The Guardian Herd (9 page)

IT WAS DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT STAR HAD
finally found the missing pegasi after searching and traveling for over a moon. They stood grazing before him like a mirage, like the false appearance of water in the desert. He heard Dewberry's voice in his head:
Trust your eyes, Star
. She'd said this to him once when they were living in the Vein, after Star received his power, and it had proved sound advice.

“There they are,” he whispered to Frostfire.

The two stallions landed and crouched in the grass, sneaking forward, placing each hoof softly in front of the other. Star sensed danger, a static in the air. He halted. “Something's wrong.”

Frostfire pranced, his nostrils flaring. “I feel it too.”

Star flattened his ears and peered around him, but saw nothing amiss. His heart raced as if he were galloping. Next to him, Frostfire's tail twitched like a ground squirrel's. They waited, which made them each tenser, but nothing unusual happened. Star crept forward, and Frostfire followed. Ahead was a shallow valley rimmed on the eastern side by rolling swells and framed on the southern end by a forest of cottonwood trees. Star and Frostfire crouched at the western end of the wide valley, watching the herd.

The pegasi walked in large groups, grazing on the tall grasses or staring vacantly at the sky. A light-gray mare trotted past with a silver yearling at her side, and then they split apart to join different groups of pegasi. Star's heart skittered at the sight of them. “It's Silverlake and Echofrost,” he whispered. Next he saw the Desert Herd stallion Redfire, then the runt filly Shadepebble. They appeared unharmed.

He searched the herd eagerly for Morningleaf and Bumblewind. Frostfire groaned softly when Larksong cantered across the valley and settled next to Silverlake and Sweetroot. Star noticed that the buckskin mare's belly had rounded with her growing foal, and Frostfire nickered with relief. “They're safe.”

But Star saw no sign of Morningleaf, Bumblewind, or Dewberry in the throng of steeds. Hazelwind and Brackentail also appeared absent. His breath hitched, and desperate tears formed in his eyes.

“Look, there's my mother,” whispered Frostfire. Star followed his gaze and saw a striking gray mare standing by herself. It was Petalcloud, and she was staring proudly at the sky.

Star followed her gaze. “And there's Nightwing.”

A black shadow rocketed through the clouds, his eyes trained on Star.

“Look, he sees me!” Star's blood drained from his ears. The last time he'd faced Nightwing, the ancient stallion had pierced his heart with starfire, almost killing him. But there was no hiding from Nightwing now, so Star put the past behind him and stood taller, spreading his wings and quickly catching the eye of Petalcloud, and then all the captured pegasi.

A hush fell over the valley as thousands of heads swiveled to face him. Hope rose in their expressions as the pegasi realized that the black stallion standing on the ridge was Star the Healer. The steeds of Anok had once wished for his execution, but now they stared at Star with devoted fervor.

Star cantered into the sky and hovered above their heads.

“It's you!” bellowed Nightwing. He dropped out of the clouds like a diving hawk. Star braced for an attack.

“Steady,” neighed Frostfire from the grass below. “Let him come to you.”

Nightwing pulled out of his dive and flew a large circle around Star, snapping his jaws. “I knew you'd come for them,” he said, nodding toward the pegasi in the valley. He drew a breath and then shot starfire across the sky, blasting it toward Star.

Star threw up his shield, and the destructive fire swirled around it and then fizzled away, leaving Star unharmed. Sharp whinnies and startled gasps erupted in the valley.

“Ah.” Nightwing tossed his heavy mane, which fell in clumps across his neck. “You've discovered the shield.” He sounded disappointed.

Star hovered, his anger steaming. Silver sparks crackled across his hide, and he had to shake them off, to resist the dark fury that threatened to bloom in his heart. Below his hooves, the pegasi galloped into one large group, craning their necks to watch the two stallions. Star heard Petalcloud command her Ice Warriors to guard the herd.
There was still no sign of Morningleaf among them. “Let the pegasi go,” Star said to Nightwing.

Nightwing drew closer, his head cocked. “Why don't you try and take them from me?”

