by P. C. Cast
“Yes, I am!” Davis grinned at her, and Cammy huffed happily. “Hunters learn to cook whatever they catch. Cammy has a knack for snagging rabbits, so my rabbit stew is excellent.” He blew on the wooden stirring spoon and took a taste of the steamy stew. His eyes widened in pleasure. “But I admit not this excellent! Now this is stew.”
“If you think her stew is good, wait till you taste Sora’s bread. She told me once that the inside is light as clouds. I didn’t believe her, but I was wrong,” Mari said, rubbing her eyes sleepily.
“Who is this Sora person?” Antreas reached for the spoon, but Davis nimbly put it back in the cauldron and kept stirring.
“I think it’s best if you just meet her. Describing her is kinda difficult,” Nik said, sharing a look with Mari.
“I can’t wait to hear what she says about Bast,” Mari said. “She still calls Rigel the creature.”
“Is she mad?” Antreas asked.
“No,” Mari said.
“Probably,” Nik said at the same time.
The curtain that separated the burrow’s two rooms moved, and then Danita emerged, carrying a basket filled with potatoes, mushrooms, and a variety of dried vegetables. She paused. Bast left her side and padded to Davis. The room fell silent as everyone watched to see what the feline would do next. Mari could see that Davis was holding very still and Cammy moved quickly so that he was lying between Rigel and Laru, who were curled up resting before the door.
Bast put herself between Davis and Danita, then made a rolling chirp sound that called to the girl. Danita nodded and, without looking directly at Davis, she walked to him and, with Bast still standing protectively between them, passed him the basket of vegetables over the big feline’s body.
“This should help stretch the stew,” Danita said.
“Thank you,” Davis said, taking the basket carefully.
Bast chirped at Danita again before padding to the pallet. She jumped up, making room beside Mari. Then the Lynx glared pointedly at Nik, who was sitting on the other side of Mari, and hissed sharply.
“Okay! Okay!” Nik said. “I’ll help with the food.”
As soon as Nik left the pallet, Danita hurried over to sit snugly between the big feline and the Moon Woman.
“You’re going all out, aren’t you?” Antreas said to his Lynx. Bast made a coughlike sound in reply, which had her Companion shaking his head, though Mari thought he didn’t really seem annoyed at the feline.
“Did you stop the forest fire?” Danita asked Mari.
“I did. Well, with Nik’s help I did,” Mari said. “It did a lot of damage first, though. So many people were killed—” she began, and then closed her mouth. She had no idea if Davis’s family had escaped the blaze. Quickly she changed the subject. “Where’s Jenna?”
“Before Sora left to try to find you, she sent Jenna out to collect as much aloe as she could find. She brought one big basket of it back here but went out again to collect more. I was just starting to worry about her. It’s almost dark, isn’t it? I can feel the sun setting.” Absently, Danita rubbed her arms, which hadn’t yet begun to flush gray with the setting sun.
“Don’t worry. Jenna’s smart. She’ll be back any moment, and I’ll Wash the both of you.” If I can, Mari added silently. I’m so tired that I feel used up.
“That’s okay, Mari. Sora Washed Jenna and me last night. We’re fine. And, um, you don’t look so good.”
Mari brushed a limp strand of blond hair from her face and sighed. “I’m just tired.”
“Here, this will help.” Nik handed her a steaming bowl of stew with a big hunk of Sora’s fresh bread. Mari barely took time to thank him as she shoveled the food into her mouth.
“Danita, would you like some stew, too?” Antreas asked.
Mari felt the girl’s body startle and begin to tremble. Bast reacted instantly. She leaned against the girl, purring loudly. With a motion that already appeared automatic, Danita stroked the feline. Then she answered Antreas, in a clear voice that hardly shook at all.
“No, thank you. I can wait until extra is ready. Feed yourselves and the animals first.”
Which was exactly what the men were doing when the door to the burrow opened, letting in a cool evening breeze that carried with it Jenna and the scent of smoke. The young woman almost fell over Laru, who was closest to the door.
“Rigel! You’re back, so Mari must—” Jenna began happily as she turned to put down the basket filled with aloe plants and noticed that the canine she’d tripped over was much larger than Rigel. “Oh! Mari?” Jenna’s wide gray eyes darted around the burrow, taking in the men, the canines, the Lynx, and finally Mari.
