by Paula Boer
Thoughts scudded through her head like autumn leaves in a storm. What did it matter? She doubted she’d make it back to either territory. Maybe if she could foal here, her son or daughter might be raised at Shimmering Lake. The bloodwolves could take her, if only her foal was safe.
Fleet cantered back to the lake, Yuma and the sack of jade barely noticeable on his back, still undecided about what to do. Duty demanded he escort Yuma and Laila back to Oakvale, and Tress to White Water Cliffs. And he couldn’t forget his pledge to Sapphire. How much more did he need to do?
Here he could forget his worries and spend his days with Gem. Maybe he was never destined to live in a herd. They could be happy, the two of them, caring for everyone who sought refuge at Shimmering Lake. Did being a warmblood mean he’d live as long as a unicorn, the equivalent of many generations of horses? If he returned to White Water Cliffs, he’d outlive his own progeny.
The desire to sire foals added to his quandary. What impact would his warm blood have on his offspring? Would they be able to talk with other species? If he stayed with Gem, he’d never have young. There’d never be fillies or colts playing in the meadows or carrying on his bloodline. His mind continued to whirl as they made their way back to the mares. He didn’t understand why Gem refused to produce warmbloods.
Reaching the lake, Fleet delighted in the renewed strength he sensed in Tress. Freshly groomed, her black coat shone as it had when he first met her, her snowy mane and tail flowing like a waterfall. Only a tiny scar remained on her shoulder from the bloodwolf wound. “How do you feel?”
Tress stretched her head towards Fleet. “I’m no longer lame, thanks to Gemstone, and the waters were invigorating.”
Gem strutted over and spoke to Yuma. “You must leave soon. The mare’s poison makes me unsettled. It’ll take you longer than before as you won’t be able to ride. She’s too heavy with foal to carry you or the jade.”
Yuma slid from Fleet’s back and stroked his head. “Is this really goodbye? I thought we’d see this war to the end together. You’ve been through a lot, but Equinora still needs you. I need you. Who knows what else Shadow might get up to?”
Fleet backed away from Yuma’s hand and wandered away. He didn’t want to make this decision now. He’d rather rest for a moon or two and deal with the fate of the world later.
While Yuma remained talking with Gem, Laila followed Fleet to the lake. The young woman knelt down and trickled pebbles through her fingers. “This land is a miracle. I can imagine why you want to stay. I feel the same.”
A neigh rent the air.
Tress galloped by as if her tail was on fire. Fresh blood streamed from the scar on her shoulder. Fleet’s instinct told him to flee alongside her. Then his need to defend Gem came to the fore. Had bloodwolves breached the barrier? He raced up the bank.
Gem stood under the tree where he had left her, chatting to Tatuk and Yuma.
Fleet slid to a halt, stones flying around his knees and hocks, unable to comprehend the relaxed stance of his friends. “Why has Tress bolted? She was bleeding. I thought you must be under attack.”
Flicking her tail and stomping a hoof, Gem looked away. “The jade is a cure against the poison. I suggested Yuma apply it to the mare’s wound. When he did, she took off.”
Yuma held out the green shard. “Touching the scar didn’t help. I had to thrust it into the bloodwolf wound.”
Fleet’s heart thumped as if he had been the one harmed. He’d told Yuma it was too risky to try the jade, especially with her so heavily in foal. Hadn’t Tress been through enough? “You idiot! If she comes to any harm, I’ll never forgive you!”
He galloped after the bolting mare.
Broken twigs and chopped ground made her trail easy to follow. Fleet slowed as he twisted through outcrops of rocks. Shrubs smothered with new growth scratched his sides as he barged onwards. He broke out into a clearing and skidded to a stop.
Tress lay on her side, blood soaking the stony ground. She didn’t move.
Fleet approached one step at a time, every hair on edge. A tangle of legs massed in a thick membrane near Tress’s tail. Fleet sniffed the stillborn filly. It stank of bloodwolf poison. He moved away and nickered in grief, and then blew love into Tress’s face. A slight rise of her ribs gave him hope. He licked her neck to wash away the sweat and nuzzled her nose.
