As Mari walked through camp she felt as if her heart would swell and burst with pride. Everyone was busy, and even more important, it was obvious that everyone was working together. Earth Walkers wove cloaks beside Lydia and Sarah, who had picked up the skill so quickly that Danita announced that the sisters had true aptitudes for the task.
Jaxom worked with O’Bryan and Sheena, building the last of the litters from the burrow’s deconstructed bed frames. Even Mason, who was recovering with remarkable ease from the Skin Stealer sickness, refused to stay abed and was helping roll dried meat in salt and then packing the meat within supple corn husks for travel.
“It’s hard to believe, but we’re going to actually be ready to leave,” Sora said as she joined Mari in the clearing.
“I know. I’d never have thought it possible just a day or so ago,” Mari said. She pointed her chin at the little face that peeked out of a pouchlike sling that held the pup securely against Sora’s heart. “That seems to be working.”
Sora smiled warmly down at the Terrier pup and kissed her on her head. “It does. But now I understand why canines don’t choose their Companions before they’re weaned. She wants to be with me all the time and I with her—but she’s too little to keep up and she needs to be returned to Fala frequently to be fed.”
“But she whines the entire time she’s away from you,” Mari finished for her friend as she ruffled the soft fur behind the pup’s floppy ears. “I know. Everyone does. She’s a loud whiner.”
“She’s absolutely perfect,” Sora cooed. Then she met Mari’s eyes. “But I hear you. It was pretty obnoxious. So, I came up with this sling. It’s really not much different from the carriers used for infants—just smaller.”
“You do look surprisingly maternal,” Mari said.
Sora narrowed her eyes. “I’m going to take that as a compliment.”
Mari grinned. “I meant it as one.” She cut her eyes to where Mason was packing the dried meat. “He’s healing fast. If we Wash him again tonight, he’s going to be as healthy as Jaxom.”
“Yeah, for such a nasty disease, it’s pretty easy to cure.”
Sora snorted. “Please. Are you losing your memory in your cloud of new love?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, and no, I’m not losing my memory,” Mari said indignantly. “Mason is healing fast.”
“Only after you almost passed out last night from channeling so much moon power into him. Mari, this disease isn’t easy to cure. It’s deadly. It’s only the strength of the moon and the Great Earth Mother that heals it. Take those two things away and Mason would be a raving lunatic again, and would need to be put down like any other diseased animal.”
“When did you get so pessimistic?”
“I think it happened right after I was attacked by diseased males,” Sora said sardonically. “I keep reminding myself of it—of why we’re leaving. It makes it easier.”
Mari nodded. “Yeah, I hear you.”
“Know what I want to hear?”
Mari raised her brows questioningly.
“I want to hear all about what happened last night with Nik.” Sora’s eyes glittered with equal parts glee and curiosity.
“How do you know anything happened?” Mari felt her cheeks heating, so she turned her face away, pretending to study the small group that was packing the last of the herbs from the burrow’s lush garden.
“Because I’m smart. And because Sheena told me how cozy you two were this morning when they met you at your burrow. So, spill it. I want to know every tiny detail.”
“No,” Mari said, trying to hide her smile.
“Yes,” Sora insisted. “Come with me to check on the rabbit cages. Spencer is almost done making the changes to them that you sketched for her. I really like that idea of yours—to make the litters into rafts that can be tied to the boats. It’ll take up a lot less room and—”
“Mari! Get Mari!”
Mari’s head snapped around at the shout that came from across the clearing. Little Chloe whined softly, and beside Mari, Rigel barked sharply—not in anger, but more in a surprised greeting.
And then two adult Shepherds rushed into the clearing, followed by little Cammy—and Mari’s stomach instantly began to feel sick.
“Rigel! With me!” she called, and sprinted toward the canines, but before she’d reached them she was surrounded—Captain was there, solid and strong, Fala beside him, and out of nowhere the stealthy Bast appeared, eyes slitted dangerously, black-tipped tail twitching. Not far behind them came their Companions and O’Bryan, Jaxom, Mason, and every Earth Walker within calling distance.
“There’s no danger!”
