Page 175 of Sun Warrior

“He’s planning on coming after you,” Wilkes wheezed. “He blames you for everything from the fire to Odysseus’s death.”

“We know. That’s why we’re leaving. We were just planning on—” Mari’s words broke off as she was filled with a torrent of emotion.

Fear, worry, anger!

Mari fell to her knees, wrapping her arms around herself as she tried to sift through the panic that barraged her mind, her heart, and her soul. Immediately she recognized the touch of Laru’s emotions. She drew several long breaths, trying to calm the panic that raced through her, threatening to break her concentration and, in doing so, break her connection to Laru.

Easy, Laru… easy. Slow down. I’m here. I’m here.

“Mari! What is it?” Sora was shaking her—trying to get her to speak.

Mari shook her head and met her friend’s gaze. “Have to concentrate. It’s Laru.”

“Oh, Goddess, no!” Sora breathed.

Mari squeezed her eyes shut, blocking out everything except her connection to Nik’s Companion.Laru! Tell me what has happened! Is Nik safe?

Her only answer was another deluge of emotions:Fear! Fear! Anger! Worry! Worry! Fear!

Laru, I don’t understand. Where are you? Where is Nik? Please, Laru! Try harder! Tell me!

More emotions inundated her—predominate among themFEAR.

“I don’t understand!” Mari spoke aloud this time, her voice choked with tears. “Tell me where you are!”

Still, Mari could feel Laru’s emotions as if they had originated within her own body, but the Shepherd’s thoughts were getting more and more jumbled—more and more chaotic. She was losing him—Mari knewbeyond any doubt she was swiftly losing her connection to the panicked canine.

Oh, Laru, please, please! Help me understand!

And then she felt the warmth of Rigel’s body beside her and his sense of security—his sense of serenity—cloaked her like a warm blanket on a winter’s night. In her mind’s eye, there was suddenly an image of Nik—of exactly how he had looked earlier that morning when he was jogging away from Rigel and her. And Mari’s eyelids flew open. She stared at her Shepherd.

“Pictures! He can tell me in pictures!” She closed her eyes again and imagined herself sketching a picture of the scene around her—sick Companions, Gathered Earth Walkers, and upset canines. With every ounce of her concentration, Mari imagined sending that picture to Laru.

The flood of emotions ceased. There was nothing left except emptiness.

Mari opened her eyes. Tears poured down her cheeks. She felt dizzy with fear.

“Mari, how can we help?” Sora asked, still holding tightly to her friend’s shoulder—supporting her.

“It’s Laru,” Mari sobbed. “He’s suddenly gone and—”

She gasped as a picture filled her mind so fully that it was as if the image were projected before her. Nik was there. His hands were bound behind his back and he was on his knees in a place Mari recognized instantly as the old meditation platform he’d taken her to when they were waiting for Sol to signal that it was safe to approach the Tribe. Nik’s face was bloody with scratches and his lip was split as if he’d been beaten.

Standing behind Nik was Thaddeus. He held a rope that was tied around Nik’s neck and he was laughing.

I understand, Laru! Hide! I’m coming!She sent an image to the big Shepherd of him hiding as she and Rigel ran through the forest on their way to the Tribe. Then she opened her eyes and got to her feet. Mari wiped her face and turned to Sora. “The Pack has to leave. Now. Doyour best to make Claudia and Wilkes comfortable. They can come with us. O’Bryan, lead the Pack to the Channel.” She looked at Wilkes. “You know exactly where those boats are, don’t you?”

“I do. I’ll show you.”

“Showthem.” Mari pointed to Sora and O’Bryan as she started moving away from the group.

“Mari! Where are you going?” Sora called.

“I’m going to save Nik,” she said.

“No!” Wilkes shouted, causing Mari to pause and look back at him. “You’re headed into a trap. Thaddeus has spoken often about luring you into camp and then capturing and keeping you, forcing you to heal the Tribe.”

“He will try, and he will fail. Moon Women are not so easily taken, and we can’t beforcedto do anything.” She turned and, with Rigel at her side, sprinted up the stairs to the burrow, running for her satchel and the slingshot she wielded with deadly accuracy.