Dawn Study (Soulfinders #3)(62)

“I’ll sing every campfire song I know—loudly and off-key.”

“So? You sing everything loudly and off-key.”

I ignored them as I directed Horse back into the plains and asked Kiki to find us an ideal spot before full dark. Onora teasing Janco was a good sign. Each day she spent with us, she’d relaxed just a little bit more. Soon she’d be a true member of our herd.

Once we set up camp and ate supper, we created a schedule to check the shelter. I planned for the four of us to take turns, but Mara insisted she be included in the rotation.

“I need to practice being dangerous,” she said.

“All right, but you’ll have to go with Onora a couple times first to learn how to best approach the structure without being seen,” I said.

“Okay.”

“What about the Sandseed protection?” Ari asked. “Won’t that mess up Onora’s sense of direction?”

“We’re close enough to the border that it shouldn’t be a problem. And if they’re not back by a certain time, I’ll send Kiki to find them.”

“Rescued by a horse.” Janco snarked. “I can’t decide if that’s humiliating or just plain sad.”

Kiki snorted and whacked Janco on the head with her tail.

“Ow! That stings.”

“Be glad she didn’t kick you,” Onora said.

We soon settled into a routine, taking turns cooking, hunting and checking the shelter. One day turned into two.

Then three. The first day of the heating season dawned bright and clear. Not a cloud stained the sky, and the scent of living green floated on the air. Too bad the mood at our camp wasn’t as pleasant. A fog of worry tainted all our actions and the few comments.

Four days without a sign of them. Fear and panic mixed and simmered in my stomach. No way it would have taken Valek more than a couple days to find Leif. Unless my brother had gotten captured by the Cartel. To keep Mara occupied and, if I was being honest, to distract myself, we kept training with Onora. Ari and Janco also took turns teaching Mara self-defense as I practiced the skills they’d taught me over nine years ago.

Onora asked me how long we were going to wait.

I clamped my mouth shut before I could snap at her that we’d stay until they arrived. “Fisk knows we’re here,” I said. “He’ll send word if he hears anything.”

She drew a picture in the soft ground with a stick.

Drawing in a breath to calm my nerves—an impossible feat, but at least I could say I tried. “If they don’t appear by tomorrow night, I’ll send Ari, Janco and Mara to catch up with my father and Nutty.”

Onora met my gaze. “And us?”

“We’ll travel to Fulgor.”

“The boys won’t like that.”

“No, they won’t. But my father needs help with the spores. And he’ll need protection.” I frowned, hating to admit that he might not be safe in the Zaltana homestead. “There could be a few clan members working for the Cartel who might try to stop Esau or sabotage his efforts.”

On the fifth day, I couldn’t keep still as the desire to move, to do something, anything pulsed through my body with a mind of its own. I kept checking on Kiki at various times throughout the day.

This time, she nuzzled my neck in comfort, then glanced at her back, stepping close to me.

“You want to get some exercise?” I asked.

A nod.

I called over to Onora. “I’m going for a ride. Be back soon.” I grabbed Kiki’s mane and mounted. It’d been a while since I rode bareback.

Onora appeared next to Kiki. “Is this wise?”

“We’ll stay in the plains. No one can catch a Sandseed horse in the plains,” I said.

“Unless they’re riding another Sandseed.”

Insulted, Kiki snorted.

“Sandseed horses are good judges of character.” I patted her neck. “They wouldn’t let a dishonorable person ride them.”

Onora’s posture remained rigid.

“Do you really think Kiki would let anything happen to me?” I asked.

She blew out a breath. “All right, but don’t be gone long.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“You can joke. I’m the one who will be in trouble if you’re hurt.”

I looked at her.

“Yeah, I know. No one would blame me. Ari and Janco keep telling me I’ll have more success herding snow cats than protecting you, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t try.”

That was actually sweet. Kiki gave her the horse equivalent of a kiss on her cheek. Surprised, Onora touched the wet spot.

“Thank you,” I said. “We won’t be long.” I nudged Kiki with my knees.

Kiki broke into a gallop. Holding on to her copper mane, I enjoyed the fresh air blowing in my face as she raced over the rolling terrain. Without warning, she switched to her gust-of-wind gait. The ground beneath us blurred as her stride smoothed. We flew in a river of wind.

I doubted she sensed danger. Perhaps Kiki had just missed the speed. She couldn’t use the gait when we traveled with the others. And the plains were the only place she could truly fly.

Eventually she reverted back to a canter, then slowed to a walk. Her sides heaved as sweat darkened her coat. We remained in the plains, but I didn’t recognize the area until I spotted a familiar clump of stunted pines.