Mari looked up to see Davis standing at the top of the stone stairs, his arms wrapped around two very sick Companions.
“Wilkes? Claudia?” O’Bryan called as he jogged up to the group surrounding Mari.
Mari glanced down at the two new Shepherds, recognizing them more easily than she did their Companions. “Odin and Mariah?” she murmured as the two canines filled her with a sense of worry and urgency. Mari ran up the stairs, reaching Davis just as Claudia’s legs gave way and she collapsed. “What’s happened?”
“Nik and I found them at Crawfish Creek,” Davis began, but Wilkes interrupted.
“The Tribe is infected.” His knees gave way, too, and Mari knelt beside him. “We escaped,” he gasped, and then dissolved into a coughing fit that ended with him spitting out blood and rancid phlegm.
“Oh, Goddess!” Sora said, kneeling beside Mari to hold aside Claudia’s hair as she fell to the ground, dry heaving painfully. “It’s the Skin Stealer disease.”
“Get them into the burrow,” Mari said. She looked around, quickly finding Danita, who was standing behind Antreas. “Danita! Start boiling the goldenseal.”
“Will do!” Danita sprinted off.
“I’ll get the poultice that I used for Jaxom and Mason,” Sora said. “And I’ll start brewing the poppy tea.”
“Make it strong,” Davis said. “They’re in a lot of pain, and moonrise is half a day away.”
Mari nodded in quick agreement before she called out, “O’Bryan, Jaxom, Mason, help Davis get these two into the burrow.” Then Mari drew a breath and looked behind Davis.
She didn’t see Nik.
She didn’t feel Laru.
She turned to Davis. “Where is he?”
“It’s bad, Mari, but he said you’d understand. The whole Tribe is infected. The Council is dead. Wilkes has been betrayed by the Warriors. Thaddeus and his thugs are in charge.”
“Where is he?” Mari grabbed Davis’s shoulder, shaking him.
“He went to the Tribe. He had to. And he told me to tell you that we have to leave now—today—not the day after tomorrow.”
“What? That’s impossible!” Sora cried.
“Why? Why can’t we stick to our original plan?” Mari asked.
Claudia raised her head. Her body trembled and her voice shook, but she met Mari’s gaze unblinkingly. “It’s because of us. When Thaddeus realizes Wilkes and I are gone he’s going to come after us, and when he does he’ll find you. All of you. Odysseus died, and Thaddeus has gone completely mad.” Her red eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry. We didn’t mean to do this to you, but Nik said we could join your Pack. Please don’t send us away!”
Mari touched the young woman’s feverish face. “Claudia, we won’t send you away. And it isn’t your fault Thaddeus is filled with hate.”
“He’s planning on coming after you,” Wilkes wheezed. “He blames you for everything from the fire to Odysseus’s death.”
“We know. That’s why we’re leaving. We were just planning on—” Mari’s words broke off as she was filled with a torrent of emotion.
Fear, worry, anger!
Mari fell to her knees, wrapping her arms around herself as she tried to sift through the panic that barraged her mind, her heart, and her soul. Immediately she recognized the touch of Laru’s emotions. She drew several long breaths, trying to calm the panic that raced through her, threatening to break her concentration and, in doing so, break her connection to Laru.
Easy, Laru … easy. Slow down. I’m here. I’m here.
“Mari! What is it?” Sora was shaking her—trying to get her to speak.
Mari shook her head and met her friend’s gaze. “Have to concentrate. It’s Laru.”
“Oh, Goddess, no!” Sora breathed.
Mari squeezed her eyes shut, blocking out everything except her connection to Nik’s Companion. Laru! Tell me what has happened! Is Nik safe?
Her only answer was another deluge of emotions: Fear! Fear! Anger! Worry! Worry! Fear!
Laru, I don’t understand. Where are you? Where is Nik? Please, Laru! Try harder! Tell me!
More emotions inundated her—predominate among them FEAR.
“I don’t understand!” Mari spoke aloud this time, her voice choked with tears. “Tell me where you are!”
Still, Mari could feel Laru’s emotions as if they had originated within her own body, but the Shepherd’s thoughts were getting more and more jumbled—more and more chaotic. She was losing him—Mari knew beyond any doubt she was swiftly losing her connection to the panicked canine.
