by Paula Boer
Moonglow backed up and faced Fleet, the multi-hued dragons settling along her spine. Her sapphire eyes glazed as she scented the air around his withers and along his back. Again her horn sparked.
“He of unhorned black no white
Red and black bubble
Challenge death to put things right
End of the trouble”
Fleet shivered. What did it mean?
Moonglow said no more. The four other unicorns discussed the prophecy. Obviously, Fleet was meant to put things right as Aureana demanded. But how? And how did this latest riddle link to the previous one?
Jasper ended the speculation. “Whatever is meant, it’s obvious we can’t remain here. We must locate Shadow’s beasts. When the time is right, Aureana will guide us.”
The return journey to the mainland flew as if Fleet travelled like this every day. Gone was the strangeness of galloping over water. Gone was the struggle to maintain his balance against an invisible horizon. Gone was the exhaustion of forcing his poisoned body to keep up with the unicorns.
The sun delineated the beckoning waves with glistening rays. The power of the sea thrummed through his legs and swelled his body. With every stride he grew stronger, his breathing slow and deep, his heart a gentle pulse. He revelled in his newfound power, energy coursing through his veins. So this is what Jasper meant about drawing on Equinora’s elements! No wonder unicorns could live for generations.
As they made land, Fleet wanted to keep on galloping up the beach and buck and rear with joy. Only Yuma on his back made him contain his exuberance. The unicorns had also absorbed the energy—Diamond sparkled like Yuma’s dragon scale and Jasper glowed like hot embers. Tempest surged like a massive wave rolling up the beach, deep blue crested with white foam. Even Echo’s form became a moving forest, his dark brown trunk topped with his verdant mane and tail. They raced along the dunes, spraying sand over the crests.
Fleet sped up, absorbing the sun through his black coat. Five abreast, they surged up the grassy hillside, Moonglow having refused to leave the island in spite of the goddess’s recrimination. Clouds of hovering gulls marked their path as they raced with the wind to the summit. Wintering terns rose from their cliff perches, their warning cries filling the air.
They neared the top.
Fleet’s rump throbbed. He propped to a halt in sudden pain. The stench of bloodwolves filled the air.
The others skidded to a stop beside him.
Five bloodwolves, standing abreast, growled at them from the highest point of the hill, their fangs bared, their shoulders hunched, their fur matted with crimson streaks.
Fleet stood motionless, despair returning. The poison remained in his veins. He could draw on Equinora’s energy, but the goddess’s fire hadn’t cured him like it had Jasper. Why was he still suffering? Did Shadow’s blood taint him? What more did he have to do to rid himself of the curse?
The bloodwolves launched down the slope.
Yuma readied his bow.
Echo and Jasper leapt to meet them. Diamond and Tempest headed in different directions.
The bloodwolf pack divided.
One closed on Diamond.
Fleet raced after her, faster than he had ever galloped.
Diamond disappeared in a flash, only to appear further up the hill.
Fleet circled behind the confused bloodwolf to give Yuma a clear shot.
The bloodwolf veered. The arrow missed.
Fleet spun on his hindquarters to allow Yuma another try.
Again, the arrow missed. Yuma snatched another from his quiver. “They were the only jade heads! I’ll have to use flint!”
His next shot struck home, wounding the bloodwolf in one leg. It ignored the arrow, leaping at Fleet, black drool swinging from its jowls.
Fleet kicked at the shaggy head. His hooves connected with bone. The bloodwolf fell. He bolted after another closing on Tempest.
Clouds roiled in what had been a blue sky. A bitter wind howled over the hill. Lightning sheeted across the ocean.
Tempest galloped into the sea, his horn to the sky, foam frothing around his legs.
The bloodwolf hesitated on the shore.
Fleet caught up.
Yuma released another arrow, wounding the bloodwolf in the shoulder, the wind deflecting his aim.
The beast snarled and leapt into the waves.
Tempest whinnied and galloped parallel to the beach. Waves reared and crashed. Lightning streaked to earth with a crack.
