It wasn’t a Third Night, but Mari and Sora had decided before they joined the Gathering that the Clanswomen could use an extra boost, especially after they’d just been told they needed to leave the homes to which they had so recently returned. Also, it was an excellent way to begin Danita’s Moon Woman apprenticeship, with an added bonus that it would be a very public beginning, leaving no doubt as to the seriousness of the undertaking. After the gasps and whispered chatter caused by Antreas’s proclamation about leading the Pack to Wind Rider territory had died down, Mari called, “Danita, please join Sora and me for the Washing of the Clan.”
Danita had been standing a little to the side of Antreas and Bast—the Lynx always seemed to be within view of the young Earth Walker—and Mari watched her eyes widen in surprise and her face flush with nerves when she called her name. But Danita didn’t hesitate. She moved quickly to Mari and Sora, taking her place between them.
“You’re going to hold our hands,” Mari explained. “And we’re going to do a simple call to the moon. You just join us in saying the last part of the invocation when we squeeze your hands. By right of blood and birth channel through me / the Goddess gift that is my destiny! Do you think you can remember that?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, then you’ll walk through the Clan with us. You only need do one thing—just focus on being a conduit for the moon,” Mari said.
“Moon power is cold, so don’t let that shock you,” Sora added. “Instead of accepting the power for yourself, you have to remember that you’re just the means through which it is Washing the Clan.”
“It might help to imagine you’re like a riverbed, or maybe a pathway, and the moon magick is like water flowing effortlessly through you,” Mari said.
“You might feel dizzy and even sick. That’s normal,” Sora explained.
“Just remember to keep focused. You’re going to do well; I just know it,” Mari said. “Ready, Sora?”
“Ready!”
“Danita? Ready?”
“Absolutely!” Danita said, doing a good job of covering her nerves with enthusiasm.
Mari and Sora each held one of Danita’s hands; then they raised their faces to the darkening sky. Mari nodded briefly in encouragement to Danita when she turned her face upward. She could feel the watching crowd and sent a silent prayer to the Earth Mother: Please help Danita have a positive first experience.
Mari drew three deep breaths in and out, relaxing and centering herself. Sora did as well, with Danita mimicking them. Mari began the invocation with a shout.
“Moon Woman I proclaim myself to be!”
Sora continued:
“Greatly gifted, I bare myself to thee.
Earth Mother, aid me with your magick sight.
Lend me strength on this special night.”
Mari spoke, feeling the cool silver power of the moon begin to rain into her body:
“Come, silver light—fill us to overflow
So those in our care your healing touch will know.”
Together Mari and Sora squeezed Danita’s hands, and then the two young Moon Women, joined by Danita’s soft-spoken, but earnest voice, finished the invocation.
“By right of blood and birth channel through me
The Goddess gift that is my destiny!”
Mari hadn’t known what to expect. She’d channeled moon magick her mama had invoked and had led Sora in drawing down the moon, but she’d never invoked the silvery light with another Moon Woman, and especially not someone as novice as Danita, so she was utterly surprised when a sweet, sparkling beam of energy filtered from above and settled over the three of them. It glistened downward, flowing first into Mari.
Mari felt the jolt as the pure, cold energy passed from her and into Danita.
“It’s okay,” Mari spoke quietly to Danita. “Relax and release it to Sora.”
Danita was chewing her bottom lip, brow furrowed in concentration, and in another heartbeat Sora began to smile. She nodded encouragement. “Yes, Danita! That’s it!”
“Ready to walk with us?” Mari asked.
Danita nodded tightly. “Yes. I think so.”
Joined by their hands, as well as their intentions, Mari and Sora and Danita began to move among the crowd. Mari and Sora gently touched bowed heads while Danita kept pace with them, her face a study in concentration. The Clanswomen smiled and whispered blessings to their Moon Women, including Danita’s name in their thanks, which almost caused the girl to lose concentration, but she caught herself and continued to channel moon magick.
Davis was the first of the Companions to bow his head before them. Mari didn’t hesitate. She placed her hand, cool and shining with the power of the moon, on his head and felt his body startle. He looked up at her, eyes filled with tears.
“I felt it! I felt the touch of the moon!” Davis exclaimed as Cammy barked happily.
O’Bryan moved to stand beside the Hunter. He grinned a little shyly at Sora and said, “I’ve been healed by Moon Woman magick before, but I don’t remember much of it. Would you mind if I felt a little of it again?”
