The Guardian Herd (8 page)

STAR AND FROSTFIRE SWOOPED DOWN FROM THE
clouds and hurtled across the hot, flat desert. They'd left Jungle Herd's territory two days earlier, and they'd been searching Western Anok for sixteen days since Nightwing had captured the pegasi. Today they arrived in the Desert Herd lands, and Star marveled at the wide expanse of dusty soil, as unmarked as the ocean, dotted only with scrubby brush and short cacti.

“It's bleak,” said Star. The Red Rock Mountains and the steady march of the sun across the sky were his only reference points for navigation. His sharp eyes could see for miles in every direction, and there was no sign of pegasi, let alone twelve thousand of them. The striated
mesas of the scarlet mountain range, however, piqued his interest. The plateaus were stepped and angular. Deep canyons created sheer cliff walls that were pocked with thousands of caves. “Look there,” said Star. “Are those caves deep enough to hide pegasi?”

Frostfire nodded. “Yes, those caves are the homes of the Desert Herd steeds. Each family has one.”

“This is the last territory,” Star reminded Frostfire. “If we don't find Nightwing here, then it's time for you to take me to the place where he plans to settle them. All along, we keep missing him.”

“I know. He's making good time flying with such a large herd,” said Frostfire.

“And they have nursing foals with them,” said Star, shaking his mane. “He should be stopping often to rest, making it easy for us to catch him. The mothers will have to wean their foals early to keep his pace, and that's not healthy.”

Star swooped toward the desert canyons, feeling the dry air burn his lungs. He and Frostfire hovered along the cliff walls, examining the caves. They darted up and down the steep divide, searching for fresh signs of pegasi. Each cave was about the size of the one Star had lived in on the coast of Anok, just large enough to hold four or five
steeds comfortably. “Are the caves connected?” he asked Frostfire.

“Not that I remember,” said the stallion. “I was here to fight, not to explore, you know.” They landed inside a cave to look around.

Star's hooves clattered as he explored the foreign steeds' home. The rock floor was worn smooth from years of pegasi lying on it. Layers of ferns and feathers softened the area. The rest of the rocky surface was scuffed with hoof marks. Three straight red lines were painted on one wall. “What are these?” Star asked, tracing the lines with his wingtips.

“Desert Herd uses ochre to mark their caves. Three lines mean that three pegasi live in this one. It's how they count their numbers.”

“Morningleaf would love to see this,” Star said, his spine tingling. “She counts well in her head, but I think she'd be interested in these lines that keep track of pegasi.”

Frostfire erased the red ochre with his wing and started walking away. “Well, no one lives here now. Let's move on.”

Star flew out of the home, feeling suddenly claustrophobic as the truth slammed him. Western Anok was empty; all the pegasi were gone. He spread his wings and
glided through the narrow, hot canyons. The air in front of him rippled, and his sweat dried instantly as the sun scorched his back. “There's no one left,” he whinnied to Frostfire.

The white stallion cruised beside him, trying to comfort him. “We'll find them, Star.”

Star leaked tears, and a trail of white flowers sprouted up through the dry, solid ground. Frostfire stared at them, almost crashing into Star. “That's incredible.”

Star shook his head. “Not really.” He could grow flowers and heal wounds, but what use was that against Nightwing?

“Come on,” said Frostfire, trying to distract Star. “I think it's time I washed these ashes out of my hide.” He veered left, and Star followed, soaring over the flat desert at top speed. Soon they were descending into another, much smaller canyon. Star drifted over the ridge and sucked in his breath at the sight below his hooves. After miles and miles of flat, brown terrain, the river ahead was an oasis of lush, green foliage and clear, rushing water.

The stallions landed on the shore.

“This is the Tail River,” said Frostfire. “It travels from the Black Lake through the Wastelands, and then dumps into the Sea of Rain.”

“Do crocodiles live here?” Star asked, thinking of the jungle.

Frostfire nickered. “No, this water is safe.”

The two plunged into the cool, wide river that ran through the divide. Star heard the distant roar of a waterfall and inhaled the comforting scent of damp soil that drifted from the shore. He ducked under the surface and swam with his eyes open. Large trout flitted past him, unafraid. He dived to the bottom, and then he cruised just over the small pebbles and plants on the river floor, swimming upstream so as not to end up tumbling down the waterfall.

