“It’s Desert Herd,” his friend informed him. “Look, there’s Sandwing.”
Star and Bumblewind trotted forward to greet the over-stallion of the soaking-wet and exhausted herd. Their climate was always hot, so their coats were thin, and so were they. Star was glad winter was over, for Desert Herd’s sake. “Greetings,” Star said, shaking the water off his hide.
The handsome palomino over-stallion was wary of Star, approaching slowly, but the threat of the Destroyer created an uneasy truce between them. “Any sign of Nightwing?” Sandwing asked.
“He’s close.” Star bristled at the thought of Nightwing. The heady force of the Destroyer curled around him like an invisible mist—cloying at his mind and tugging at him like a persistent foal. “Very close,” he added.
Sandwing swiveled his ears, tracking all sounds in the area. Star noticed the differences between them. Since Desert Herd steeds kept their lineage pure, they weren’t mixed with the heavier steeds of northern Anok. Sandwing was tall, thin, and bound with tight, flat muscles. He had an extra-deep chest for breathing in high altitudes where Desert Herd steeds liked to fly, and his hooves were extra hard to deal with the extreme heat of the desert floor. “A storm is coming,” said Sandwing.
Star nodded. “I know.”
“What does Nightwing want?” asked the over-stallion, clearly baffled by the threat he couldn’t see.
Star tossed his sopping mane. “I don’t know exactly, but I can feel him. His intentions aren’t good.”
“And you think hiding in there is going to save us?” Sandwing nodded toward the Trap.
Star followed his eyes. “It might.”
Sandwing seemed to appreciate the harsh truth. “Not every steed from my herd came,” he said.
Star flicked his ears. “What do you mean?”
“Many stayed behind. They won’t leave our homeland.”
Star dropped his head, sighing. “The same is true for Jungle Herd. They arrived yesterday, but not all of them, and not their over-stallion. He’s hiding the rest deep in their territory, in the Cloud Forest. And Snow Herd has refused to hide altogether.”
“That’s good, isn’t it? They’re sick with the plague.”
“We would have kept them quarantined,” said Star. He didn’t think it was good that Snow Herd wasn’t coming. If the plague didn’t wipe them out, Nightwing might; but they didn’t want to owe Star, or River Herd, for anything.
Sandwing shrugged. “I understand. I almost didn’t come myself.”
“Why did you change your mind?”
“The newborns,” said Sandwing, blinking raindrops out of his eyes. “They deserve a chance to grow up.”
Star nodded, thoughtful.
Sandwing faced his herd, which numbered in the thousands. “Into the Trap,” he ordered them. “Stay together and go in deep.” His mingling herd instantly divided themselves into groups and marched into the trees in perfect, straight lines. Morningleaf knew a lot about the other herds from legends, and she’d told Star that Desert Herd had a fierce system of discipline and the best-trained army in Anok.
“I’ll show you to your camp,” offered Bumblewind. Silverlake had sectioned the Trap into five encampments, each complete with a water source, to help prevent the inevitable fighting that would break out in close quarters.
Sandwing trotted behind Bumblewind but said over his shoulder, “May the Ancestors be with you, Star.”
Star had been watching the colorful lights migrate across the sky almost every evening, swirling over his head, and he could feel the love of his Ancestors beaming down on him. “They are,” he said to the over-stallion.
Silverlake landed next to Star, startling him out of his thoughts. “You were right,” she said. “I can’t see the pegasi once they enter the forest, and the ceiling of leaves and branches is blocking most of the rain. It’s comfortable in there, a good place to hide.”
“Let’s fly over it and see how it looks from above.”
Silverlake nodded, and they kicked off and glided over the trees, which were lightly flecked in fast-melting snow. They saw no sign of Desert Herd from the air. “This is good,” said Star.
But Silverlake had stopped listening. She narrowed her eyes. “Look there.” Her gaze turned south. “Something is wrong.”
Dewberry, who Silverlake had appointed to watch for predators and incoming herds, was flying fast over the Trap, her ears pinned and her neck flat. She looked alarmed. Star and Silverlake flew toward her, and they met over the trees, hovering in place.
“What is it?” Silverlake asked her.
