Page 142 of Moon Chosen

Sora shook her head. “I can only imagine what kind of pain she’s been in. Mari, she can’t stay here. She has to come back to the burrow with us.”

“I know,” Mari said.

“She can’t know about Nik. If the Clan found out you’d saved a Companion, I don’t know what they’d do—to either of us.”

“I know,” Mari repeated.

“So, what are you going to do about him?”

Mari let out a long breath and made her decision. “I’m going to send him back to his Tribe. Now.”

38

“Nik, wake up. You have to wake up!” Mari shook his shoulder hard enough to jostle his wound.

Nik frowned and pushed her hand away. “I don’t need any more tea. I’m already sleepy.”

“You can’t be sleepy. Nik, you have to wake up. You have to go back to the Tribe. Now.”

His eyes opened. “Back? Now?”

She nodded, handing him the biggest clothes she could find. “Yes. Now. Get dressed or you won’t make it back before dark, and that’s not going to be good for you.”

Stiffly, slowly, Nik sat. “Then why can’t I wait until morning? Then I’ll be sure to make it back.”

“Because you have to go. Sora’s bringing a girl here. She’s been hurt pretty badly and there’s no where else for her to go.”

“And she’s an Earth Walker?”

“Of course she’s an Earth Walker, and her seeing Rigel is going to be hard enough to explain. I’m not going to let her see you, too.”

“Why not? You’re a Healer. She’ll understand that you’ve been healing me, just like you’re going to heal her.”

“Nik, there’s a chance that the Clan would kill me if they found out I saved you—meandSora.”

“Oh. I didn’t think of that.”

“I know you’re still weak, and you really shouldn’t be making this trip for several more days, but there’s nothing I can do about it.” Mari talked as she helped him put on the tunic. “I’ll go with you until we reach Crawfish Creek, then you’ll have to go the rest of the way by yourself.”

“Is it cloudy or sunny today?” he asked.

“Sunny and hot,” Mari said.

“Good. That’ll help.”

“How?”

Nik’s smile curved up on one side more than the other. “Take me outside and I’ll show you.”

***

Mari made Nik say his good-byes to Rigel at the burrow.

“I know it’s a lot easier for you to track Rigel than it is to track me. So, will you give me your word that you won’t come back and try to track him?” Mari asked when Nik complained about leaving Rigel behind at the burrow.

Nik blew out a long breath. “I might not tell youeverything, but what I do tell you is the truth, so I can’t make that promise to you without lying.”

Mari shook her head, giving him a dark look. “I saved your life and you’re still after my Rigel?”