Over his head, Frostfire kicked his hooves, paddling against the current. Star glided underwater, remembering his daily swims in Crabwing's Bay when he was a weanling, and then he popped up next to Frostfire, speaking the thoughts that had been on his mind for days. “What will I do when we find Nightwing? My shield and invisibility might help me
survive
him, but they won't help me
defeat
him.”

Frostfire floated on the surface with his wings tucked high on his back, like a swan. Star lifted his wings and folded them in the same fashion. They mirrored each other, he and Frostfire, but they were opposites—one
shimmering white and the other shining black.

“Maybe you should focus on who
you
are and not who
he
is,” said Frostfire, preening his feathers.

Star jolted at his words.

“What is it?” the stallion asked.

“Silverlake said almost those exact words to me in the north.” Tears filled Star's eyes as he thought about Silverlake, wondering if she was alive.

Frostfire looked away, whistling softly. “I'm beginning to understand why your guardian herd isn't afraid of you.”

Star pricked his ears. “No one should be afraid of me.”

Frostfire slapped Star gently on the shoulder. “Nightwing should.”

Star huffed and wiped his eyes. “We're done searching the west. Take me to where you think he's going.”

Frostfire nodded, and the two lifted straight out of the water and surged into the sky. “Head east,” said Frostfire.

They traveled in a pattern, zigzagging across the sky, covering as much ground as possible and scanning the terrain for signs of the missing herd of pegasi—trampled grass, droppings, or molted feathers. After passing over towering mountain ranges, they came upon a dusty plain
that spread for miles and seemed absent of all life except for a long, winding river.

“We've reached the Wastelands,” said Frostfire over the wind.

A bright splotch of color caught Star's eye. “Look, feathers!” He dived toward a dirt mesa that was surrounded by shallow canyons. He touched down and cantered across the stony plateau, sniffing for the scents of his friends, but what he smelled was his enemy. “Nightwing's been here,” said Star, curling back his lips.

“And Petalcloud,” said Frostfire, who'd also landed and was exploring the mesa.

Thousands of hoofprints marked the ground, and Star began to catch familiar scents, but they were so jumbled together, he couldn't separate them into individual steeds.

Star's heart swelled with hope. “Look at all these hoofprints; thousands of pegasi are still alive. This is good.” He trotted to the edge of the plateau and gazed east. The sky was clear of clouds and layered in gradient shades of blue. He could see all the way to the far horizon. He squinted, searching for pegasi, but as far as he could see, the sky held only birds. “I think I know where they're going,” said Star. “To the interior of Anok, to the ancient lands of Lake Herd.”

Frostfire halted, not saying a word.

“The flatland territory is the largest in Anok. It's nothing but grass and water. It's perfect for pegasi,” said Star, glancing at his companion.

Frostfire avoided his eyes.

“But it's dangerous,” Star added, waiting for a reaction from the white stallion that would indicate if Star's guess was correct. “When I was looking for a territory for River Herd, Morningleaf's sire told me all about the Flatlands. It's infested with gigantic wolves and high winds, and no pegasus has traveled there in hundreds of years. If that's where Nightwing is going, he doesn't know what he'll find. And no one knows why the Lake Herd pegasi disappeared long ago—perhaps they couldn't survive there. It's too risky.” Star felt suddenly angry. “And it's thousands of miles away. They won't all make it.”

“But Nightwing won't have any trouble feeding them there,” said Frostfire.

Star peered at his old enemy. “So I'm correct? Nightwing
is
heading to the Flatlands?”

Frostfire's wings drooped. “Yes, you're correct.” He looked at Star with his one blue eye. “Are you going to leave me behind? Now that you don't need me?”

Star spread his wings, feeling the hot breeze blow
through his feathers. He stared at Frostfire, frustrated. “Did you know we're related?”

Frostfire took a deep breath before answering. “Yes. My sire, Iceriver, told me. Your mother is . . . was my sister.” His lips curled over the words, and Star saw how distasteful the relationship was to Frostfire.

Star leaned closer, forcing the stallion to meet his gaze. “I won't leave you behind, Frostfire, and I won't let Nightwing attack you.”

Frostfire's eyes dropped to his hooves. “Why? Because I'm your uncle?”

“No,” said Star. “Because we made a deal and because I'm the only pegasus in Anok who can save you.”

“But I don't deserve your protection,” said Frostfire honestly.

“Maybe not, but you don't deserve to be killed by Nightwing either.”

The two were silent for a long moment, and then Frostfire said, “Come on. It's a long way yet to the interior.”

