The Guardian Herd: Landfall

by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez

  “You’re right about the past,” Ashrain agreed. “We can’t change it.”

  Dewberry huffed, and Star opened his eyes. Ashrain was staring at him, looking concerned and bashful at the same time. “Please accept my apology,” she said.

  Star glanced at Bumblewind. The pinto yearling nodded encouragement. Star exhaled. “I accept.”

  The steeds around Star relaxed.

  “Can we get back to exploding stuff?” Dewberry asked.

  Ashrain nodded and showed them how to cradle the stones in their wings, how to engage their shoulder muscles in the throw, and how to aim with one eye closed.

  Star practiced with his friends and slowly began to feel better, but the truth was there and wouldn’t go away: he would never completely fit in with the pegasi of Anok. He would always be different.

  23

  THE SWALLOWS

  MORNINGLEAF SOARED BEHIND BRACKENTAIL. They dodged trees and skimmed the crocodile-infested water, luring Frostfire and his patrol toward the Swallows, where Brackentail planned to trap him. Her breathing filled her ears, and her heart raced away in her chest. The distant volcano Firemouth belched again, causing the water below her hooves to ripple. Morningleaf’s wing throbbed where the crocodile had bitten her. In her peripheral vision she saw Frostfire gaining on them. Shadepebble had fled. “Hurry!” she whinnied to Brackentail.

  He flapped his wings faster.

  “I won’t lose you two again,” Frostfire neighed. He pinned his wings and shot forward, aiming for Morningleaf.

  Morningleaf tucked her tail, imagining Frostfire’s hot breath on her flank. She peeked over her shoulder and gasped. His eyes gleamed, and his lips curled back, exposing his big white teeth. He drew back his front hooves to strike, and the moonlight reflected off their sharp edges.

  She tucked her wings and plummeted, dropping altitude to gain speed. Sweat erupted between her ears and dripped down her face. The pain from her injuries sapped her strength, and she leaked a trail of blood and sweat into the swamp.

  Ahead of her, Brackentail swept under the thick layer of trees he’d pointed out to her from the cloud forest. A small island appeared in the middle of the swamp, and its center was clear of trees. “Here it is,” Brackentail hissed. “The Swallows.” He landed and motioned her toward him.

  Morningleaf touched down with a hard stumble. Brackentail trotted forward and pointed at an expanse of flat, treeless mud. “We want Frostfire in there,” he said, panting and pointing. “We’re going to lure him and his patrol into the sucking sand.”

  Morningleaf nodded. Brackentail had explained to her that the dark mud called the Swallows would sink their enemies and trap them, but the flat ground looked harmless to her. She and Brackentail whipped around to face Frostfire and his small patrol as they landed behind them.

  “I’m surprised to see you back in the jungle,” Frostfire said to Morningleaf, winking his one blue eye. “Did you miss me?”

  Morningleaf pinned her ears, ready to charge him, her mind spinning with horrific memories of the lava tubes where he’d held her prisoner. Sometimes at night she dreamed about the tubes, and the dreams were so real she could feel the claws of the rats as they skittered over her body, and she could smell the putrid bat guano on her feathers.

  Brackentail blocked her, holding her back with his wings and whispering into her ears. “No. Stick with the plan.”

  She trembled and her gut churned angrily, but Brackentail’s words reached her, and she took a deep gulp of warm air, calming herself.

  Frostfire stepped closer, followed by Larksong and his patrol. Larksong pricked her ears, ever curious and utterly fearless. “Where is Star?” she asked Morningleaf.

  “I’ll never tell you.”

  “If she’s here, Star must be close,” Larksong said to Frostfire.

  Frostfire pawed the soil and advanced toward Morningleaf. “I can make you tell me. Where is Star?”

  Morningleaf fought the urge to strike him, but Frostfire was too powerful for her, and Brackentail had a plan, however crazy it sounded. She backed closer to the swallowing ground.

  “Careful,” Brackentail warned under his breath.

  Morningleaf fluttered her wings, lifted a feather’s length off the soil, and hovered. Brackentail also lifted off.

  A hidden signal from Frostfire sent his patrol galloping forward.

