The Guardian Herd: Stormbound (5 page)

Morningleaf chuckled. “Remember the things Grasswing told you, Star. There were kidnappings, and wars, and hurt feelings long before you showed up. You blame yourself too much.”

“Maybe you're right.” Star glanced westward, remembering Grasswing, the wise leader of the walkers. He'd died in Sun Herd's battle against Rockwing, killed by Rockwing himself in a heroic standoff. Star could just glimpse the sea between two hills. The light twinkled on the distant waves like the blue shimmer of Morningleaf's feathers. Star sighed. “Or maybe that's what bothers me. The world hasn't changed, Morningleaf. War and death haven't left the herds. I think the golden meadow is our true home and Anok is the illusion—but one that we must endure.”

“Endure?” Morningleaf snorted. “Don't be so gloomy, Star. We can fly!” She kicked off and whinnied to him, “Come on. Let's play one last time before the migration. Catch me if you can!”

STAR WATCHED MORNINGLEAF SHOOT ACROSS
the grass, flickering her sassy tail. Several yearlings joined the game of chase. Star followed, angling his wings for speed. Morningleaf darted into the dense coastal forest that surrounded River Herd's temporary grazing lands. She dodged the towering redwood trees and creeping branches, sometimes flying sideways. She tagged a spotted filly and then darted away as the filly gave chase.

Star was too big to follow at such speed. He cruised above the redwood grove, tracking the yearlings from the air and inhaling the musty scent of the forest. The spotted filly darted out of the woods and tagged Star's wing. “You're it!” she whinnied.

Tingling with pleasure at being included, Star tucked his wings and rocketed toward land, flying as low as he could. A bay yearling who was also too large to fly in the trees soared ahead of him. Star flapped hard, surging faster, and gained quickly on the bay, who glanced up when Star's shadow covered him and neighed in surprise. He banked hard, but Star gripped the current and matched the speed of his turn. They rose and whipped over the treetops. Star dropped below the colt and then rolled, tagging the bay gently with his hoof. “You're it!” he whinnied.

As the bay chased down another steed, Star circled around and searched for Morningleaf. He glimpsed her red body and big white blaze flashing deep in the forest. She glanced up, saw Star, and squealed, thinking he was still it. She braked, circled, and twisted through the branches until she lost him.

“Morningleaf!” he called.

There was no answer.

“Where are you?” he whinnied.

But there was still no answer from Morningleaf.

Star's gut twisted, and his heart floated in his chest, drifting like a loose feather. He circled the part of the forest where he'd last seen her, squinting his eyes and wishing the bright light of the Hundred Year Star still blazed in the sky.

Then a blur of chestnut darted through a blind of tree needles. “Morningleaf!” He snorted. “I thought I'd lost you.”

She whinnied, looking back at Star while she flew. “You'll never lose me, Star.”

Suddenly a foreign pegasus swooped in front of Morningleaf, but she was watching Star. “Look out!” Star neighed.

Morningleaf turned her head just in time to see the strange mare before she crashed into her. The two tumbled across the sky. Star trumpeted a loud alarm to River Herd. Morningleaf quickly regained her wings and so did the stranger. They circled each other warily.

Thundersky, Hazelwind, and others from River Herd careened through the branches and surrounded the strange mare. She was white and furry, with yellow feathers and blue eyes, clearly a Snow Herd steed.

Iceriver spoke. “I know her.” He hovered and faced his friend. “Are you alone?”

The white mare flapped her wings, out of breath. “I am. I'm a messenger. May I land, please?”

“Of course,” said Iceriver. He and Hazelwind escorted the mare back to River Herd's main grazing meadow.

The messenger mare didn't wait for further introductions. She spoke so all could hear. “Plague has struck Snow Herd.”

The River Herd steeds reared and immediately backed away from her, frightened.

“I'm not sick,” she said. “But I've come to warn you, as is the custom.”

Star glanced at Thundersky, who was once criticized by Iceriver for his unwillingness to send messages. Thundersky spoke. “How is it spread?”

The mare folded her pale-yellow-feathered wings. “Through contact, the air, and our droppings. The exposed pegasi who don't contract the plague are carriers of it. The sickness began after Star's birthday. Since then, some members of our herd have snuck off to join your herd, which is why I'm here. If they aren't sick, they are carriers. It's the worst plague I've seen in my lifetime. Anywhere you go, you will leave it in the soil and ruin grazing lands. You
must
isolate yourselves immediately.”