“A lone stallion is coming this way. He’s injured.”
“A Desert Herd steed?” asked Silverlake.
“I don’t think so, but I didn’t stick around to find out,” said Dewberry, breathing hard. “He needs help. Now.”
“Show us where,” whinnied Star.
Dewberry led Star and Silverlake away from the Trap. Thundersky galloped into the clouds to join them. “What’s happening?” he asked. “Is it Nightwing?”
Silverlake answered. “No. It’s an injured stallion, alone. He’s coming this way.”
Star followed them all to the flat, treeless tundra. Thick clouds blocked out the sun, so the intruding stallion was hard to see at first. Pale-blue feathers littered the trail behind him, and the stallion was dark silver. Star’s heart sank. “It looks like Iceriver.”
Silverlake gasped. “Oh no—he’s supposed to be with Morningleaf!” She angled her wings and jetted forward. The rest followed.
Star’s chest tightened as he flew closer. It was Iceriver. They landed, surrounding him. Iceriver’s wings were missing all their flight feathers, and dried blood crusted the top of his head. His tongue hung from his mouth, devoid of color.
“What happened?” cried Silverlake.
Iceriver had aged many seasons in the short time he’d been gone. His muscles sagged, and his back had hollowed. The rain splattered his body, and he ignored it. His eyes looked dead already. “Frostfire,” he said, wheezing. “He . . . took Morningleaf.”
Star sucked in his breath, and his gut lightened like a leaf caught in the wind.
“Your own colt did this to you?” gasped Silverlake.
Iceriver nodded, groaning with pain.
“Where did he take her?” asked Thundersky, pawing the moss, his eyes murderous.
Iceriver shook his head. “They knocked me out. When I woke, my team was dead, and my flight feathers were gone. They flew away, leaving no hoofprints to tell me which way they went.” He gagged on his dry tongue.
Star surged forward, his heart racing. “I’m going to heal you.”
Iceriver shook his head. “No. I delivered my message. I’m done.” His legs buckled and he fell.
“Get up,” Thundersky ordered.
Iceriver grunted, and Star saw the clouds reflected in the stallion’s eyes, drifting across them like misty spirits. “Please let me help you.” Star’s throat seized as he forced out the words. He felt sick. Iceriver was dying.
Iceriver took several deep breaths before he exhaled slowly and his body relaxed. “I see Lightfeather,” he said, “and all my foals.” He sank into the tundra moss with a peaceful expression on his face, and his vacant eyes remained open. Iceriver was gone.
Silverlake burst into tears.
Star stared at Iceriver, stunned at his final words. He was with Lightfeather, Star’s mother, and he was happy to see her. Star had never bonded with Iceriver, who was his grandsire, maybe because Iceriver had let his mate Petalcloud chase Lightfeather out of Snow Herd, but now Star had lost his chance to know his grandsire better.
Star exhaled and let go of his feelings. It was too late, and Morningleaf was in danger.
Thundersky spoke softly. “Fly straight and find your rest, Iceriver, born of Snow Herd, council member of River Herd, and sire of Lightfeather.”
After a long moment of silence, with only the sound of the rain between them, Dewberry spoke qu
ietly but firmly. “We have to sink his body in Pebble Lake,” she said, referring to the large pond they’d named after Shadepebble, who’d almost drowned in it.
Star and the others stared at her as though she’d gone mad.
She explained. “We can’t make a grave—Nightwing will see it and know that pegasi live near. If we’re hiding the living, shouldn’t we also hide the dead?”
“Dewberry makes sense,” said Thundersky.
“We drink that water,” said Silverlake, always the practical one.
“There’s another over there.” Dewberry pointed east.
“All right,” said Thundersky, his voice ragged with grief for Iceriver. “Please gather some stallions, Dewberry, and take care of Iceriver. There’s no time for a ceremony; we have a greater concern to attend to: Morningleaf is Frostfire’s captive.”
“Right away,” said Dewberry, and she left to get help.
Silverlake paced, trampling the muddy soil. “Why would Frostfire kill Morningleaf’s protectors and take her like that? We saved Shadepebble.”
“He lied to us, and he broke his promise,” said Thundersky, shaking his head as though he should have known.