“Jenna!” Mari met her at the door, hugging her tightly. “All is well. They’re friends,” she whispered, and felt the tension relax from her friend’s body.
“Hi, Jenna,” Nik said. He was sitting at Mari’s favorite spot behind her desk, mouth partially filled with bread dunked in stew.
“Nik, I’m glad to see you’re safe,” Jenna said. She lifted one dark brow at the other men and the Lynx.
“This is Davis, and his Companion Terrier, Cameron,” Mari said.
“Hello, Jenna. And we call him Cammy most of the time. Well, unless he’s in trouble.” Davis grinned at his Terrier, who barely looked up from his bowl of stew.
“And this is Antreas. His Companion is Bast, the feline who has decided to stay protectively close to Danita,” Mari said.
Jenna nodded a greeting to Antreas, but it was Bast who had her full attention. “I’ve never seen a feline before. She’s lovely.”
“She’s a Lynx,” Antreas said. “And thank you.”
“I’ve heard rumors of Lynx Companions, but I thought they were mostly just tall tales made up by Storytellers to amuse Clan children,” Jenna said, moving closer to peer at Bast, who returned her gaze steadily. “But she’s most definitely real.” Jenna glanced at Antreas, smiling incredulously. “This gives me hope that maybe the stories of Wind Riders across the mountains to the east are true and Whale Singers in the oceans to the north and west, too.”
“I can’t tell you about the Whale Singers; I’ve never met anyone from that Tribe, but Wind Riders are definitely real.”
Mari saw Nik’s head jerk up. “Really? You’ve met a Wind Rider?”
“Several of them, actually. I guided a small group of Healers from a northern Tribe through the Rockies to the plains that are Wind Rider territory. They wanted to trade their balms and salves for some of the Wind Riders’ crystals—you know their rocks and crystals have powerful properties, don’t you?”
“Yes, yes, of course.” Nik nodded, motioning for Antreas to continue.
“That’s about it. I led the group into Wind Rider territory, and then went back after the next full moon, ready to guide them on the return trip through the mountains, but none of the Healers were there. I waited two days. No one came. So Bast and I left.”
“Didn’t you ask a Wind Rider about what had happened to the Healers?” Mari said, not so much because she wanted to know but more because Nik was listening so intently.
“Wind Riders are only found when they wish to be found, and they didn’t wish to be found.”
“Wind Riders—they’re mostly women, right?” Davis said.
Antreas nodded. “I only met women. And their equines, which are as magnificent as they are dangerous. I’d never seen a creature so big! They’re larger than even the mightiest stag. And they carry their Companions on their backs, as they run like the wind—even faster than a Lynx can run, I do believe,” he finished, sending Bast a teasing look.
“But their equines couldn’t be as soft and wonderful as Bast.” Danita spoke up as she petted the Lynx. “Plus, they’re all the way over the mountains, and she’s right here.”
Jenna turned her attention back to the feline. “Her fur does look incredibly soft.”
Showing more animation than Mari had seen her show since she’d been attacked, Danita asked the feline,
“Bast, do you think you could let Jenna touch you? She’s my friend.” The Lynx cocked her head, listening intently. Then she chirped and rubbed against Danita’s hand.
“That’s a yes,” Antreas said.
“I know!” Danita told him, though she didn’t look directly at the cat man.
“I’d love to touch her,” Jenna said. Then she paused, making a quick gesture at the big Shepherd who had resettled himself in front of the door. “Um, who is the other Shepherd? He looks like a huge version of Rigel.”
“That’s my Companion, Laru. He should look like Rigel—he’s his father,” Nik said.
“Laru?” Jenna stopped halfway across the room. “But that’s the name of the Sun Priest’s canine.”
“He was the Sun Priest’s canine,” Nik said quietly, and went back to studying his stew.
“But isn’t the Sun Priest your father?” Jenna said.
“Yes. He was.” Nik didn’t look up from his food, though he’d stopped eating. “He died yesterday.”
“Oh. I’m sorry, Nik,” Jenna said.
Mari motioned for Jenna to join her on the crowded pallet, scooting over to make room. “Nik’s father was killed saving my life,” Mari said.