Sounding much older than her years, Sora spoke the traditional Moon Woman blessing: “I Wash you free of all sadness and gift you with the love of our Great Earth Mother.” Then she rested her hand on O’Bryan’s bowed head.
The Companion sucked in a breath, and when he raised his head Mari thought that his face was almost glowing with pleasure.
“Thank you, Moon Woman,” he said in a voice that shook with emotion.
They continued to move among the crowd, touching the people with the most gentle Washing that Mari had ever experienced. When they finally stopped in front of Nik, Mari placed her hand on his bowed head.
“I Wash you free of all sadness and gift you with the love of our Great Earth Mother,” Mari spoke the ancient blessing softly and allowed her hand to linger longer than was strictly necessary.
He lifted his face, which beamed with love and pride. “Thank you, my Moon Woman!”
Together, Mari and Sora and Danita returned to the center of the circle before the bonfire that burned steadily, casting flickering shadows around the clearing. Sora and Mari finally let loose Danita’s hand. The girl staggered, and Bast was suddenly there, pressing into her side, chirping reassurance.
“Are you okay?” Sora asked.
“My, um, stomach is not so good.” Danita looked almost as pale as the moon.
“You should eat. You’ll feel better, even if you do throw up,” Mari said.
“I’ll be sure she gets something to eat and keep an eye on her.” Antreas seemed to materialize beside his equally silent Lynx.
Mari half expected Danita to refuse his help, but she nodded shakily and made no protest when he took her elbow and helped her toward the roasting turkeys.
“Clanswomen, you have a difficult choice to make,” Sora said when Danita was gone. “We won’t ask you to make it right now.”
“Think about what we’ve said. Ask us or Nik or Antreas any questions you might have about our journey,” Mari said. “But know that as dawn breaks six days from now our Pack will be leaving this place forever.” She paused as emotion threatened to overwhelm her. She felt Rigel’s comforting presence at her side and drew strength from her Companion before continuing. “I’ve lived in a burrow that has sheltered the Moon Women of Clan Weaver for generations. I’ve never known any other home. My mama is buried there. Sometimes I almost can’t bear to even think about going, because it’s like I’m leaving her.” Mari had to stop then and wipe tears from her face. In the respectful silence around her, she could hear several of the Clanswomen sniffling softly. She lifted her chin and continued in a voice that grew stronger and surer as she spoke. “But I’m not leaving Mama. She’ll always be with me—here.” Mari placed her hand over her heart. “I’ll take her love with me wherever I go. I want you to know I hope you decide to join us. I hope you take the love of generations of Earth Walkers with you, too, and use it to help us build a Pack that is kinder, wiser, and stronger than a Clan or a Tribe.”
“I hope you join us, too,” Sora said. “Wind Riders allow others to settle in their lands if the settlers can prove that they are worthy. If there’s one thing I know for sure it’s that the women of Clan Weaver are worthy. Now, let’s eat!”
The Clanswomen were subdued during dinner. They clustered in small groups, eating and talking quietly among themselves. Mari and Sora sat on the mossy ground, forming a little circle with Nik, O’Bryan, Davis, Rose, Isabel, and Jenna. Rigel, Laru, Fala, and Cammy lay on the ground not far from them, busily chomping on turkey necks and bones. Sora’s Chloe was tucked inside her tunic, sleeping soundly.
“Where’re Sheena and Captain?” Mari asked as she blew on a sizzling piece of turkey meat.
“They’re patrolling the circle,” Davis said. “Cammy and I will relieve them as soon as we get done eating.” He glanced at Mari. “Thank you for Washing me. It was incredible. I’d had a headache—probably from staring at turkey sign all morning—but as soon as that coolness touched me it went away.”
“You’re welcome,” Mari said. “I wondered what someone outside the Clan would feel during a regular Washing. I mean, I know Nik could feel the power of the moon when it healed him.”
“So could I, but I didn’t remember much of it,” O’Bryan said. Then he cleared his throat and turned to Sora. “Thank you for Washing me.”
“No problem. It’s all part of being a Moon Woman,” she said.
“Well, it may be normal for you, but for me it was special. Probably the most special thing that’s ever happened to me in my entire life. I—uh—I just wanted you to know that,” O’Bryan said.
