The Guardian Herd (15 page)

Star folded his wings. “Yes, and did you notice that Nightwing couldn't sense my presence when I was invisible?”

“I did,” said Frostfire. “But how is that possible? Don't you and he have the same powers?”

“We do, but now I know that the invisibility power goes beyond mere disappearance,” said Star. “It's . . . how do I explain? It's like an
inversion
of power, not a projection. The shield and the alarm and the healing light—they blast out of me—but this power closes around me. It hides me
completely
—and Nightwing can't feel it. It's . . . privacy, I guess. And you saw how well it worked.”

“So Nightwing can use it too?”

“I'm sure he can, but why would he? He's got no reason to hide.” Star's eyes brightened. “But I do.”

“That's good news, Star—you can walk among the
pegasi now, the ultimate spy.” Frostfire glanced at the sky where the Hundred Year Star had transferred its power to Star exactly one year earlier. “Happy birthday.”

Star glanced at the forest in the south, toward the den. “And now I can visit my friends.”

STAR DECIDED TO VISIT THE DEN THAT VERY EVENING
. “You keep watch while I'm gone,” he said to Frostfire. “But we'll need a signal in case Nightwing comes and I need to return quickly.”

“What sort of signal?”

“The call of a hawk will work well.”

Frostfire snorted. “Do I look like a hawk?”

Star explained. “When I was in the Trap, the Desert Herd captain named Redfire taught my army how to imitate bird calls. Just think about how a hawk screeches and copy it. It's like whistling.”

Redfire's system of animal calls was complicated, but Star and Frostfire had simpler needs than an army. They
required one sound, one alarm that would call Star back, and they spent the afternoon perfecting it while Star worked on the tribute.

Star repeated the same steps over and over again. He crushed the thin river ice with his hooves, sorted through the rocks until he found a flat one, loosened it from the cold mud, and dragged it out of the river. Then he carried it up the hill to the tribute, leaning forward with the stone cradled in his wings. The base was taller than his shoulders now and it spread across the entire top of the hill, consisting of over four thousand river rocks, but it wasn't finished. The base needed one more full layer, according to Frostfire, before Star could build it higher.

Star lifted the stone over his head and then set it in place. He flew to the river for clay, returned, and wiped the clay around the new rock. Frostfire followed him, making horrible sounds, none of which sounded like a hawk. “More like a whistle,” Star reminded him.

Star returned to the river. He'd worked his way farther and farther east of the hill because he didn't want to strip the riverbed of rocks completely. As he kept moving upstream—farther away from the tribute—each trip took longer. Soon he would be harvesting rocks from miles away.

Frostfire watched Star lift the stone as high as he could and set it down. “How are you going to build this thing once it's taller than you?” he asked.

Star had wondered the same, but he had an idea. “I'll ask Morningleaf to weave me a basket.”

“She doesn't know how,” said Frostfire. “That's a Mountain Herd secret.”

Star explained to Frostfire how Morningleaf had taught herself to weave by taking apart a basket in the Trap, while the herds were living together. Star marveled at the things his friends had learned from the other herds: weaving, animal calls, rock throwing, riding jet streams, sky herding, and egg hunting.

The herd of Star's birth had lived in a territory that had a mild climate and plentiful grass and water. Because of the rich grasslands there, the Sun Herd army was the largest in Anok when Star was born. The other four herds faced harsh challenges from stronger enemies, vicious predators, long droughts, and voracious overgrazing, but Star now understood how their challenges made them smarter, more inventive.

Frostfire halted and screeched, sounding somewhat like a hawk.

“I think that's good enough for our purposes,” said
Star. “As soon as it's dark, I'll go.”

Star finished his work at dusk and pranced next to Frostfire, waiting for the orange glow of the sunset to fade.

“What if I call and you don't hear me?” asked Frostfire.

Star tensed, hoping Frostfire wouldn't try to change his mind about the visit. “If someone comes and I don't hear your call, just say I've gone for a flight. Nightwing didn't say I couldn't fly. But you can't stop me from seeing my friends tonight.”

Frostfire pricked his ears. “I'm not trying to.”

The two waited in silence for the sky to blacken, in case a patrolling Ice Warrior flew overhead. The heavy cloud layer blocked the moon and stars, and when the last trace of light vanished, Star unfurled his wings. “I'll return in time for you to get some sleep.”

Frostfire nickered. “Don't worry about me.”

Star kicked off, turned invisible, and flew southwest, toward the woods and the den, his heart soaring. He glided over the snow-flecked cottonwood forest, his sharp eyes looking for landmarks. When he spotted the tallest elm, he knew he was close. He landed and trotted to the low ridge and fallen tree that hid the den. He hoped his friends were inside and hadn't traveled yet to work on the tunnel.

He swept aside the dried branches and ducked into the first chamber. It was empty, but still warm. He'd just missed his friends. Star checked the second two chambers; each was empty of pegasi, but not empty of their presence. Feathers littered the packed soil, and pretty stones were piled against a wall.

Star cocked his head, eyeing the stones. They were stacked exactly like his monument. His friends were making a miniature replica of the tribute! They'd also saved a feather from Bumblewind, and it was tucked into the stones, standing upright. His friends hadn't forgotten him; they were keeping track of his progress. It was a good sign, a hopeful sign. He guessed it was Echofrost who'd built this replica when she visited the den so that Morningleaf and the others could see what Star was doing, and also to remember her twin brother.

Star exited the den and made himself invisible again. He flew toward the blind that hid the tunnel and landed when he finally found it. It was difficult to spot because it blended so well with the forest.

Star entered and dropped his invisibility, shocking Hazelwind and Dewberry, who were just popping out of the tunnel. Hazelwind reeled backward, blinking hard. “Star? How did you do that?”

