Page 82 of Moon Chosen

Mari studied Sora. Her expression was frightened and earnest.

“All right. Then let’s get on with your lesson while there’s still a Clan left for you,” Mari said.

“You could Wash them. I mean, just until I finish my lessons,” Sora said.

“No. They’re too unpredictable. Too uncontrollable. If something happens to me, Rigel would be inconsolable. I’m not sure exactly what he would do, but I don’t think he’d live long if I didn’t come back to him.”

“And he means more to you than your Clan.”

Sora’s statement wasn’t a question, but Mari answered it anyway. “Yes, he means more to me thanyourClan. The Clan isn’t mine, Sora. It’s never been mine. Only Mama was mine.” Mari turned away from Sora and began walking toward the fern, which waited, sad and wilted, in the middle of the clearing. “Come on,” she said without glancing back at the girl. “Lesson number one is about healing.”

“Healing? But shouldn’t you just teach me about drawing down the moon to Wash the Clan? I can learn the rest later,” Sora said, trailing along behind Mari.

“We do this my way, meaning Leda’s way, or not at all,” Mari said, putting her still smoking sage clump beside the fern and motioning for Sora to do the same as she joined her. “Sit by the fern.” Mari pointed at the wilted green clump.

With a sigh, Sora sat. She lifted one of its limp fronds and let it drop. Glancing up at Mari she said, “It’s in bad shape.”

“Yeah, you’re going to use the power of the moon to heal it.”

“Why?” Sora said.

“Because a Moon Woman does much more than simply Wash her people of Night Fever. She is a midwife. She is a Healer. She is an herbalist—a counselor—a savior and sometimes even the one who hastens the comfort of death to the unsavable.”

“Nowthatsounds like Leda,” Sora said.

“It’s going to sound like you, too. Or at least I’m going to teach you what Leda taught me. After that you can decide what kind of Moon Woman you want to be,” Mari said. “Now, ground yourself and get ready to concentrate.”

The night suddenly exploded with distant, hate-filled cries of men. Mari thought it sounded as if they were rabid wolves, howling their anger at the moon.

“I can’t concentrate withthatgoing on. It’s horrible!” Sora said.

“You have to. How do you think they’re going to be when they come to you? And I don’t even mean just the first time. I meanevery time.I Washed Xander on a second night—it hadn’t even been the normal three days between Washings—and he was turning into a monster in front of me. Sora, you have to be able to ground yourself and concentrate in the midst of chaos and danger and fear or they will hurt you, maybe even kill you. That I promise.”

“How did you do it? How did you get past your fear?” Sora asked, her eyes wide and liquid with unshed tears.

“In my mind I sketched the scene I wished was happening.”

“But I’m not an artist! That makes no sense to me,” Sora said.

“It makes sense to me, and maybe you can find some sense in it, too, if you just listen. When I draw I make real what’s in my imagination. I didn’t understand it until recently, but I think that’s what every Moon Woman does. She imagines the power of moonlight channeling through her and into others, and her imagining is so great, so real to her, that the power follows her will. So, what you have to do is figure out how to make what you imagine seem real.”

Sora chewed her bottom lip. “I have no idea how to do that.”

“Well, let’s try and see what happens. At least you’ll have a starting point,” Mari said.

Sora began to nod in agreement when another round of shrieks echoed through the night.

“They’re getting worse,” Sora said.

“They sound close together. That can’t be good. I thought men were always solitary at night—at least unless they’ve been Washed,” Mari said.

“It was a whole group of them that attacked my burrow. It was during the day. I think they may be traveling together.” Sora’s voice was ripe with fear.

“Hey, they won’t find us here. We’re safe. You’re safe,” Mari said.

Sora lifted her chin and nodded. “I’m ready now. I’m going to try to do this.”

“Okay, first ground yourself. I think the easiest way to do that is to slow your breathing. Here, breathe with me on a count of six. Inhale first: one, two, three, four, five, six,” she said breathily. “Hold it for one count, then exhale for six.” Mari counted, watching Sora. The girl was following her instructions, but with a lackluster attitude—as if she was just going through the motions to appease her.Mama, what do I do?She searched her mind as she continued to count for Sora.How do I get her to truly ground herself?