Oh, Laru, please, please! Help me understand!
And then she felt the warmth of Rigel’s body beside her and his sense of security—his sense of serenity—cloaked her like a warm blanket on a winter’s night. In her mind’s eye, there was suddenly an image of Nik—of exactly how he had looked earlier that morning when he was jogging away from Rigel and her. And Mari’s eyelids flew open. She stared at her Shepherd.
“Pictures! He can tell me in pictures!” She closed her eyes again and imagined herself sketching a picture of the scene around her—sick Companions, Gathered Earth Walkers, and upset canines. With every ounce of her concentration, Mari imagined sending that picture to Laru.
The flood of emotions ceased. There was nothing left except emptiness.
Mari opened her eyes. Tears poured down her cheeks. She felt dizzy with fear.
“Mari, how can we help?” Sora asked, still holding tightly to her friend’s shoulder—supporting her.
“It’s Laru,” Mari sobbed. “He’s suddenly gone and—”
She gasped as a picture filled her mind so fully that it was as if the image were projected before her. Nik was there. His hands were bound behind his back and he was on his knees in a place Mari recognized instantly as the old meditation platform he’d taken her to when they were waiting for Sol to signal that it was safe to approach the Tribe. Nik’s face was bloody with scratches and his lip was split as if he’d been beaten.
Standing behind Nik was Thaddeus. He held a rope that was tied around Nik’s neck and he was laughing.
I understand, Laru! Hide! I’m coming! She sent an image to the big Shepherd of him hiding as she and Rigel ran through the forest on their way to the Tribe. Then she opened her eyes and got to her feet. Mari wiped her face and turned to Sora. “The Pack has to leave. Now. Do your best to make Claudia and Wilkes comfortable. They can come with us. O’Bryan, lead the Pack to the Channel.” She looked at Wilkes. “You know exactly where those boats are, don’t you?”
“I do. I’ll show you.”
“Show them.” Mari pointed to Sora and O’Bryan as she started moving away from the group.
“Mari! Where are you going?” Sora called.
“I’m going to save Nik,” she said.
“No!” Wilkes shouted, causing Mari to pause and look back at him. “You’re headed into a trap. Thaddeus has spoken often about luring you into camp and then capturing and keeping you, forcing you to heal the Tribe.”
“He will try, and he will fail. Moon Women are not so easily taken, and we can’t be forced to do anything.” She turned and, with Rigel at her side, sprinted up the stairs to the burrow, running for her satchel and the slingshot she wielded with deadly accuracy.
“Thaddeus underestimates us,” she told Rigel. “That and his arrogance will be his undoing.” Rigel growled deep in his throat. “So, let’s go show him what a pissed-off Moon Woman who can also call down sunfire can do when you mess with her mate, shall we?”
Rigel barked in agreement, and the two of them raced into the forest.
* * *
“Davis!” Sora’s voice echoed across the empty clearing.
Davis patted Cammy on the head, sighed, and turned, calling over his shoulder, “I’m here, Sora!”
The Moon Woman rushed into the clearing with her usual no-nonsense confidence, joining Davis before the Goddess idol. When Sora reached her, she stretched out her hand, gently touching the moss that made up the idol’s verdant skin.
“The offerings the Pack left are lovely,” Sora said, her gaze sweeping to take in the feathers, beads, and baubles that had been lovingly placed all around the Goddess’s image.
“She appreciates them,” Davis said.
Sora glanced sharply at him. “You really can hear her, can’t you?”
Davis nodded. “I know she’s coming with us, but it breaks my heart to leave her here—all alone.”
“She isn’t alone,” Sora said. “She’s surrounded by the plants she nurtures and the animals she watches over. And there’s a very good chance that Earth Walkers from another Clan will find our burrows once we’re gone. Not today or tomorrow, but in winters to come. They will tend her and revere her.” She rested her hand on his shoulder. “But we have to leave. Now.”
