by Kate Gordon
“Now!” Sigvard yelled.
And the unicorns charged, heads lowered at the enormous snarling cats. Sasha galloped Tommy beside Sigvard.
“Sasha, no!” Lily screamed. She’s meant to stay with Chloe and me!
The combined roc and zilant flight dive-bombed the unicorns, deadly claws raking and ripping. Screams of pain and anger rang out as Abellona shrieked more instructions. Sasha and Tommy were in there somewhere.
There!
Lily saw Sasha smash her stick up into a roc’s belly. It slumped to the ground, where Sigvard ran it through with his spike.
“Do we help?” she asked Chloe.
“I don’t know! Ambrosius said to stay here, to defend the mares.”
“There’s Fredek!”
The warrior unicorn squealed as a giant cat landed on his back. He bucked and kicked, snaking his head around to bite the cat, but its claws were in deep.
Crunch! The cat snapped the unicorn’s neck.
“No!” Lily screamed.
“Poor darling Fredek,” Chloe sobbed. “It’s awful!”
Three fighting cats raced directly for the girls, giant fangs gleaming white.
“Round them up!” yelled Sasha. “Turn them back to us!”
“Come on!” Lily yelled at Chloe. “We can do it!”
Side by side, they galloped their ponies at the cats, swinging their sticks desperately as the cats’ huge claws slashed out at the ponies’ legs.
“Take that!” Lily’s stick connected with the biggest cat as it swiped at Rainbow.
She swung the pony round on his haunches to block the cat’s attempt to flee. “It’s turning!”
Working together, swinging and striking with their sticks, she and Chloe edged the cats away from the young guard by the trees and into the path of a furious, sweaty Sigvard.
He didn’t pause for a second, running his spike through the biggest cat. He chased down the next one and killed it with a furious stomp of his hooves.
The third cat ran, with Sasha in pursuit, until a roc plummeted from the sky, its massive claws raking at Sasha’s head. Swiftly, she turned Tommy away, and the cat fled.
There seemed a brief lull in the fighting around them and they stood, watching and breathing hard.
“Lily!” Ambrosius galloped up, bloody wounds staining his silver legs and back. More blood – not his own – dripped from his horn. Lily gulped. This really was life or death.
“Guilio returns,” said the unicorn. “It’s time.”
Chapter Fifteen
Lily looked up to see Guilio soaring towards her from the west just as Abellona resumed her attack with more fire bolts. Somehow the witch had another magic staff.
Bang! Whoomph!
Brökk responded to as many as he could, but Abellona had the advantage of moving more swiftly with Galen’s powerful wings to carry her, compared to Brökk on the ground.
Lily gulped, terrified as she turned Rainbow away from the battle and her friends.
“You can do it, Lil!” Sasha yelled as Sigvard accompanied her and Chloe back to the young guard by the trees.
She hoped they would be okay.
She hoped she’d figure out how to complete this mission that Ambrosius seemed to think she could do.
How, she still didn’t know.
But she was going to do her best.
The unicorns were counting on her.
She tried to get her bearings. There was the bush where the mares and foals were. The beach must be down there.
“Follow me!” Guilio shouted as he dodged another zilant attack. It was no safer in the air than on the ground. The pegasus sped away over a part of the forest she hadn’t been in before.
She gathered her reins and sent her pony after the pegasus. “Run, Rainbow, run!”
As fast as they could, they dodged trees and jumped ferns and flaxes as the white pegasus flew slowly, skimming the treetops. Lily could keep him in sight most of the time, but it wasn't easy.
All of a sudden, Rainbow ducked around a fallen tree. Lily lost a stirrup and slipped sideways. Oh, help! She felt around with her foot for the dangling stirrup as the pony galloped on. Got it. She couldn’t afford to fall off now!
They pushed on after Guilio, who slowed to hover in a clearing near a creek.
“Mikaela said she can scent Xanthe not far into those trees,” he called. “Keep heading towards the beach. Good luck!”
And he left.
Rainbow plunged to a stop, and Lily looked around frantically.
