slid to sitting positions, with their backs against a mossy log. The older of the two, who had painful-looking burns up and down the left side of her body, spoke up. “I’m Lydia, and this is my sister, Sarah. If you’ll help us, we’ll trust you.”
Mari smiled. “Thank you. And I’ll be sure those burns of yours are treated as soon as possible, as well as your sister’s ankle.” She turned back to the Clanswomen. “What do the rest of you choose?”
Isabel spoke from the middle of the group. “You are my Moon Woman. I will always trust you and abide by your will.”
Several of the Clanswomen nodded in agreement. Mari looked at Serena. “You’ve heard from the Companions. They are refugees of a terrible tragedy. They have lost their homes and their families. No matter what the other Companions have done, or will do, these five do not mean any of us harm.”
“Not this instant they don’t. They need our help. What happens after we help them?” Serena said.
“I don’t know what happens, but trust has to start somewhere, and I’m saying it should start here and now,” Mari said firmly. Then she gentled her voice and continued. “But I do understand not being able to trust. I’ve lived like that, which is why I choose not to live like that again. Each of us has to make our own choice, though, and if you would rather hold to the old ways than consider accepting them and changing, I wish you the brightest of blessings as you continue your life elsewhere.”
“Either way, if we take them in I have lost my home,” Serena said.
Mari shook her head. “No, Serena. It doesn’t have to be like that. You can gain a new home—one that is better than what we’ve known before.”
“I don’t want better. I want what I used to have—what we all used to have. Your mother would have never let this happen,” Serena said.