  “Retreat to the trees,” Brackentail whinnied, keeping his voice loud enough for the patrol to hear him. He and Morningleaf flew low, just over the Swallows, their hooves skimming the sandy mud as they headed to the dense forest on the other side.

  The warriors charged forward on hoof, not wasting time to lift off because Morningleaf and Brackentail were not racing for the sky. And this was Brackentail’s plan, to keep Frostfire and his patrol on the ground.

  Morningleaf thoughts spun. If this didn’t work, they’d be captured.

  Suddenly an angry squeal sounded behind Morningleaf, followed by the distraught thrashing and neighing of Frostfire and his companions.

  “Land here,” Brackentail said to her, excited. He dropped to the ground on the other side of the Swallows. Morningleaf touched down next to him and turned. Her breath hitched in her throat. Frostfire and the others were sinking. “H-how?” she stuttered.

  Brackentail arched his neck, pleased. “The ground looks solid, but it’s not. It’s a mixture of sand and water. Heavy creatures sink fast, and that’s why Jungle Herd calls it the Swallows.”

  “How did you know about this?” Morningleaf asked.

  Brackentail shrugged. “The elders mentioned it once, referring to some battle many years ago. You see, I wasn’t always fooling around during story time.”

  “Help us!” Frostfire whinnied to his one stallion who had not plunged into the Swallows. That stallion snatched Frostfire’s wing and tried to pull him out but couldn’t budge him. Frostfire had sunk in up to his belly. So had Larksong. Two stallions closer to the edge had not sunk in as deep, yet.

  “Stop struggling,” Larksong snapped. “You’re making it worse.”

  “Time to go,” Brackentail whispered to Morningleaf. He darted out of the swamp with Morningleaf close behind him. They hovered over the Swallows for a moment, watching the loose stallion toss a long branch to Frostfire. Frostfire snatched one end of it, and his warrior slowly began to pull him toward solid ground. “We don’t have much time,” Brackentail rasped. He looked up. “Where’s Shadepebble?”

  Morningleaf whistled, loud and clear, the signal of a lead mare to gather her herd. It was a call she’d learned from her dam, Silverlake. Relief followed when Morningleaf saw the unmistakable glint of Shadepebble’s pink feathers in the moonlight.

  “You’re safe?” Shadepebble whinnied.

  “Just barely,” Morningleaf gasped.

  The three joined, creating a small V formation with Brackentail taking the headwind, and they sailed northeast, toward home.

  “I thought we were all goners,” Shadepebble cried.

  Brackentail nodded and glanced at Morningleaf. She noticed his heaving chest and the frothy sweat that had gathered between his back legs. His stress reminded her that he’d also been terrorized by Frostfire, not once but twice. She flew closer to him. “You did well,” she said, praising him.

  Brackentail blinked at her, looking stunned but proud.

  “You saved my life,” she added. He’d saved her several times on this mission. Her jumbled thoughts about him began to clear. Everyone in River Herd said Brackentail would do anything to protect her, and maybe they were right. Could it be that he’d been guarding her since they were foals? That all his bullying of Star had been to keep her safe?

  Morningleaf glanced at Brackentail flying beside her, noticing how golden his eyes appeared in the moonlight. He was growing into a powerful and smart young stallion. His dull brown coat had shed, revealing a glossy hide, and his weedy mane and tail were now thick and straight, and his tail would soon reach the ground. She sighed, feeling
grateful, and a little bit confused. Star had a strong and dedicated supporter in Brackentail, and it seemed, so did she.

  After several hours of flying, Morningleaf’s heart calmed, and exhaustion made her wings feel heavy. “I need to rest,” she whinnied.

  Brackentail dropped, leading them into the rain forest. They were still in Jungle Herd’s territory, but far from Frostfire. Brackentail landed them on the shores of a wide, deep river.

  Morningleaf’s friends rushed toward her as soon as her hooves touched the soil. “You’re hurt,” Shadepebble cried, noticing Morningleaf’s torn feathers. She examined the crocodile bite, and Morningleaf winced. “We need to clean this wound,” Shadepebble said to her. “Let’s soak your wing in the river.”

  “No!” neighed Morningleaf and Brackentail at the same time.

