by Kate Gordon
Oh, and Kuia wanted her to help sort the leaves they’d picked this morning not long after she’d got back from the unicorns. Lucky Kuia didn’t ask where we’d been riding so early. I couldn’t have said we went through the forest in case she told Mum!
She answered the white-board questions and was one of several people Mrs Worthington asked to read out their answers. The teacher simply said ‘fine’ and moved onto the next person, so she guessed her answers were okay.
The lesson dragged on, and all Lily wanted to hear was the bell. But when it came, she was thinking about Brökk and how they could help him get better faster.
Sasha nudged her. “The bell. Run! We’ll bring your bag.”
Shoot...!
She ran.
Chapter Five
Lily reached the library door at the same time as the geeky boys from their class. They were huddled over a hand-held screen, so she slipped in front of them and sprinted down the library aisle.
“No running!” ordered the librarian.
She slowed and glanced back. The geeks were behind, not far, so she walked as fast as she could to reach the seat at the computer that Sasha wanted.
She sat, her breath still coming fast, and looked around. Chloe and Sasha were just coming in the door as the boys reached Lily.
“Hey, we sit there,” one of them said.
“Well, we’re sitting here today.”
“Yeah,” said Sasha as the girls walked up. “It’s not like there’s a rule that only you can sit here.”
The boy looked perplexed. “But...but we always do.”
“Not today.” Lily wasn’t shifting. “Bring over another chair, Chloe, and let’s get started.”
Sasha put their backpacks under the desk and stood, arms folded, looking at the boy. “Well?”
“Never mind.” He turned away, muttering with his friends.
“Finally.” Sasha pulled up another chair so the three of them crowded around the computer screen.
Lily opened an internet browser, then pushed the keyboard and mouse over to Chloe. “Have you thought what websites might be good to look for parks on?” She kept the question quiet just in case someone was listening. Not that anyone else would know what they were talking about. But she’d rather not take any risks after the unicorn drawing in class. That was stupid.
“Of course.” Chloe’s fingers tapped quickly, and the first site flashed up. Whale Bay District Council. She searched for parks and a big list appeared.
“Do we have to click on each one to bring it up on a map?” Sasha asked, as she grabbed a book and pen out of her bag. “Or do you think there’s a map of all the parks?”
“I’ll keep this list open and look for a map on another page, so we can reference back easily.” Chloe moved the cursor around the map on the screen to point out things they knew. “There’s school. Wow, that’s a really big park over behind it, eh?”
“I’ll note that one,” said Sasha. “What’s the road name? We need to make sure it’s got enough trees for the uni–”
“Ahem.” Lily looked at Sasha and shook her head.
She looked sheepish and continued in a whisper. “For you know who to take cover during the day.”
Chloe flicked between the two webpages, looking for the biggest parks first. The girls soon had a list of places they thought worth checking tomorrow. Then the first bell after break rang.
“Already!” Lily pushed back from the desk and put her chair away. “There’s more of the park map to work through.”
“We’ll have to do it tonight,” replied Chloe. “Do you think we’ll be allowed to use the computer at your place?”
“We should be, but it’s right there in the dining room so Mum can see what I’m doing.”
They walked out of the library and turned towards their class.
“Man, I’m hungry. I forgot we couldn’t eat in the library.” Sasha stuffed a sandwich in her mouth as they walked.
“Me too.” Lily started on her lunch.
Chloe nibbled on an apple. “Perhaps if I did more searching and notes, while you two are helping your mum make dinner or something, then it doesn’t look like a big deal.”
“Good idea,” Sasha replied. “Now we just have to get through one last afternoon with Mrs Worthington without getting into trouble. They talk about kids being grumpy at the end of the school year. Man, what about the teachers?” She looked at Lily, then whispered. “Tomorrow we’ll be free to help the herd.”
Lily grinned and pushed the classroom door open. “And train for the Pony Club champs!”
