The Guardian Herd: Stormbound (7 page)

AS RIVER HERD SCROUNGED FOR FOOD IN THE ICE
Lands, Mountain Herd faced starvation. They had overgrown their territory, and the extra steeds Rockwing had brought into the herd after the battle in Sky Meadow had made matters worse.

Since Star received his power, Mountain Herd was on edge, wondering what his next move would be. Surely the black foal would not be content leading a tiny homeless herd. Rockwing was sure Star would reclaim Sun Herd's territory, or worse, all of Anok. The worried over-stallion increased his patrols of the land and sky and waited, working on a plan to gain control of the black foal so he could take Sun Herd's land and feed Mountain Herd.

Presently, Rockwing's grandson, Frostfire, was standing by Circle Lake thinking and preening his feathers, watching for intruders. It was late winter in the eastern mountains of his territory, and the low sun sparkled on the fresh snow, turning the top layer to slush. The pine needles dripped melted ice that would freeze again during the night, and the rocky creek was frozen dry.

Frostfire startled when a sudden fluttering of feathers in the nearby woods caught his attention. He narrowed his eyes and saw a pegasus watching him from the trees. Frostfire flexed his wings while his mind raced. He'd left his platoon grazing in the lower valley after their ambush drills. Now here he was, alone and possibly being ambushed himself.

Frostfire swiveled his ears, detecting the shifting of many hooves. The pegasus in the forest was not alone. Frostfire was sure the group of steeds had already spotted him. Circle Lake was located in an area void of trees, so he was standing in the open with no protection. He huffed in frustration. He knew better than to leave himself exposed like this. With that thought, Frostfire made up his mind to confront the intruders rather than seek help and admit he'd been caught with his wings down.

“You there!” he whinnied. “Show yourself.” Frostfire
kicked off and flew toward the woods. As he approached the band of pegasi, they retreated. He quickly realized they were hiding from him, not stalking him. Feeling bold, he landed and arched his neck. “I said, show yourself.” His deep voice brimmed with the confidence of his birth father, Iceriver, and the ferocity of his mother, Petalcloud.

Frostfire peered through the branches. A bay stallion with gray feathers emerged with his head bowed. Frostfire was shocked to recognize the under-stallion. He wasn't an intruder; he was Mountain Herd's flight school instructor, Hedgewind. Hedgewind's yearling students stood trembling behind him. Frostfire's young aunt, Shadepebble, was one of the students, but he didn't see her. “Explain yourself,” he commanded Hedgewind.

The bay stallion's lip quivered, and tears formed in his eyes.

Frostfire swallowed his disgust. “Answer me or I'll kill you right here.”

Hedgewind's words came out in a whisper. “We were raided by Snow Herd stallions.”

Frostfire flared his wings. “What? Where?”

“Over the mountains in the western Vein, near the old Sun Herd lands.”

“You left our territory?” Frostfire flattened his ears.
More and more, steeds were sneaking off to graze in the Vein where there was still long grass.

Hedgewind stammered. “Rockwing gave his permission.”

“Then why are you hiding here by Circle Lake?”

Hedgewind glanced at the clouds floating in the blue sky above them, trying to gather his words.

“Look at me when you speak,” ordered Frostfire.

Hedgewind met Frostfire's eyes, and the words tumbled out of his mouth. “There were seven of them. They took Shadepebble.”

Frostfire choked on the spittle that had collected in the back of his throat. Snow Herd stallions had stolen Rockwing's filly! It was unthinkable. “When!” he demanded in a roar.

“This morning.”

Frostfire whirled and walloped the instructor with his back hooves. Hedgewind ducked, but Frostfire's blow didn't miss. The bay under-stallion sailed backward, tumbled over his wings, and then crashed into the snow. The flight school yearlings galloped toward the clouds, their eyes round and wild. “Come down,” Frostfire snapped at them. They landed and waited, shivering with fear.

Hedgewind coughed blood, splattering the snow in red
droplets. It was high noon. Frostfire guessed the Snow Herd stallions were many hours away with their prize by now.

“I don't think they know who she is,” sputtered Hedgewind. “They just took her because she . . . she couldn't keep up with us.”

Frostfire exhaled, furious. Shadepebble had been born a dud with mismatched wings. Unable to fly the first five moons of her life, she exercised her muscles each day until she could lift off over the grass. After many more days of practice, she flew to the lowest clouds and back, and then Rockwing had allowed her to attend flight school. Today was only her second lesson. “You didn't go after her?” asked Frostfire.

“No, sir. I was protecting the others.”

“Protecting them, or yourself?” Frostfire advanced on the quivering stallion, ears pinned, teeth flashing. “You abandoned Shadepebble and hid like a coward. Do you think you will get away with this?”

“I—I made a mistake,” said Hedgewind, humble and trembling.

Frostfire felt nothing but disgust for the old warrior. Hedgewind had lost his taste for battle years ago and had been reassigned to teach flight school. Why Rockwing
let him take a flock of yearlings to the Vein alone was beyond Frostfire, but he knew Rockwing would place all the blame on Hedgewind.

Frostfire kicked off. “All of you—follow me.” The yearlings and their instructor followed him back to Canyon Meadow, where Frostfire knew Rockwing would not be pleased to hear the news that his last remaining filly had been stolen.

FROSTFIRE FOUND HIS GRANDSIRE, ROCKWING
, standing on the outcropping of rock where he'd attempted to execute Star just over a moon ago. The over-stallion was dozing in the sun.

Frostfire settled the yearlings in the valley, and then he and Hedgewind landed next to Rockwing, waking him.

“Speak,” said the heavily spotted silver over-stallion.

