The Guardian Herd: Stormbound (13 page)

LATER THAT NIGHT, AFTER THE LIGHTS OF THE
Ancestors had faded away, Star fell asleep and was soon sucked into a terrible dream.

Star cantered through a thick cloud, dispersing it. He dived toward Anok and then shot upward, seeking the sun and bucking like a foal. He whinnied, and the sound boomed across the planet. He felt as big as a mountain.

When he reached the highest heights, he coasted on a jet stream. Below him he saw eight continents and a large grouping of islands. Anok was only a small part of the world, and he'd thought the land of the pegasi was so large.

He wondered where his friends were.

A small white mare was suddenly at his side. “Follow
me,” she said, veering off toward the sea. Star flew behind her, soothed by her presence. They glided over the waves for many days, toward the Territory of the Landwalkers. Finally she landed on a beach. It was foggy and cold. Star landed beside her.

“You've grown,” she said.

He looked at her face. “Mother?”

She leaned into him. It was Lightfeather! Star buried his nose in her mane. “I miss you.”

Her dark eyes were thoughtful, happy, and sad, all at once. “I miss you too,” she nickered.

Star's tears fell freely onto the sand, and white flowers sprang between the coarse grains. “I don't know what I'm doing, Mother.”

Lightfeather whispered, “Do any of us? We do our best.”

“What if that's not good enough?”

“It has to be.”

Star nodded, pausing before he said, “Nightwing is coming back. I can feel him.”

“I know.”

Star stared east, toward Anok. “I'm afraid. Not for myself, but for my friends. For the herds. What if I can't defeat him? What if he's stronger?”

Lightfeather swept her wing over his cheek. “Maybe
you're not stronger, but you're better, Star. Follow your love, not your fear.” Lightfeather turned transparent. He could see a dark cave carved in the cliff behind her.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

But before she could answer, Lightfeather's image evaporated, and Star faced the mouth of the cave alone. He heard a rhythmic thudding and realized it was his heart beating. A set of eyes, glowing silver, appeared in the dark maw of the cave, watching him.

“Who's there?” asked Star.

A midnight-black stallion slowly emerged from the dark. He blinked at the vibrant sun and stretched his wings. His coat was covered in dust and rat droppings. Star backed away. The stallion cocked his head, looking surprised to see Star standing on his beach. He recovered quickly, narrowing his eyes. “You survived to your birthday,” he said, coughing puffs of smoke.

Every muscle in Star tensed.

The black stallion nickered, as if amused. “You're going to regret that.” The words dripped off his lips.

Star shook his mane, the beat of his heart pulsing between his ears.

The stallion dipped his head. “And who is your friend?” Nightwing pranced closer, his eyes bright with interest.

Stunned, Star turned and noticed a pegasus standing next to him, and his heart sank when he recognized her: Morningleaf.

Before he could stop her, she reared, baring her teeth. “I'm Morningleaf!” she snapped.

Star leaped in front of her, but too late to stop Nightwing from scorching her with fire. She exploded, littering the beach with her blue feathers.

“No!” Star screamed, waking up. Sweat rolled down his hide, and he was out of breath.

“What's wrong?”

He turned to find Morningleaf, yawning and stretching her wings. Star watched her blink the sleep out of her eyes. She was curled in a shallow depression she'd carved out of the snow and was bleary-eyed like a foal.

Star shook off the nightmare. He was safe. Morningleaf was safe. “Nothing,” he said. “Just a dream.” But he knew it was more than that. Nightwing sometimes used dreams to visit Star, and so did Star's mother. He figured they were both trying to tell him something, but visions were confusing.

Star closed his eyes. In the dream, his mother had flown him to the Territory of the Landwalkers, showing him the cave where Nightwing lived. And Lightfeather
had confirmed that the Destroyer was returning to Anok. Star could no longer deny the inevitable. The experience had felt so real; Star could still smell the dark stallion's breath. And Nightwing had not been happy to see him.

Star inhaled sharply, realizing that his visit to Nightwing had surprised the stallion, which meant Nightwing hadn't initiated the visit—Lightfeather had! Chills ran down his feathers, standing them on end. Star had shown up at the Destroyer's domain unexpectedly and seen his hiding place. Of course Nightwing would feel threatened by that.

But what about Morningleaf? Had Star brought her with him, or had she tagged along through her own dream? He didn't like that Nightwing had seen her face. Star shuddered. He would speak to Silverlake about the strange visit later.

“Just a dream?” asked Morningleaf, looking doubtful.

He nodded, glad that she appeared to have no memory of it herself. Star thought of Nightwing setting her on fire, and his heart trilled, forcing a rush of blood through his veins.

