Darkthaw by Kate A. Boorman Page B

me.”
    â€œNo,” Matisa says firm, standing and crossing her arms. “Kane’s family needs to get to the crossing, too, now. We will stay the course. You can bring the news to our people about the Dominion.”
    In this moment, I’m so full of love for Matisa that I want to shout.
    Isi launches into their language. Sounds like he’s protesting.
    â€œSpeak English!” Matisa snaps. “Em and Kane deserve to know what you think.”
    â€œFine!” Isi shouts. He whirls on us, and his voice could tear the hide off a mule deer. “Here’s what I think: I think I would be shot by my own mother if I showed up back home without Matisa, telling them I’d left her to a pale death-bringer.”
    Matisa’s eyes widen in horror. She shoots a look at me, grabs at his elbow, and pulls him toward her. “Em is our
friend
,” she hisses.
    Isi pulls his arm away. “Is she?” he asks. “A friend who adds to the burden of others, then asks them to abandon their wounded family so she does not have to take responsibility for that burden?”
    Blood rushes to my face.
    Matisa’s eyes blaze. “Em was doing what her heart told her. And I am doing what mine tells me.”
    He turns away, mutters, “I knew this would happen.”
    â€œWhat are you talking about?”
    He wheels back. “I trusted you! I have done what you asked. When you wanted to find the settlement, I followed you. When you wanted to stay at that settlement, I stayed. And then you were sure we needed to bring Em along when we finally, finally returned. But enough is enough, Matisa. You can’t keep chasing after dreams you pretend show the future.”
    Hurt flashes in Matisa’s eyes. Her voice is a growl. “I never asked you to come with me.”
    Isi steps back like he’s been slapped.
    I need to stop this. “Isi’s right,” I blurt out. “Nishwa can’t make the journey with us like that, he needs to go back to your people.”
    Isi’s eyes flicker to me, but he only looks annoyed I’ve spoken at all.
    â€œI said Isi can take him,” Matisa fires back. I’ve never seen her angry like this. Her eyes have a sheen to them, and two bright spots have appeared on her cheeks.
    â€œAnd I said I’m not leaving you here!” Isi shouts.
    They glare at each other. Matisa’s hands are curled into fists.
    â€œAre you two finished?” a voice asks. We look to Nishwa, who is peering at us with one eye cracked open.
    Matisa hurries to his side, kneeling and pushing a chunk of hair behind her ear. She helps him sit. “We thought you were asleep.”
    â€œDifficult to sleep with all the noise,” he says, wincing as he pushes himself up and looks around at us all. “So here is a way to get some quiet: nobody goes anywhere. Matisa, stay with the group, Isi, stay with Matisa, I will take myself back.”
    Isi snorts, and Matisa starts to protest, but Nishwa cuts them off: “My leg is hurt, I’m not dying. If I rode hard I could be home in four days.”
    â€œThat is a terrible plan,” Isi says. “It’s clear there are newcomers out here. No. We come with you.”
    â€œI will be on a horse, and I know the route back,” he says. “I have Em’s tincture. And I’ll take a rifle.”
    We all shift at that. There are two rifles left. If he takes one . . .
    â€œYou don’t know how to fire it,” Matisa protests.
    â€œAndre taught me how to aim.” Nishwa waves his hand.
    Isi snorts again.
    â€œIsi, Matisa believes she and Em must stay together,” Nishwa says. “You cannot ask Em to leave her people, and you cannot ask Matisa to leave Em.” He speaks some words in their language.
    Isi’s jaw works hard, but he stays silent.
    â€œLet me take myself back, or come with me and leave Matisa here. But she is not coming with us.”
    Isi stares