She lifted her head. “You’re too late. My baby’s dead. Leave me.”
Fleet’s heart tore at the anguish in her eyes. “Gem can heal your wound again. I can’t smell the poison anymore. The jade has worked. You’ll be alright.”
Fleet encouraged Tress with gentle shoves of his muzzle. She rose on wobbly legs and tottered round to sniff at the dead filly.
Yuma and Laila ran up, puffing hard. The woman tore up handfuls of greens and offered them to Tress. “These herbs will cleanse you of any remaining afterbirth.”
Tress refused to eat, even after Fleet translated Laila’s words.
Fleet stood by, feeling useless as Yuma buried the dead foal and Laila washed Tress’s wound.
Tress drooped with exhaustion. She nuzzled Fleet. “Don’t be cross with the man. I suspect my foal died from the poison anyway.”
Even accepting she spoke the truth, Fleet still couldn’t believe Yuma had attacked a pregnant mare. Sapphire had said to trust him, yet he had deliberately hurt a sick horse. The seasons of friendship crumbled. Yet, despite his anger with Yuma, Fleet thought the result might be for the best. A newborn foal couldn’t escape bloodwolves. At least Tress should recover. “As soon as you feel strong enough, we’ll leave. I’ll escort you wherever you want.”
Tress sighed and nibbled Fleet’s wither. “I think it best if I return to my dam and learn how to be a queen, if Streak will have me back. He won’t be happy I ran away with Wolfbane. If he can no longer make a good trade for me, perhaps one day you’ll come and find me.”
Fleet shuffled from foot to foot. “Surely he’ll be delighted to have you back. At least you’ve proved you can carry a foal.”
Tress didn’t answer, only glancing at the fresh earth where her foal lay buried.
Regretting his choice of words, Fleet left the blood-soaked area. He joined the people, barely able to look at Yuma in his fury. “We’re going to Flowering Valley. Gem can heal Tress’s shoulder while you both pack up the jade.”
Laila shook her head. “I’m not going with you. Gemstone has invited me to stay.”
Yuma’s mouth dropped open.
Before the man could say anything, Fleet poked him. “Don’t argue with her. She doesn’t belong to you, and my patience is thin. I’m only taking you for Equinora’s sake. Tress may be able to forgive you for stabbing her, but I can’t.”
Chapter 24
An old sentry welcomed Yuma at the barricade. “Chief Ituha will be pleased to see you. He’s in the central hut.”
The village sounded quiet compared to his previous visit, reminding him of the desolation at Waterfalls and the loss of his whole family, his whole clan. He must find and kill the bloodwolves! All of them.
Striding to the communal area, he slipped off his quiver and pack, the latter lighter without the jade he’d stashed beneath a pile of rocks when starting out on foot. It had been a tense journey back, with Fleet talking to him only when necessary. He didn’t understand why Fleet was angry. He hadn’t been upset when Yuma stabbed Jasper with poison to save him at Obsidian Caves. And the jade worked! They’d seen that from the recovery of the wolf. Tress’s foal had reeked of foulness, and wasn’t Fleet’s anyway.
The full implications of losing Fleet’s friendship drove another stake like the poles of the barricade through his heart. Not only would he be alone again, he’d no longer have the thrill of riding. And now he had no home to go to.
He pushed his worries aside and found the clan leader working leather with three old women
weaving baskets. After greeting each of them, he accepted a mug of tea. “Where is everyone? Are they out gathering?”
Ituha threw his hands in the air. “You’d think so with our hunger. But no. Where are they, you ask? Off riding horses! Since the young stallions came to start practicing tactics to fight the bloodwolves, we haven’t seen our young people while there’s light in the day. It’s been left to us old ones to feed everyone.”
Yuma thrilled to hear the horses and clan had accepted the challenge to work together. “With the Mother’s bounty this spring, the horses must be in good condition. It sounds like we’ll have a fit and able army.”
The clan elder smacked his knee with one hand. “If you can get them to stop playing games. The horses seem to delight in racing and jumping obstacles as much as the men and women do.”
