“Pondwader went with her?”
Diamondback shook his head. “No. Mother went alone. She did not wish Pondwader to go with her. I think she cares about him too much, Kelp, and she knew how difficult the journey would be.”
“So, where is Pondwader?”
“He ran after Mother. My father tried to stop him, to convince Pondwader to come here, to Manatee Lagoon with us … but Pondwader refused.”
Kelp felt that her heart might pound through her ribs. “Yes, he would have. It’s just like him. So, by now, they’re together?”
Diamondback didn’t look eager to answer that. “Yes, I’m sure they are. They must be.”
“And they are headed for Standing Hollow Horn Village to rescue your father, is that right?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
Kelp resumed walking, heading back toward the fire where Seedpod and Tailfeather sat in animated conversation. Seedpod’s arms waved expressively. A sick sensation had started prickling in her stomach. Pondwader knew he’d be going on this journey. That’s why he’d wanted to marry Musselwhite so quickly. It had to be. Is that what the ghosts had told him?
“What are you thinking, Kelp?” Diamondback asked as he limped at her side.
“How far is Standing Hollow Horn Village, Diamondback? Do you know?”
“From here? Let me see. At a warrior’s trot, you could make it in five days. Four, if you could run straight through.”
“If you could?”
“Well, yes. Cottonmouth has war parties everywhere. It would be suicide to try to run straight up the beach. You would certainly be spotted and killed.”
“So, I’ll have to sneak through the trees, you mean?”
Diamondback stopped, and pulled hard on her hand to jerk her around to face him. “What are we discussing?”
“Nothing, I just—”
“It’s too dangerous. I have thought of it myself. And dismissed the notion. You will be killed before you get halfway there.”
Kelp gazed up blankly, but he seemed to see straight through her, because his brows lowered. She said, “You must think I am very stupid, Diamondback.”
He gave her a sidelong look. “No,” he answered. “I just fear you may share many of my mother’s characteristics, young warrior woman.”
Kelp proudly lifted her chin. “Like what?”
Diamondback released her hand and ran his fingertips down the side of her face. When he reached her chin, he held it in his palm, and bent down to stare at her, nose-to-nose. Moonlight glinted from his dark eyes. “For one, the longing to do crazy things when someone you love is in danger. For another, the arrogance to feel you can do them alone. I think the last is the worst.”
Kelp smiled at him. “And you do not share any of your mother’s characteristics?”
Diamondback released her chin. With a sour tone, he replied, “Unfortunately, I share all of them.”
“That’s probably why I like you.”
A slow smile came to his face. “Do you like me?”
“Yes, but I would like you even better if you said you’d come with me. No, listen! It won’t take long. If we leave before dawn, and—”
“Great Mouse! You didn’t hear a word I said!”
“Oh, yes, I did.” Kelp took a step closer to him, standing with her fists clenched. “You said you’d been many days’ walk to the north of Windy Cove, which means you know the forest trails almost all the way to Standing Hollow Horn Village. You also said—”
“Why am I always attracted to warrior women?” Diamondback groaned. “It will be the death of me!”
“Well, you want that death to be meaningful, don’t you? Come with me, Diamondback. You can help your mother! And I can help Pondwader. He needs me. He really does. And I’ll bet …” she hesitated, lowering her voice. “I’ll bet your mother needs you, too.”
“Ah!” He lifted a finger and shook it. “Now the guilt comes. Are all women good at that? At making men feel guilty?”
Kelp smiled and linked her arm with his, hugging it warmly. “I knew you had a conscience,” she said. “How long will it take you to get ready? And what about your leg? Will you be able to run?”
“I never said I was going!”
Kelp frowned contemplatively. “Of course, if we follow the forest trails, we won’t be able to run very often. How much longer do you think the journey will take if we—”
“Kelp …” Diamondback wilted, his shoulders hunching forward. A quizzical expression creased his handsome face. “Let us take this wood back before my father comes to get it—then we’ll talk more. All right?”