Davis nodded, bowed one more time to the Goddess, and then he and Sora left the abandoned clearing and joined the Pack. They’d waited patiently when Sora had realized Davis and his Cammy were missing, but now they looked restless—restless and sad.
“This isn’t really a good-bye,” Sora said, wishing Mari were there to help her through the leave-taking. “It’s hello to a new life, a new world, and a new adventure. Pack, are we ready?”
“Yes!” they called.
Sora strode the length of the Pack—counting her people to be sure no one was being left behind. When she got to the litters that were carrying Wilkes and Claudia, she paused, surprised to see that Jaxom and Mason were in place to carry one of them while O’Bryan and Sheena were in charge of the other. She met Jaxom’s gaze, but as usual now, the young Earth Walker turned his eyes from her.
“Who told you to carry Claudia’s litter?” Sora asked.
“No one,” Jaxom answered with his gaze lowered from hers to rest on Chloe’s small face, which peeked out from the sling that held her close to Sora’s heart. “Mason and I volunteered.”
Sora studied Jaxom’s brother. “Mason, are you sure you’re strong enough?”
“With Jaxom’s help I am,” Mason said.
Sora looked at Jaxom again, waiting for him to give her some reassurance he was ready, willing, and able to help his brother, but he kept his eyes lowered, head bowed respectfully. She sighed in irritation. “Well, Jaxom, are you okay with helping your brother, even if it means you have to carry more than your share of weight?”
Eyes still on Chloe, Jaxom nodded. “Yes, I am.”
Irritation merged with nerves, and Sora snapped, “Jaxom, I’m trying to have a conversation with you, and the closest you’ll come to looking at me is staring at Chloe. It’s disconcerting and annoying.”
Jaxom raised his warm, familiar brown eyes to meet hers. “Forgive me, Moon Woman, but your Chloe is the second most beautiful thing I have ever seen.”
Sora stared at him. His tone, his eyes, everything about him was the sweet, friendly Jaxom she’d known and been a little in love with for most of her life. But the instant she thought about him touching her—something that used to bring them both so much pleasure—her blood went cold and her mouth filled with bile.
It was her turn to look away. “Good.” She spoke briskly. “Rose will be glad to hear it.”
“Rose?” he asked.
“Yes, Rose.” Then Sora raised her voice, shouting across the column to where the Companion had taken her place between her friends Sarah and Lydia, “Rose! Add Jaxom to your puppy carry list.”
“Will do, Moon Woman!” Rose called back.
“Puppy carry list?” Jaxom asked.
“Yes. You said Chloe is beautiful, so I thought you’d be good at helping Rose carry the other four pups. They’re too small to be able to keep up with the Pack, so we’ve rigged slings like the one I made for Chloe and we’re passing them around to people willing to help. Let Rose know if I was wrong to volunteer you.”
“Sora, is there a problem?” O’Bryan approached Sora, sending Jaxom a suspicious glance.
“No problem at all,” Sora said, leaving Jaxom to stare after her as she continued to walk up the column beside the tall Companion.
When she reached the head of the Pack, Sora faced her people. She raised her voice so that the whole Pack could hear her. “We’re going to have to move fast to get to the Channel by dusk. If someone weakens, let a Pack Member know. You won’t help us by keeping silent and then falling on your face when we most need you to move and move quickly.”
“What if we can’t make it?”
Sora looked around until she saw Sarah, who still wasn’t able to put much weight on her ankle. O’Bryan had fashioned a walking stick for her, and Sora had wrapped Sarah’s ankle, trying to provide as much support as possible for the wound. Sora had given her tea for the pain, but not too much—the girl did have to be conscious to walk.
“We won’t leave anyone behind, if that’s what you’re asking,” Sora told her.
“I’ll take turns with her,” Claudia said, and then struggled through a coughing fit.
“As will I,” Wilkes called, his voice sounding unnaturally high and weak.
“Thank you,” Sora said.
Both Claudia and Wilkes were very ill. They were also full of poppy tea and had numbing poultices wrapped around the oozing sores that wept from the creases of their elbows, wrists, knees, and ankles. But neither Companion would die. Sora would see to that as soon as it was moonrise, so they both could walk for a ways and let Sarah rest her ankle. Sora looked around the Pack, taking pride in what she saw. From the chaos of the morning, the Pack had pulled together to be ready for this moment, and Sora had watched her people go from being hesitant and sometimes even uneasy around one another to truly joining together in a common cause—a cause that should have been impossible.
