[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
Aranur looked surprised, but Dion nodded. Aranur could hear Gray Hishn
easily when he looked into those yellow, lupine eyes, but he still did not
fully understand what the wolf could do.
If you get in trouble& His voice trailed off, and Dion touched his arm.
If I get in trouble, Hishn will stay with you still. I will not, she said
file:///K|/eMule/Incoming/Tara%20K.%20Harper%20-%...er%20-%20Wolfwalker%203%20-%20Storm%20Runner.html (304 of 421)22-12-2006 1:37:04
Storm Runner-Wolfwalker 03-Harper, Tara K
vehemently, let her cross the border to me, no matter what happens.
Tehena nodded as if it was settled, and Gamon called in the rest of the
fighters, going over the general plan, and discussing their gear. Aranur
listened with half an ear. Many of the faces were new to him at least ten
of the men and six of the women had ridden in from a town farther east
but his mind was on Dion. Such a tenuous bond to stretch across a river.
Dion would be near the other wolves, but she had already admitted that they
could hunt her and she would be able to do nothing about it. He was not
sure he trusted Hishn to keep her safe. If the raiders had several wolves, the
packsong there would be as loud in Dion s mind as Hishn s voice from the
distance. When Dion linked in, she could be drawn to them as they hunted
her, and Aranur would not be able to do anything about it.
Two days later, Dion stood at the stable and lashed her gear onto the back
of her saddle. Rafe, a man not much older than Aranur, checked his own
pack, then patted his riding beast on the neck and mounted. Beside him,
Dion gave her dnu s cinch a last tug.
Aranur handed her the reins. Ride safe, he said.
With the moons, she replied soberly, swinging into the saddle. Hishn
made a low, growling sound, and Dion made a face. We will be fine, she
reassured. Just make sure you are there to meet us when we return. I don t
mind running like rabbits before the wolves, but I have no desire to become
dinner.
He nodded reluctantly, hiding his uneasiness until she cantered off. But he
could not hide his concern from Gamon.
file:///K|/eMule/Incoming/Tara%20K.%20Harper%20-%...er%20-%20Wolfwalker%203%20-%20Storm%20Runner.html (305 of 421)22-12-2006 1:37:04
Storm Runner-Wolfwalker 03-Harper, Tara K
The gray-haired man watched Dion and the other scout speculatively.
Someone walk on your path to the moons?
Aranur raised his hand as Dion turned and waved at him before entering the
forest. I do not care how safe their plan seems, he said shortly. I don t
have a good feeling about this.
The older man glanced after Dion and the other scout. Then it is best, he
returned slowly, that we prepare for everything.
Aranur nodded. They made their way back to the armory with purpose.
file:///K|/eMule/Incoming/Tara%20K.%20Harper%20-%...er%20-%20Wolfwalker%203%20-%20Storm%20Runner.html (306 of 421)22-12-2006 1:37:04
Storm Runner-Wolfwalker 03-Harper, Tara K
Chapter 14
When the ancients landed.
The domes arose.
The Sky Hooks descended,
The satellites glowed,
The roads were planted,
The animals freed,
And what was left to do
But spread human seed?
Dion reined in at the top of the lower ridge, crossing her wrists on the
double horns of the saddle as she leaned forward to view the flattened
mountain. Beside her, Rafe brought his dnu to a halt and removed his
warcap, wiping the sweat from his brow with a dirty sleeve and ignoring the
smears it created. Dion hid her smile. Dirt was hardly a consideration at this
point. Soon, they would both be smearing mud and leaf dyes into their
clothes, covering their skins with streaks to break up their shapes and hide
the pale color of their faces. Rafe, his forehead already dark brown and an
file:///K|/eMule/Incoming/Tara%20K.%20Harper%20-%...er%20-%20Wolfwalker%203%20-%20Storm%20Runner.html (307 of 421)22-12-2006 1:37:04
Storm Runner-Wolfwalker 03-Harper, Tara K
earthy mustache above his lips, had a head start on his disguise.
Ahead of them were the Black Ravines. Shadowed by the steepness of their
sides and hidden by their trees, the Black Ravines cut the land into ragged
slices. In early spring, the storm torrents washed the bottoms clean; later
rains clogged them again with debris. In this shadowed gully, the clear, cold
creek splashed on rocks and bounced over dozens of fallen logs. All along
the race, white curves hid air pockets beneath the water s path and rushed
south, to give the Phye its swollen strength. At least they were far enough
north, Dion thought in relief. They could ford these creeks by dnu, and
later, when she and Rafe were on foot, they could wade or cross by stepping
on the debris that cluttered the fluid paths.
Dion studied the two trails that ran up and across the ravine. If they took the
trail that led down and up again, they would stay in the ravines until they
reached Sobovi s camp. If they took the other trail, they would approach the
Slot from the northeast. Dion frowned. The northeast trail would take twice
as long as the steep one. It was also more open to the sky. With the shadows
of hungry lepa spiraling overhead, Dion had little desire to leave the shelter
of the ravines, even for an easier ride. Glancing at the sun, she bit her lip,
then pointed toward the skinny trail that led into the draw and back up the
other side.
Rafe grunted. That the short cut?
She nodded. It should take us only two hours from here to reach the top of
the ridge. The main road is at least six kilometers longer, but, she added,
it is smoother.
Rafe shook his head. I d as soon get this over with as you would.
file:///K|/eMule/Incoming/Tara%20K.%20Harper%20-%...er%20-%20Wolfwalker%203%20-%20Storm%20Runner.html (308 of 421)22-12-2006 1:37:04
Storm Runner-Wolfwalker 03-Harper, Tara K
Without comment, Dion urged her dnu off the wide path and onto the
narrow trail. Its once-smooth gait became ragged as it humped over the
buried rocks that broke the surface of the dirt. As they approached a stand
of redwood on their right, Dion threw her right leg up over the saddle horns
so that she rode sidesaddle, hoping to avoid being stung by the sharp barbs
on the tree bark. The hairlike needles contained parasites, which injected
with the tree s sap into the bloodstream and made life a burning hell for
ninans. Dion was not concerned about the dnu; their fur was thick enough
that the needles would get caught in it, and the parasites squirted onto their
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]