With increasing curiosity, Mari realized O’Bryan’s face was flushing. Sora leaned toward him and touched him gently on the arm. “I’m glad, and it’s nice to be appreciated. I didn’t mean to pass off your thanks like it was nothing.” Then she sat back, rearranging Chloe more securely on her lap while Mari watched O’Bryan’s gaze linger on the spot on his arm Sora had touched.
Mari felt Nik’s eyes on her and she gave him a look, mouthing, O’Bryan likes Sora. Nik’s eyes opened wider for an instant; then he shrugged and shook his head a little. Mari couldn’t tell if he was baffled or amused, and she made a mental note to ask him what he knew about O’Bryan’s intentions when there were fewer ears listening.
“From the outside it seemed to go well with Danita,” Jenna said. “How was it for the two of you?”
“She did great,” Sora said.
“Better than I did my first time,” Mari agreed. “I threw up.”
“Me, too,” Sora said.
“So, you’re not sorry you accepted us as apprentices?” Isabel asked.
“Not at all,” Mari said.
“No way!” Sora agreed. “The washing was lovely with Danita. Gentle and effortless.”
“I hope we do as well healing,” Isabel said.
“I’m sure you will,” Mari said.
“There she is!” Isabel jumped up to greet Danita, who looked a lot less pale and was accompanied by the ever-present Bast and, this time, Antreas. Isabel hugged her. “Mari and Sora were just saying what a great job you did tonight.”
Danita’s pretty gray eyes widened and her gaze jumped from Mari to Sora. “Really? It was so hard! And cold! I thought I was going to have to let go of your hands because I was going to be sick.”
“But you didn’t let go,” Mari said. “And that’s impressive.”
“Oh, I’m so glad! Um, now do you mind if I go lie down? I’m still feeling a little strange.”
“Rest will help,” Mari said. “Mama used to be so tired from Washing the Clan that I used to think she was sleepwalking when she got back to our burrow.”
“But you and Sora don’t seem tired at all,” Danita said.
“That’s because the Washing was easy tonight,” Sora said. “And because you helped.”
“Plus, after a while you’ll get used to it. The less you fight the power the easier it is to release, and the easier it is for you afterward,” Mari said.
“I’ll remember that,” Danita said. She started to bow a formal good-bye to her Moon Women, but Danita paused and her eyes found Antreas. “Are you and Bast staying here tonight, or returning to Mari’s burrow?”
Antreas hesitated, glancing at Bast, who rubbed against Danita’s leg, purring loudly.
“We’ll stay here. Bast likes the birthing burrow.”
Relief flashed across Danita’s face. “Oh, good. Do you mind if she lies down with me for a little while? It’s night, and I’d, um, just rest so much better if I didn’t have to be afraid that males might come back to the burrow.”
“We wouldn’t let them hurt you. Not ever again,” Mari said firmly. “You don’t need to be afraid.”
“My mind knows that, but the rest of me—not so much,” Danita said.
“Bast would love to sleep with you,” Antreas said. “And I’ll know right away if anyone approaches the burrow. Bast will tell me.”
“Thank you.”
Danita beamed a true smile at Antreas, and Mari saw a jolt of surprise cross the Companion’s face. Apparently Antreas had never experienced the full force of Danita’s smile—a smile that turned her from a sweet-faced but rather ordinary girl into a sparkly-eyed beauty. As the Lynx and the girl slowly walked side by side to the stairs leading to the burrow, Antreas’s gaze followed them.
“Better keep in mind what I said.” Sora spoke sotto voice to Antreas.
“Huh?” Mari asked.
“Nothing!” Antreas and Sora said together.
Mari meant to scowl at them and push harder to know what was going on, but Nik held his hand out to her, palm up. And on his palm was a wood carving of a four-legged animal with an arching neck and a sleek, powerful body.
“This is an equine,” Nik said. “And it’s for you.”
“Oh, Nik! This is beautiful!” Mari turned the figure over in her hands, loving the smooth feel of it, completely intrigued by the majestic-looking creature.
“They call them horses, and it’s not an insult,” Antreas said.
“So that’s a Wind Rider.” Sora leaned forward, studying the carving. “And you say they’re big enough for a person to ride?”
“People,” Antreas corrected. “I’ve seen three girls, not much younger than Danita, all on one horse’s back. “But they do vary in size.”
“It’s hard to believe,” Mari said. “But I’m looking forward to seeing them.”
“When they charge across the plains in their herds, they make the ground shake,” Antreas said, gaze distant with remembrance.
“Sounds frightening,” Jenna said.