Yet here they were, ready to leave what they had believed would be their forever homes.
Sora raised her arms, high and wide, and in a strong voice, filled with the pride she felt for her Pack, she prayed.
“May the Great Mother Goddess bless our journey, and watch over us, as well as Mari and Nik, Laru and Rigel, and may we be reunited with them soon and safely!” Sora said.
“Blessed Earth Mother!” the Pack intoned.
Then Sora, with O’Bryan close on her heels, strode to the front of the column, where Antreas waited with Bast beside him—and Danita, as always, beside the big feline.
“Show us the way, Antreas!”
“Yes, Moon Woman!” he shouted, bowing to her. Antreas stepped out confidently, heading north.
* * *
They made better time than Sora had expected, mostly because Antreas—or, rather, Bast—was a genius in picking out the fastest, easiest paths.
Sora glanced up at the sky. The story the Sun told said that it had moved from afternoon to evening. She looked back down the column. Claudia had switched with Sarah, allowing the girl to ride in the litter, foot elevated. The Companion walked beside the litter, hand resting rather heavily on the frame, her big female Shepherd, Mariah, staying close beside her.
Wilkes looked to be asleep, and Sora wasn’t surprised. He’d allowed Lydia to take a long turn resting on the litter while he staggered beside it—so long that Sora had insisted he get off his feet straightaway. The Warrior had protested until Sora had reminded him that he was the only one of them who knew for sure exactly where the Tribe’s boats had been banked, which meant he had to save enough of his strength to lead them when they reached the Channel.
Her gaze went from the sleeping Wilkes to Jaxom and Mason. Jaxom was sweating, but he appeared to be strong. Mason didn’t look as healthy as his brother, but neither of the young men had stumbled or asked for a break.
“The Pack is moving well,” O’Bryan said, coming up beside her and ruffling the fur on Chloe’s head. The pup licked his hand and wriggled a greeting.
“Yes, they are. But are they moving well enough? Will we make it to the Channel by dusk?”
“Antreas says yes, as long as nothing gets in our way. And I don’t see that happening. I’ve never known the forest to be so quiet. It’s like the fire has caused a mass desertion.”
Sora nodded. “Seems like it to me, too. It’s creepy, really. I can’t say that I’m looking forward to traveling on the river, but I am looking forward to leaving this part of the forest. The closer we get to Tribe territory, the stranger things seem.”
“It’s a sign,” Davis said, joining them. “I can feel it. It’s as if the forest is holding its breath, waiting.”
“Waiting for what?” Sora asked. She’d already come to respect this young Companion’s unique bond with the Goddess, and it only made sense to listen to what he was feeling.
“I’m not sure. There’s something here, though. Something that is out of place,” Davis said.
Sora snorted. “We are. We’re a group of mostly Earth Walkers decidedly outside our territory.”
“I don’t think that’s it. It feels more—”
“Sora! Sora!” Danita ran up to them, gulping air.
“I’m here! What is it?”
“Antreas has found two people. He needs you—and O’Bryan and Davis and Sheena. He said bring the canines and come armed. He thinks they’re Skin Stealers.”
“Sheena!” O’Bryan called, and the young Companion stepped out of her place near the end of the column and with Captain beside her jogged to them.
The Pack members closest to Sora began whispering nervously, but one sharp look from her silenced them. “We can certainly handle two Skin Stealers, but not if your whispers cause the Pack to panic!” The Earth Walkers nearby ducked their heads, calling apologies to their Moon Woman. Then Sora shouted down the column, “We halt here for a short rest!” She turned to Danita. “Find Isabel and Jenna. Have them pass the water bladders among the Pack. Give the wounded a few sips of the cannabis tincture—but not too much.”
“Understood,” Danita said.
“Where is Antreas?” O’Bryan asked.
Danita pointed ahead of them. “Up ahead the path bends toward the ravine. Antreas is there, near the edge. That’s where he found the women.”
