Page 107 of Sun Warrior

“Sora, no one is going to take Chloe away from you.” Mari sat beside her friend on the soft, mossy ground and leaned against the big log. “But she is very young, and can’t be parted from Fala yet.” Mari looked to Rose for help. “Right?”

Rose nodded. “Yes, Chloe’s only a couple of weeks old. Fala won’t wean her until the litter is about six or seven weeks old, and they won’t leave her until they are twelve weeks old or more, which is why Chloe choosing you is such a surprise. Actually, I’ve never heard of a pup this young choosing a Companion. They always make their choice when they’re between about four and six months old.”

“Oh, I thought everyone was so shocked because I’m an Earth Walker,” Sora said.

“Well, that’s surprising, too,” Nik said. “But a canine’s choice cannever be manipulated—so little Chloe knew what she was doing when she let her choice be known.”

“Yeah, I think you’ll find that that little one has a definite mind of her own,” said Davis.

“They do tend to have the same personality as their Companions,” Nik muttered.

“What did you say?” Sora narrowed her eyes at him.

“Not a thing! Not one thing,” Nik said, grinning. “But Mari is right. We do have things that need to be discussed, especially because of Chloe’s age.”

“All right. Let’s discuss,” Sora said.

Mari shared a long look with Nik before she began speaking. “O’Bryan, Davis, Rose, Claudia, and Antreas. All of you belonged elsewhere before the fire. Since then you have chosen to find safety and healing here, with us. Some of you—Davis and Antreas—have even sworn to follow Nik and to be part of his new Pack, allied to our Clan. And we welcome you. Others—Rose, Claudia, and O’Bryan—have yet to decide, or at least have yet to tell us their decision.”

“What does that have to do with Chloe?” Sora asked.

Rose answered right away, “Well, Chloe should stay close to Fala for about ten more weeks. Which means if I choose to return to the Tribe of the Trees, Chloe will have to return with me until she’s old enough to leave Fala and join Sora permanently.”

Sora’s face had gone white and she hugged Chloe so tightly that the pup yelped in protest, which had Sora loosening her grip and covering Chloe’s face with apologetic kisses. When Sora recovered, she stared up at Rose and spoke slowly but emphatically. “If you decide to return to the Tribe, I ask that you let me go with you. I can’t be away from Chloe.”

Rose sighed with relief. “And that’s all I needed to hear—that you love Chloe enough you would risk your freedom, maybe even your life, just to be with her. No, Sora. I’ve already made my decision. After being here and feeling the peace and acceptance I’ve found with your people, I’ve realized I don’t want to go back. I want a life that isn’t tainted by slavery and laws we’ve outgrown. And I’ll admit that yourability to cure the blight weighed heavily on my decision. So, if you’ll have me, I’ll swear loyalty to the Pack as well.”

“Oh, thank you!” Sora said, taking Rose’s hand and squeezing it.

“Of course we’ll have you,” Mari said.

“Yes, you, Fala, and the pups will be a wonderful addition to our Pack,” Nik said.

“I wish to swear to the Pack as well.” Sheena spoke up. Mari and Nik turned to her in surprise. She shrugged. “I can’t go back there without Crystal. Captain and I need a new beginning, and I like these people, these Earth Walkers. I like that they’re ruled by women. It’s how it should be.”

“We happily accept you,” Mari said.

“I go where Nik goes.” O’Bryan looked from Nik to Mari. “But I wonder something. Would you accept other Companions if they wanted to leave the Tribe?”

Nik didn’t hesitate. “Yes,” he said firmly.

“That’s right,” Mari said. “All who wish to make a change—to live together in peace, without prejudice, without judgment, without enslaving others—are welcome to join us.”

“Then I want to join the Pack,” O’Bryan said.

“Nik, when are you going back?” Davis asked, causing everyone to turn to him.

“But I didn’t think anyone was going back!” Sora said.

“I have to,” Nik said. “I have to get a Mother Plant.”

“What’s a Mother Plant? And why are all of you clustered around Sora?” Isabel asked as she, Danita, and Jenna joined the group, their arms filled with herbs, and baskets and wooden bowls that held the salves and tinctures they’d been working on.

“One of Fala’s pups has chosen Sora as her Companion,” Rose explained.

“Seriously?” Jenna asked.

“Wow!” Danita said. “Congratulations, I think.”