  Shadepebble glanced at the water. It was flat and calm on top, but below were crocodiles, flesh-eating fish, and poisonous water snakes. “Right, I forgot where we are.”

  Brackentail looked up. “It will rain soon; it always does. Then we can wash the wound and drink out of those cupped leaves over there.” He pointed his wing toward a set of trees with broad foliage capable of catching and holding the raindrops.

  The air was moist and hot as dark clouds rolled over the sky. Morningleaf pranced, her ears pricked for danger. “I need to lie down.”

  “I’ll scout the area,” Brackentail said, glancing around them and then trotting away.

  A snake slithered out of the foliage, disturbed by his hooves. It was as long as Morningleaf and spotted like a leopard. “Watch out!” Morningleaf whinnied to Shadepebble. The two fillies lifted off and hovered a wing length above the snake. It slid forward, flicking the air with its tongue. Morningleaf exhaled, relieved. It was just a constrictor, and too small to harm them. She touched down, feeling weak. She noticed her muscles quivering outside of her control.

  The snake twisted past them and slid into the river, then Shadepebble landed. “Are you all right?” she asked Morningleaf, gently touching her back. “You don’t look so good.”

  Sudden dizziness threw Morningleaf off balance. Already weak, she staggered into Shadepebble. “Not again,” Morningleaf whispered, and then she slammed onto her side and everything went black.

  24

  FRIENDS

  THE SOUND OF RAIN PELTING THE LEAVES WOKE Morningleaf. She was curled into a ball and lying in a thicket of ferns. A warm body pressed against her back, and an orange-feathered wing covered her, protecting her from the rain. She lurched upright, confused. The last thing she remembered was the world fading to black. “What happened?”

  “Don’t get up,” a deep voice murmured. It was Brackentail.

  Morningleaf obeyed but not because she wanted to. Her head was dizzy, and her thoughts were swimming in circles.

  “When was the last time you ate?” Brackentail asked.

  Morningleaf shook her head. “I can’t remember.”

  “I sent Shadepebble to gather pineapples for you.”

  Morningleaf shuddered. “No. She shouldn’t be alone. What if Frostfire has gotten unstuck and spots her?”

  “We’re far, far from Frostfire,” Brackentail soothed. “And we can’t leave here until you’re strong enough to fly.”

  Morningleaf stared into his golden eyes, noticing dark-brown flecks around their rims. “Why did she go and not you?”

  Brackentail shook his head. “She insisted I stay to protect you.”

  “I don’t need protecting.” Morningleaf staggered to her hooves. “This is my mission.”

  Brackentail lowered his ears. “Are you angry at me?”

  Morningleaf swayed and propped herself against a tree. Her belly grumbled. The pineapples could not come fast enough. Sweat dripped down her face, and she was shedding feathers all over the thick undergrowth of plants on the ground. Why was she angry? She bit her lip. She was bruised from the crocodile attack, and her muscles were exhausted. But she wasn’t angry about that.

  She faced Brackentail; her gaze raking across his large-boned brown frame and his golden eyes full of concern. She sidled away from him and blurted, “I’m not mad at you. I’m not mad at anyone. . . . I want Star.”

  Brackentail exhaled like she’d kicked him.

  Just then Shadepebble trotted into the thicket. “Here’s breakfast.” She dumped a wingful of pineapples at their hooves.

  Morningleaf and Brackentail ignored her, staring at each other. Morningleaf saw hurt lurking behind his lashes, but he blinked, erasing it. He spoke, his voice flat. “If you want Star, then let’s hurry home, but please eat first.”

  “What’s this about Star?” Shadepebble asked, looking from one friend to the other.

  “I just miss him,” Morningleaf grumbled. She dropped her head, crushed a pineapple with her hoof, and then bit into it, peeling back its spiny hide. The fruit inside was sweet and delicious. After she ate her fill, her thoughts cleared and she felt renewed. She stared at Brackentail, horrified that she’d snapped at him. He was only trying to help. “I’m sorry.”

  His eyes met her gaze. “I know. You just want Star.” Again his words concealed deeper feelings.