Diamond continued to elude the bloodwolves by translocating. Echo and Jasper raced towards each other, dodging at the last moment, their pursuers slowing to avoid crashing into each other. Then they split up, with Jasper heading for the cliffs.
Bloodwolves streaked after them both.
Unsure which to chase, Fleet recoiled as lightning struck the one pursuing Tempest, the smell of burnt fur drenching out the rank stench of bloodwolf.
Another strike on the hill lit the scene. This one missed, spurring a bloodwolf closer to Jasper.
Fleet took off after it.
Jasper faltered and smashed forward, piercing the clifftop with his horn. A burst of power flashed from the tip as it hit the ground.
A tremble ran through Fleet’s hooves, rattling his bones.
Cracks appeared in the ground, snaking out from where Jasper was now staggering to his feet. He turned, readied for attack. A slab of clifftop broke away, the rumble of sliding, falling rock reaching a crescendo. More rocks tumbled to the sea. Jasper scrambled to maintain his footing.
In vain. The ground collapsed. He disappeared over the edge.
The bloodwolf scrambled back and fled, the remaining two following, one limping, all three with their tails clamped between their legs.
Open air gaped where Jasper had stood a moment before.
Fleet stared at the cliff edge, unable to move. Should he chase the fleeing bloodwolves or help Jasper?
A cry from Diamond unfroze his limbs.
Fleet raced to the edge, Yuma still clinging to his back. Far below in the surging foam lay a crimson body, twisting and tossing in the waves.
“Yuma, slide off! I must get down there.” Fleet neighed long and loud, his rump hammering despite the disappearance of the bloodwolves.
A foul stench rose from the water. The waves churned brown. Crimson-streaked fins broke the surface. When had scorcheels reached the ocean? They must have followed them down the river.
The water boiled red.
A flash of gold blinded Fleet. Heat seared his body.
Diamond screamed and shuddered beside him where he stood transfixed, looking over the crumbling edge. She stepped back. “He doesn’t need us now.”
Jasper’s body was gone. Fleet could see no scrap of hide, no bones, not even hairs from his mane and tail. “What do you mean?”
Diamond nuzzled him. “Didn’t you see the gold flash? He’s joined Dewdrop and Aureana.”
Fleet trembled, the pain in his head overwhelming, his heart breaking. He’d only just started to get to know Jasper—the hole in the cliff was nothing to the hole in his heart.
Between them, Diamond and Echo shepherded Fleet and Yuma back down the dunes to the beach, all of them silent.
Tempest lay exhausted in the sand. He rose on stiff legs and arched his neck as they approached. “Killing a unicorn is unforgiveable! First Dewdrop, now Jasper. Shadow must pay!”
Fleet pawed the ground. Why had the goddess helped them cure Jasper, only to snatch him away? Nothing made sense. He vaguely heard Tempest say something about returning to Tern Island to find Moonglow. “Do you think this will bring on another prophecy? Do we all need to go?”
Diamond avoided Fleet’s gaze and swapped intimate looks with Echo. “There must always be six unicorns. With Jasper dead, one pair must mate and produc
e another. We created Gemstone when Dewdrop was killed.”
Fleet shook his head in exasperation. Is that why Tempest was going to Tern Island? How could Tempest think of mating at a time like this? “Isn’t it more important to defeat Shadow’s beasts first?”
Diamond attempted to explain. “I can’t fight those beasts. All I can do is move out of their way.”
Fleet railed at the calm unicorns. His nostrils flared and his breath quickened. “You must do something to avenge Jasper’s death!”
Tempest butted his shoulder. “No. This is not for us to do. We must look after Equinora. You and Yuma must pursue Shadow’s beasts and follow Aureana’s plan. You are the chosen one.”
Chapter 20
The snow muffled all sound as Yuma rode towards Oaktown, following the river to Oakstream in an attempt to avoid whatever dark creatures lurked in Great Forest. Their journey had been uneventful though tiring, the weight of Jasper’s death and the importance of their mission a double burden, limiting their conversation to essentials. Neither of them found solace in galloping with the wind.
Yuma ran one hand through his beard. He should take time to tidy up if he was to see people again.