“Not if they’re your friends,” Antreas said. “Then you know that charge is your protection. There’s nothing that can stand against them, not even a swarm.”
“Great Goddess! Not even a swarm?” Sora asked.
Antreas shook his head. “They can outrun it.”
“Impressive,” Nik said.
“It’s something to look forward to seeing, that’s for sure,” Davis said. He stood, wiping his hands on his pants. “I’m going to relieve Sheena so she can eat. And I think I’ll stay at the birthing burrow again tonight. I like it here, too.” He whistled sharply, and Cammy sprinted from the bone-gnawing group to join his Companion, tongue lolling in a doggy grin.
“Is he ever not happy?” asked Isabel as she reached a tentative hand out to pet the little blond Terrier, who instantly diverted from his path to Davis to allow the girl to scratch behind his ears.
“Nope, Cammy pretty much chooses to be happy, especially now that he doesn’t have to worry about Odysseus bullying him. And feel free to pet him anytime, Isabel. He loves the attention, especially from pretty girls.”
Showing off, Cammy huffed and jumped around Isabel as she giggled.
“He’s a flirt,” Rose said, grinning at the little canine.
“That’s part of his charm,” Davis said. “But that’s enough now. Time for us to go to work, Cammyman!” Davis picked up his empty wooden bowl and tea mug, and with Cammy trotting beside him he headed toward the central bonfire to drop them there before relieving Sheena.
“I have to get more of this wapato,” Mari said to Sora. “I don’t know what you did different to it tonight, but it’s even more delicious than usual.”
“I managed to find a stash of salt in the back of the pantry. That with the garlic makes it scrumptious,” Sora said.
“Well, scrumptious is the right word, and I’m getting more,” Mari said. “Be right back!” She leaned down and kissed Nik, not even realizing how oddly natural it had become to kiss Nik—hello, good-bye, see you soon, or just because she liked kissing him—until she straightened and felt eyes on her.
Nik smiled and squeezed her hand, pulling her gently down so that he could whisper, “You do you, Mari. Ignore watching eyes.”
She squeezed his hand back and stood a little straighter, ignoring the curious stares.
The wapato roots were buried in an ember pit, not far from where the image of the Earth Mother rose from the fertile ground. Mari was crouching to begin the process of plucking a steaming-hot root from the glowing embers without burning her fingers when a motion at the corner of her eye shifted her attention. She glanced to the side and saw a man standing before the Earth Mother, head tilted back, gazing up at her. Beside the man sat a little blond Terrier.
Why’s Davis with the Earth Mother? Mari thought, curiosity moving her toward him. When she was just a few feet from him, Davis crouched down and pried a small section of moss from the ground in front of the idol. Then he took something out of his pocket and put it in the hole created by the uprooted moss before pressing the green carpet back into place. He stood again, gazing up into the Goddess’s serene face.
Mari made a small sound in her throat and Davis jumped a little. “Oh, Mari. I didn’t see you there.”
“Hi. I was just getting more wapato root, and I saw you over here with the Goddess.…” Her voice trailed off as she realized how intrusive she must sound. “Not that I mind you being over here. That’s not what I meant.”
Davis nodded. “I know what you meant. You’re curious about what I’m doing.”
“Well, sure, but I shouldn’t intrude. This is your business. Yours and the Goddess’s.”
“Does she talk to you?” Davis asked, his voice sounding wistful.
“She hasn’t yet. But she talked to my mama a lot. And I think she talks to Sora.”
“Do you think the Goddess might ever deign to talk to someone who isn’t an Earth Walker?”
As Mari answered, she heard Leda in her words and it brought her great comfort, as well as a wave of longing for her mother. “I think the Great Earth Mother belongs to everyone, not just Earth Walkers. So, sure, I do think it is possible. Davis, you don’t have to tell me if you’d rather keep it to yourself, but what did you just bury there?” Mari pointed to the spot directly in front of the Goddess.
“I don’t mind telling you, but it might be silly,” Davis said. “I found a pretty piece of shell years ago and I didn’t know why until now, but I’ve carried it everywhere with me ever since. And when I heard talk about how Earth Walker men court Clanswomen, I realized why I’d never traded away the shell.”
When Davis just stood there, staring up at the idol, Mari prompted, “Why didn’t you trade away the shell?”
“Because I had to give it to the Great Goddess, of course. Clanswomen always choose their men, but only after their men court them properly. I gave the shell to the Goddess to court her favor. Maybe, if I court her nicely enough, she’ll accept and speak to me, too.”
