Wincing in pain, Claudia rinsed off her arms before drinking thirstily. Then she turned to face Wilkes. The wind carried her voice over the water to them.
“Go on without me. If you find Mari, you can come back for me. I’m holding you up,” she said.
Wilkes shook his head weakly. “I’m as bad as you. I just haven’t started puking. Yet. No, we’ll go on together. We have to. Thaddeus will miss us sooner or later, and my best guess is that he’ll come after us—out of spite if for no other reason. Out here, away from everyone, he’ll kill us without a second thought.”
Claudia made a shaky gesture, pointing back to the log she’d been sick by and the bow and quiver of arrows that rested beside it with her travel satchel and cloak. “Then if he tracks us to here, I’ll hold him off so that you can get away. Finding Mari is our only chance.”
“Doesn’t sound like they destroyed the Goddess, and it doesn’t look like they had the energy to do it, even if they wanted to,” Nik said.
“But a Hunter is tracking Warriors?” Davis’s hushed voice was filled with shock. “How can that be?”
“Let’s find out.” Nik stood and waved his hands above his head, shouting a greeting: “Hello, Companions!”
“Nik?” Wilkes said, and then Davis stood, too, and Wilkes’s voice was filled with relief. “Nik! It is you! Oh, thank the Sun!”
Nik and Davis hurried down the steep bank with Laru and Cammy bounding down ahead of them. They jumped into the creek, swimming strongly, to be greeted by the Companions’ two excited Shepherds.
Not far behind the canines, Nik and Davis sloughed through the creek, fighting the stronger current. When they emerged from the water, Claudia and Wilkes were there, standing beside each other, looking as relieved as the canines and a lot more wobbly.
Wilkes went to Nik and threw his arms around the younger Companion, completely taking him by surprise.
“Damn, boy! I cannot tell you how good it is to see you!” Wilkes said.
“Is Mari with you?” Claudia asked, hugging the equally surprised Davis.
“No, it’s just us. Who else is with you?” Nik asked, looking around the clearing with the sharp eyes of a Warrior.
“No one. We left. We had to find you—and Mari,” Wilkes said. Then a wrenching cough had him breathless, bending at his waist, unable to continue.
“What has happened? Why are you here, and what happened to the Goddess image?” Nik asked, putting his arm around the Leader of the Warriors and helping him back to sit and lean against a tree as he struggled to catch his breath.
“Goddess image?” Wilkes gasped between coughs.
“She was there. In the middle of that blackened mess,” Davis said, pointing.
Wilkes shook his head. “I don’t know what happened here. It was like that when we got here.”
“The Tribe has been infected with the Skin Stealer disease,” Claudia began as Davis helped her to sit beside Wilkes while Laru and Cammy curled up next to the two Shepherds. “We don’t know how. All we know is that Thaddeus had something to do with it, or at the very least he knows some kind of cure, which he’s not sharing with anyone except his handpicked minions.”
“Thaddeus isn’t sick, too?” Davis asked.
“No. But he’s changed. Has been since he got back from our foraging mission,” Wilkes gasped between breaths. “But it’s worse now than ever. Odysseus died.”
Nik felt a jolt of shock. “Wait, how? Not from that dagger wound?”
“Yes. It festered. Got infected. And Thaddeus has gone completely mad. He talks to Odysseus as if he’s still beside him,” Claudia said. “And what he says is crazy.”
“We had to leave. Had to find you and Mari.”
“Where are the other Warriors?” Nik asked.
When Wilkes didn’t answer, Claudia spoke for him. “They turned from Wilkes. All of them. All except me.”
“What the hell are you talking about? How could anyone choose Thaddeus to lead over Wilkes? He’s a bully—a terrible leader who threatens and blusters demanding respect instead of earning it. I know! He was my sunfire-be-damned mentor and I hated every moment of it.” Davis sounded incredulous.
Wilkes shook his head sadly. “The people who are following him—they’re all angry, too.”
“Or they believe Thaddeus—that the only way we’re going to survive, going to, in his words, make our Tribe great again, is to do exactly what he demands—track down Mari, drag her back to the Tribe, and force her to heal everyone,” Claudia said, coughing wetly and looking disgusted.