“Nik,” Jenna said, and he finally looked up at her, tears in his eyes. “I’ll say a prayer to the Earth Mother for him and burn a branch of rosemary in remembrance.”
“Why? Why would you do that?” Danita blurted. “He was the Leader of the people who killed your father and enslaved you!”
“He also helped Nik get me out of there, and you heard Mari—his father lost his life saving our Moon Woman. Danita, I miss my father every day. I think I always will. But sometimes you have to let love shine through or the hate will consume you.” She looked from Jenna to Mari and then Davis, Antreas, and finally Nik. “That’s what I learned from being captured and forced to be a slave by the Tribe of the Trees.”
Danita bit her lip and pressed her face into Bast’s fur. “I’m not as good as you, Jenna. I don’t think I could forgive the Tribe if I’d been through what you have because of them. I—I don’t know if I can forgive the Tribe for causing the death of Leda, which made our men lose their way and attack me.” She peeked up at Nik and Davis and then added softly, “I’m sorry.”
“Danita, there is no more Tribe of the Trees,” Nik said firmly. Davis started to speak, but Nik’s raised hand stopped him. “When we rebuild—and we will rebuild—our Pack won’t be like the old Tribe. No Pack member will ever capture an Earth Walker—not as long as I am their Sun Priest.”
“Which is exactly why I’ve sworn to follow you as the new Sun Priest,” Davis said earnestly. “I agree with Jenna. There has been too much hate. The fire finished that for me. I want something more—and I don’t want that something to be at the expense of another people’s freedom.”
“Clan Weaver is no more,” Mari said. All attention turned to her. “The Clan was broken when my mother died. I agree with Davis. I want more than to just rebuild a Clan that I had to hide my true self from. I want a Clan where we can be ourselves, in our best and truest forms.”
“Then let’s rebuild together,” Nik said. “You and I, Mari—Sun Priest and Moon Woman. We can bring alive our dream—for us, and for people who want the same things we do.”
Mari felt the warmth of Nik’s words wash through her. “Yes, Nik. Yes. Let’s rebuild together.”
“And make it better,” Jenna said.
“Happier and safer,” Danita said, hugging Bast.
“Weirder,” Antreas said with a laugh.
“Better, happier, safer, and weirder. Cammy and I are in!” Davis said while the canines barked in agreement and Bast’s purr rolled like spring thunder through the cozy burrow.
CHAPTER 12
I can do this … I can do this … I can do this.…
“They’re ready for you!”
Isabel’s bright voice broke through Sora’s mantra. She drew a deep, fortifying breath and then stepped out of the birthing burrow’s pantry.
“Oh, Sora! You look beautiful!” Isabel gushed.
Sora self-consciously patted her hair one more time. “You really think so?”
“Of course!”
“But I want to look more than beautiful. I want to look confident and strong and regal. I want to look like a proper Moon Woman. I tried my best to look proper, but I wasn’t expecting to have to Wash what’s left of our Clan—without Mari—and without practically any warning that’d I’d be drawing down the moon. For the first time for the Clan. Did I mention all by myself?”
“Hey, you’re going to be great. You’ve already been great. Look at what you’ve done—by yourself. You treated the Clan’s injuries, as well as the refugee Companions.” Isabel waggled her brow. “Like that wasn’t unexpected? But you handled it anyway.”
“Their injuries are more painful than they are serious. I just had to manage their discomfort, splint Sarah’s ankle, and apply a lot of aloe salve to Rose and Lydia. O’Bryan’s dressing was simple to change. It’s already well on its way to being completely healed, and that was Mari’s doing.” She paused; a bemused expression had her tilting her head and thinking aloud. “You know, O’Bryan’s really very pleasant for a Companion. Even though he is too blond and too tall to be handsome.”
“I like his puppies.”
“Isabel, they’re not O’Bryan’s puppies. They belong to Rose’s canine, Fala. O’Bryan carried them out of the fire, though, and saved them. That was really brave of him.”
“I know this sounds weird, but I’m glad he saved them. They are just babies. And I think they’re cute.”
“Well, they’re less unattractive than I would have guessed a canine baby to be,” Sora admitted. “They’re definitely cuter than Rigel. That creature is all fur and feet and appetite, and when I think of how big he’s going to get—” Sora closed her eyes briefly and shook her head. “No. I’m not going to think about that at all right now. Right now I’m only going to think about drawing down the moon.” Her eyes popped open. “Oh, Goddess! What if I can’t do it? What if it doesn’t work for me tonight?”