They were all alone, and suddenly the forest was very quiet apart from the harsh sounds of their breathing.
Lily shivered. Being terrified reached a whole new level.
In the distance, she could just make out the thud of bodies, the screams of anger and clash of horns, the fierce battle not letting her forget for one second how important and urgent her mission was.
Slipping off Rainbow, Lily led him to the creek so they could both get a swift drink.
She swallowed the fresh water gratefully, but it didn’t take away the bitter taste of fear that filled her mouth. The thought of going into those trees alone made her stomach knot even tighter.
Who or what would be guarding Xanthe?
How was she meant to actually reach Xanthe?
Crouched among the rocks and ferns beside the creek, something occurred to Lily.
The taniwha that Kuia mentioned. It’s a full moon tonight, the taniwhas’ favourite time to come out. They live in rocks near water, right? Didn’t Kuia say something about them being guardians of the land, protecting it against enemies?
Would they help her?
Dare she ask?
And then the words simply came. In Māori. Calling on the taniwha to help protect their land from the magical invaders.
Quietly at first, she sang her karakia.
“Taniwha, oh Taniwha, Ka ahei au i te pātai ki a koe mō tō āwhina? (Taniwha, oh, taniwha, may I ask for your help?)”
Then she stood, and her message to the mythical creatures rang out through the forest. “Kua tae mai tētahi mea kino kia whakamate ki tō tātou nei ao. (Something evil seeks to destroy our land.)
“Ka taea e koe te āwhina ki ahau? (Can you help me please?)
“Āwhina mai kia tiaki te whenua. (Help me protect our land.)
“Āwhina mai. (Help me.)”
How Lily knew the right words, she had no idea – but in her heart, in her soul, she knew they were right.
But would the taniwha listen?
There was a rustle beside her.
The rock moved!
Oh my, it’s changing shape!
A huge lizard-like creature stepped towards her, its forked tongue and beady eyes nearly level with her face, it was so big.
She edged back against Rainbow’s shoulder. It knows they aren’t invaders, right?
It watched them closely, each second like an eternity before it looked away at another rock making the transformation.
One after another appeared, until six taniwha surrounded Lily and Rainbow, their forked tongues flicking in and out as they scented the air.
Breath tight in her chest, Lily waited to see what they would do.
All six watched her with beady, yet not unfriendly eyes.
“Perhaps they’re waiting for me to do something,” she whispered to her pony.
Okay. She took a deep breath. I asked them to come and they did. So now let’s find Xanthe.
“Come,” she called to the great scaly lizards as she mounted Rainbow. She headed to the trees where Guilio said Mikaela got the strongest sense of the captive pegasus.
Rustling and slithering across the clearing, the taniwha followed Lily and her pony. Rainbow kept turning his head, eyeing the strange creatures suspiciously. But they followed without looking like they were going to attack, so Lily felt relatively sure she and Rainbow weren’t in any danger from them. She only had Xanthe’s guards and the possibility that Abellona might return to worry abo
ut. Only! She smiled grimly. She still had a lot to do.
The bush was dark, and it was impossible to progress through it quietly, especially with six giant lizards fanned out behind them.
An eerie howl made Lily and Rainbow freeze. She looked around anxiously, as the taniwha kept moving, step by step in the direction of the howl.
“Must be Xanthe's guards,” she whispered as she nudged Rainbow forward.
Then there was furious barking, and she urged Rainbow faster.
They burst into another clearing and she saw two huge fighting dogs and a wooden cage containing a pale shape. Was that the captive pegasus?
The taniwha were stationary, positioned around the edge of the clearing. They hadn’t turned back into rocks, had they?
How could she get to the cage with those gigantic dogs in the way?
Rainbow sidled nervously as the dogs’ barking got angrier.
Without warning, one dog flung itself at the pony.
“No! Get off him!” Lily yelled, as she wheeled Rainbow away from the attack. A taniwha rushed towards them but wasn’t fast enough to stop the enormous dog biting the pony’s hind leg.
