Page 158 of Moon Chosen

“You’re pretty sure about that,” Mari said.

“You can cure the blight that has been killing his people for years. He’ll be back,” Sora said.

Mari stared into the fire. “I suppose you’re right.”

“Hey.” Sora bumped her shoulder. “There’s also the way he looks at you. That’ll bring him back.”

“He likes Rigel, too,” Mari said.

“That he does. But he doesn’t look at Rigel like he looks at you.”

“Nowthatwould be creepy,” Mari said.

“Drink your tea and think positive thoughts about your Clan. You hear me, Mari?YourClan,” Sora said.

“Oh, I hear you perfectly.MyClan has either fled or is completely, brutally, mad.”

“Well,” Sora said, smiling at Mari. “It isyourClan, Moon Woman.”

***

“Father, wake up!” Nik shook Sol’s shoulder. Laru was sleeping beside his Companion. He raised his graying head, giving Nik a few sleepy thumps of this tail. “Father, it’s important. You have to wake up.”

Sol blinked several times, recognized his son, and came instantly awake. “What is it? What’s happened?”

“I have to find Mari. Now. O’Bryan doesn’t have any time left. I might already be too late,” Nik said.

“How much of the night is gone?”

“They just rang the midnight bell,” Nik said.

Sol sat up and began pulling on his clothes. “Here’s what we’re going to do—you’re going to sleep for a few hours, and then—”

“Sleep? Bloody beetle balls, Father! Didn’t you hear me? I don’t have time to sleep.”

“You don’t have timenotto sleep. How far do you think you’d get alone in the forest at night with your injuries and your state of exhaustion?” Sol said.

“I can’t sleep while my cousin is dying,” Nik said.

“Nik, you can’t drag that girl through the forest at night, even if you were rested and unhurt. You still need daylight to find your way to Mari. Here’s what I propose—you sleep for a few hours. Just before dawn go to the Channel side of the island, close to the bridge. I’ll have a kayak waiting there for you. Take it to the floating houses. Find the girl and get her in the kayak, then I want you to beach as close to the blind as you can.”

“But, Father, the lookout in the blind will see me for sure.”

“He would see you for sure on any other dawn. On this morning, though, he will be praying with his Sun Priest and accepting the rays of the rising sun,” Sol said. “I’ll be sure the lookout will be able to completely focus on his prayers and accepting the sun because I’ll watch the island for him.”

“If the Tribe finds out you helped me steal a woman from Farm Island, you could lose your position as Sun Priest,” Nik said.

“The Tribe can replace me as Leader. They can never take my calling from me,” Sol said. “So, you’re going to beach the kayak by the lookout blind, and then take the most direct route into the forest.”

“I’ll circumvent the Tribe and head straight for Earth Walker territory.”

“Do you know how you’re going to find Mari?”

Nik ran a hand through his hair. “I’m going to hope Jenna can help me with that, but if she can’t I think I know the general area of where her burrow is located. The truth is I’m counting on Rigel’s help.”

“The pup? You think he’ll lead Mari to you like he did before?” Sol asked.

Nik nodded. “I hope so.”