Raising his eyebrows, Yuma sipped at the hot brew. “Women too? I’ve no doubt they make good riders, but will they participate in the hunt?”
Ayiana, the elderly healer, harrumphed. “Most of the girls are a better shot from horseback than the boys. They’re more balanced and supple than the heavier men.”
Yuma didn’t like the idea of women involved in battle. “Are they strong enough to draw a bow?”
A bellow rang across the clearing.
Jolon Fist barged up and dragged Yuma to his feet by his jerkin. “Where’s my daughter? What have you done with her?”
Yuma thrust the man away and braced for a fight. “I didn’t steal her. She ran away from you. Don’t blame me.”
Ituha eased between them and held up both hands. “This is no way to solve disputes. Jolon, I’ve told you many times, bring a complaint before the elders if you wish to seek redress for Laila’s choice of partner.”
Yuma couldn’t let the old man believe the girl had become his mate. “I tried to prevent her from leaving, but the horse overruled me.”
Jolon launched himself at Yuma, knocking Ituha aside. “The horse! You expect me to believe that?”
Yuma’s head wrenched back as Jolon’s fist connected with his jaw. He retaliated with a punch, bowling Jolon over. “Believe what you will, but I haven’t touched her.”
The old women who had been weaving steadied the chief as he pointed a shaky hand at Jolon. “If you can’t behave with civility, you must leave Oaktown.” Turning to Yuma, he wagged his finger. “I know you were provoked, but we won’t have fighting here. Bring Laila Otter to us so she can tell her story.”
Yuma cradled his right hand where it had connected with Jolon’s head. “She didn’t return with me. She chose to stay with the unicorn.”
A small crowd of elderly people had gathered during the fracas. Their murmurs increased as they debated among themselves whether to believe this tale. A female voice rose above the group. “We have only your word unicorns even exist. Are you sure she wasn’t taken by a bloodwolf and you’re too scared to admit it? Or maybe you tired of her and abandoned her.”
Fury boiled inside Yuma. He had travelled for many moons to aid these people while bloodwolves slaughtered his own clan. He hadn’t invited, or even wanted, Laila to accompany him. He had lost Fleet’s friendship while trying to help Tress. Now Ayiana accused him of being a woman snatcher. He stomped out of the central hut, whispers trailing after him.
After dumping his gear in Chaytan’s hut, he jogged out of the village. Would the elders believe Fleet if the horse talked to them? But Fleet wouldn’t enter the stockade. And would he help Yuma? No matter their differences, he’d have to arrange a meeting between Fleet and the elders.
Yuma settled against a sturdy oak and whittled at a rough stick in an effort to distract himself from the injustices of life. Realising he’d carved the figure of a young woman, he cast it aside. He selected another piece of wood and turned it this way and that to see what animal resided in the curved outline.
Heavy footsteps crunched on sticks.
He sprang to his guard.
Chaytan waved a flagon of ale. “I thought you might need some of this. I heard you were back. Travel makes a man thirsty.”
Yuma slumped back against the trunk. “You’re a welcome sight. I was beginning to think I might get thrown out.”
Chaytan seated himself next to Yuma and swigged from the flask. “I heard about the altercation. Don’t worry about the elders. They have to be seen to listen to both sides.”
They enjoyed their ale in silent companionship. Yuma sensed that losing Aponi was still a raw wound in his friend’s heart. A flock of crested jays scolded each other, hopping across the ground for seeds or grubs. The vociferous birds would make a good carving. At least birds still flew here. The scant signs of mammals or reptiles worried him. It was a long way from Shimmering Lake for animals to return and repopulate the region.
Chaytan handed over the ale flask. “Where is Laila, anyway? Don’t tell me she couldn’t make the return journey because she’s heavy with child.”
Yuma sighed in exasperation. “I haven’t touched her. She wants to be a healer, not my mate. It’s true what I told Jolon: she’s remained at Shimmering Lake. Gem took her on as some kind of apprentice.”
