The Guardian Herd
Page 1
DEDICATION
FOR MY GUARDIAN HERD, THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN ME
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DEDICATION
EPIGRAPH
HERDS
MAPS
1 TEARS
2 ENEMIES
3 CAPTURED
4 TEAMWORK
5 EXHAUSTION
6 JET STREAM
7 VALLEY FIELD
8 ESCAPE
9 SURROUNDED
10 CAMOUFLAGE
11 WATERING HOLE
12 FAMILY
13 THE INTERIOR
14 BROKEN
15 GRIEF
16 DISCOVERY
17 THE DEN
18 WIND HERD
19 TEN THOUSAND STONES
20 LETTING GO
21 HONOR
22 THE SECRET GRAVE
23 STEALTH
24 THE VISIT
25 STARFROST
26 NEWS
27 THE NEWBORNS
28 WISHES
29 STAMPEDE
30 ALARM
31 TWISTER
32 BURIED
33 LIAR
34 THE TRIBUTE
35 TOPPLING DOWN
36 DESTINY
37 STARFIRE
38 WINDBORN
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
BACK AD
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
BOOKS BY JENNIFER LYNN ALVAREZ
CREDITS
COPYRIGHT
ABOUT THE PUBLISHER
EPIGRAPH
He was not bone and feather but a perfect idea of freedom and flight, limited by nothing at all.
—Richard Bach, Jonathan Livingston Seagull
HERDS
RIVER HERD
The black foal:
STAR—solid-black yearling colt with black feathers, white star on forehead
Under-stallions:
THUNDERSKY—dark-bay stallion with vibrant crimson feathers, black mane and tail, wide white blaze, two hind white socks. Previously Thunderwing, over-stallion of Sun Herd. Deceased
HAZELWIND—buckskin stallion with jade feathers, black mane and tail, big white blaze, two white hind socks
SUMMERWIND—handsome palomino pinto stallion with violet feathers. Deceased
ICERIVER—older dark-silver stallion with powder-blue feathers, white mane, white ringlet tail, blue eyes, white star on forehead. Sire of Lightfeather. Previous over-stallion of Snow Herd. Deceased
GRASSWING—crippled palomino stallion with pale-green feathers, flaxen mane and tail, white blaze, one white front sock. Deceased
CLAWFIRE—white stallion with blue-gray feathers, jagged scar on face, gold eyes. Born to Snow Herd, joined River Herd
Medicine Mare:
SWEETROOT—council-mare. Old chestnut pinto with dark-pink feathers, chestnut mane and tail, white star on forehead
Mares:
SILVERLAKE—council-mare. Light-gray mare with silver feathers, white mane and tail, four white socks. Previously Silvercloud, lead mare of Sun Herd
CRYSTALFEATHER—small chestnut mare with bright-blue feathers, two front white socks, white strip on face
DAWNFIR—spotted bay mare with dark-blue and white feathers, black mane and tail. Deceased
ROWANWOOD—blue roan mare with dark-yellow and blue feathers, white mane and tail, two hind white socks
DEWBERRY—battle mare. Bay pinto with emerald feathers, black mane and tail, thin blaze on forehead, two white hind anklets
LIGHTFEATHER—small white mare with white feathers, white ringlet tail, white mane. Star’s dam. Born to Snow Herd, adopted by Sun Herd. Deceased
MOSSBERRY—elderly light-bay mare with dark-magenta feathers, black mane and tail, crescent moon on forehead and white snip on nose, two white hind anklets. Deceased
Yearlings:
MORNINGLEAF—elegant chestnut filly with bright-aqua feathers, flaxen mane and tail, four white socks, amber eyes, wide blaze
BUMBLEWIND—friendly bay pinto colt with gold feathers tipped in brown, black mane and tail, thin blaze on face
ECHOFROST—sleek silver filly with a mix of dark- and light-purple feathers, white mane and tail, one white sock
BRACKENTAIL—big brown colt with orange feathers, brown mane and tail, two hind white socks, golden eyes
FLAMESKY—red roan filly with dark-emerald and gold feathers
STRIPESTORM—liver chestnut colt with bright-yellow feathers, red mane and tail, thin white blaze
SHADEPEBBLE—heavily spotted exotic silver filly with pale-pink feathers, black mane and tail, thin blaze, three white socks. Born a dud and a runt to Mountain Herd, joined River Herd
MOUNTAIN HERD
