Page 71 of Moon Chosen

“Actually, that’s not accurate. I’m only half Companion. The other half is Earth Walker,” Mari said.

“I—I have to sit down. Don’t let him eat me,” Sora said.

“He wouldn’teatyou. He definitely would bite you, though, so sit slowly and don’t try to run.”

“I’d like to run, but my legs aren’t working.” Sora sat heavily where she was, unable to take her gaze from Rigel. “He’s huge. Look at his teeth! Are his eyes always so buggy? Are you sure he won’t eat me?”

Mari stroked Rigel affectionately. “I’m sure. Well, unless you try to run. Or try to hurt me. Then he’ll bite you, and it’ll be with my blessing. And he doesn’t have buggy eyes.”

“Are you always so unpleasant?”

Mari frowned. “I’m not unpleasant. You’re the one who followed me. I told you not to.”

“And now I know the truth about why. Did Leda know about this—this—” Sora broke off, gesturing at Rigel with a nervous shake of her hand.

“He’s a canine. A Shepherd. His name is Rigel. And of course Mama knew about him. He lives with us.” Mari paused, and then corrected herself sadly. “Well, now he lives with just me.”

“Mari, how by all the levels of hell did this happen?”

“How did Rigel come to be with me, or how am I half Companion, half Earth Walker?”

“Why are you so calm?” Sora almost shrieked, and then when Rigel began to growl again she pressed her hand against her breast, as if to keep her heart from exploding, drew a deep breath, and said. “I cannot stand it when he shows his teeth at me and makes that terrible noise.”

“Then don’t yell at me.”

“I’m trying not to!” Sora yelled, and then clamped her lips closed.

Mari sighed. “Okay, well, I don’t know why I’m calm. I shouldn’t be. You just discovered the secret Mama and I have been hiding for my entire life.” She stopped, considering, and then continued as if she was reasoning aloud more than actually conversing with Sora. “It’s a relief that you know—that someone finally knows. And since the day Mama died life hasn’t been normal. You being here—seeing Rigel with me—that’s just one more piece of kindling in the pile that is my life on fire.”

“How did this thing find you?”

“Sora, don’t call him a thing. Call him by his name.”

“I’m sorry, but it’s just so strange.” She drew a deep breath and began again. “So, how didRigelfind you?” Sora was staring at the Shepherd again, and Rigel lifted his lips, showing her his teeth. “Can’t you make him stop doing that?”

“Yeah, I can. But I’m not sure I want to.”

“Well then I’ll just sit here and be terrified,” Sora said, trying to smooth her hair.

“That sounds like a good idea.”

When Mari didn’t say anything else Sora made a small, exasperated sound that had Rigel cocking his head and looking at her as if he wasn’t quite sure what to make of her. “Mari, are you going to answer my question or not?”

“I suppose I might as well. The truth is I don’t know how Rigel found me. He came to the burrow on the night of the last Full Moon Gathering. He was hurt pretty bad. I helped Mama draw down the moon, and healed him. That was the first time I was successful drawing down the moon.”

“Just before Leda died she told me that she was going to announce that you would be apprenticing with her also, because you Washed Xander and Jenna.”

“I know what she told you. I was there, hiding with Rigel under the willow tree at the Gathering Site.”

“So you did Wash Xander and Jenna?”

“Yes. Mama wouldn’t lie.”

Sora scoffed. “Apparently Leda lied all the time about you! She said you were sickly and couldn’t stand to be out in the sunlight.”

“That’s different. She was protecting me, not lying.” Mari pulled up the sleeve of her cloak and scrubbed her dirty forearm against the damp, mossy ground. Then she took a few steps back where a wan ray of morning sunlight had found its way through the dissipating fog. Mari lifted her arm, as if reaching for the sun. She felt the warmth tingle through her body immediately. She met Sora’s gaze at the same time she turned the bare spot on her arm toward her.

Sora gasped in shock. “Great Goddess! Your eyes! They’re glowing. And—and your arm. That’s so disgusting! Is your skin moving?”