With an angry squeal, Rainbow lashed out with both legs, dislodging his attacker. His next kick connected with the dog’s head, leaving it motionless among the ferns of the forest floor.
The second dog attacked the taniwha, who simply snatched the dog's leg into its mouth. The dog tugged and howled. It bit savagely at the taniwha’s face with no affect. The taniwha simply didn’t let go, and the dog was trapped.
Lily looked down, trying to see Rainbow’s leg. “I hope it’s not too bad, Rainbow. We have to get to the cage!”
They crossed the clearing, jumping ferns and grasses as fast as Rainbow could go.
“Xanthe!” Lily called as she leapt down from her pony.
The pearly white pegasus lifted her head as much as she could and whickered.
The cage was so small, the poor, beautiful winged horse was forced to lie down, her head and wings squashed in on her body.
“Oh, poor Xanthe.” Lily reached through the wooden rails to stroke Xanthe’s face. “How can we get you out without hurting you?”
Quickly, she went around the cage. There didn’t seem to be a door on any of the sides. “How did you get put in here?”
“Abellona built the cage around me using magic,” the pegasus said sadly. “Only magic can open it.”
Lily thought for a minute. “The taniwha are magical creatures and also very strong.” She turned to the closest one. “Taniwha, can you help, tēnā? Please?”
Using its massive mouth and strong jaws, the taniwha grabbed a cage bar and twisted it away from Xanthe.
For a moment, it looked like the cage would resist the taniwha’s powerful grip.
Then the wood splintered.
“Yes!” Lily urged. “Go on! Break them all.”
The taniwha snapped one bar after another along the front of the cage.
“Thank you! Thank you!” Lily shoved the splintered timber out of the way. “Is it enough, Xanthe? I don’t want the roof to fall on you.”
“I think so,” the pegasus replied. “I’ll try.”
Inch by inch, Xanthe crawled on her knees until finally she was free of the cage. Her wings were squashed with the feathers broken and every which way.
Lily cradled Xanthe’s head as big tears welled from the pegasus’s eyes.
“You’re free.”
“Thank you.” Xanthe let her head rest in Lily’s arms. “I can’t believe it.”
“Thank the taniwha.”
“But you knew how to call them. To draw on their magic to go up against Abellona’s strongest captive spell.”
“Xanthe,” Lily’s voice quavered with relief now Xanthe was free. “I had no idea what I was doing. And I was terrified.”
“No, you were brave, so very brave. We all thank you.”
“The others!” Lily looked up. “How will we let them know that you’re free?”
“I will call Galen.” The pegasus trembled all over as she tried to stand.
Lily stood beside her but didn’t know how to help. “When did you last eat or drink?”
Wobbly, but standing, Xanthe said, “Some time ago, but I’ll drink when Galen knows.” She groaned as she unfurled her cramped wings and flapped them tentatively before resettling them on her back. Feathers started to settle into place as she attempted to neigh. Xanthe coughed. “My voice is weak.”
“If you can survive being Abellona’s prisoner, you can do this.” Lily rubbed the pegasus’s neck in encouragement.
Xanthe neighed again, stronger.
Rainbow joined in, and together their voices rang out across the forest.
An answering call was faint in the distance.
“Galen knows I'm free!” Xanthe’s face showed her joy of hearing her mate calling her.
Suddenly, there was an almighty shriek of rage.
“That must be Abellona!” Xanthe cried. “She can no longer control Galen!”
Lily looked up to see Galen and Guilio soaring side by side into their clearing. Laughing and crying from happiness, she ran towards the pair as they landed.
“Galen! You’re here! Where’s Abellona now?”
“Lily, you did it!” Galen’s voice was just like Guilio’s, but happier than she’d ever heard the herd’s guardian pegasus. “Sigvard has her pinned down.”
An almighty trumpeting neigh sounded through the forest, and Ambrosius's voice rang out. "The herd of Västerbotten has defeated Abellona!"
“Oh my god, oh my god!” Lily danced around Xanthe and Galen standing side by side, his wing over her bruised and broken body. Guilio’s eyes were bright with happiness too as he trumpeted another victorious neigh back to Ambrosius.