ROCKWING—over-stallion. Magnificent spotted silver stallion with dark-blue and gray feathers, black mane and tail highlighted with white, one white front anklet. Deceased
HEDGEWIND—flight instructor. Bay stallion with gray feathers, black mane and tail, thin white blaze
FROSTFIRE—captain. White stallion with violet-tipped light-blue feathers, dark-gray mane and tail, one blue eye. Born to Snow Herd, adopted by Mountain Herd
LARKSONG—sky herder. Buckskin mare with dark-blue feathers, white snip on nose, black mane and tail
BIRCHCLOUD—lead mare. Light bay mare with green feathers, two white front socks
DARKLEAF—sky herder. Dun mare with black dorsal stripe, purple feathers, black mane and tail, white snip on nose, golden eyes
STARFROST—white colt, pale-yellow feathers edged in white, light-green eyes, curly tail
SNOW HERD
TWISTWING—over-stallion. Red dun stallion with olive-green feathers, black mane and tail. Deceased
PETALCLOUD—lead mare. Power-seeking gray mare with violet feathers, silver mane and tail, one white sock, wide blaze on face
STORMTAIL—Ice Warrior. Gigantic gray dappled stallion, purple feathers, black mane and tail, black eyes
GRAYSTONE—Ice Warrior. White stallion, silver mane and tail, pale-yellow feathers each with a silver center, blue eyes
RIVERSUN—black piebald filly, black-tipped violet feathers, wide blaze, green eyes
DESERT HERD
SANDWING—over-stallion. Proud palomino stallion with dark-yellow feathers, wide white blaze, one white sock. Deceased
REDFIRE—captain. Tall copper chestnut stallion with dark-gold feathers, dark-red mane and tail, white star on forehead
SUNRAY—spy and sky herder. Golden buckskin mare with light-purple feathers, black mane and tail, white star and snip on face
RAINCLOUD—legendary mare. Fine-boned palomino. Deceased
JUNGLE HERD
The black foal:
NIGHTWING—ancient stallion, solid-black with black feathers. Born to Jungle Herd. Known as the Destroyer. Immortal
SMOKEWING—over-stallion. Speckled bay stallion with brown and white spotted feathers, black mane and tail, white snip on nose. Deceased
ASHRAIN—battle mare. Wiry dark-bay mare with yellow and green feathers, one white sock, snip on nose
SPRINGTAIL—battle aide. Light-bay piebald mare with dark-blue feathers, brown-and-white tail
SPIDERWING—legendary over-stallion. Deceased
HOLLYBLAZE—legendary sister of Spiderwing. Spotted bay weanling filly with brilliant gold-tipped emerald feathers, two white front socks, light-brown eyes, black mane and tail, wide blaze on face. Deceased
MAPS
1
TEARS
HEAVY CLOUDS MASKED THE NIGHT SKY, AND cold drizzle collected on Star’s feathers as he flapped through the mist, soaring straight up toward the moon. He was searching for the end of the massive cloud layer that blocked his view of northern Anok. Where was his herd? They had just been celebrating
the defeat of Frostfire’s Black Army at their camp in the Trap. Star was content. He’d used his starfire to heal his friends and his enemies, and the herds that had been hiding from Nightwing the Destroyer were finally united and working together. Star’s ultimate goal of bringing peace to Anok had seemed imminent.
But then the cries of an injured pegasus had lured Star deep into the woods. He’d found Frostfire’s mate, Larksong, lying alone beneath a tree, groaning and bleeding. This mare was Nightwing’s ally, but Star took pity on her, using his starfire to heal her and her unborn foal. And then guilt had driven Larksong to confess an awful trick: “Run back to your herd before it’s too late,” she’d whinnied. “Petalcloud did this to me. She beat me and left me here, to lure you away from your friends.”
Petalcloud was the leader of the Ice Warriors, an army she’d formed to kill Star and win the favor of Nightwing. Petalcloud had abused Larksong in the hopes that Star would do exactly what he had done: abandon his friends.