“But why?” Silverlake repeated.
“Maybe Rockwing is behind this. He used Morningleaf once before,” Thundersky reminded her, “to trade her for Star.”
“Of course,” said Silverlake. “But what does he want this time?” The cold afternoon breeze blew her soaking wet forelock into her eyes. She tossed the hair out of her way. “It must have been his plot all along. Frostfire wasn’t looking for Shadepebble; he was looking for Morningleaf.”
“Or he was looking for both,” said Star. “And we delivered them to him,” Bitterness squeezed his throat.
Silverlake interrupted. “It’s done. Let’s just find her.”
“We chose Frostfire so that I wouldn’t be able to find her,” said Star in agony. “Where do we start?”
Suddenly, orange feathers tumbled from the sky. Star looked up to see a lone figure. It landed in front of them just as lightning rattled the darkening sky. It was Brackentail! Star tensed, his gut clenching. Had the Betrayer betrayed them again?
28
RETURNING HOME
BRACKENTAIL LANDED, OUT OF BREATH.
“Why aren’t you with Morningleaf?” Star brayed.
With heaving sides, he sputtered. “Frostfire attacked the stallions. I fought him, I tried . . . but Morningleaf screamed at me to get you.” He glanced at Star and began to cry.
“You didn’t follow her!” whinnied Star.
“What could I do?” he asked, wiping his eyes. “Free her from Frostfire by myself? I came to get help.” He dropped his head. “I’m sorry.”
Star flinched when a clap of thunder shocked his ears. Heavy raindrops began pouring from the clouds, drenching all of them.
“Did you help Frostfire take Morningleaf?” snapped Thundersky, flashing his old anger at Brackentail for betraying Sun Herd and pressing into him with his chest.
“No, sir!” Brackentail whinnied, and his devastated expression told Star his words were true.
“Where did they take her?” asked Silverlake, more gently than her mate.
“When I saw the fight was lost, I ran and hid in the woods,” said Brackentail, trembling. “Frostfire sent Shadepebble home, telling her that stealing Morningleaf had been part of his mission all along.”
“So Rockwing is behind this,” said Silverlake.
Star pranced in an anxious circle, crushing the lichen and stirring up the dirt, which quickly turned to mud in the rain. “This is my fault. I asked her to go.” Lightning sizzled toward land and struck, not far from where Star stood. He felt his world spinning out of control. He couldn’t breathe, or think.
Bumblewind had finished with the Desert Herd steeds and he fluttered from the sky, landing next to Star. His eyes rounded when he saw Brackentail. “You all need to get out of here before someone gets struck by lightning.” His voice was drowned out by more thunder.
Silverlake ignored him and neighed over the explosive sky to Brackentail. “But why does Rockwing want Morningleaf?”
“Rockwing wants Star’s homeland,” explained Brackentail. “He’s holding Morningleaf hostage to get it.” Lightning burst over their heads, and Brackentail’s legs sprawled in fear.
Star cocked his head, squinting against a sudden blast of wind. “But I haven’t claimed the territory.”
“I think I understand,” snorted Thundersky, turning to Star. “Rockwing doesn’t believe you’ll let him have it. Your mother is buried there. It’s sacred ground to you, and it’s where you were born. You’re still young, Star, and you don’t know how your feelings will change when you grow into a stallion, a powerful stallion. You’ll want to settle someday, and you’ll be able to take any land you want—why not your own homeland? That’s what Rockwing’s afraid of, and he’s stolen Morningleaf to control you.”
“Yes, Thundersky is right,” said Brackentail.
Star’s spinning world crashed around him, and he became oblivious to the storm that had descended upon them like Brackentail’s bad news—quick and terrifying, and out of their control. “Morningleaf is a hostage, again,” whispered Star. “Because of me.”
Silverlake’s breathing quickened. “Not again! Not if I can help it.” Star saw the determination in her eyes. Silverlake was no longer lead mare, so she was free to leave her herd and risk everything for the sake of her filly. “Let’s go find her!”
“Wait,” whinnied Brackentail, holding up his orange-feathered wing. “I’m not finished.” He shook his soaking neck and continued. “After Frostfire left, the strangest thing happened.” He looked at each of them. “Shadepebble returned and found me. She was alone.”