“See you a bit later!” Lily waved to Chloe as she jumped off the school bus. She pelted down the drive. She wanted all her chores done before the girls came over so there would be time for some training with the ponies before dinner as well as finishing the computer search. And then they had to get out to see the unicorns after dark without Mum and Dad knowing. The thought made her misjudge a step, and she nearly tripped over.
How long is it going to take us to find the herd a suitable hiding place? We can’t keep sneaking out at night forever.
Sky came racing to Lily, tongue out, happy to see her. She patted his black and white head as they ran, panting, in the back door.
“Hi, Mum. Hi, Kuia.”
They were at the dining table, having afternoon tea with Liam. Her little brother looked kind of sticky. Gross.
Lily put her backpack on its hook and her lunch box in the dishwasher. “I’m going to go sweep the barn and pick up muck in the yard and arena before I come in to help you, Kuia. Then I’ll have a ride with Sasha and Chloe when they get here. Anything else, Mum?”
“Hello, my busy daughter.” Mum got up and plopped a kiss on Lily’s head. “Collect the eggs, please. Liam and I didn’t get to that today. Did you decide what you’re going to do with Rainbow’s training?”
“I’m going back through the basics.” Avoiding Liam’s mucky, grabbing hands, Lily hugged Kuia, then took a blueberry muffin from the plate on the table. Through a mouthful, she added, “I really want to make sure I didn’t skip a step somewhere.”
“Good for you,” said Mum, coming back with a facecloth.
“She’s very independent, isn’t she?” Kuia started clearing the table while Mum tried to clean the wriggling toddler. Lily took the last muffin on the plate as Kuia picked it up.
“Yes, she is, Ma. But that’s how John and I want her to be. Resourceful and logical in her thinking.”
“I’m going now, so don’t worry about talking about me behind my back,” Lily said with a smile to her mother, one hand on the door handle, the other with an apple to share with Rainbow. “I’ve heard it all before!”
“Dinner at six thirty!” Mum called as Lily went out.
“Got that!” she yelled. “Come on, Sky! Race you down to the yards.”
Lily closed her bedroom door. “I’m so tired!”
“And we’ve still got to go and see the unicorns.” Sasha whispered as she stretched out on her camp bed.
“I know!” Lily whispered back.
It had been interesting working with Kuia to make the tonic, but oh, how her grandmother liked to talk. Lily had tried to listen and learn the different plants and why you picked each one at certain times of the year, but there was a lot to remember. When she asked about a tonic for a friend’s pony who had been burnt, Kuia wanted to know how such a thing could happen. Lily didn’t know what to say at first, then came up with something about an electric fence gone wrong. Kuia talked for a while about why people even needed things like electric fences, especially around horses, but did pull some other herbs out of her kit and make a tonic for Lily to give her ‘friend’. She also gave Lily two herbal salves – one for burns and one for bruises – that she said could be smoothed directly onto the skin.
Lily had to run to get all her chores done before the girls arrived on their ponies with overnight things in their backpacks and halters over the ponies’ bridles.
They managed to fit in about an hour’s riding in Kahurangi’s paddock, the one with rolling hills next to Rainbow and Gracie’s big paddock, where Lily’s dad had built several cross-country jumps from logs and banks. Lily watched her friends for a while as she made sure Rainbow was thoroughly warmed up with lots of trot and canter circles. High-spirited Tommy was giving Sasha some trouble before she cantered him fast up the hill a few times, while Chloe and her pretty Palomino steadily worked their way around the jumps in their usual calm way. Then Lily popped Rainbow over all the small jumps, concentrating on galloping fast between the jumps and collecting her pony in preparation for the next jump. He behaved perfectly, although young Kahurangi found it all very exciting and cantered around, her tail high, dashing to race beside one pony, then another. Sasha commented how much better she looked already. Lily agreed. Her mother was working miracles with the filly, who was also getting Kuia’s tonic.
When they came in, Lily and Sasha made sure to help Lily’s mother get dinner ready while Chloe said she was finishing a project, and could she please research some things on the computer.
Dinner had been awkward, especially when Lily’s mum asked after the girls’ families.