Fleet halted on the crest of the final ridge before the rolling grasslands thickened with forest. “Are you sure you want to go down? We’d be better off going to Flowering Valley.”
Yuma stared at the barren trees that reflected his mood. “There are more people here. It’s a hub for all the clans. We’d better inform them before seeking our friends.”
Fleet didn’t agree. “The last time I came to King Flash’s territory, he threatened to kill me.”
Those early days of their friendship were a distant memory. “Remember Streak sent a runner to Flash to tell him of our mission? I expect news of us finding Gem will have reached him too. And Wolfbane headed west.”
Yuma encouraged him forward with a squeeze of his legs. He had no doubt Fleet could defeat the king with ease these days if they were not welcome. They neared the bare oaks delineating King Flash’s territory.
Fleet stopped again. “I think I should find the herd on my own. Why don’t you go to the village and deliver our news? We’ll meet here at the new moon.”
The idea of being separated from Fleet battled with Yuma’s desire to see other people. Fleet had become more than a companion, no longer a mere horse. They had travelled far and helped each other through troubles he couldn’t have dreamt of before he left Waterfalls. They had shared many pleasures too, racing across meadows or sunning on grassy slopes, discovering new places and meeting the unicorns.
Yuma slid to the ground and adjusted his pack and quiver. “Take care, my friend. Come to the town earlier if you want.”
As Fleet trotted away, Yuma washed and shaved before striding along the riverbank. Soon he was puffing and loosening the ties of his furs. So much for cleaning up. Since their need for haste after leaving Tern Island, he had spent most of the time riding, hunting only when Fleet wanted to graze, which was rare; having been granted the power to draw on Equinora’s energy, Fleet ate little. Or was that from grief?
Back on his own, Yuma fell into his old habits of munching nuts and berries as he discovered them, collecting greens and herbs to dry, and selecting interesting wood to carve. The physical exercise also took his mind off his loneliness.
Food became scarce nearer to Oaktown, with not even the tracks or droppings of small game. The woods always became depleted after the annual gathering, even though visiting clans brought their own supplies. Carrying his bow at the ready, he kept alert for bloodwolves.
He ascended a rise and paused, his breath misting in the frigid air. Burnt scars marred the landscape, and an odour of rot rose from the damp ground. The snow had thinned among the trees and mud caked his leggings. Wishing he were astride Fleet, Yuma looked for signs of horses. A few bachelors picked at brown grass on the far side of the valley, their coats thick and dull.
He headed towards the village down a well-worn track. With his eyes on the ground, he almost failed to see the barricade in the dusk. Spiked logs had been rammed into the earth. A narrow gateway gave access to the compound.
A growling voice hailed him. “Lost your horse, Waterfalls man?”
Surprised to see Jolon Fist, Yuma greeted the burly hunter with caution. “What brings you to Oaktown late winter?”
Jolon barred the entry with his bulk. “Begone before I send an arrow through your heart. That’s the only way to deal with evil like yours, bringing unnatural beasts among us.”
“What makes you think I’m responsible for the foul creatures? I’ve come to share news of how we may fight them.” The surprise at seeing Jolon here was nothing to Yuma’s shock at being considered the cause of Equinora’s problems.
Legs apart, Jolon swung a club at his side as he glowered. “The bloodwolves appeared soon after you rode in on that black stallion, showing off killing hogs on your own, and disappearing before the plagues came to haunt us. Now anyone left alive shelters here, in fear of the nightmares that follow even a minor scratch.”
Not knowing how to counteract the accusations, Yuma slid off his pack and used it as a stool. “What of Waterfalls? Are any of my clan here?”
“Only folk from east of the river. If it weren’t for the high death rate, we wouldn’t all fit. Even so, it’s against the Mother the way we live locked in this fort. Now begone before I cull you as you deserve.” He rushed at Yuma.
Yuma rose, arms wide and hands open.
Jolon thudded into his chest.
Yuma held his ground. The hard seasons had taken their toll on the Bloomsvale man. In contrast, the constant travel had made Yuma lean and tough, and the sustenance provided by Tatuk had strengthened his body. He side-stepped a renewed attack from Jolon and shoved him to the ground. “This is ridiculous. I’ve come to help.”