Morningleaf folded her wings and faced him, sensing his mood. “What are you not telling me, Star?”

He blinked at her, fighting for words. He wanted to
hide her, to surround her with an army—to protect her from what was coming. But how could he tell her that? He sighed. The truth was, he couldn't. She would have none of it.

Morningleaf snorted and returned to preening her feathers. “You know you'll tell me eventually.”

Star guessed he probably would. He rotated his ears, picking up the sounds of River Herd wakening. Morningleaf smoothed the aqua feathers that had shifted out of place during the night, looking lazy and content. “I wish we could fly the rest of the way to the interior,” she said.

“I agree, but at least cutting through the Trap will shorten our travel time.” The council had made the decision to walk through the huge forest instead of around it because of the pregnant mares and newborns.

“I don't care how long it takes us to get there,” said Morningleaf. “I just want to fly.”

“Me too.” Star looked at the River Herd steeds stretching in the snow; at the newborns flitting over the ice, nickering at their reflections; at the elders huddled together to stay warm; and at the fierce mares and stallions who'd sacrificed safety and comfort to be with him. With overwhelming awe, he realized they were his new guardian herd.

These pegasi weren't just following Star, they were protecting him. He knew that, whatever happened, River Herd would be there for him. Bolstered by this knowledge, Star shook off his gloom. He whimsically scooped up a ball of snow with his wing and threw it at Bumblewind, who was just trotting by.

“Hey!” Bumblewind nickered. He scooped up a huge pile of snow and tossed it onto Star and Morningleaf. She squealed and lurched to her hooves. Star joined her, and they chased Bumblewind by air, flying low and scooping up snow between wingbeats. Several mares and stallions joined in, nickering and bombing each other while the dams shielded their faces. Even Brackentail joined in the fun after Morningleaf's well-aimed shot exploded against his chest.

With a focus usually reserved for battle, Dewberry scooped up a clump of hard ice and pitched it at a stallion so forcibly, she knocked him to his knees. Surprised but not offended, the stallion whinnied and charged her, playfully smashing a wingful of wet snow down her neck.

Star landed, his sides heaving and his heart a bit lighter from the game. The sun was brilliant this morning, and more buds had appeared on the trees. Birds chirped deep in the Trap, and he saw that some light rays
broke through the heavy ceiling of branches. Maybe their journey through the dark forest would be more pleasant than he'd anticipated.

“You all are starting to sweat,” warned Sweetroot. The playing steeds landed, dropped their wingfuls of snow, and fanned their feathers to dry themselves. It was dangerous to be wet for too long in the freezing north.

Silverlake whistled for the herd to move out after breakfast. They traveled companionably now; their tension over Hazelwind leaving had eased as the days passed. Brackentail kept close to Star and Morningleaf, but the big brown yearling didn't speak much to either of them. He kept pace and listened attentively to the steeds around him. His wounds had healed into pink scars that were beginning to grow hair.

The day was blustery, but the sky was blue and the sun was warm, and Star was as content as he could be.

River Herd had exited the Ice Lands, and they were at the southern end of the Hoofbeat Mountains. The Trap was visible, but they hadn't reached it yet. After miles upon miles of open, flat land bordered by stark, steep mountains, the impassive forest faced Star and his herd like an army, daring them to enter. Walking together through the Trap would be impossible; the trees were
too close together. They would have to divide into small groups of four or five pegasi.

“Look there!” neighed Iceriver, suddenly alarmed.

Star tensed and followed Iceriver's gaze. In the distance, the head of a struggling horse popped out of an icy pond. The horse was wild eyed and drowning. Star kicked off and flew toward her, followed by his herdmates. Star reached the pond first.

Beneath the water he saw pink feathers. It wasn't a horse; it was a pegasus!

STAR HOVERED OVER THE YEARLING FILLY WHO
was drowning in the pond. “Relax,” he nickered, attempting to soothe her panic.

She tried to speak but choked on the water. Her front hooves thrashed, chopping at the ice. She slipped under, reemerged, and then slipped under again. Her small body sank, drifting toward the bottom, and her wings floated up as she dropped.

Star angled his feathers, flapping his wings so fast they blurred, and he flipped his body so he was hovering nose down over the water. He thrust his head beneath the surface, and the shocking coldness burned him like fire. He seized the root of the filly's left wing in his teeth
and pounded his wings, slowly lifting her up and out of the water. She was struggling and waterlogged, and he couldn't lift her clear. He dragged her out of the water and slid her body onto the solid ice, pulling her across it, and then released her onto the shore.

Sweetroot arrived and took charge of the half-drowned yearling while Star shook the frigid water out of his mane. Sweetroot ordered two steeds to massage her chest and two others to fan her dry. “Roll her over,” she said to Star. “I think I saw a wound.”