“You can do it. I know you can. You’ve done everything else a Moon Woman does. You’ve tended wounds and organized a Beltane Gathering at the last minute.” Isabel gave her a cheeky look and added, “You even remembered where the spring mead was buried.”
“Well, that wasn’t hard. I was there when it was buried.”
“And you have stew cooking that will feed everyone.”
“That wasn’t hard, either. The winter root vegetables were ready. All I did was supervise the making of the stew. I didn’t actually cook it.”
“You supervised because you were busy tending wounds and setting the positions of the campfires and the spreading of the lavender oil, the digging up of the mead, the collection of freshwater, and even getting sleeping pallets put together from what was, well”—Isabel looked around the tidied birthing burrow—“a disaster. Sora, you don’t have to worry about whether you look like a proper Moon Woman, or even whether you are going to draw down the moon. You are a proper Moon Woman. Remember that and you’ll be fine.”
“What about Jaxom? I’m worried that—” Sora began, but her sentence ended in a wet, nasty cough.
Isabel’s expression darkened. “Are you okay? That’s not the first time I’ve heard you cough this evening, and you’re looking flushed.”
“I’m fine. It’s just a cold.”
“Well, take care of yourself. We need you healthy. And Jaxom? All you can do is Wash him. The rest is up to Jaxom.”
“If I tell you something, do you promise not to tell anyone?”
“Moon Woman, I give you my oath to keep your secrets.”
“I feel terrible about it, but I don’t want any of the Clansmen to find the Gathering tonight. Jaxom is bad enough. I—I don’t know what I’ll do if a group of Clansmen filled with Night Fever, worse than we’ve ever seen before, burst into the Gathering. Isabel, I’m
afraid of them.”
Isabel took her hand. “Of course you are! I’ve seen what they did to you and to Danita. But, Sora, don’t worry. If Clansmen do find the Gathering you’ll do what any Moon Woman would do. You will command them to their knees and then Wash them.”
“I will.” Sora hoped saying it would make it so.
“I think you should Wash Jaxom first. Then if any males do find us he can help you keep order. I know you’ve put O’Bryan and Sheena to watching our perimeter, but…” She trailed off, chewing her lip.
“But they’ll kill our Clansmen.”
Isabel nodded slowly, eyes wide with worry. “I don’t want that to happen.”
“It won’t. I won’t let it. If they come I’ll Wash them. I’m their Moon Woman, and that’s what a Moon Woman does. Thank you for reminding me. And now I am ready.”
“Then allow me the honor of leading you to your Clan, Moon Woman.”
“Absolutely,” Sora said firmly.
Chasing all doubts from her mind, Sora followed Isabel out of the birthing burrow and around the stone pathway that led to the little clearing through which a clear, lazy stream flowed. Even before she rounded the bend and reached the point where she could look down at the unconventional Gathering spot, Sora could hear the melodic sounds of drumming mixed with the high, perfect voice of a flute. She could smell the campfires and, as the wind brushed lightly past her face, she caught the familiar scent of lavender and salt, which was always spread around a Gathering to ward off hunting packs of wolf spiders.
Isabel reached the lookout spot before she did. The young woman turned and met Sora’s gaze. Sora nodded. “I’m ready.”
Isabel turned back to the Clan and in a strong, young voice that cut through the playful music spoke the traditional announcement of a Moon Woman’s presence: “Our Moon Woman is here! Light the torches! Ready the Clan!” Then she hurried down the stone stairs to join the Gathering.
Sora took her place, looking down at her Clan. O’Bryan and Sheena were lighting the torches and taking positions at opposite sides of the circle that had been drawn by lavender oil and salt and framed by several campfires, with the main bonfire blazing in the center of the circle, close to the image of the Earth Goddess. Sora was particularly fond of this Goddess image. She was sitting cross-legged, her hands resting on her belly, fecund and swollen with child. Her skin was moss, and her hair was delicate ivy, flowing down to her thick waist. Her face was exquisite. It had been carved from a single opal, the color of the inside of oyster shells. Guide me, Earth Mother. Help me to be a proper Moon Woman.