“Then let's not waste time.” Star galloped forward, his hooves clopping across the rocks, and he leaped off the edge, free falling a moment before gripping the wind with his wings. He swooped out of his dive and cruised fast over the lower plains. The two stallions glided side by side,
but after a while Frostfire dropped back and drafted off Star's dominant wake.

Star was shocked at first when the older stallion took the submissive position behind him, but then he relaxed. And for the first time since Star's herd was captured, he didn't feel alone.

ALMOST A FULL MOON PASSED AS STAR AND
Frostfire tracked the pegasi toward the interior of Anok. They'd slowed their pace when they'd noticed fresh droppings and trampled ground, signs that they were close. Star didn't plan to confront Nightwing immediately. He would wait until the Destroyer settled, so he could assess the condition of the herd and Nightwing's plans for them. Also, Frostfire needed to rest, so each time they landed to graze and sleep, Star practiced turning invisible. He'd sneak up on the white stallion and whisper, “Do you see me?” Frostfire would practically leap out of his hide and whinny, “Stop doing that!”

As they traveled deeper inland, the dry, rocky terrain
gave way to green grass and abysmally flat land. It was now midmorning. Star had flown to a higher altitude than Frostfire to examine their surroundings. Ahead was a grassy plain so large it swallowed the land all the way to the horizon. It was dotted with hundreds of blue lakes and ponds and patches of forest. But over this land, the clouds were dark, turning darker, and flashes of lightning glowed deep within. Star dropped down to Frostfire's elevation, and the two stallions hovered in place. “I think those are the ancient lands of Lake Herd,” said Star. “But a storm is coming, and fast. We need to get out of the sky.”

“There's enough grassland here to feed
ten
herds,” said Frostfire. “It's so different from the mountains where I was raised, where grazing time had to be rationed.”

“True, but I rejected this place for River Herd. Thundersky told me that besides the gigantic wolves and winds strong enough to toss yearlings, lightning storms are frequent.”

“None of that worries me,” said Frostfire.

“It should because if Nightwing chooses this territory for his home, your colt will be born here.”

Frostfire's eyes snapped to his surroundings, studying them all over again from the perspective of a sire.

Star watched the storm quickly blow toward them.
“Come on, we'll have to wait this out on the ground.” Star dipped his nose, and the two plummeted toward land.

Farther above them, in the center of the clouds, lightning flashed. Star sniffed the air, smelling rain. He glanced at the long grass that rippled in the wind as far as he could see. In Sun Herd's territory, and in the north, there had always been tall foothills and huge mountain ranges to shelter the pegasi from the wind. Here there was nothing. He and Frostfire stood taller than anything for miles around, except for a few clusters of trees, and Star felt exposed. “This is not a good place for pegasi.”

Frostfire nudged him, staring into the distance. “Look there, it's a herd of buffalo.”

Star followed his gaze and saw at least a thousand buffalo trotting across the grassland, disturbed by the storm. The creatures' deep grunts and groans reached Star's ears and then drifted off with the wind. The clouds seemed to rumble, and rain poured from the sky. “Let's head into those trees,” said Star.

They galloped into a small grove and stood for hours, covering their backs with their water-repellent feathers. When the center of the storm reached them, the wind blew the rain sideways. Star clamped down his tail and shook the water off his wings, but soon he was drenched. Next to
him, Frostfire leaned closer, resting and shivering.

Star stayed awake and watched the rain until he noticed something odd appear in the clouds, like a shadow. “What's that?” he whispered, jolting Frostfire awake. The two peered skyward.

The figure flew circles in the depths of the black clouds as lightning crackled around him. “It's a pegasus.”

“Our friends must be close,” neighed Frostfire. “But why is this one flying in the storm, alone?”

“Maybe he's scared?”

The pegasus flew loops and rolls, and glided, dodging lightning bolts. “Or maybe he's crazy,” exclaimed Frostfire.

Thunder boomed, and the lone figure burst from the clouds followed by a streak of white lightning. Star flinched, expecting the bolt to strike the pegasus, but the steed twirled toward land, avoiding it. Then he leveled off and flew over the buffalo, spooking them. The lightning bolt struck the grass, and Star watched the herd lurch into a gallop. The stallion swooped back up toward the clouds, and his delighted whinny pierced Star's ears, making them ache.

“It's him,” gasped Frostfire.

But Star had already figured that out. The dark shadow was Nightwing.