Star pushed her over with his nose and winced when he saw the parallel scratches of a giant animal, like a tiger or a bear.

“She looks like a Mountain Herd filly,” said Morningleaf. She cupped her wings over the filly's face and used her hot breath to warm the air between them. “What is she doing alone in the north?”

Iceriver scanned the skies. “She might not be alone.”

River Herd huddled together while Sweetroot worked. The gusting wind kept blowing the medicine mare's mane into her eyes. “I need shelter,” she snapped.

Star kicked off in search of a less windy resting spot for the herd and the injured pegasus. The strange filly would need time to heal, if she survived at all. He saw a large
rock in the distance, but it wasn't big enough to protect all the steeds from the wind. He returned to Sweetroot. “We'll have to shelter in the Trap.”

Reluctantly, Sweetroot nodded. “Okay. Move her,” she ordered. Two stallions each grabbed a wing and lifted the unconscious filly. Sweetroot trotted to the edge of the dark forest. The rest of River Herd followed.

The filly was laid out on her uninjured side. The helpers resumed the massaging and fanning. Sweetroot sent an apprentice to gather chickweed for the animal scratches, in case of infection.

Brackentail trotted forward for a closer look and gasped.

“What is it?” asked Thundersky.

“I know that filly,” said Brackentail. “I can't believe she's here.” His eyes were round with terror.

“Who is it?” asked Silverlake.

“It's Rockwing's daughter, Shadepebble.”

“What? Are you sure?” asked Thundersky, grimacing.

Brackentail nodded. “I'm sure.”

Panic blazed through River Herd. The steeds shuffled deeper into the Trap to hide themselves. “Can you wake her?” Dewberry asked Sweetroot.

“I'll try.”

Star calmed the herd. “Listen,” he neighed. “No over-stallion brings his yearling filly on a raid. I don't think Rockwing is here, and if he were, his army would have protected her from the animal that attacked her. This filly might belong to him, but I think she's alone.”

“Maybe she's a refugee who's come to join us,” suggested Morningleaf.

Brackentail shook his head, remembering his time with Mountain Herd after the canyon run. “No. She was happy. She wouldn't have left the Blue Mountains on her own.”

“Then how do you think she got here?” asked Iceriver.

Brackentail looked perplexed. “I have no idea, but I agree with Star. Rockwing isn't with her. She was attacked, and she fell through the ice. These things would not have happened on Rockwing's watch.” Brackentail took a deep breath. “But—”

“Go on,” said Star.

“But that doesn't mean Rockwing isn't looking for her.”

Dewberry nodded. “Of course he is. We can't keep her.”

Morningleaf fluttered her feathers. “We can't abandon her either. She's hurt.”

“Let's wait until she wakes up and then hear what she has to say,” suggested Star.

“It's going to be a while,” said Sweetroot. “She's out
cold, but I think she's going to live.”

Thundersky tucked his crimson wings across his back. “We'll settle here for the night.”

The River Herd steeds spent the rest of the day digging for lichen, grass, and roots. To Star's surprise, food was more plentiful in the Trap. The strange plants that had adapted to the dim light were protected from the heavy snow that covered the open tundra. It was warmer too, and the soil was not frozen. The thick ceiling of intertwined branches blocked in the heat of the creatures that lived there. Sweetroot left the injured filly's side to teach River Herd how to sample the foreign greenery for poisons before eating.

Star and his friends remained with Shadepebble. “This is Petalcloud's sister,” whispered Morningleaf, examining the unconscious filly with intense interest. “She's just as pretty.”

Star remembered hearing something about Shadepebble being born a dud, and a runt. He looked at the tiny, heavily spotted yearling lying on the forest floor, an almost exact replica of her silver sire except for her pink feathers. All that really mattered was that she was here, and her presence put River Herd in grave danger.

“I wonder if Shadepebble is as sour as Petalcloud?”
Dewberry asked, thinking aloud. “Look.” She tugged on the filly. “One wing is shorter than the other. Maybe Rockwing banished her?”

Star looked closer at Shadepebble's wings and saw Dewberry was right. “We'll know soon enough,” he said.

The days were still alarmingly short, and the sun had already passed the noon arc and was dropping toward the western horizon. While River Herd grazed on plants, Silverlake posted her sentries, and some of the yearlings went flying with Thundersky and Iceriver. Star stayed behind, wanting to heal the filly but knowing Sweetroot wouldn't want him to. Star and his friends surrounded Shadepebble to keep her warm.

Throughout the rest of the day, the filly had spurts of consciousness. She cried out with pain, and her legs scrambled as if she was running in her dreams.