The steeds blinked at him, unimpressed. “So? Why is that important?” asked Bumblewind.
Brackentail explained. “She was so upset by Frostfire’s betrayal, she decided to help us. Don’t you see? Rockwing’s filly is on our side.”
Lightning struck a nearby tree, and the trunk cracked in half and tumbled onto its side. The pegasi spooked, scattering and then regrouping.
Bumblewind gulped and prodded Star. “We have to get out of here.”
“But Shadepebble’s just a yearling, and a runt at that,” said Thundersky, also ignoring Bumblewind. “What can she do?”
Brackentail pricked his ears. “Rockwing has our filly, and now we have his. Don’t you see?”
“What are you suggesting, Brackentail?” said Silverlake, flattening her ears. Another burst of lightning crackled down from the sky, blinding the pegasi.
“We have to seek shelter—NOW!” whinnied Bumblewind. They all galloped away but neighed to one another over the beating of their hooves.
“It’s Shadepebble’s idea,” Brackentail explained, running with one eye on the thundering sky. “She’ll pretend to be our captive, to give us leverage against her sire, Rockwing.”
Silverlake blinked. “That’s incredible. Where is she?”
Thunder rumbled hard and violent, assaulting their sensitive ears.
“I sent her ahead, to the Sun Herd lands to find Hazelwind and his group. They must still be there since they haven’t arrived yet to hide in the Trap, but they’re in great danger. Frostfire already sent messengers to Rockwing that he’d captured Morningleaf. That’s all Rockwing was waiting for. He will march on Sun Herd’s territory and claim it immediately. Rockwing’s army will destroy Hazelwind and his followers. Hazelwind can use Shadepebble as a hostage, to stop the attack. Surely Rockwing will want to save his last remaining filly.”
Thundersky huffed. “That was smart thinking, Brackentail.”
Silverlake neighed over the wind and rain. “So where is Morningleaf? With Rockwing?”
Brackentail shook his head. “No. Frostfire is hiding her far away, and he didn’t say where, but I think we could use Shadepebble to get her back too. She’s willing to help us.”
Thun
dersky glanced at the storm, which was gaining in power. “Let’s go to the Sun Herd territory then,” he said, pinning his ears. “I want to be there when Rockwing arrives. I’ll make him find Frostfire and return my filly.”
All the pegasi listening flared their wings and rattled their feathers.
“I’m ready,” said Star. He kicked off, not caring who followed him, just anxious to go. But then everything suddenly turned black, and he smashed into a tree.
“Star!”
Splitting pain seared his mind. He gripped his head in his wings and stumbled across the tundra. He vaguely heard his friends trotting after him. Pain stabbed his brain like a bird was pecking at it. He ducked with each blow, moaning.
Star collapsed, and his body convulsed. He heard Silverlake scream his name, then the forest blurred and disappeared.
Star was flying fast over the ocean. The sudden shift made him dizzy. This was another vision. A pegasus flew beside him, and Star saw black feathers. He didn’t have to turn his head to know it was Nightwing. “Leave me alone,” Star neighed.
Star’s headache subsided, and he tried to get his bearings. They were flying over the Great Sea, he guessed. He looked down and saw blue sharks following them, snapping at their hooves. He tucked his legs up tight.
“Why am I here with you?” Star asked. “Why won’t you leave me alone?”
“Look ahead,” said the Destroyer.
Star looked and faltered, almost tumbling into the sea. A short distance away was the western coast of Anok. Star recognized his old cave and Crabwing’s Bay. Nightwing soared toward it, and Star realized the Destroyer would make landfall today!
Star floundered to get ahead, to fly faster and warn his friends. Then the world went black again and he fell. When he opened his eyes, he was upside down in the mud, his legs galloping in the air. Silverlake fanned his face with her wings. “Star?” she said.
He focused and stood up.
“What did you see?” she asked, her voice trembling.
“It’s Nightwing. He’s almost to our coast.”
His friends stared at him, stunned. “We’re out of time,” said Silverlake. She glanced at her mate. “We have to warn Hazelwind.”
The Guardian Herd: Stormbound Page 16