“They’d have to kill me first,” Nik said darkly.
“That’s Thaddeus’s plan,” Wilkes said.
“But Cyril and the Council couldn’t be in agreement with him,” Davis said.
“There is no more Council. They’re all dead,” Wilkes said.
“All of them were killed in the fire except Cyril. Thaddeus killed him,” Claudia said.
“Has the Tribe gone completely mad, too? How could they allow Thaddeus to kill Cyril?” Nik said.
“They don’t know Thaddeus killed him,” Claudia explained. “They think he died in the fire, too. But I heard him talking to Odysseus, even though his Terrier was dead—boasting about ending Cyril’s life.” Claudia wiped her arm across her sweaty forehead. “You wouldn’t recognize the Tribe, Nik. More than half were killed in the fire, with another five hundred or so more wounded. Then this disease—this terrible sickness—struck us. We escaped at dusk last night, and it had already killed more than half of the wounded.”
“With the Warriors turning from me, Thaddeus and his thugs have taken over,” Wilkes said.
“It makes no sense,” Davis said. “I don’t understand how our people could allow this to happen. Most Companions don’t even like Thaddeus, let alone trust or respect him.”
“He’s stronger than everyone else,” Wilkes said. “Especially after the sickness hit us. Anyone who would have stood up to him either became too ill or is so filled with frustration and anger that they’re ready to do anything Thaddeus wants them to do—all in the name of making the Tribe great again.”
“So, we left,” Claudia said. “We came to warn you and Mari. This thing—this disease—it has something to do with Skin Stealers. That’s something else I overheard Thaddeus saying. He also said he knows a cure, but it sounded like it’s not a complete cure—it’s more like a change. And it has something to do with flesh and the canine Companions. I couldn’t figure out exactly what he was talking about, but it sounded disturbingly like the Skin Stealers and their need to fillet flesh from people and merge it with their own.” Claudia paused to cough, and her whole body shuddered. Finally she finished, “I don’t know if Mari can cure us, even if she agrees to help us, but Wilkes and I had to try to find her—find you—and warn you before it’s too late. Don’t go back there. You can’t go back to the Tribe. Not like it is now. Thaddeus will kill you.”
“We know this disease,” Nik said. “It’s affected the Earth Walkers, too. And, you’re right, there is more to it than an infection. If we’re correct, and you’ll have to discuss it with Mari, but from what you’re telling me it seems as if we are, the cure Thaddeus has taken has more to do with mutating the infection than actually getting rid of it.”
“You were right to get away. Right to warn us,” Davis said. “And Mari can cure you.”
“But will she?” Wilkes asked.
“Not if you try to drag her back to the Tribe,” Nik said. “And if you plan on trying that, you’re going to have to go through me and an entire Pack of people, canines, and one very tough feline who will fight to protect her.”
“Not that she needs our protection. She’s fierce all on her own,” Davis added.
Wilkes shook his head. “We’re not capable of forcing anyone to do anything.”
“That’s right now. What about when you’re healed and well again? What then?” Nik asked pointedly.
“I wouldn’t force Mari to go there—bac
k to the Tribe.” Claudia looked away, shaking her head sadly. “It’s been my home for my entire life, but I don’t even want to go back there.”
“What about you?” Nik asked Wilkes.
“There is nothing for me back there. Ethan and his Ginger died in the fire. The Warriors have turned from me. I don’t recognize my people or my home. My place in the Tribe is no more.” Wilkes’s eyes were dull—his gaze far away.
“There’s a place for you in our Pack,” Davis said. “They’ll accept you. Both of you, and your Companions.”
“What is a Pack?” Claudia asked.
“It’s our new version of a Tribe,” Davis said, pride obvious in his voice. “We’ve blended Tribe, Clan, and Chain to form something new. Something where people can be themselves without being banished or judged.”
“And we’re leaving here. Forever. To build new lives in a new world,” Nik said. “You’re welcome to join us. Or, I’m hesitant to speak for Mari, but I do know her well enough to be able to assure you that she won’t let you suffer, whether you choose to join us or not. She’ll heal you, but she also won’t let you sabotage our Pack, so you may find yourselves healthy, but tied up in a tree somewhere on the edge of Tribal territory.”