“Women?” Sheena asked as she joined them.
Danita nodded. “Skin Stealer women. You’ll see.”
Feeling more curious than afraid, Sora pulled Chloe from her comfortable sling, kissed her on the head, and then gently passed the pup to Danita. “Give her to Rose. I don’t know what I’m walking into.”
“Let’s go,” Sora said. Flanked by Companions, she jogged up the path, which quickly curved to the right so that it ran along the lip of the deep ravine that separated the territory of the Tribe of the Trees from the ruined City of the Skin Stealers.
Sora spotted Antreas. Bast was beside him. They both were staring at two girls who sat near the edge of the ravine. They were dressed oddly, in hide skirts and roughly hewn, midriff-baring tunics, with coarsely woven travel packs strapped across their backs. Their skin was very pale and decorated with intricate triple designs painted black and red and white. One of the girls had hair so blond it appeared almost silver. The other’s was a deep, shining chestnut. At the sound of their approach, the girls turned to face Sora and the Companions and Sora’s breath hitched with shock.
The girl with the shining chestnut hair had no eyes.
“Bloody beetle balls!” O’Bryan spoke the curse under his breath. “I’ve never seen anything like that.”
“Neither have I,” Sheena said.
When Davis said nothing, Sora shot him a look. “Davis? What is it?”
Cammy whined, and Davis shook himself, reaching down to pet his Terrier reassuringly. “I can’t tell. There is something about her, though.”
“You mean besides the fact she has no eyes?” O’Bryan said.
“Oh, I think she can see—just not like we do,” Davis said cryptically.
“What does that mean?” Sora asked.
“I don’t know. Yet. But as soon as I do, you will,” Davis said.
They joined Antreas. The younger of the two girls watched them with big, frightened eyes while she clutched the eyeless girl’s hand in both of hers.
“This is one of our two Leaders, the Moon Woman named Sora,” Antreas said, gesturing to Sora. “Sora, this is Lily and her—”
“You are led by a woman?” The eyeless girl spoke up. Her voice was steady, calm, and curious.
“They are led by two women,” Sora said, approaching the girls. “I am one of them. Who are you?”
“I am Lily,” the sighted girl said, bowing her head. Sora could see that she was trembling. “And this is my—”
“I am Dove,” the blind girl interrupted. “Oracle to the Gods.”
“Which Gods?” Davis asked.
Dove opened her mouth to respond, but Sora cut her off.
“Did you say your name is Dove?”
The sightless girl nodded. “Yes. I am Dove.”
Sora felt a rush of dizziness as Mari’s words lifted from her memory: In my dream a dove flew away from the Tribe of the Trees as it was being destroyed by painted Warriors. She came to me looking for sanctuary. Mama’s voice told me to help her, but only if she vows to a Moon Woman to tell the truth as the price of my aid.
“Dove, are you and Lily Skin Stealers?” O’Bryan asked sharply.
Dove’s eyeless face tilted in O’Bryan’s direction. Instead of answering, she asked a question of her own: “Are you earth dwellers? The people who burrow to make their homes?”
“You didn’t answer my question,” O’Bryan said.
“And you did not answer mine,” Dove responded.
“We don’t have time for this,” Antreas said. “I say tie them loosely, so that they can get free in time to return to their City before dark and let’s be on our way.”
“You may tie us, of course. You may do anything you like with us.” Dove spoke in a perfectly calm voice. “We cannot stop you. But Lily and I will not return to the City. We are searching for peaceful sanctuary with the earth dwellers.”
Sora stepped forward and crouched directly in front of Dove. “You say you seek peaceful sanctuary. Why? From whom are you running?”
“No one is following us. Of that you may be sure,” Dove said.
“Again, she didn’t answer the question,” O’Bryan said. “I’m with Antreas. Tie them and leave them here.”
Sora was watching Dove closely when O’Bryan spoke, and she saw the flash of raw fear that swept across her unusual face.
“Dove, do you know what a Moon Woman is?”
“I do not,” Dove said.
“A Moon Woman is one gifted by the Great Earth Mother with the ability to draw down the power of the moon.”