Sasha stared at her plate, silent for some time, before looking up and saying baldly that she thought her parents were going to get a divorce.
“Oh,” said Lily’s mum. “I’m very sorry to hear that. Please tell your mother that you and Susie are welcome to stay here anytime if they need some time to talk. Actually, I’ll phone her tomorrow.”
Sasha’s cheeks flushed red as she stared down again.
Oh, maybe that wasn’t the right thing for Mum to say.
Thankfully her mother noticed Sasha wasn’t happy and asked if Sasha would rather she didn’t phone.
Sasha swallowed. “Please don’t.” Her voice was quiet. “Mum doesn’t want people to know. Well, she’s telling all her friends about how awful Dad is and stuff, when he isn’t, but I don’t think she wants me to tell anyone.”
Kuia was sitting beside Sasha and leaned over to wrap Sasha in a hug. Lily was even sadder for her friend when she saw a tear plop onto the tablecloth.
“Poor little mokopuna,” Kuia said, with her cheek against Sasha’s hair. “You come see Tessa, John and me anytime you need a hug, eh? All children, they need lots of hugs, especially at sad times.”
Looking at Sasha now, lying on the camp bed, Lily wondered if she was right to have asked Sasha to help with the search for the unicorn’s hiding place.
“You alright, Sash?” Lily asked quietly as Chloe came in from the bathroom.
“I guess.” Sasha looked at Lily for a second, then away to the wall.
“Are you okay about going to see the unicorns tonight?”
Sasha’s blond head flicked back. “Yes!” She sat up. “Why would you ask that?”
“Chloe and I are worried about you.”
Chloe nodded. “Things don’t sound good at home.”
“They’re not.” Sasha sat cross-legged. “But don’t tell me to stay away from the unicorns because of that... They’re the best thing that’s happened all year!”
Lily smiled. “If you’re sure.”
“One hundred per cent sure.” Sasha wriggled down in her sleeping bag. “Now, switch that light off so we can get some sleep before the alarm wakes us up again!”
The house was dark and quiet when Lily slipped her backpack on, her computer tablet and the bottles of herbal tonic padded safely inside it. She twisted the handle of her door to ease it open. Fumbling, she found Chloe’s hand and hoped Chloe had hold of Sasha’s hand as they’d discussed. Placing each foot carefully, she padded through the house leading her friends.
Quack!
Lily leapt sideways and nearly crashed into the wall, only Chloe’s hand holding her upright. She clapped her other hand over her mouth in fright.
“What was that?” Sasha hissed.
“Dog toy,” whispered Lily. She took a breath to calm her nerves and listened. No sound except their breathing. Pushing the toy well out of the way, she tugged Chloe’s hand to continue. I’ve got to pick up everything that might be in our way before we go to bed.
Outside, the moon was a fraction larger than last night and already up over the horizon, turning everything silver. Breathing out in relief that step one was complete, Lily put her finger to her lips. They mustn’t talk until they were well away from the house.
Safely at the barn, Lily said quietly, “Close the door carefully before we turn the light on.”
“Even better,” replied Sasha, “open it wide to let the moonlight in and don’t turn the light on at all so we don’t lose our night vision.”
“Good idea. But try not to let stirrup irons clink on buckles.”
Chloe whispered, “Don’t forget the collapsible bucket to give Brökk the tonic.”
She fumbled in the darkest corner to find the canvas bucket they used for shows and a bit of twine to tie it to her saddle. A few minutes later they were all outside, holding their tack, and she was able to safely close the barn. Another step done.
It’s harder sneaking out tonight than this morning. At least in the morning, if Mum and Dad heard anything outside, they might think it’s a neighbour getting up early. But night-time is so quiet with everyone in bed and animals resting.
The ponies were surprised to see them, looking up from where they were grazing with Gracie.
“Lucky Tommy and Angel like your horses and they’re all together,” Sasha said quietly as she fished a carrot out of her jodhpurs’ pocket for Tommy, who wasn’t always easy to catch.