“Maybe she was stolen from Mountain Herd,” whispered Morningleaf, her eyes round with concern.

Star nodded. “Maybe.” The day passed and half of the night. Star did not sleep, choosing to keep watch over the filly. She jerked and sometimes cried out. Every second she spent with River Herd put them in greater danger. If they were discovered with Shadepebble, it could be assumed that River Herd kidnapped her. And that would start a war.

Star glanced around and didn't see Sweetroot anywhere, so he decided to heal the filly. River Herd needed to know why she was in the north, and besides, her pain was intense. Star didn't think she'd be able to handle it when she woke. He would leave the scars on her body as proof that she'd been attacked by an animal and not by River Herd, in case she'd lost any of her memory and thought to accuse them.

Star shielded his head with his wings and called up his starfire, blowing it softly over Shadepebble like a warm breeze. Morningleaf woke, saw what he was doing, and encouraged him. “I was hoping you'd help her,” she whispered.

After several minutes the filly opened her eyes. She was warm and perfect, except for the thick scars running down her flank. Star was pleased. Sweetroot had predicted the filly would live. He had just sped up the healing process.

Shadepebble startled when she became fully awake; her eyes were white rimmed and confused.

“You're safe,” said Morningleaf, trying to calm her.

The spotted yearling fluttered her pink feathers. “When am I?”

“You mean ‘where,' don't you?” said Dewberry.

Shadepebble struggled to her hooves, stared at her
healed scars, and blinked her eyes in disbelief. “No, I mean when. How long have I been asleep? When did you find me?”

“Earlier this same day,” answered Morningleaf, baffled by the strange mare.

“But I'm healed,” she exclaimed.

Morningleaf's eyes glowed. “Star did that.”

“The black foal? Where is he?”

“He's right next to you,” said Morningleaf.

Shadepebble swiveled her head and stared at Star, blinking as though she couldn't believe her eyes. “You healed me?”

Star nodded.

“Do you know who I am?”

“I do,” said Star. “You're Rockwing's filly.”

Her eyes bulged. “Yes. My father conquered your herd and tried to have you executed.”

Star exhaled long and slow. “I know that, Shadepebble.”

She gasped. “Of course—I'm sorry. . . . I just don't understand why you saved me. You could have let me drown and had revenge on my sire. I'm his last foal.”

“Yes, I know that too.”

The runt filly stared at him for a long time, but Star
saw her thoughts swimming rapidly through her eyes, schooling and scattering like fish. Finally she lowered her head and whispered, “My sire believes you'll claim Anok and destroy us. Is that true?”

Dewberry snorted. “He says that to scare you.”

Star pawed the cold soil. “It's not true, Shadepebble, but you can believe what you want.” He looked south, toward Mountain Herd's territory. “I've healed you; you're free to go.”

She shook her head. “Can I stay, for a while.” She glanced up at the leaves rustling in the wind. “I've been on an incredible journey since I was stolen from my herd. I've learned . . . well, I've learned that my sire has told me many lies. I'm not in a hurry to go home.” She widened her dark eyes, and Star saw she was telling the truth, but he was also stunned that the daughter of an over-stallion like Rockwing wanted to stay with River Herd.

Morningleaf answered for him. “We have to speak to our council about that. Your sire will send an army for you. We don't want trouble.”

Shadepebble nodded. “I understand.”

“But how did you get here?” asked Morningleaf, changing the subject. “Who stole you?”

The yearling strained to stand. “I was kidnapped by Snow Herd raiders,” she explained. “But after my sister recognized me, she banished the captain of the raid for making such a horrible mistake, and she sent me off with him. When my sire sends his warriors to get me back, Snow Herd will claim the captain acted on his own, as a stallion gone rogue.” Her eyes brimmed with tears. “We've been wandering the north ever since.”

“Where is this captain?” asked Star.

Shadepebble shivered. “I don't know. He saved me from an ice tiger that was chasing us. I kept running, and then I fell through the ice.”

Morningleaf stroked Shadepebble's back. “You're safe now.”

Shadepebble looked at Star. “I can still feel your power working inside me, keeping me warm.” Shadepebble lowered her head, her eyes heavy with sleep.

“You're exhausted,” commented Morningleaf. “You should rest.”

“Thank you,” Shadepebble nickered, soon falling asleep.

Star stood watch over Shadepebble, his thoughts in a jumble. The daughter of his worst enemy now trusted him because he'd been gentle with her and healed her. It was
similar to how he'd gained the trust of the bird Crabwing. He'd fed the gull and treated him gently. If only the pegasi of Anok allowed him to help them, they would surrender their fears and unite. He was sure of it.