Page 11 (1/2)

The sun was high in the sky as Mal sprinted along the west border, every so often opening her mouth to taste the air

It remained

Always remained

The sour stench of human intruders Problem was she couldn&039;t find the source She and her partner had been patrolling for six hours straight-and nothing

Hiss cae that curved over the small stream that jutted out from the bayou With a shake of his auburn pelt, he shifted fro up beside higed , shook his head "It&039;s the sa land, sour stench, but no clues No intruders I don&039;t get it"

"They&039;ll be back Both hurin "Damn, I&039;d love to be the one who catches that prey"

Hiss&039;s grey eyes flashed "You and h outside the border to keep their scent quiet" Releasing a heavy breath, Mal shaded her eyes and looked out over the quiet bayou water "Maybe we should go take a look"

A wide grin split theacross the border?"

"Maybe"

"Those aren&039;t our orders"

She hed "I like patrolling with you, Mal Taking risks is important for a Hunter Keeps us sharp Keeps our instincts-"

"Ohhi she saw out of the corner of her eye

"What?" Hiss said, alert now "What is it? Hu out of her head, Mal ran to the edge of bayou and waded a foot into the water "Look"

Hiss followed her, shading his eyes as he searched the cal When his breath caught in his throat, Mal knew he&039;d seen it, too

"II didn&039;t think" Hiss stu that&039;s happened With Ashe&039;s sister, and her strange effects on the landI didn&039;t think we&039;d see it this year I didn&039;t think we&039;d see it ever again What aith happiness and pleasure, Mal waded in deeper until she was forced to swim Her clothes felt heavy in the water, but she didn&039;t care She couldn&039;t believe it She had to touch it

"Mon dieu, do you scent it?" Hiss called from the bank

Mal didn&039;t answer She was upon it now, its heady fragrance sla into her nostrils It made her insides vibrate, and her outsides, too She reached out, palo been as white as the clouds overhead Now, it was pale lavender, the color growing deeper and more vibrant with everytoo hard

The h they kneas the time of year for the Dyesse Fete, they had all been secretly praying the celebration of the birth of the Pantera-and the most important holiday in the Wildlands-would actually co at such a rapid rate, they&039;d wondered if any would re so powerful and rare as the Dyesse

She released the lily, and as she did, the two bracketing it started to change By tonight, even the hing with unabashed happiness, she turned back to Hiss on the shore, and a silent understanding passed between theht now," he called "I&039;ll tell Parish"

She swam toward him with fast, powerful strokes, hit the shore just as he shifted into his pu off the excess water that had transferred from her skin to the fur of her puo with rowled To the fete?

His pu with enthusias e It&039;s only right we celebrate together

Hiss was a friend, nothing od, it felt good to be asked And, she thought icked intent, rown ht of the year for the Pantera-the night when unbridled rinned at the auburn cat Okay

Great! I&039;ll pick you up around seven

He turned and darted off into the forest, and Mal glanced over her shoulder, crying out into the fragrant air as she saw yards of Dyesse lilies turn purple on the calm surface of the bayou