Dove’s pale face blanched almost colorless. She let loose Lily’s hand and reached out toward Sora, who automatically took the girl’s hand within her own.
“You know the Great Goddess?”
“I do.”
“And you are under Her protection?” Dove’s voice was breathless with excitement.
“I am—and so are our people.”
Dove’s hand began to tremble within Sora’s, and Lily put her face in her hands and began to weep.
“I don’t understand. Are you fearful of the Great Goddess?” Sora asked.
Dove’s smile was so brilliant that it made Sora’s breath catch. “Oh, Moon Woman, no! We are happy, so very happy, to hear that you know the Goddess. We have been praying for Her help, and She has answered with you!”
With Mari’s dream echoing in her mind, Sora followed her gut and made her decision. “Dove, I will grant you and Lily sanctuary, but on one condition only.”
Dove didn’t hesitate. “Name your condition, Moon Woman.”
“I want your vow that you will only tell me the truth. Know that your vow to me will be heard by the Great Goddess. She is kind and compassionate, but she does not abide oath breakers.”
Dove reached into the travel sack that hung from her shoulder and pulled out a small knife.
Instantly the canines were at Sora’s side, growling a warning low in their throats.
Dove froze. “I do not intend you any harm.” Dove spoke quickly. “I only wish to seal my vow with blood, as a proper oath should be sealed.”
“It’s okay,” Sora told the canines and their Companions, who each held drawn weapons ready, aimed at Dove. “Let her make her vow.”
“Thank you, Moon Woman,” Dove said. Then, with a swift motion, she sliced the blade across her palm. She held her wounded hand aloft, squeezing until blood began to pool in her palm and trickle into the ground. “I offer my blood to the Great Goddess who protects these people. I vow to tell this Moon Woman only the truth. As long as blood flows in my veins.”
“And you believe her?” O’Bryan said.
“I believe Mari,” Sora said.
“What does that mean?” Sheena asked.
“Just yesterday Mari had a dream, and in it a dove came to her asking for sanctuary.” Sora spoke to her Pack members but kept her eyes trained on Dove. “Leda’s voice told her to give the dove sanctuary, but only if she vowed to a Moon Woman to tell the truth.”
“It is a sign from the Goddess,” Davis said softly. “You did right to grant her sanctuary.”
“Sure, if she actually answers any questions,” O’Bryan said.
“Skin Stealers—that is what the Others call us.” Dove spoke up immediately, her voice clear and pleasing. “We call ourselves the People.”
“And now I ask you again, from whom are you running?” Sora said.
“We are running from the newly awakened God of Death,” Dove said.
Sora felt a terrible chill cascade down her spine. “Dove, you say you’re running from Death. What are you to Him?”
Dove’s lips pressed into a line and Sora could see her fisting her hand around the bloody slash in it. Her shoulders slumped and her head bowed, but her voice was steady when she answered the Moon Woman.
“I was His lover.”
“And you’re important to Him?” Sora prodded.
“My body is. I am not,” Dove answered with a frankness that none of them could deny.
“Please don’t send my Mistress back there!” Lily suddenly spoke, pressing her hands nervously to her throat. “The God is loathsome! He forces Himself on her!”
“I won’t send her back—not as long as she stays true to her oath,” Sora said. “Dove, you are the lover of the God of Death, and you have run from Him, yet you say no one is following you? Explain,” Sora said.
Dove didn’t hesitate. “Death does not follow Lily and me. He doesn’t even know we have escaped Him. He is far too busy readying his Reapers to invade the City in the Trees.”
The Companions who surrounded Sora looked physically ill, staring at Dove with expressions of shock and horror.
“When are they invading?” Sora asked.
“Today, after night has fallen,” Dove said. “Death will lead the People across the ravine and into the City in the Trees while the sick and wounded sleep.”
“Sick and wounded? How does He know the Tribe is sick?” O’Bryan asked.
Dove turned her face to him. “He poisoned them, of course. It started with just one of the Others—the one the People captured several weeks ago. Since then Death made sure the poison spread.”
