The Guardian Herd: Landfall

by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez

Star nickered. “Do you ever get sick from testing plants?”

  “Sick?” She rolled her eyes. “Twice I’ve almost died. Sometimes the strongest medicines are the most toxic.”

  Star unfolded his wings and swiveled his ears, listening. The Trap was silent except for the chirping of the birds and the quiet nickering of the nursing mares. Most of the adults had gathered to search for new food sources. The terrain around each herd’s camp had been trampled into mud. Most of the moss, lower leaves, and edible bark had been stripped from the trees and all the pine nuts and first birds’ eggs consumed.

  “That Redfire is a popular steed,” Sweetroot said. “Maybe your friends are in the Desert Herd camp listening to his stories again.”

  Last night Redfire had entertained the yearlings with Desert Herd legends, mostly about Raincloud, the filly who’d lived four hundred years ago. She’d been friends with Nightwing before he received his power. Redfire had shared details of her lineage, her flying skills, and her fierce love for Spiderwing to a transfixed group of steeds, mostly fillies. Star was there but not listening, because thoughts of Morningleaf had besieged him. How she would have loved to hear Redfire’s tales about the ancient mare Raincloud, one of Morningleaf’s favorite heroes.

  Then, when Redfire was finished, Echofrost had shared the story about Morningleaf riding the jet streams to escape Frostfire. The foreign steeds, especially the ones from Mountain Herd, had overwhelmed Echofrost with questions about Morningleaf, and it was as though she were a legend too, like Raincloud. Star left the gathering feeling depressed. He wanted Morningleaf back; she’d been gone too long.

  “You’re probably right,” Star said to Sweetroot. “I’ll check the Desert Herd camp.” He tucked his wings onto his back and trotted into the depths of the trees. It was dank and foggy, and the spongy lichen squished beneath his hooves. He followed the beaten path from River Herd’s camp to Desert Herd’s. Along the way he passed Jungle Herd. Ashrain spotted him and waved her wing.

  “Star!”

  Star tucked his tail and halted, spinning slightly to face the wiry bay mare. He pranced from hoof to hoof, hoping Ashrain wouldn’t take up too much of his time. Star glanced up and saw that most of the Jungle Herd steeds were napping in their nests.

  Ashrain joined Star on the path. “If you have some time, we could go to the hoofholds and practice rock throwing.”

  “Just us?” Star asked. He’d had many lessons since warrior training began, and he enjoyed throwing the rocks.

  Ashrain nodded. “Hazelwind, Clawfire, and I have been watching you, and it’s what you’re best at.”

  Star’s ears grew hot with the praise. He was thrilled, but also embarrassed. All the younger pegasi wanted battle positions, and Clawfire had already chosen Bumblewind to fight alongside him, but Star hadn’t taken to ground fighting. It looked like he would be a sniper. Star sighed. “I understand.”

  As if reading his mind, Ashrain nickered. “You have the largest wings, incredible strength, and good aim, Star. The ground warriors need pegasi like you in the trees. You’ll see.”

  Star nodded.

  Ashrain continued. “Hazelwind asked me to spend extra time with you, and you won’t be training with anyone else from here forward. Once those armies realize you aren’t in the south, they’ll come here.” She scented the air as if sniffing for them. “Come with me; I’ve been collecting the biggest stones for you to practice with.”

  Star was pleased that Ashrain had noticed him and wanted to use him in battle, unlike Silverlake, who wanted him to run away. “I would like that, but first I need to find my friends.”

  “Are they missing?”

  “I’m not sure. I left for a drink, and when I came back they were gone.”

  “Well, they aren’t here,” said Ashrain, looking around. “But I’ll help you look for them.”

  Star broke into a slow canter, with Ashrain following. He unfurled his wings and let them trail behind him, open but not dragging. Everything inside him itched to fly, to feel the dizzying thrill of lifting into the heights and cruising over the land, higher than the birds. The desire pulsed, aching like an open wound, but the only balm was to lift off, and he couldn’t risk being spotted. The two armies had moved south, but they’d left scouts behind, circling the sky.

  Star’s wings twitched in response to his thoughts. He knew his friends felt the same way, and so did all the pegasi who were hiding. They all wanted to fly, and the stress of living on the ground was building in the herds like a storm. “Maybe they’re flying,” he said to Ashrain.