Star dropped his shield and shot his golden fire at Nightwing. It hit the ancient stallion square in the chest, and Nightwing halted midair, stunned as his brittle hide turned glossy. Then he mocked Star, braying loud enough for all the pegasi to hear him. “I think the idea is to hurt me Star, not heal me.”

Petalcloud's nickering drifted up from the valley.

Star ignored the ridicule, took a breath, and faced Nightwing. “You're not wanted here,” he said evenly. “The pegasi follow
me
, not
you
.”

“Is that right?” Nightwing dived toward the herd of steeds, skimming just over their heads. “Whoever wants to follow Star is free to go.”

The pegasi stared warily at Nightwing, and Star's heart lurched. The Destroyer was lying, and the pegasi knew it, but three elder mares shot out of the grass toward Star, their eyes locked on his.

“No!” he neighed to them.

But they kept coming, tears streaming down their
cheeks. “We'll die free,” whinnied the mare in front, a palomino.

No you won't
, thought Star, thinking of the Beyond.

Nightwing spiraled below the mares and exhaled silver light, catching them in its deadly beam. Star watched all three pegasi melt and then combust, disappearing into the wind. Several steeds screamed. The newborn foals, now weanlings, bleated in fear.

“Stop!” Star whinnied to the pegasi and to Nightwing. “No one move. Please.”

Nightwing swooped closer, panting like a tiger. “You see? The pegasi are safer with me.” He looked triumphant. “This is my herd, Star. I protect them now, not you. Go. Leave this place. Leave Anok.”

Star glanced at Frostfire standing on the ground, wondering what to do. He and Nightwing each had a shield. How could they fight each other when they couldn't hurt each other?

Nightwing followed Star's gaze and spotted Frostfire. He blinked, looking surprised. “You're alive?” he said to the white stallion, diving toward him.

Star hurtled toward his uncle. “Leave him alone! He's with me.”

Frostfire glanced desperately at his dam, Petalcloud, who stood in the distance. The dark mare's eyes sparkled with curiosity, but she did nothing to help her son.

“Your Black Army failed me,” said Nightwing, drawing up his starfire.

Frostfire gulped. Star landed next to his uncle and sprang his shield around them both just as Nightwing blasted the stallion. The silver fire burst without harm against the orb.

Nightwing twisted his ears, his eyes smoldering.

Feeling bold in the shield, Frostfire spoke. “If you won't free them all, then give me Larksong.”

“What are you doing?” rasped Star. “We aren't here to bargain.”

Nightwing paused, thinking, and then his eyes glinted and he snaked his head toward Star. “I see,” he hissed. “You two have come for your mares, is that it?”

Star's heart thudded as he thought about Morningleaf.

“Yes,” said Nightwing. “That's it. I see it in your eyes.”

Star blinked rapidly and pranced forward, bringing Frostfire with him inside the shield. “Where
is
Morningleaf? I can't find her in the herd.”

Nightwing flicked his tail, his eyes bright with pleasure. “You're too late, Star. She's dead.”

Star recoiled with a sharp grunt.
Dead?

“It wasn't me,” said the Destroyer, looking regretful. “She drowned herself in the Wastelands. For you, I imagine. So you'd stop doing stupid things like healing your enemies, traveling with traitors, and challenging me for my herd. Things like you're doing right now.” He clacked his teeth at Star.

Star dropped his head, wheezing for breath. This couldn't be true; Nightwing was lying.

Petalcloud flew up the low ridge where Star and Frostfire stood. She nuzzled Nightwing, showing off their alliance, and Star noticed that her body was full and glossy while the rest of the pegasi looked thin and dull. Petalcloud lifted her chin and appraised them. “A captain without an army and a black foal without a guardian herd—you're a sorry pair,” she said, her voice lilting. “But you heard Nightwing. You're free to go. He won't make that offer twice.”

Frostfire arched his neck, holding his mother's gaze, still encased safely inside the shield. “We shouldn't have sided against Star,” he said to her. “We were wrong.”

Petalcloud pranced closer, her delicate muzzle flaring. “You're just angry because you failed to make a pact with Nightwing and then your army abandoned you.”

Frostfire glared at her, swallowing back his emotions.