“How do we know you're telling the truth?” asked Hazelwind.

The mare flattened her ears, and her voice trembled. “Come see for yourself if you don't believe me. Snow Herd can't stop you. Half of us are already dead.” She choked back a sob.

“Thank you,” said Iceriver. “You may rest here before you return.”

“No. I must leave now. I have more herds to warn.”

“Is it like the White Death or Black Hoof?” Sweetroot asked.

The messenger shook her head. “Neither. It's totally new. We call it Blue Tongue.” She glanced at the pregnant mares and then said, “Our foals are dying in their mothers' bellies.” With that she kicked off and flew east.

The River Herd steeds stared at one another, bewildered and afraid.

Silverlake spoke. “We have to cancel our migration today. If we head south, we could infect Jungle Herd.” She looked at her mate, Thundersky. “We can't live in the Vein between the herds. We could infect the land, and we can't stay here where we've eaten almost all the food. We'll have to travel north, to the Ice Lands.”

“But who says we're infected?” asked Bumblewind.

Silverlake nodded to Sweetroot, and the old medicine mare spoke. “I've been keeping an eye on three sick refugees, all from Snow Herd. They haven't responded to any of my medicines, and their tongues are blue.”

“And you didn't tell us!” whinnied Dewberry, the battle mare who flew patrols with Hazelwind.

Sweetroot lowered her head, looking miserable. “Only Silverlake. I—I didn't understand it, and I've never seen
anything like it. The mares are eating and drinking, but they're weak, and their throats ache. I didn't think too much about their blue tongues.” Her ears drooped. “They must still be in the early stages, but it's too late for all of us—we've been exposed.”

The pregnant mares whinnied in terror, and Morning-leaf glanced at Star. “If the herds ever needed a healer, it's now,” she said to him.

“You're right.” Star caught Silverlake's eye. “Let's gather the council. I want to travel to Snow Herd's territory to heal them.”

Sweetroot pricked her ears. “All of them? You can do that?”

Star flicked his tail. “I don't know. At least I think I can.”

Sweetroot huffed, her eyes glittering. She reached out and touched Star's shoulder with her wingtips. “Your power is like a mighty river, Star. Calm on top but ever flowing beneath. Sometimes I forget . . .” Her voice drifted off.

Star dipped his head. “Forget what?”

“That you're fantastic.”

THE FOLLOWING MORNING, THE RIVER HERD
steeds gathered together. The council had met the previous night and confirmed the decision to travel north. Star healed the three sick pegasi mares, but he couldn't guarantee they weren't still carrying the disease. All of River Herd could be carrying it by now.

Thundersky spoke to the pegasi. “We'll fly in the Vein, traveling east until we pass Snow Herd's territory, then we'll veer north and head into the Ice Lands. The journey will take five days if we keep our rest stops short and also fly at night.”

River Herd understood the reasoning, and none were willing to spread a plague that could wipe out every
pegasus in Anok, but they weren't happy about it. The pregnant mares were especially concerned. “What will we eat there?” asked one.

Star knew that Thundersky had flown all over Anok, surviving by himself in the Vein. So had Iceriver and others; it was part of their training for the army. These steeds had warned the council that food in the north was scarce, but the Ice Lands were uninhabited, and there they would not spread the Blue Tongue plague. Thundersky answered the young mother as best he could without alarming her. “We're a small herd, less than a thousand; we'll be able to survive.”

Survive?
Star shuddered at the word. He wanted more for his herd than mere survival. But he would not be joining them right away in the Ice Lands. He had a visit to make first. He stood on the outskirts of the trampled meadow with Bumblewind, Dewberry, and Morningleaf. “We're ready to depart,” he announced to River Herd.

The evening before, Star had gained permission from the council to visit Snow Herd, but not without some arguing. “I can heal them,” he'd said. “I'll take a small group with me, so Snow Herd understands we aren't there to fight.”

“I'll go with him,” volunteered Morningleaf.

“Me too,” said Bumblewind. Star had asked his friends
to attend the meeting in the hope they would join him, and they did. Only Echofrost had refused.

“And I'll take Dewberry,” said Star. The little mare was scrappy and fearless, but small enough not to appear threatening.

Silverlake flicked her ears, looking concerned. “Twistwing won't welcome you, Star.”