  The mare flexed her wings. “I wouldn’t blame them if they were, but let’s hope not. The sky isn’t safe. I’m getting worried.”

  “So am I.” Star flattened his neck and galloped faster, hoping his friends were near. He had no idea where to search, but he doubted the yearlings would abandon the protection of the forest, no matter how strong the urge to fly. Star chose a path that lead deeper into the Trap, where it was darker and denser.

  He glanced above him at the interwoven canopy of branches that blocked out the sun, the rain, and his view of the sky. If a predator attacked him and Ashrain, their only hope would be to outrun it. Star shook off these thoughts and picked up his pace, dodging branches as he followed a thin deer trail. Ashrain’s even breathing and the rhythmic cadence of her hooves soothed him.

  After a while the two pegasi halted to drink from a puddle of rainfall. “I hear something,” said Ashrain.

  Star pricked his ears, and the sounds of excited nickering reached him. “I think it’s my friends,” he said. Star and Ashrain galloped toward the voices.

  There was sunlight ahead, not much, but enough to indicate a small clearing. The noise was coming from there. Star and Ashrain cantered toward it, and Star saw his friends standing in a circle, fluttering their wings and speaking all at once.

  “What’s happening?” Star asked.

  “Star? Is that you?” said a voice in the center of the circle.

  Star pricked his ears, his heart suddenly pounding. He knew that voice.

  “We’re back,” she said.

  As if his thoughts had created her, Morningleaf stepped out of the circle.

  28

  REVELATIONS

  STAR STARED AT MORNINGLEAF, BLINKING IN DISBELIEF. Brackentail and Shadepebble stood with her; all three had safely returned from their mission. Star bleated like a foal, the youthful noise erupting from the depths of his throat before he could stop it. “Morningleaf!” He cantered toward her.

  “Star!” She bolted his way.

  The two loped across the clearing and slammed into each other.

  “You’re alive; you’re awake,” she cried.

  Star couldn’t speak. He buried his muzzle in her neck and drank in her scent. She was thin, and her muscles had hardened from traveling. She smelled of dirt and blood. “You’re hurt?”

  “I’m fine,” she nickered. “You—how are you?”

  “Never better,” he whispered. Her amber eyes glowed, and he basked in her gaze, losing himself in the depths of her eyes.

  Bumblewind and Echofrost trotted to Morningleaf and greeted her. Brackentail and Shadepebble stood near, looking tired. Star greeted them with soft nickers.

  “Morningleaf’s mission was successful,” Brackentail said.

  “Yes, we heard news of it from our scouts,” said Bumblewind. “She lured the armies away.”

  Star took a deep breath, imagining the excitement and dangers Morningleaf, Shadepebble, and Brackentail must have encountered. “Tonight you can tell us all about it, at the gathering, but for now you should eat and rest.”

  “What gathering?” Shadepebble asked.

  “The herds in the Trap are working together. We formed a United Army,” Bumblewind answered. “We’re training together, and the last few nights we’ve all gathered at the twin pines to share stories. Everyone will want to know about your mission. It will be a good time to tell your story, and tell it once.”
r />   Morningleaf leaned into Star’s body with a sigh. “That’s a good idea.”

  Star pressed his cheek against hers. “I can’t believe you’re here. I was so worried.”

  She snorted. “You were worried.”

  The yearlings, Ashrain, and Dewberry turned and began to walk back to River Herd’s camp. They peppered Brackentail and Shadepebble with questions, unable to wait until the gathering, but Star and Morningleaf drifted apart from them, and Star was glad because it left them alone to talk.

  Tears welled in Morningleaf’s eyes, brimming over and splashing down her chestnut face. “When I left, I . . . I thought you were dead. Not dead like you’d flown to the golden meadow, but dead like you were asleep forever, like you were stuck in some place where you couldn’t live or die.” She shook her head, and her mane flew in a flaxen arc. “I can’t explain it.”

  “I was stuck,” Star said.

  Morningleaf wiped dry her tears. “But you woke up. And you look good, healthy.”

  “The Ancestors came to me,” he said. “They helped me.”

  She exhaled. “That doesn’t surprise me.”

  He cocked his head. “What do you mean?”

