Nightwind's Shadow

by Cherime MacFarlane

Genres: Post-Apocalyptic Fantasy; Multicultural & Interracial Romance; Dystopian

Synopsis

JoJo is one of those who have forced the herds way. Predators will take anything or anyone now. He can save her if he wishes. What will Nightwind do?
“I loved this story every word of it”
Survival in the world after the fall is grim.
To survive a world of mutant predators, people band together. Nightwind's and JoJo's people choose different paths. His family reclaimed an old cliff dwelling, hers herd cattle and migrate. Their rules and ideologies do not mix. While her people prosper, his must roam farther from the safety of the village to hunt. Nightwind's exposure to the ever-present danger of predators increases with every day he must travel.
JoJo's partner leaves her alone and defenseless, running for her life. The lone hunter who sees her must choose. He can bring her back to the small hidden shelter he shares with his dog, Mouse, or he can leave her to her fate. If Nightwind allows her to see his find, the woman can never go home. The rats are coming. JoJo must become his shadow... or die.

Release date: July 3, 2017

Publisher: Paper Gold Publishing

Print pages: 295

Content advisory: steamy

Sample

 

Close to the pile of rocks he expected to spend the night under, he caught sight of a small plume of dust which appeared to be coming his way. Not sure what it might be, the young man strained to see what moved swiftly toward him.

It didn't seem to be a large pack of rats or lobos. As small as it was, he thought something fled from a predator. Torn between diving to safety and waiting to see what ran toward him from the swale, Nightwind shifted from side to side.

With one hand shielding his eyes, the hunter caught a flash of something as the source of the dust trail topped a small rise. Just as quickly, it disappeared again into a depression. The dust plume continued to float upward.

It topped another small ridge, and he suddenly glimpsed long hair as a figure turned to look over her shoulder. A woman ran toward him on foot. He and Mouse couldn't stay in the shelter he worked so hard to construct. The female wouldn't fit.

At once, he knew they must hurry back to the building. If they took shelter in the small room with the water trough, he and the dog could defend themselves and the female. But they must hurry.

It wouldn't help matters if she shied away from him. A hand signal to Mouse had the dog crouching on the ground. They would wait until the woman came close to make their presence known. She might try to run away if sufficiently frightened.

As he expected, she jerked and uttered a sharp cry when he vaulted up from the ground and grabbed her firmly by one arm. "Quiet!" Nightwind commanded. He hoped she would understand his words. "What are you running from?"

"Rats."

"Good. We can understand each other. I had a place to hide here, but it's too small for the three of us. I know another. We must run."

His hand closed around her wrist, and he pulled her toward the building even as he clucked the dog into action. His long legs moved along the ground quickly. The woman faltered, and he jerked hard on her arm to keep her moving.

When she fell to her knees, he pulled her up, placed an arm around her and helped her on. Mouse recognized the direction they took and dashed ahead. The woman's breath came in quick gasps. On reaching the building, her breath wheezed from her lungs.

Nightwind propped her up next to the door and pulled the pin from the hasp before jerking the door open. Mouse dashed in. He took hold of the woman and tossed her in. There was no time to be gentle. Inside, he pulled the door shut and slammed the bar across the wood and into the brackets.

With a hand on her chest, the woman lay on the floor trying to control her breathing. Nightwind fell to his knees then leaned back on his heels as he took in great gulps of air. The chattering of the pack of rats outside raised the hair on the back of his neck. The animals scratched at the wood of the door. He watched it wobble as they pushed on the panel trying to get inside.

Nightwind silently thanked the person responsible for building the place for their foresight. They had constructed the door so it opened outward. The pack would find it difficult to force the door in.

Belly to the floor, Mouse scooted over to lay her head on his thigh. It had been far closer than he liked. Mouse was not happy about it either. The high-pitched gibbering continued as the rats made their way around the outside of the building. They sought a way to get at the humans and the dog inside.

The opening. The thing that flashed in the sun and tinkled when he touched it, could the material withstand an attack from the pack? With little time to consider the matter, he must take steps to block the opening.