Twistwing, who used to be Twistfire from Sun Herd, had openly called for Star's death from the day Star was born. He'd joined Rockwing in attacking Star the night he received his power, and now Twistwing was over-stallion of Snow Herd. Star tossed his long forelock out of his eyes. “No, he won't welcome me, but he won't turn me away. You heard the messenger; half his herd is dead.”

Hazelwind dragged his sharpened hoof through the dirt, scratching a deep line in the soil. He pinned his ears at Star but looked at everyone gathered. “Why are we helping our enemy?” he asked, spitting out the words. “If Snow Herd is truly half dead, let's leave them that way. Maybe the rest will die too.”

Star cocked his head. He'd never considered
not
helping Snow Herd. He didn't know what to say.

Silverlake answered. “It's worth helping them if it brings peace between River Herd and Snow Herd,” she
said. “This is an opportunity, Hazelwind.”

The stallion snorted. “It's an opportunity wasted. We could end Snow Herd now, while they're weak.”

Star braced at Hazelwind's harsh words. The young stallion had once been one of his greatest supporters. Hazelwind believed Star was the healer, but ever since he'd fought in Sun Herd's final battle against Mountain Herd, Hazelwind had changed.

Iceriver spoke, his eyes soft and sad. “It would mean a lot to me, Star, if you healed Snow Herd. They are good steeds, most of them.” Iceriver's words floated over all of them, stilling their rustling feathers as they listened.

While Star had some doubts about his grandsire, the ex-over-stallion of Snow Herd had proved helpful and trustworthy. And once Thundersky accepted him, everyone in River Herd had as well. The two stallions were often seen flying together and talking. Star imagined Iceriver was Thundersky's first real friend, and the only other stallion in River Herd who understood the unique trials Thundersky had faced as an over-stallion.

But Iceriver avoided Star, his grandson. Probably because he felt shame for not helping Star's mother when she was driven out of Snow Herd years ago. Star didn't know, and he didn't press the old stallion for answers.
Iceriver had let his filly go without a fight, and nothing could change that, but Star was grateful that Lightfeather had landed in Sun Herd and that he'd been born in Dawn Meadow.

“Maybe Silverlake is right,” said Thundersky, breaking the silence. “Maybe Star can form a truce with Twistwing and Snow Herd.”

The council had voted, and it was decided. Star and his friends would travel to Snow Herd's territory.

Now Star watched as Silverlake led the migration to the Ice Lands. She cantered into the clouds, her wide wings muscling the wind, with the River Herd steeds following her. They broke into small V formations consisting of twelve to fifteen steeds each. Brackentail coasted behind Thundersky and was closely watched by several burly stallions. He flew well, and all signs of injury to his broken wing were gone.

As the herd soared out of sight, Star turned to his friends. “Ready?”

Bumblewind stretched his wings. “Shouldn't we have a plan, in case things don't go our way?”

“That's not a bad idea,” said Dewberry.

“Really, you think so?” Bumblewind puffed up his feathers. Dewberry snorted, ignoring him.

Star and Morningleaf exchanged amused glances.

Dewberry stared pointedly at Star. “Anyway, we have
him
. We don't need to flee from any herd.” Her dark eyes sparkled with excitement.

Morningleaf huffed. “That's not a good plan.”

“Why not?” asked Bumblewind. “He's got the starfire. You would use it to protect us. Right, Star?”

“Of course,” said Star, but he hoped he wouldn't have to.

“All right then,” said Bumblewind. “We have our plan. Now, let's fly.” He kicked off and Star followed, passing Bumblewind and taking the headwind like he always did. The others coasted on his wide current.

Star flattened his neck and soared over Anok, his heart racing with the thrill of flight. The oversize wings that had plagued his foalhood now carried him effortlessly through the clouds. When he flew, the starfire heated his belly and coursed through his veins, infusing his muscles with energy. He scanned the terrain below, enjoying the heights and the pleasure of being the largest creature in the sky. He whinnied to his friends, his voice whipping behind him, only a whisper on the rippling air currents. “Let's see how high we can go!”

Star lifted his nose and pumped his wings, driving his body into the cloud layer. He peeked back to see his friends
following, their eyes glittering with joy. It was much more difficult to fly straight up than it was to cruise parallel to the land, but Star's wings were powerful. He surged higher, his black hide damp with cloud sweat, until he passed out of the mist to where the sun was bright.