“I'm lead mare of this herd,” Petalcloud announced to both of them while nodding toward the valley. “And so I'll make you my own offer. If you pledge yourselves to Nightwing, you can join our herd as under-stallions. But you'll have to decide right now.”

Frostfire's jaw circled helplessly as he choked on words that he wanted to say to her but couldn't.

Tension crackled between the four of them. Star braced, ready for anything, and Frostfire pinned his ears.

Petalcloud glowered, and she reminded Star of the vibrant flowers in the jungle—the ones that lured you close with their beauty and then killed you with their poison.

Nightwing broke the silence, realizing that they had reached an impasse. “You two had your chance; now leave this territory.” His voice boomed across the valley. “This land belongs to me.”

“Come on, Star,” Frostfire whispered. “We need to regroup.” Frostfire glanced behind him to where Larksong stood, touching her belly with her wing. “We'll be back,” he whispered to her as though she could hear him.

Star and Frostfire, still encased in Star's golden sphere, kicked off and flew over the valley of pegasi.
Echofrost and Silverlake and the rest of the herd watched them leave, and Star saw the hope lift from their eyes. He faltered, almost falling from the sky. Frostfire bolstered him. “This isn't over, Star.”

Star nodded as his vision blurred with tears. Morningleaf was dead. As soon as they were past the valley, he moaned aloud, seized by pain that was worse than anything he'd ever experienced.

“You're thinking of your blue-winged friend?” Frostfire guessed.

Star blinked acknowledgment, and his wings stuttered, throwing the golden orb into a spin. Frostfire tried to correct their balance, but Star sank like a dead weight toward land. “Star, help me fly this thing!”

The ground rushed toward them, threatening to break them, but Star didn't care.

He was already broken.

STAR OPENED HIS EYES, GROANING, HIS HEAD
throbbing. He stood up and stroked his forehead with his wing. He was standing alone in a field of grass. It was morning, still early. Bugs crawled through his mane, and sweat drenched his hide. “Frostfire?” he called.

The white stallion trotted into his line of sight, looking unharmed.

“What happened?”

“We crashed,” said Frostfire. “You hit the ground pretty hard. I landed on top of you, so you took the worst of it.”

Star tossed his mane at the buzzing flies and quickly regretted it. The painful throbbing increased, pounding
his brain like surf against the shore. Star squinted at the bright sunlight. The heavy clouds were gone, and the rain had dried on the grass. A memory tugged at his thoughts, something Nightwing had said—something Star didn't want to remember. “How long was I out?”

“The rest of yesterday and all night.”

Star flinched. “What's happened since then?”

“Nothing, really,” replied Frostfire. “I've been spying on the herd. The pegasi live in that valley we saw, but they travel out to the Flatlands each morning to graze. Petalcloud's Ice Warriors guard them.”

Star's body ached with bruises, and he quickly sent his starfire through to heal his wounds. His tension unwound, but when he was finished, his head still hurt. That was unusual. “I'm going back,” he said, spreading his wings. “I'm going to end this now.”

“Wait!” Frostfire moved closer. “Remember what I said. Nightwing has to attack you first. He will draw out your strength, but if you rush this, you'll lose.”

“But he knows I have the shield, so he's not going to attack me. He said we're free to leave.” Bitterness choked Star's words. “How do I fight that?”

Frostfire rubbed his eyes with his wings. “I don't know, let me think about it. But I do know that charging blindly
at him isn't tactical, Star. Think about it; we have twelve thousand allies in that valley.” Frostfire's mismatched eyes glimmered as he pointed toward the herd of pegasi. “The reason Nightwing didn't attack you is because he doesn't know how to beat you either. This is good. It gives us time to make a plan.”

Star lowered his wings.

Frostfire interpreted his gesture as acceptance and continued. “We need to establish contact with the herd, to organize them, and we'll need several spies to watch Nightwing and . . . my mother. Who do you suggest?”

Star's first thought was Hazelwind, but he hadn't seen the buckskin stallion in the valley. “Silverlake for sure,” he said. “And the Desert Herd stallion I met in the Trap, Redfire.”

“And what about spies?”