Jolon scrambled onto his knees and charged, head down, grunting like a stuck boar. Again Yuma avoided the attack, tripping Jolon into the dirt. The commotion attracted men inside the gateway. They loitered in silence, parting for a stooped and wrinkled elder.
“Cease! Jolon, what are you thinking? We need every man we can gather.” His command spoke of authority. He hobbled over to Yuma and peered through one eye, the other socket scarred and empty. “Yuma Squirrel of Waterfalls, take no heed of this ignoramus. Come to my hearth and share your news. It’s a long time since anyone reached us.”
With a plentiful supply of timber available, the buildings of Oaktown were sturdier than those in other villages. The main meeting house dominated the central gathering place. Flat stones from the riverbed provided a dry walkway between the rows of huts clustered among the towering oaks.
Ituha Tanner, Chief of Oaktown, gathered the other elders. They sat cross-legged in the dim hut, the cramped quarters warm with their bodies and the small fire.
Over a bowl of thin gruel, Yuma recounted his tale. He explained his strategy for other men to learn to ride the bachelor stallions in order to hunt bloodwolves.
A mutter rippled through the men.
Ituha held up his hand for silence. “How do we know the horses will let us?”
Yuma coughed. “Fleet is talking to them now.”
People raised their voices, some in doubt, others in excitement. This time, Ituha let them talk themselves out. When a hush fell, he added a log to the glowing embers. “We can’t spare people to learn to ride horses. We need to defend the barricades.”
Gomda Hunter, the chief of Bloomsvale, added his agreement. “The horses haven’t even been able to give us warnings of attacks like they do with grey wolves. How will being on their backs help?”
The same problem had occurred to Yuma. The elders threw question after question at him. He gave up insisting they learn to ride, not knowing if the horses would even agree. To be proficient hunters on horseback would t
ake a lot of practice. He’d worry about that part of the plan later. “At least change your arrow tips for jade. The stone is strong and sharp, and doesn’t flake like flint.”
Ituha conceded the jade, at least, sounded like a good idea. “Is there nowhere else we can collect this green stone? I can’t spare men to travel to this place of the emerald unicorn.”
Yuma had resisted sharing his knowledge of Shimmering Lake, not wanting other people to venture into Gem’s territory. However, his tale made no sense until he explained about the magical land, though his instinct made him keep the existence of dragons to himself. “I don’t know of anywhere else. Anyway, it’ll be quicker for me to travel alone as I’ll be on horseback. I left some jade arrows with my friend, Chaytan Strong of Bloomsvale. Is he with you?”
“Yes, a good man.” Ituha sent his son to fetch Chaytan.
When Yuma’s friend arrived they gave little time to sharing welcomes. Chaytan confirmed he still had several of the sharp arrowheads. “They’re too large for small prey so I reserved them for hogs. It’s been a long time since we’ve had the opportunity to use them.”
The pleasure of the reunion was tainted by the drawn lines on Chaytan’s face. Yuma sensed more than malnutrition in his friend’s subdued demeanour. After the meeting closed, he accompanied Chaytan to his small dwelling.
Chaytan stopped outside the door. “There are only two of us. Aponi and the baby died in childbirth, and my eldest son perished from the bloodwolf curse. He suffered a lot. Do whatever you can to rid us of those beasts.”
The new hut was devoid of decoration. Chaytan’s Bloomsvale home had been filled with bunches of drying herbs and sacks of grain. Worked leather and intricate weaving had brightened the simple interior. Here, only two grass pallets covered in worn skins huddled near a circle of stones containing smouldering coals. A few clay pots and wooden utensils huddled against the doorframe. Chaytan’s son lay curled in one of the beds.
Yuma unrolled his sleeping skins. “Has there been any news from Waterfalls?”
Pouring a mug of ale, Chaytan shook his head. “No-one I’m aware of has crossed the river in either direction. When I saw you last, we were heading to Marshward. The clan there has been almost wiped out. The few who could travel accompanied us back.”