He narrowed his eyes against the sharp rays and the chill so penetrating he could feel it in his hooves. He looked down and saw that his friends had flown as high as they could. They circled, watching him and waiting. Morningleaf was shivering. Star looked up and couldn't resist the urge to try flying higher.

He angled his nose toward the sun and flapped his massive wings. Through the patchy clouds he could see the curve of the horizon, and he marveled at the planet, which was not flat as it appeared on land, but round. Far below his dangling hooves, flocks of birds flew like tiny gnats, rivers were blue lines, and rugged mountain ranges rose like sentinels out of the flat, grassy plains, guarding them from the wind. He hovered, gulping the thin, cold air—and he knew he could fly higher still.

He looked to where the blue sky turned black, to the space where the Hundred Year Star had glowed so brightly only a moon ago, and he yearned to fly there. He pinned his ears against the prickling radiation of the sun, and his
lungs burned as though he were running out of air. Star craned his neck, squinting at the edge of the atmosphere, and wondered what it would be like to glide in outer space, where there were no currents and the surroundings were blacker than he. Of course no pegasus could fly among the stars; he knew that, but it didn't stop him from wishing he could.

Star peeked below and saw his friends as mere dots—one brown, one red, and one splotched. His eyes watered, and the edges of his hooves began to melt from the burning power of the sun. This was high enough. Star relaxed his wings and let his body stall in midair. When he began to fall, he flexed his wings, controlling the current, and he rocketed toward his friends, squinting as the crosswinds battered his face. He slowed when he neared them and glided in a large circle.

“You were so high!” whinnied Bumblewind, his teeth chattering.

“A little too high,” muttered Morningleaf.

Dewberry's eyes were brilliant. “The legends about the Desert Herd steeds must be true. It's said they can fly as high as you just did, maybe higher.”

“I wish Echofrost had seen it,” said Bumblewind as the four of them dropped back toward the cloud layer. “She
won't believe me when I tell her.”

“What's it like up there?” asked Dewberry.

“Hard to breathe,” Star answered. “And freezing cold, but hot too.” He shook his forelock out of his eyes. “I can't explain it.” Star didn't want to encourage them to try it. His friends had flown as high as they safely could.

The group coasted in silence until dusk. The terrain had changed drastically as they flew north. The trees were shorter, the animals larger, and the land more desolate. Patches of snow appeared, and the tall field grasses gave way to stubby weeds. Morningleaf spotted a creek, and they landed to graze, drink, and sleep for the night.

The next morning the four pegasi flew north, continuing their path toward Snow Herd. Within an hour they approached a landscape buried in snow. The wind was cold and unforgiving, reaching deep into their bones. Star was glad their coats had thickened while they were living in the Vein.

“Look there,” said Star, nodding toward a frozen oval lake far below them. “Silverlake told me that when we reach the land of frozen lakes, we're in Snow Herd's territory.”

Star led his group out of the clouds and straight into a pack of Snow Herd warriors. He gasped, shocked, and his heart thrummed in a fast, steady beat.

“We're definitely in the right place,” huffed Dewberry. She coiled her front legs and rattled her feathers at the foreign stallions. Morningleaf and Bumblewind copied her.

“It
is
the black foal,” whinnied a light-gray steed as though his group had been watching them for a while. “Seize them!” he neighed to the others.

The warriors surged forward, casting apprehensive glances at Star, and snatched his friends by the wings, dragging them across the sky. A cream-colored stallion trumpeted an alarm to his herd that carried across the snow.

Dewberry kicked her captor in the knees and twisted, trying to yank her wing free of his jaws. “I need backup!” she whinnied.

But Star was already on his way, charging toward her, his jaws clenched. He slammed into the white stallion's chest, and the hit forced him to release Dewberry. The stallion wheezed, gasping for air. Star hadn't planned to fight the Snow Herd stallions, but his gut fluttered with his first small victory.

Suddenly, another warrior came at them, clubbing Star
over the head with his hoof, and Star tumbled into a cloud, scattering the mist, before regaining his wings. Dewberry was free and battling a gray stallion, but Morningleaf dangled from a set of powerful jaws, squealing in anger and pain.

Star's fast breaths filled his ears, and his heart beat wildly against his rib cage. He dived into the flank of the stallion holding Morningleaf and bit into his meaty flesh. They tussled across the sky, a tangle of feathers and legs, until the buckskin stallion finally released Morningleaf, and she darted out of harm's way.