Emotion clogged Mari’s throat and tears stung her eyes, but before she could tell Davis what a lovely sentiment that was Adira stepped from the shadows on the far side of the idol. She was studying Davis intently, as if secret words might be written on his soul and if she looked hard enough she could read them.
“Who told you to bring the Goddess a gift?” Adira asked, though not in an unkind voice.
Davis moved his shoulders. “No one. It was my idea. I didn’t mean to be disrespectful. Forgive me if I—”
Adira brushed away his apology. “You need not ask forgiveness. We often leave the Goddess gifts. I was just surprised to see a stranger, especially a Companion, doing it, too.”
Davis’s gaze moved back to the Goddess’s face. “I don’t know why, but she makes me feel like I’m not a stranger.”
“Yes, that can happen. It’s a great blessing to feel at home in the presence of the Goddess. Listen in the wind for her voice; she’s most easily heard there. Brightest blessings to you, Davis.” Adria nodded slightly to Davis, then bowed with formal respect to Mari before moving back into the shadows.
“I didn’t think she liked any of us Companions,” Davis said.
“I don’t think she did—until now. Good job, Davis.”
“But I didn’t do anything.”
“I think you just did more than you could ever know,” Mari said.
She patted Cammy affectionately on the head before going back to the ember pit, where she quickly plucked two succulent roots, and then returned to her little group, taking her place beside Nik. Rigel, Laru, and Fala had joined them, and Sora had finally surrendered Chloe to her mother, though the young Moon Woman’s gaze kept returning to her nursing pup.
“Do you think the Earth Mother speaks to others—I mean, people who aren’t Earth Walkers?” Mari asked Sora.
“I don’t see why not. We call her Earth Mother, not Earth Walker Mother,” Sora said.
“I guess that makes sense,” Mari said, still considering what she’d just witnessed. Adira seemed to be in agreement with Sora. And when Mari really thought about it, she had to agree as well. She was the Great Goddess—Life herself—and not some shallow, limited deity. Leda had raised Mari to believe in her divine compassion, and even though Mari had never heard her voice or felt her presence, through her beloved mama she’d witnessed the strength of the Goddess’s love.
“Mari, Sora, may we speak with you for a moment?”
Mari mentally shook herself, refocusing on the now and then to see Adira standing nearby with several other Clanswomen beside her. Mari blinked and realized there weren’t just several Clanswomen with Adira—all of the Clanswomen except for Danita were with her.
“Yes, Adira? What is it?” Sora said.
“Of course you may speak with us,” Mari said.
“Should we leave you in privacy?” Nik started to rise, with O’Bryan and the other Companions following him.
Adira lifted her hand, staying them. “No, what we have to say you should hear, too.” Then she addressed her Moon Women, saying, “The Clanswomen have made their decision about joining your new Pack and journeying with you to Wind Rider territory.”
As Adira paused, Mari held her breath.
“We would like to join you,” Adira said.
“How many of you?” Mari asked.
“All of us,” Adira said firmly. “With the very strange help of that Companion named Davis, and the Goddess, we have remembered ourselves. We want to make a new life where we can live in peace without fear of being captured into slavery again, whether just some, or all of us, are captured. We don’t want to live like that again.”
“We also want more, and we believe the Goddess wants more for us,” a younger woman spoke up behind her, and the group nodded in agreement.
“So, we swear our oath to you, our Moon Women.” Adira knelt as she spoke, bowing her head and extending her arms, palms facing outward. Each Clanswoman knelt behind her, mirroring her actions. “We are no longer Clan Weaver, but we belong to something bigger now. And now we will call ourselves Pack.”
“I swear to the Pack!” came the combined shouts of the women.
“And we accept you!” Sora cried, clapping her hands.
“With great happiness!” Mari added, clapping with her friend.
Then all of the Companions stood. “To our Pack!” Nik cried.
“To our Pack!” the Companions shouted, and then everyone broke into cheers and barks.
Mari felt enfolded by the love and security of the Pack as Nik took her into his arms and, laughing, swung her around with a victory shout.
Maybe, just maybe, we can create a new world, Mari thought. Thank you, Goddess, for touching Davis, and for reminding the Clanswomen that love is stronger than fear or hate. When the music began, Nik grabbed her hand and twirled her across the clearing while Mari laughed and, for the first time since her mama had been taken from her, felt as if she belonged to a family.