“She holds that much power over you?” Wilkes said.
Nik laughed. “Yep, over me and everyone in the Pack. But it’s not just Mari. There are other women in leadership positions. The Pack is a matriarchy. Everyone’s opinions are respected, but women have the final say.”
“Sounds intriguing, and a refreshing change from what’s happened in the Tribe. This new Pack interests me very much,” Claudia said.
“Is there a place for a Leader who has lost his Warriors?” Wilkes asked.
“There’s a place for everyone who swears loyalty to the Pack and who wants to build a better life,” Nik said.
“I’d like to try,” Wilkes said. “I’m not as young as the rest of you, but my experience should count for something.”
“It counts for a lot, my friend,” Nik said.
“So, where is this Pack and your Mari?” Claudia asked. “Nearby, I hope. I don’t know how much farther I can walk—Wilkes and I are getting sicker and sicker.”
“They’re not close,” Nik said. “But Davis can help you get to Mari.”
“No! We agreed I’d go with you in case something happened,” Davis said.
“That plan has changed now. Wilkes and Claudia will never make it to the birthing burrow without your help, and there isn’t time for me to go back with you—or wait here for you to come back. Davis, you know what this means. We need to leave at dusk—tonight—instead of dawn the day after tomorrow.”
Davis was shaking his head. “The Pack isn’t ready.”
“But they will be once you get back there and tell Mari what’s happened.” Nik turned to Wilkes. “How likely is it that Thaddeus will track you when he figures out you’ve left?”
“Very likely,” Wilkes said.
“Which means he could track us straight to Mari,” Claudia said.
“And that’s why Mari and the Pack have to move. Now,” Nik said. “Davis, you and Cammy run ahead of Wilkes and Claudia. Tell Mari everything. She’ll send people back down the path to find Wilkes and Claudia and help them to the burrow.”
Wilkes nodded. “Odin and Mariah can track Cammy. We’ll follow you, Davis.”
“Okay, that sounds good,” Davis said.
Nik met Wilkes’s fever-glazed eyes. “I need to know where the Mother Plants are.”
Nik was watching the ex–Leader of the Warriors carefully, gauging his reaction. He saw surprise in the man’s eyes and then understanding. “That’s why you’re here. You’re on your way back to the Tribe to get a Mother Plant.”
“I am,” Nik said.
“If they catch you, they’ll kill you,” Wilkes said. “And I don’t mean just Thaddeus and his Hunters. The Warriors will, too. Thaddeus has convinced almost everyone that you and Mari are responsible for the fire and for Sol’s death.”
“He was my father! Thaddeus killed him—not me!”
“We know that,” Claudia said.
“Hell, Nik, I was there. I saw everything that happened. I know you weren’t responsible, but many of the Warriors were there that night, too. They saw what I saw, and somehow they have completely rewritten an alternative past with Thaddeus’s words. If they catch you, they’ll kill you, Nik,” Wilkes repeated.
“No, not right away they won’t,” Claudia said. “They’ll catch you and hold you as bait for Mari.”
“Then they won’t catch me. Are you going to tell me where I can find the Mother Plants or not?”
Wilkes sighed. “Maeve and her women are tending them in the topmost branches of the old pine that holds the meditation platform. But, Nik, it’s also the temporary infirmary. There are sick people everywhere. It’s going to be almost impossible to get in there and get out without being seen.”
Nik narrowed his eyes, thinking. Then he sat up straighter and grinned at his friends. “Well, what if I’m seen, but not recognized?”
“What do you mean? Everyone knows who you are—and who Laru is,” Claudia said.
Nik nodded. “Yeah, that’s true. So, Laru needs to stay hidden, and I just need to blend in with everyone else.”
Davis clapped Nik on the back. “I get it! You’re going to pretend to be sick.”
“Very sick.” Nik pulled the hood of his travel cloak low over his face. He hunched his shoulders and bent as if his stomach were paining him. Then he coughed wrenchingly and wiped his mouth with a shaky hand.