“Sure is.” Lily ran her hand down Rainbow’s neck before slipping the reins over his head. “Here, I’ll hold all the ponies while you two put your saddles on.”
Seconds later, all ponies were tacked up. Lily held the restless Tommy while Sasha mounted, then swung up onto Rainbow. They set off across the silvery grass, the constant scent of sea and native bush surrounding them. She breathed deeply. How she loved the smells of home.
“Do you think Sigvard will be there?” Sasha asked eagerly, riding out in front.
“He said he would be at the gate from moonrise.” Chloe said.
“He did, Chlo.” Lily looked at her gentle, easily frightened friend riding alongside. “Are you okay?”
“I’m almost more nervous than this morning, which doesn’t make sense.”
“I feel the same. It’s weird, eh?”
“This morning it was all new, so excitement overrode the nerves,” replied Chloe with her usual logical thought. “Now I’ve been through the forest in the dark, I keep thinking of all the things that can go wrong. If one of the ponies spikes itself on those jagged broken bits of pine tree, it would be out of the qualifying competition. If the gates are locked and we have to jump in the dark. And I don’t want to think what could happen if Abellona reaches Whale Bay before the unicorns can find a better hiding place.”
With each of Chloe’s statements, Lily felt more anxious. The very thought of the witch terrified her too, but mostly for the unicorns. The worst was the idea of Ambrosius and Sigvard being forced to fight under Abellona’s control against other unicorns. That she couldn’t bear.
“Come on, you two worrywarts,” Sasha said, cutting through Lily’s swirling thoughts. “We’ve got more unicorns to meet, and Brökk needs that tonic, right? Let’s trot.”
Lily let Rainbow trot with the other ponies. Sasha is right. I do want to help Brökk and meet all the foals. I just hope Abellona is still a long way away.
“He’s there!” As soon as Sasha saw Sigvard, she pushed Tommy into a canter. The next second she’d slipped from the saddle, scrambled over the gate and rushed to Sigvard. He lowered his head, that ivory spike swinging dangerously close to Lily’s impulsive friend.
Lily froze. “Sasha, be careful!” Sigvard had been looking at Sasha a lot this morning, but she didn’t know if that was a good thing or not.
Sasha dodged the swi
ng of Sigvard’s head and flung her arms as far as she could reach around his huge neck. She turned, her eyes shining with happy tears. “Oh, Lil, I don’t know how you kept the unicorns a secret from us for one second last night.”
Sigvard lowered his head and nibbled Sasha’s blond ponytail, making her giggle.
“Lily, look,” Chloe whispered beside her.
The huge unicorn seemed to sigh and relax as their friend ran her hands over his dark, dappled grey head. He closed his eyes and rested his muzzle on her shoulder.
Wow. He likes Sasha. A lot.
“Is that what it’s like for you and Ambrosius?” Chloe asked quietly.
“Yes, but how did you know? I didn’t say anything.” The feeling Lily had with Ambrosius was kind of private, and she hadn’t felt like talking about it with her friends.
“I watched you, Lily, that’s all.” Chloe smiled in the moonlight. “Maybe you’ll tell me about it later, but we better get going. Who knows how long we’ll be tonight, and we’ve got to get some sleep or we won’t be able to search in the morning.”
“You’re right.” She nudged Rainbow forward. “Um, Sasha, Sigvard, we need to get to the herd.”
The unicorn’s eyes flashed open and Sasha stumbled as she stepped away. She looked kind of dazed but didn’t say anything as she unlatched the gate to let the ponies through.
“Come,” said Sigvard. “Ambrosius awaits.”
Sigvard walked off along the track, his dark grey dappled coat lost in the intense darkness among the pine forest. Sasha and Tommy were right beside him. “Come on, guys,” she called.
“It’s very dark, Sasha.” Lily nudged Rainbow forward, Chloe and Angel alongside. She could hardly see her own hands on the reins, let alone where her pony was walking.
“Sigvard, turn your glow on,” Sasha instructed the most warrior-like of the unicorns. “That’s why you came to meet us, remember?”