Right after Larksong’s confession, a flash of silver light appeared from the way Star had come. Then he heard a loud explosion, like lightning striking a thousand trees at once. He’d galloped back to the scene of the celebration only to find ashes covering the ground, a giant hole blasted through the ceiling of branches that sheltered the Trap, and emptiness where his herd had been reveling. Star knew instantly that Nightwing had been there. Perhaps since Frostfire’s Black Army and Petalcloud’s Ice Warriors had failed to capture Star, Nightwing had changed tactics and decided to capture Star’s friends instead.
But where had the ancient stallion taken all of them?
Star burst into the clear sky above the clouds. Bitter cold slowed his blood, and screaming winds pierced his sensitive ears. He flew in a circle beneath the glittering stars, sucking at the sharp air and driving it into his burning lungs, but there were no pegasi here.
Frustrated, he pinned his wings and nose-dived toward land, hurtling through the wet clouds, which felt warm after the heights, and rocketing toward the Trap. He pulled up just before hitting the trees and then roared across them, his hooves skimming the branches, his eyes hunting for any sign of Nightwing or his friends.
Star landed back in the forest, and the pine needles swirled around his hooves. He held perfectly still and listened, his ears swiveling madly, trying to capture any sounds of wingbeats or hoofbeats, or the bleating of the newborns. But there was nothing, just forlorn silence and the wet smell of fog. If his herd was not in the sky and not in the Trap, then where could they be? Star galloped back to the place where Nightwing had blasted the huge hole through the thick canopy of branches.
The area was burned black. The shock of it had not left Star. He felt sick and dizzy, baffled and scared. Many steeds had died; the ashes told the story, but not all—Star held on to that hope: not all!
And where was Petalcloud’s army? Where were the Ice Warriors? He cantered toward the battleground where he’d last seen them. Petalcloud’s huge stallion, Stormtail, had almost killed Star there, but Star had sprang a shimmering golden shield around himself at the last moment. That memory was the only one that was good. Star had learned how to use a new power: a shield. It wouldn’t help him defeat the Destroyer, but it would help him defend himself. Star kicked at the bloody soil. Petalcloud’s army wasn’t here. Even his enemies had abandoned him.
“No,” he neighed. “I will find them, all of them.” He arched his neck and galloped forward. The hoofprints of Petalcloud’s army led straight to the River Herd camp, where his friends had been attacked. Star slid to a halt, certain now that Petalcloud and Nightwing were working together.
Nearby, Star spotted a single black flower. It looked exactly like the magical flowers that grew out of the soil when he cried, except for the color. Star gasped, realizing what it meant. The Destroyer had shed a tear. Someone had upset Nightwing, and Star took another sharp breath because he knew that pegasus had to be Morningleaf. Only she was fearless enough, or careless enough, to do it. Star closed his eyes. Nightwing would have blasted her for that—for making him cry.
Star staggered upright and bleated into the darkness, trotting in circles with his head down, sniffing for his friends Morningleaf, Silverlake, or Hazelwind, but all scents had been burned away.
He reared and leaped off the ground, through the gaping hole in the leaves. Nightwing could have taken his friends anywhere, in any direction. Star flapped hard, sending himself straight up, toward the jet streams in the heights. He would have to ride them if he was going to search the entire continent. Star’s heart raced as the horizon bowed and the land shrank. The air thinned, and he took deep, slow breaths. He flew in a spiral, unsure which way to go first—perhaps south, to Jungle Herd’s territory, which was Nightwing’s birthland, or west to the Snow Herd lands, where Petalcloud had trained her Ice Warriors.
Star suddenly halted, shocked. Below him a pegasi rocketed out of the mist, heading straight toward him with his ears flat and his legs tucked. It was a white stallion with pale-blue feathers edged in violet.
A survivor!
Star hovered, watching the stranger.
The stallion glared at him, and as he came closer, Star saw that one eye was brown and the other blue. He recoiled, stunned.
It was Frostfire—the malicious captain who’d formed the Black Army. He was Star’s worst enemy, next to Nightwing, and he was flying straight at him!