  Morningleaf exhaled and trotted close to him. She had almost no memories of Star that didn’t also include bad memories of Brackentail. Her thoughts swam through her head. She didn’t know what they all meant, but she realized she needed to make room in her heart for both of them. Brackentail was no longer Star’s enemy, or hers; he’d proved it several times over, and she wasn’t betraying Star to befriend him. No, of course she wasn’t.

  Morningleaf stepped forward with her head low, and Brackentail held his breath, watching her. Shadepebble dropped her pineapple, glancing from one friend to the other. Morningleaf lowered her muzzle to Brackentail’s, her nostrils quivering. He stiffened, waiting to see what she would do. Morningleaf blew softly into his nose, exchanging breath with him, memorizing his scent, and bonding herself to him like she had with her other friends when they were foals.

  Brackentail softened, then exhaled, bonding himself to her too.

  Shadepebble cocked her head but looked pleased.

  Morningleaf wrapped her aqua wings around Brackentail’s neck and squeezed him tight, speaking no words.

  Slowly each muscle relaxed, and he curled his neck around hers.

  Morningleaf released him and looked at Shadepebble. “Let’s go home.”

  The three friends finished eating the pineapples and then lifted off, flying northeast, toward the Trap, and Star. Morningleaf’s mission was successful; the Ice Warriors and the Black Army had spotted her, and she’d triggered rumors that Star’s body was in the south. She set her gaze on the horizon and hoped that when she arrived, Star would be alive . . . and awake.

  25

  TO FALL IS TO DIE

  STAR GRAZED WITH HIS FRIENDS IN RIVER HERD’S camp, feeling alert but self-conscious. Several days had passed since Ashrain’s outburst about Star’s guardian herd failing to kill him as a foal, and news of it had spread through the herds. The steeds appeared divided on how they felt about Star. Half encouraged him with kind words, and the other half avoided his gaze as though they shared Ashrain’s sentiments—that the herds would be better off if Star had been executed as planned—but none were willing to join forces with Nightwing. They remained united against their common enemy, and they were determined to protect Star from the two armies that hunted him.

  The sound of galloping hooves crashed through the fallen pine needles. Star threw up his head, pricking his ears and flaring his nostrils. A pegasus was coming.

  Seconds later, Echofrost burst into view. “Listen! Gather ’round,” she whinnied.

  Silverlake and Hazelwind and hundreds of River Herd pegasi snaked through the trees toward her voice. When most of the herd had appeared, Echofrost continued. “Two of our spies returned,” she said. “The Ice Warriors are on the move, on their way to Desert Herd’s territory, and the Black Army spotted Morningleaf in the swa
mps by the Valley of Tears.”

  Star’s heart thudded with excitement. “Morningleaf’s plan is working.”

  “Yes,” said Echofrost.

  “But is there news of her?” asked Star, his nerves twisting inside him. Two armies had spotted her, but where was she now?

  Echofrost lowered her head. “No, there’s no news of her.” She took a breath; Morningleaf was her friend too. “But I think she’s safe. Our spies would know if she’d been captured. She would have been taken prisoner and probably questioned by Nightwing. We’re watching him as close as we dare, and he doesn’t have her.”

  “What is Nightwing doing?” asked Silverlake.

  “He keeps his distance from the pegasi who follow him,” said Echofrost. “He orders them where to eat and where to sleep; he rarely flies. Mostly he stands and scents the winds. He’s just waiting.”

  Star shuddered. Nightwing was waiting for news of him. With their starfire connection severed, Nightwing couldn’t feel Star. He didn’t know if Star was dead or healing from his injuries, which explained why Nightwing wanted his head—its removal from his body would disable Star’s ability to heal, would render his immortality useless.

  Star flattened his ears at the thought. If he was to beat Nightwing, he’d have to destroy him completely—turn him to ash. But Star didn’t know how to do that. His silver fire had failed to defeat the ancient stallion, and then Nightwing had erected his shield against it. Star was missing something about his power; he knew that, but he didn’t know what it was. There had to be a way to beat Nightwing. Good was supposed to be stronger than evil. His guardian herd believed it, had faith in it, but was it true? Or was Star not good enough?

  Hazelwind interrupted his thoughts. “With Petalcloud and Frostfire in the south looking for you, we’ll have more time to train the United Army,” he said.