Chaytan swallowed another mouthful of beer. “Ah, that won’t help with Ayiana; she feels guilty about not taking Laila on years ago, though being a student of a unicorn is a new one on me. Are you sure you didn’t find those magic mushrooms we used to enjoy at the annual meets?”
The memory of the hallucinations he and Chaytan had experienced broke the tension. Yuma chuckled. “No. And I’ve not had any smoke either. I’ve witnessed enough magic without needing to imagine more.”
“Did you get the jade?”
Chaytan listened with patience as Yuma described all that had transpired. As the friends devoured the remainder of the ale, Chaytan informed Yuma of the young people’s progress with the horses. “They’re ready to fight the bloodwolves as soon as we’ve made the arrows.”
Fleet left Tress with Queen Starburst, the young mare happy to be back with her dam to learn all she needed to know, relieved Streak accepted her return with pleasure rather than admonishing her for running away, both parents only delighted that she had survived. Her experiences with Wolfbane and the terrors of the poison had matured her manner and body, and she had recovered from her physical wounds and rebuilt her strength on the journey. Maybe the jade had done more than rid her of the poison.
Nothing, however, could cure her sorrow at losing her firstborn foal.
Fleet could understand that. Seeing the foals and yearlings run with the mare herd, he wished he and Gem could have offspring.
Cantering at dawn to where Blackfoot waited with the bachelors, Fleet spotted Yuma among the gathered people. Away from Gem, and seeing Tress happy, Fleet’s ire abated, and his resolve to see this through to the end renewed. He’d have to carry Yuma to fight before he could return to Shimmering Lake. Having spoken with some of the stallions, he was surprised at their joy at being ridden. Remembering how hard it had been before he could talk with Yuma, he had translated between the two groups to develop new signs.
Fleet halted next to Blackfoot. “Are your warriors ready?”
Blackfoot signalled for the young men and women to mount. “The colts who are too young to be ridden are scouting the forests. They’ll whinny if a bloodwolf is detected.”
Ignoring Yuma’s greeting, Fleet stood still as his former friend mounted, and then accompanied Blackfoot into the forest at the head of the army. “I hope you only sent the fastest and nimblest if they’re to act as bait. Even a dribble of venom will drive them insane.”
The grey stallion bobbed his head. “They’re all volunteers.”
Fleet itched to get moving. “I’ll head west where I know the land better.”
Rocky, the stocky skewbald who had befriended him before he’d gone to seek Gem, wandered over, welcoming him back and congratulating him on finding
a unicorn. “We’re to remain in pairs. I’ll accompany you if you like.”
Blackfoot gave out final instructions to the mounted teams. “Remember, if a bloodwolf takes chase, split up so the other rider can use the arrows. Travel safe and hunt well.”
Mist drifted through the valleys as the sun rose above the trees. The morning chorus burst into full song as Fleet trotted between the towering oaks, splendid in their summer green. With each step, the earth shared its energy through his hooves, buoying his spirits and flowing power through his limbs. Grateful that he and Yuma had been together so long they had no need to converse, the warm contact on Fleet’s back became an extension of his body.
Rocky trotted by his side, refraining from chatter, his pricked ears swivelling and his nostrils distended. By the time the sun reached its zenith, he dripped with sweat. His rider, a teenage boy, flushed red.
With no indication of bloodwolves, Fleet called a halt at a stream. “Refresh yourselves here while I climb the hill and listen for calls.”
The boy slid from the horse’s back. “I thought we had to stay together. What if you’re attacked?”
With his powers, Fleet could outrun any bloodwolf. The same couldn’t be said for Rocky. “I’ll leave Yuma with you. I’ll be quicker on my own without needing to avoid low- hanging limbs.”
Yuma grasped an overhead branch and swung into the tree. “I don’t fancy being caught on the ground by a bloodwolf.”
The sight of Yuma in the foliage with his bow at hand brought back the moment when Fleet had first seen him. They’d travelled so far since, and been through so much, each task leading to another. His heart softened, before hardening again. Here he was, still seeking to destroy the bloodwolves, never staying in one place long, never having a chance to make friends with other horses, his mission dragging on season after season.