2
ENEMIES
“BACK OFF!” STAR NEIGHED AS FROSTFIRE HURTLED toward him.
“Where is she?” Frostfire tore past Star, wheezing for air. He’d flown too high, and his muscles seized, starved for oxygen. His momentum carried him past Star, but then his body twirled and he fell toward land, passing Star on the way down.
Star tucked his wings and dived after Frostfire. “Where is who?”
With teeth bared, the white stallion dropped upside down toward the forest. “My mate, Larksong!” he whinnied.
Frostfire was going to smash into the trees. The impact would break his bones, or kill him.
“Fly!” neighed Star.
Frostfire spread his wings and tumbled sideways over the tops of the branches. His feathers shook loose and coasted behind him like butterflies. Star clenched his jaw and caught up to him.
Frostfire’s expression was savage. “Larksong is gone. I left her in the woods, and when I returned she’d vanished, but not her scent—or yours.” Frostfire flared his nostrils in disgust. “What did you do to her? Did you kill her? Is this your revenge because I kidnapped Morningleaf and hid her in the lava tubes moons ago?” Frostfire shook his head and then rammed Star in his ribs. “If you hurt Larksong, I’ll yank out your feathers, tear off your head, and feed your body to the wolves.”
Star’s laughter ripped through his body, unexpected and bitter. He flew a circle around Frostfire. Besides the fact that Star had sharpened his hooves and battle-trained with four different herds, he also had his starfire shield. Frostfire couldn’t hurt him.
Frostfire’s pupils contracted as he roared at Star. “Just tell me what you did!” He’d regained control of his wings, and he glided smoothly next to his enemy.
Star absorbed Frostfire’s wrath, understanding that the stallion loved Larksong and that it was concern for her that was driving his anger. “I healed her,” Star said simply. “I don’t know where she went after that.”
“Healed her?” Frostfire swished his tail. “She was fine when I left her.”
“Well, I found her bleeding, dying, in the forest—but her injury was a trick to lure me away. When I returned, my herd was gone. Every steed.” Star peered into Frostfire’s one blue eye, and their history flamed between them like a raging fire; their words popped like sparks. “What do you know about that?”
“Nothing,” he said.
“Are you sure? It was your dam, Petalcloud, who attacked her. Larksong admitted it.”
“My mother?” Frostfire’s shock was convincing.
“Yes. Larkso
ng would have died if I hadn’t healed her.”
Frostfire reeled, and Star noticed that their wingbeats had synchronized, creating one steady hum. “Larksong and I are against my mother,” said the white stallion. “Petalcloud must have ambushed her and used her as bait, but she did it under Nightwing’s orders, not mine. Where is she now?”
“Petalcloud?”
Frostfire’s voice rose in pitch. “No. Larksong?”
“I don’t know. I healed her, and then she told me to run back to my herd before it was too late.” Star coasted on the breeze, feeling heavy with regret. “So we’re both looking for our friends?”
“I guess we are.” Frostfire slowed and hovered several winglengths above the trees, his flapping feathers created wind that rustled the branches.
Star didn’t trust Frostfire, but he doubted a seasoned warrior like him could fake grief or confusion so well. Perhaps together they could unravel the clues and find the missing pegasi.
Frostfire narrowed his watering eyes and sank toward land, looking suddenly exhausted. “And what about my warriors, the Black Army? They never returned to me after your army defeated them. Did Nightwing . . . get them too?” Frostfire touched down on the open tundra and stood with his wings sagging.
Star settled next to him. “Your Black Army follows me now, so yes, they were taken when my herd was taken.”
“You stole my army?” Frostfire asked, his jaw agape.
“I didn’t steal them. They wanted to join me. Most of them.”
Frostfire lowered his neck like an angry wolf. “You poisoned their minds.”
“I didn’t.”
The stallion backed away. “You’re as dangerous as Nightwing. Did Larksong join you too?” He spat the words.
Star folded his wings. “No, she didn’t.”
Frostfire peered into Star’s eyes, his defiance smoldering but his expression hopeless. “If you’re going to kill me, or turn me into one of your slaves—just do it now. Please.”