“Silverlake and Redfire can choose the spies.” But Star knew that Echofrost and Shadepebble would volunteer.

“All right. Let's get out of the open,” suggested Frostfire. “The cottonwood forest on the southern end of the valley is a good place to watch the herd without being too obvious.”

The two took off and whisked over the grass, skirting the edge of the valley. The wind blasted across the plains,
buffeting them. Star squinted against it.

“I already can't stand this wind,” grumbled Frostfire. Their loose feathers detached and swirled behind them. He glanced at Star, looking worried. “Are you sure you're okay?”

“I think so,” said Star, but his heart twitched. What was he missing? What had he forgotten?

They reached the grassy cottonwood forest and landed. Star's wounded head thumped harder when his hooves touched the ground. He glanced around him, noticing the trees were spread wide. “There's not much cover here.”

“The forest thickens that way.” Frostfire pointed farther south with his wing.

Star slumped against a tall elm tree, feeling dizzy from the pain in his head. He sent starfire there and waited, but the pain did not cease.

“What's wrong?” asked Frostfire.

“It's my head,” said Star. “It hurts, and I can't heal it.”

Frostfire halted, peering at him. “You didn't land on your head, Star. You're not injured there.”

“Then why does it hurt so bad?”

“My head hurt for a long time after my mother gave me away.” He trotted closer. “I think it's grief causing your pain.”

“Grief over what?”

Frostfire stiffened. “You don't remember what Nightwing told you? About Morningleaf?”

The image of Morningleaf's bright blaze, warm eyes, and aqua feathers blazed across Star's mind, and in an instant, he remembered. “Oh no,” he whispered.

“Nightwing said she drowned herself.”

“He's lying. She wouldn't do that.” Star held his head in his wings.
Or would she?
Star imagined her amber eyes, shining with devotion, and he remembered when she threw herself in front of the deathblow meant for him, and the time she rode a jet stream to save her brother, knowing she wouldn't survive it, and the time she'd used herself as bait to lure the Black Army and the Ice Warriors away from Star's body when he was injured. Star reared back, shaking his heavy black mane.
Oh, she might! She might drown herself if she thought it would help him.

Star landed from rearing and stood, trembling from ears to tail. All the confidence he'd earned as a warrior in the Trap was gone. He was a shell of a stallion—a husk of a pegasus. One more blow and he would disintegrate into a thousand tiny pieces and drift away with the rushing winds of the Flatlands.

The excited growl of a wolf broke the silence. Star's
head snapped up, and he pricked his ears forward.

Beside him, Frostfire flared his wings. More growling came from the woods. “It's a pack,” he said quietly. “They're hunting something.”

Star twisted his ears and caught the low rumble of hoofbeats and the snarling of the wolves. They were chasing something hooved, like deer or horses, or maybe buffalo. Star's heart fired with hot energy. “I'm saving them,” he neighed.

“Saving who?” cried Frostfire.

“Whatever creature those wolves are about to kill.” Star galloped and lifted off the ground, flying through the trees.

Frostfire followed, angry. “Don't risk a fight with wolves, Star. They're just hunting.”

“I don't care.” Star pinned his ears, his veins pulsing with blood and starfire, his fury driving him faster.

“I know what you're doing,” whinnied Frostfire. “Your friend is dead, so you're going to save some animal since you can't save her. It's a waste of your energy.”

Star pinned his ears. “I'm doing it anyway!” But maybe Frostfire was right. Maybe because he couldn't save Morningleaf, he would save a deer or a horse. Maybe he was going crazy, but his need to protect the poor creature
consumed him like fire.

Star rocketed into the depths of the forest, neck flat, following the low growls of the wolves and the panicked breaths of the prey. A patch of gray fur flashed between the trees. He was catching up to them.

A sharp snarl and piercing squeals erupted. The wolves had cornered their victim. Star knew he had only seconds to stop the attack. He narrowed his wings and jetted forward, dodging branches. Ahead was a tumble of hooves and fur and gnashing teeth. Four gigantic wolves had their quarry pinned to the ground. Colorful feathers exploded around them, and Star reeled.

These weren't deer or horses.

They were pegasi.