“Don't move,” warned Star.

The Destroyer soared high over their heads. Star and Frostfire ducked deeper into the thicket, and the herd of buffalo galloped out of sight.

Star watched the black stallion twist through the raindrops. He hadn't seen the Destroyer since the day he'd landed in Anok and said to Star,
There you are
. Then, he'd been bone thin, with hollow eyes and a ragged mane and tail. Now, flying in the sky, he looked only slightly better. He'd gained some weight around his hips, and he'd shed out much of his ancient coat, but his hair was still dull and dry. Star understood what this meant: Nightwing's healing powers were weak. Maybe Frostfire was correct. Maybe Star was stronger in ways he didn't understand.

Star guessed the cause of Nightwing's haggard appearance was his long hibernation. When Star's injuries had sent him to sleep, he'd woken weak and thin too, but he'd been asleep less than a moon—not hundreds of years. Also, he'd had his guardian herd to care for him. The medicine mare, Sweetroot, had appointed steeds to watch him day and night. They'd bathed him, rubbed him with plant oils
to keep him free of flies and gnats, rolled him over twice a day, and massaged his muscles to keep his blood flowing. At the thought of it, his throat constricted with gratitude. It was obvious no pegasus had watched over Nightwing.

The Destroyer cruised in and out of the clouds, teasing out bolts of lightning. When they caught up to him, he sprang his shield, protecting himself.

As the storm stretched over them, the clouds sometimes parted, and the sudden peaks of bright sunlight burned Star's eyes. The heavy winds created waves in the grass, and the tree leaves crashed against each other, making a loud racket.

The storm eventually passed on and so did Nightwing. He flew opposite of it, heading farther east. Star watched the black stallion until he disappeared.

“He plays with lightning,” breathed Frostfire.

The awed tone in Frostfire's voice caused the last of Star's confidence to drain out his hooves. “I . . . I can't do that.”

“Don't lose courage, Star. Anything he can do, you can do.”

Star shook his head. “But we're different. I'm a healer.”
How could a healer battle a destroyer?

“Look at me, Star.”

Star met his uncle's gaze, noting the earnest look in the stallion's mismatched eyes. Frostfire lowered his voice. “I'm not wrong about you. You
will
overcome his strength. When the time comes, let Nightwing attack you with
all
his power. Only then will you discover yours.”

Frostfire nudged him. “Think about it, Star—how do we sharpen our hooves?” He didn't wait for an answer. “On solid rock, right? Not on moss. His powers will sharpen yours.” Frostfire lifted his head, his eyes glittering with excitement, his voice rising. “Battle will bring out the best in you, Star. That's what warriors understand, and it's what defenders learn to appreciate. You'll discover yourself through your opponent. Don't fear him. Embrace him.”

Star's heart surged under Frostfire's rallying words. He stood taller, and his starfire coursed through his veins, causing golden sparks across his feathers.

“That's it!” neighed Frostfire. “Believe!”

And suddenly Star saw his mother's beautiful face reflected in Frostfire's. He threw out his wings, touching Frostfire's shoulders. “You're my family,” he said, excitement bubbling in his chest. “And here we are, working together. My mother—your sister—would have been pleased.”

Frostfire pulled away, looking startled. “No, Star. I never knew my sister. I was already gone when Lightfeather
was born to my sire, and then my mother drove her off and Iceriver disowned her. Yes, we're family, but really, what does that mean?”

Star pricked his ears. “It means we share blood. Isn't that important to you?”

Frostfire met Star's gaze. “Larksong and my coming colt are all who matter to me. Look, I'm here, I'm helping you, but I don't feel the same. I don't think of you as family.”

Star's wings dropped to his sides. “But—”

Frostfire bristled. “Come on, let's stay focused on our mission, on Nightwing.”

Frostfire kicked off and flew fast over the grass, heading east—following Nightwing. Star glided behind him, shaking off his disappointment with Frostfire. Was it so foolish to think the stallion would change, would accept him? Star blinked hard, fighting tears. Yes, it appeared so.

But they'd found Nightwing, and that meant that Star's friends were close. Soon he would see them. He would find out who had lived and . . . who had not. He pricked his ears; his anticipation was hot, like a fever, but his dread was cold, like ice.

Moments later they crested a low hill and Star gasped, curling his wings and slowing. Before him spread a huge valley, and grazing inside it were twelve thousand pegasi.

He'd found them.