  She turned and faced him; her eyes brilliant even in the darkness of the Trap. “I saw them, an army of weanlings. They flew down from the golden meadow to shield you from Nightwing.”

  “Right, I heard about that.”

  “We all thought he’d killed you.” She wiped her eyes, crying freely.

  Star’s wings sagged as he listened and imagined how powerless she must have felt. She was not like him. She couldn’t heal her best friend or bring him back from the dead.

  Morningleaf exhaled. “A spotted bay filly led the Ancestors’ attack on Nightwing, and you probably know the rest. We lifted your body and flew you to the Trap.”

  Star also let out his breath, and the two picked up their pace. “That filly you mentioned is called Hollyblaze.”

  Morningleaf halted, her hooves rooted in place. “Yes, Hollyblaze. I heard Nightwing say her name.” Morningleaf was quickly panting again, but with excitement. “She’s Spiderwing’s sister. What did she say when she visited you?”

  Star bit his lip, wondering if he should tell her about the Beyond. He hadn’t told anybody.

  “Tell me, Star,” she pressed. “Hollyblaze wouldn’t have visited you if it wasn’t important.”

  Star exhaled, deciding to tell her. “She said that the steeds killed by Nightwing’s silver starfire don’t fly to the golden meadow.”

  Morningleaf pinned her ears, and her pulse quickened. “What do you mean? Where do they go?”

  Star’s throat tightened, making speaking difficult. “They go to a place called the Beyond. It’s a realm that’s not here and not the golden meadow. Their souls are stuck there. The only way to free them is to destroy Nightwing.”

  Morningleaf staggered toward a small pine tree and leaned against it, breathing hard. “My sire is in the Beyond?”

  “Yes,” said Star.

  “Does my mother know?”

  “I haven’t told her,” he said. “I haven’t told anyone.”

  She covered her face for a long moment, then she lowered her wings and gazed at Star, her amber eyes ablaze. “You must destroy Nightwing, Star. You must.”

  Her words stabbed his heart, and he was overwhelmed by her sorrow. “I will, Morningleaf. I’ll free your sire, or I’ll die trying.”

  She dissolved into sobs, and Star held her tight in his wings. When she was ready, they resumed walking.

  “Did you know that Hollyblaze and Nightwing were once best friends?” she asked him.

  “Like you and me?”

  “Yes.”

  “I didn’t know that,” he answered. “But I do know they aren’t friends any longer. They’re enemies.” Star wondered what could have happened to change things between Nightwing and Hollyblaze.

  Morningleaf peered at him, taking a deep breath. “We won’t repeat the past, Star. We’ll change the future.”

  “I hope you’re right.”

  Morningleaf bumped him with her hip, and he bumped her back. “Let’s go home,” she said, referring to River Herd’s section of the Trap.

  They galloped the rest of the way back. Brackentail and Shadepebble had already arrived and so the herd knew that Morningleaf had returned from her mission, and they gathered to greet her.

  As the herd rushed forward to wrap their wings around the chestnut filly, Star felt he was witnessing a glimpse into the future. Without doubt, he believed that one day Morningleaf would surpass her heroes and become one of Anok’s greatest legends, though to him she already was.

  29

  CELEBRATION

  FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS NEWS OF MORNINGLEAF’S return traveled quickly from camp to camp in the Trap, and a feeling of hopefulness accompanied it. With the Ice Warriors and the Black Army heading away from them, the unrelenting tension that had besieged the united herds released.

  Star, Morningleaf, and their friends were dozing in a small pocket of sunshine when Bumblewind stretched, waking up. “We should celebrate,” he said.

  “Good idea,” whinnied Dewberry, yawning. “But how? We can’t leave the Trap, and there’s nothing fun to do here, nothing new to see.”

  Star twitched his tail, knocking a flurry of tiny gnats away from his flanks. He closed his eyes and let his ears droop. It was enough for him that Morningleaf was safe.

  Brackentail spoke. “We saw some amazing things while we were gone.”

  “Like what?” asked Dewberry.

  Star pricked his ears, wondering what they had seen, but kept his eyes closed, pretending to be asleep. He heard Brackentail fluff his feathers. “Like Spiderwing’s nest.”

  “It still exists?” asked Bumblewind, awe evident in his voice.