“Bloody beetle balls! Thaddeus!” O’Bryan had gone pale. “It’s as Mari and Nik suspected. I have to warn the Tribe!”
“Whoever is with the Others tonight in the City in the Trees will be either killed or captured.” Dove’s pleasing voice was disconcerting. It almost sounded disembodied in its emotionlessness. “You may warn them, but you will not stop their fate; you will join them in it.”
“I must—” O’Bryan began, but Sora’s hand on his arm stilled him.
“She’s telling the truth. I think this is why Mari was sent the dream of the dove—so that we were warned about what was coming.”
“Someone has to warn the Tribe, too,” Davis said.
“There have to be good people left,” Sheena said, her voice choked with tears. “We can’t just let them be invaded.”
“You mean like what they were going to do to us?” Antreas broke in. “I know they were your people, but they aren’t anymore. We all are fleeing because of them—because of what they are going to do to you, and you, and all of us if we remain here.”
“If we don’t warn them, how are we any better than them?” Davis asked.
“O’Bryan, Sheena, Davis, I won’t forbid any of you to go to the Tribe, to warn them. All I ask is that you consider carefully what you’re risking. Wilkes and Claudia have told us that Thaddeus and his men have taken control. The Tribe you knew no longer exists. Are you willing to risk your life to warn a people who would most probably take yours if they caught you?” Sora said.
“If Nik and Mari don’t get away before nightfall, they will be trapped there as the Skin Stealers attack,” O’Bryan said.
“Nik and Mari know they have to get to the Channel by dusk or we leave without them,” Sora said. “They will not be trapped there.”
“Wait! I know how we can warn the Tribe!” Davis said. “We just need to get to the lookout tower at the Channel.”
“The warning bell! Sunfire, where is my mind? I’d completely forgotten about it,” O’Bryan said.
“It’s perfect.” Sheena was nodding in agreement. “One of us can sound it as the rest of us are casting off on the river.”
“What is this warning you speak of?” Sora asked.
“There are ancient bells, foraged from Port City generations ago—we have them placed throughout the Tribe on lookout platforms, and the loudest of them is on the platform that overlooks the Channel. If we sound it, the Tribe will know danger is coming,” O’Bryan said.
“Yeah, but won’t they also know we’re stealing their boats?” Sora said.
“They might, but if Dove is telling the truth they’ll be busy battling Skin Stealers and their God of Death,” O’Bryan said.
Sora sighed, running her hand through her hair, staring at the sightless girl as the Companions watched her, waiting for her to lead them. For the first time, Sora truly understood the magnitude of her Moon Woman status. If she chose wisely, they would make it to the Channel and escape—and they would warn the Tribe of impending doom.
If she chose unwisely, they would all either be killed or be captured and enslaved.
Sora met Davis’s gaze. “I believe Mari’s dream. Dove is telling us the truth. When we get to the Channel take the lookout platform. Warn the Tribe and then get your butt into a boat. It is my command as your Moon Woman that you will not get trapped there. You will join us on the water.”
“Yes, Moon Woman,” Davis said, bowing formally to her.
“Sheena, I’m putting you in charge of Dove and Lily,” Sora said.
The young Companion’s brows rose, but she nodded her head in acquiescence. “Should I bind them?”
“No. They aren’t our captives, and I have chosen to trust Dove’s oath. But I’m also not a naïve fool.”
“Understood,” Sheena said, moving to stand beside Dove and Lily.
To the rest of them Sora said, “Now we move and move quickly and quietly. Pass the word down the column about what Dove has told us.” She shifted her gaze to the girls. “Dove, Lily, if you can’t keep up with us, Sheena will leave you behind.”
“Yes, Moon Woman,” Dove said as Lily nodded, eyes wide in her pale, pale face.
“What about Nik and Mari?” Antreas asked.
“Nothing’s changed.” Sora spoke calmly, though inside she felt sick with fear. “We have to trust that Mari will get Nik out. O’Bryan, tell the Companions to pray to the Sun to help Nik.” She met Davis’s eyes. “The rest of us will pray to the Earth Goddess to give Mari strength. Quickly, now! We’ve lost all the time we can spare. Get the Pack moving!”