“That’s good,” Claudia said. “But you’ll need to cover your arms and wrists so that no one can see you don’t have these sores.”
“Dirty yourself up, too. The Tribe stopped washing a couple of days ago,” Wilkes said.
“I’ll do one better,” Nik said. “I’ll dirty up and cover my arms, but I’ll also drag some brambles across my wrists and my face—anywhere that might be seen. I’ll make sure I look a mess.”
“No, Nik! You can’t do that. You’ll catch the blight,” Claudia said.
Nik smiled gently at her. “And if I do, our Moon Woman will simply heal me. Again.”
“If anyone stops you, hide your face and mutter that you just wanted to sit with the Mother Plants. That they comfort you,” Wilkes said. “I heard Maeve say that once.”
“Maybe I’ll get lucky and Maeve will be the only person I run into,” Nik said.
“No,” Wilkes said firmly. “You don’t want to be seen by her. She’s changed since she found out about Sol’s death.”
“Changed so much that she would cause harm to the son of the man she loved?” Davis asked.
Wilkes and Claudia exchanged a worried look before he nodded slowly. “I think you’re going to find that much of the Tribe is almost unrecognizable.”
“And I think you should not talk to anyone. Get in. Stay silent. Get out,” Davis said.
“I agree.” Nik studied Wilkes and came to a final decision. “I’m going to trust you, but if my trust is misplaced you’ll have to deal with Mari and Sora and O’Bryan and Antreas—”
“And Sheena and a whole bunch of Earth Walkers and me,” Davis added.
“You can trust me. I give you my word, but I understand that the only way for you to truly believe me is for me to show you,” Wilkes said.
“You’re right about that, but this is a start. Is anyone guarding the Channel and the boats moored there?”
Wilkes snorted in disgust. “No. Everyone is too sick. We can barely feed ourselves and keep shelter over our heads. Thank the Sun for the sow and her piglets that wandered into the Tribe several days ago. The rabbits are almost gone and—”
“Wait! Did you say ‘sow’?” Nik said.
“Yeah. It’s all we’ve had to eat since the sickness hit. Well, that and a few rabbits, but most of the rabbits have to be saved for the canines.”
“Did you see the sow?” Nik asked. br />
“Yeah, it was my arrow that felled her.” Wilkes shook his head, remembering. “She was monstrously mad. Her piglets were squealing like something was killing them and she charged into camp trying to find them. When we caught them I said not to kill them—that we should raise them. But who knows what’s happened to them since.”
“Did you notice anything about the sow that was strange?”
“She was all bloody, like she’d just come through a battle, but the blood wasn’t her own. And it smelled terrible.”
“That’s it,” Nik said to Davis. “That’s how they infected the Tribe. Same as the deer that infected Thaddeus and the Earth Walkers.”
“What are you talking about?” Claudia asked.
“Davis will explain on the way.” He turned to the young Hunter. “You need to get them to the burrow. Fast. Tell Mari everything. Then tell her the leaving has been moved up to tonight at dusk. She’ll understand.”
“I hope so, because I certainly don’t,” Wilkes said.
“You will, but I promise that won’t make it any better,” Nik said. He stood and offered a hand to Wilkes, who took it and allowed Nik to pull him to his feet as Davis did the same for Claudia.
“Tell me truly—Mari can really cure us?” Wilkes said.
“She can. I give you my word on it,” Nik said.
“I’ve seen her do it—three times,” Davis said.
“Nik, circle around and approach the meditation platform from the north. Follow the path of the fire from the Channel side. Anyone who has the energy is focused on trying to make the surviving nests habitable, and getting the people back up into the trees,” Wilkes said.
“Good to know. Thank you.”
“And remember, if they see Laru they’ll know it’s you,” Claudia said. “The entire Tribe knows he chose you after Sol died. There was a lot of talk about how the canines still consider him their Alpha.”
Nik rubbed Laru’s head and gave him a fond smile. “That’s because he is their Alpha.”
“Alphas don’t like to hide,” Wilkes said, giving Laru a look.
“Alphas are also extremely smart and they put the good of the Tribe before themselves. My Laru will put the good of the Pack before himself.”