  “Yes, Morningleaf found it. The Jungle Herd steeds put fresh flowers and feathers in his nest each season, like they’re leaving him gifts.”

  “What else did you see?” asked Echofrost.

  For the next hour, Morningleaf and Brackentail chatted excitedly about their adventures, often finishing each other’s sentences and arguing amicably over details.

  Star opened one eye and stared at Brackentail. He’d heard that the yearling colt had saved Morningleaf’s life twice—once pulling her out of a raging river and once saving her from the jaws of a crocodile. And he was grateful, but also . . . irritated. He watched Brackentail and Morningleaf nicker together, their eyes glowing, like they were old friends. Brackentail glanced at Star and caught him staring. The brown yearling quickly looked away. Star tensed as heat rushed though his body, making him uncomfortable, and he wondered why he felt upset. He should be glad Brackentail had protected Morningleaf.

  “I know what we can do to celebrate,” Echofrost said, standing. “Follow me.” She trotted onto an animal path, deep into the heart of the forest. Star and the others cantered after her.

  It was late afternoon. The birds fluttered busily, flying from branch to branch on the hunt for food. Large hares hopped through the underbrush. Star sniffed the wind for predators but smelled nothing. “How much farther?” he asked.

  Echofrost halted. “We’re here!”

  Star tucked his wings and glanced at Bumblewind, who shrugged. Star saw nothing interesting to do here. They were still in the Trap.

  Echofrost nosed aside a dark-green bush that was about the height of her knee. “I found these yesterday—summer berries—but I wanted to share them.” She plucked one off the bush and ate it.

  “Don’t swallow!” Morningleaf cried.

  But Echofrost did swallow. “It’s safe. I tested one first, the way Sweetroot taught us. They’re sweet.”

  Morningleaf shook her head. “We were told not to eat berries.”

  “Bitter berries,” Echofrost argued. “Sweet things aren’t poisonous.” She ate another.

  Morningleaf fluttered her wings, shedding a few aqua feathers. “I don’t think that’s
what Sweetroot told us.” She sniffed the bush. “She said not to eat bitter plants and not to eat berries at all—any berries. We don’t know what those are.”

  Echofrost shrugged her wings. “Maybe, but I saw rabbits eating these.” Echofrost ate another and swept her wing at Bumblewind. “Come on, try them. If a little rabbit can eat them, so can we.”

  Bumblewind ignored Morningleaf’s angry expression as he tried one, and then another. “Echofrost is right. They’re good.”

  Star watched his friends, feeling wary, but then a brown hare dashed out of the brush with pink stains on his face.

  “See, that’s the bunny I saw,” said Echofrost, pointing.

  Star shrugged. “I guess they’re safe.”

  The rest of the yearlings, and Dewberry, plunged their muzzles into the surrounding bushes and tasted the berries. “I’m so tired of eating bark and moss,” Dewberry said, juice dribbling down her lips.

  Brackentail sidled next to Morningleaf and whispered into her ear. Star saw her wings relax as the big colt soothed her, and she whispered something back to him. Star lifted his head, watching the exchange, noticing again how close the two had become, and he felt left out.

  Brackentail saw Star watching and took a step away from her. “Want to try a berry?” he asked them both.

  “Sure.” Morningleaf took the berry from his wingtips and crunched down on it. Star saw she trusted him—completely. He tensed, feeling confused. His best friend had another best friend; why did he care?

  “I’m not hungry,” Star said. “I’m going to take a walk.”

  Dewberry jabbed him with her wing. “You don’t eat them because you’re hungry; you eat them because they’re delicious.”

  Morningleaf pricked her ears. “Don’t go, Star.”

  He touched her wing with his. “I want to.”

  Star trotted away from his friends, ignoring the devastated expression on Morningleaf’s face. As he departed, he heard Bumblewind say to her, “Let him go.”

  Star’s heart beat faster, and his spiraling thoughts gathered like rainclouds, then poured forth memories of Brackentail’s past betrayals. Star tried to shake them out of his mind—Brackentail was different now. He’d saved Morningleaf’s life, he’d joined River Herd, and Star had accepted him. But was Brackentail his friend, or her friend, or both? Right now all Star felt was anger, or betrayal, or some mix of the two. He also knew he should feel neither of these things. Morningleaf could be friends with whomever she wanted.