Lily stopped. “Now what?”
She’d forgotten her pony. “Rainbow! Your leg!” She ran to him. “Let me look.” She led him into a bright patch of moonlight.
The bleeding had stopped, and he wasn’t limping, thank goodness. Hopefully there wasn’t any serious damage. She’d treat it when they got home. First, they had to get back to the herd and see how she could help.
“I hope Sasha and Chloe are okay too,” Lily said as, slowly, she, Rainbow and the three pegasuses – followed by the slivering taniwha – headed back to the others on the battlefield. They stopped for everyone to drink at the creek, and Lily expected the taniwha might go back to their rocks, but they kept following.
Cheerful whinnies grew louder as they navigated the trees.
Lily kept wiping tears away. She had been so scared! Could it be true that Abellona was now a captive of the herd she had pursued for so long?
Happiness for the unicorns was all mixed up with concern for what happened next. How would they keep Abellona safely captive so she couldn’t hurt anyone else?
Poor Xanthe. Her knees and hocks were bleeding badly, but the pegasus said she would not stop until she saw for herself that Abellona was no longer a threat.
Lily racked her brain for which herbs could help Xanthe heal more quickly. Maybe Kuia could be encouraged to make a special tonic. She wondered what her mother would say about Rainbow's injury.
They reached the herd at last. Poor Xanthe was exhausted.
Lily ran to Sasha and Chloe, and hugged them tight. “You’re okay!”
“You did it! You saved the unicorns!” Chloe was crying and laughing at the same time. “Are you hurt or anything?”
Sasha’s grin couldn’t be any wider. “It’s amazing, Lil! You’re amazing.”
She nodded, unable to speak without bursting into tears again. She didn’t know how she’d been able to call the taniwha. Perhaps she would never really understand. It had just happened. But she didn’t say anything.
“Lily.” Ambrosius’s deep voice rumbled at her shoulder. “How will we ever thank you?”
She turned to fling her arms around the unicorn’s neck. “I’m just glad you’re alright.”
“Most of us, yes.” His beautiful face and strong legs were stained with blood and gore, and Lily could sense a great tiredness underlying his happiness. “Sadly, we have lost a few of our herd, and most of our warriors are injured in some way.”
Abellona’s furious shrieking interrupted them. Sigvard and Isak had her pinned to the ground, as she fought and struggled to free herself. The unicorns pawed the ground savagely with every shriek.
“Just give me a good reason why I can’t run my spike through this evil creature,” Sigvard growled.
Ambrosius sighed. “Because she's going to help us find Celestina.”
Lily’s eyes fixed on the witch who’d hunted the unicorns to the other side of the earth. Abellona’s dark red hair was tangled, her dark robes muddied and torn. She didn’t stop twisting and turning, trying to tug her robes away from her unicorn guards.
Lily trembled, as the horrible reality of the fears she faced in the last few hours struck her. What was wrong with Abellona that she sought to enslave the creatures she had once protected? Why had she become the way she had?
Lily thought of Abellona’s twin brother Perseus and how the twins battled for so many years, yet briefly collaborated to capture their younger sister, all for the greed, the twisted desire to trap the unicorns.
She placed her hand on Ambrosius’s shoulder, drawing strength from his closeness, from the fact he was okay. It was still amazing to think that they’d stopped the witch, that Abellona’s magical powers had been so severely diminished when the spell over Xanthe and Galen was broken that the unicorns had been able to capture the witch, instead of the other way around.
“Thank goodness the unicorns are safe from you now,” she whispered to herself. She wiped away the tears she didn’t know had fallen and turned to the unicorn king. “Ambrosius, are you sure she can’t do magic?”
“No, Lily, she’s trying, but we have seized her last remaining enchanted staff and with her arms pinned down, she can’t release any damaging spells the only way she knows how. However, she might make us all demented with that screeching.” He turned to Brökk, who looked as weary and bloodied as everyone else. “Can you not come up with a silencing spell, please, Brökk?”