“It's a new power.” Star disappeared again to show them.

“That's incredible,” said Hazelwind. “But won't Nightwing track you here if you use your power?”

Star reappeared. “No. He can't sense this one. It's pure stealth, as Frostfire calls it.”

“How is the captain?” asked Hazelwind. “Causing you any trouble?”

Star shook his head. “No, he's been helpful.” Star paused.

“What is it?” asked Hazelwind, suddenly alert.

“Probably nothing,” said Star. “Frostfire's nervous about his coming colt. He's asked me to make sure that Larksong and his son are the first two out of the valley when the tunnel is finished.”

Hazelwind flexed his wings, thinking. “Well, it all depends,” he said. “I'm not opposed to it, but I don't want to make any promises.”

Star stared at the soil.

“Did you . . . make him a promise?”

“I think so,” said Star, trying to remember the conversation. “Frostfire brought me here to help him save his family. We have an agreement.”

Hazelwind met Star's eyes. “Then I will honor it, if I can.”

“Thank you.”

“We heard a terrible noise today,” interjected Dewberry, “and we saw bright flashes of light.”

Star nodded. “I was attacked by dire wolves at the river, and I discovered another power, which is that noise you heard. It scared the wolves away from me.” Star peered at the dark hole in the ground. “How's the tunnel coming along?”

Hazelwind answered. “It's slow going. We work every night, but I feel like we're getting nowhere fast.”

“I know how that feels,” said Star, thinking of the tribute.

“Morningleaf and Brackentail are hiding dirt, but they'll return soon. Go on inside the tunnel and see it for yourself.”

Star ducked his head and entered. The dank smell of worms and mulch reminded him of the wolf den. The passageway angled downward, toward the valley far away. Star walked for what seemed a long time in the blackness, and then he reached the end.

Hazelwind's voice drifted to him from the surface.
“The dirt is packed tighter the deeper we go, but there are fewer tree roots, so we're leveling off and digging straight. I hope this speeds things up.”

Star twisted his head around and squeezed his body into a turn so he could walk back to the surface. He emerged from the tunnel to see that Morningleaf and Brackentail had still not returned.

Hazelwind read his expression. “They have to travel farther and farther away to hide the dirt.”

Dewberry swiveled her ears, listening. “But they should be back by now.”

That was all Star needed to hear. “I'll go look for them.” Without waiting for a response, Star blinked out and trotted into the forest, completely invisible.

“I wish I could do that,” nickered Dewberry.

Star kicked off and glided over the treetops, eyes down since he knew the pair wouldn't be flying. A snowfall began, light and fluffy, and excitement reared in his chest—he missed Morningleaf and he would see her soon. Star spotted two dark shapes walking beneath the cottonwoods, and their whispering voices drifted up to Star. He dropped closer and hovered over them, about to interrupt.

“Why are you walking so slow?” Brackentail asked Morningleaf.

She trekked ahead of the young brown stallion, placing her hooves carefully so as not to slip on the frozen ground, but at Brackentail's words she swished her long tail across his face. “So I don't lose you,” she answered.

Brackentail nudged her flank. “You couldn't lose me if you tried.”

Star grimaced, hating that their friendship irritated him so much.

Morningleaf's carefree expression evaporated. “Right, of course. I couldn't lose a one-winged butterfly.” She ruffled her ruined feathers, shaking off the fresh snowflakes.

Brackentail halted. “I didn't mean it like that.”

She halted too. “I know you didn't. But I can't fly . . . and when this is all over . . . you'd be wise to forget about me.” She turned and walked on, her breath drifting toward Star like smoke, and he felt awkward. He should have announced himself right away.

Brackentail cocked his head. “Don't do that,” he said to Morningleaf. “Don't shove me off.”

She exhaled. “I'm sorry. It's just . . . I know Hazelwind ordered you to protect me, and I appreciate it, but I
don't need the extra . . . help.”

“He didn't,” rasped Brackentail. “Is that what you think?”

“Yes.”

Brackentail flinched, and Star saw the hurt in his golden eyes. “If you don't want me here, I'll go. I'm not under orders to do anything except hide dirt. Tell me what you want and I'll do it.”

Morningleaf faced him, blinking as though waking from a bad dream. “Hazelwind really didn't ask you to watch me?”

“The only steed who ever asked me to watch over you is Star, and it was a request, not an order.”

“He did?” Morningleaf's eyes softened. “When?”

“It was before he took off to save the walkers. But it doesn't matter—that's not why I'm here either.” He stepped closer to her, then halted, his body tense. “I follow you because I want to. It's my choice.”

Star jolted as if struck, and he soared higher, away from them. He should go, but he couldn't look away.

Morningleaf trembled softly and lowered her muzzle to Brackentail's.

Brackentail inched closer, then slid on the ice, falling at her hooves.

Morningleaf stifled a loud nicker and helped him up.

Brackentail wiped the frost off his knees with his wings. “Anyway, if a wolf comes, I'm counting on
you
to protect
me
.”

Morningleaf pricked her ears. “Is that so?”

“Yep, it's why I stay behind you. I'm hiding.”

Star watched Morningleaf's amber eyes flicker and her jaw relax as she resumed walking.

Brackentail trailed her, looking pleased. “You know what today is, right?” he asked her.

Morningleaf exhaled. “Of course I do; it's Star's birthday.”

Brackentail snorted. “It's
your
birthday too.”

She halted again, and Brackentail almost bumped into her. Star, who was hovering a tree length above them, accidentally struck a branch with his wing, making it whip back and forth. Morningleaf's head snapped upward and she stared right at him, but through him. “I heard something,” she said to Brackentail. “We better hurry back.”