Frostfire swallowed, hesitating. He knew his words would shatter his grandsire. “I have bad news,” Frostfire said. “Shadepebble's been captured by Snow Herd. It happened during flight school.”

Rockwing turned his head, slow like a hunting cat, and gazed intensely at Hedgewind. The instructor stood
behind Frostfire, quivering and shedding feathers in fear of Rockwing's silence. Then, without a word, Rockwing trumpeted for his personal warriors, and the sound ripped through Frostfire's brain, making his head hurt. Immediately, twelve warriors jetted from the clouds and landed on the rock.

“Seize him,” Rockwing ordered, nodding toward Hedgewind.

“No!” Hedgewind neighed as the stallions clutched his wings in their powerful jaws and swiftly dragged him out of sight.

Frostfire exhaled and refolded his ruffled violet-tipped feathers.

Birchcloud, the lead mare of Mountain Herd, dropped from the sky and landed next to them, out of breath. “What has Hedgewind done?” she asked, her voice cracking. She must have heard Rockwing's urgent call for his warriors. Her eyes scanned each of the flight school yearlings, who stood trembling in the grass. “Where's Shadepebble?”

Rockwing stared into the distance, his eyes unfocused, and said nothing. Frostfire answered, “She was kidnapped this morning in the Vein by Snow Herd stallions.”

Birchcloud rocked back on her haunches, stunned. Snow Herd had both of her fillies now, one by choice and
one by force. “It must be a mistake,” she said. “Surely Petalcloud will return Shadepebble to me?”

Rockwing snorted, the only sign he was listening. Frostfire knew the over-stallion was already plotting how to get his filly back.

Frostfire nodded to Birchcloud, feeling her fright and sadness. The lead mare had raised him like her own colt and had always been kind to him. “Hedgewind also believes it was a mistake,” he said, trying to reassure Birchcloud. “They weren't targeting Shadepebble, just stealing yearlings. But Shadepebble was the easiest to catch.”

Birchcloud gasped, her tears falling freely.

Frostfire's feathers twitched. He was anxious to seek revenge on Snow Herd for his stolen aunt. “But you know Petalcloud won't send her back. She cut all her ties with Mountain Herd when she left. She's our enemy.”

Birchcloud sagged. “I know, and Twistwing isn't stupid. Once he realizes who he's kidnapped, he'll understand the consequences.” She closed her eyes. “Returning Shadepebble would admit error, so he won't do that. Killing her would be his own death sentence, and keeping her will begin a war—he's backed himself against a tree, unless war is what he wants.” Birchcloud opened her eyes and moaned with despair. “Did Hedgewind fight for her?”

“No,” sneered Frostfire, lashing his tail. “He hid with the students and let them get away with her.”

Birchcloud glared at Rockwing, her green feathers standing on end. “I
told
you one instructor is not enough to protect—”

“Hush!” Rockwing neighed, raising his wing. Frostfire knew the two leaders argued often about flight school. Birchcloud had never understood why one instructor took so many yearlings out flying by himself. In light of Shadepebble's capture, her concerns now made terrifying sense.

Rockwing's eyes refocused on Frostfire. “What's done is done. She's gone, and Hedgewind will be punished.” He grimaced. “And you're correct about Petalcloud. She'll kill her sister before she'll return her. We don't have much time to get Shadepebble back.”

Frostfire pricked his ears. Rockwing had taken the mightiest warriors after conquering Sun Herd. His army was stronger than ever. They could attack in force and rescue Shadepebble. “I'll gather my division of the army,” said Frostfire, his pulse thumping at the thought. “I'll have her back in three days, maybe five.”

“No, that won't do.” Rockwing tossed his mane, his eyes hard and black. “A messenger mare arrived last night and is already on her way to Desert Herd. She said that
plague has struck Snow Herd. They call it Blue Tongue, and it's why they're stealing yearlings in the first place. They're trying to replenish the herd. I can't risk exposing your division. We need to send a smaller group.”

“A plague?” Birchcloud's wings dropped to her sides, and she stared up at the sky. “Please protect Shadepebble,” she whinnied to the Ancestors, her voice rasping. “Leave me one foal.”

Rockwing waited for her to calm down, and then he said, “Please leave us to talk, Birchcloud, and don't wail. You know I'll get her back.”

Frostfire saw her body relax, but her eyes sharpen as she stared at her mate. “Don't return without her,” she said.

Rockwing huffed and pointed at Frostfire. “I'm not going. He is.”

Birchcloud turned to him, and her eyes softened. She'd raised Frostfire from a weanling. “May the Ancestors be with you.” Birchcloud flew away without looking back.

“When do I leave?” asked Frostfire, looking at Rockwing.

“You'll select a team and leave in the morning. Get in and get out. Avoid the sick pegasi, and that shouldn't be too hard. Twistwing will keep Shadepebble guarded by herself, to keep her healthy.”

Frostfire didn't like the idea of leading a small team into Snow Herd's territory, but he understood why it had to be so.

Rockwing drew closer to Frostfire and lowered his voice. “This is only half of your mission.”

Frostfire's heart trilled, and he leaned close to Rockwing, eager to hear the other half.

“I was going to send you this summer,” said Rockwing, “but now is the perfect opportunity. You're going to kidnap that blue-winged filly Morningleaf from River Herd.”

Frostfire gaped. “The one Star brought back to life?”

“Yes. You're going to hide her from him.”

“Why?” asked Frostfire.

“For land!” said Rockwing, his chest swelling. “I'm going to take Sun Herd's territory before Star decides to claim it.”

Frostfire nodded. It seemed all of Anok was on hold, waiting for the black foal to make a move. It was difficult for a pegasus, let alone a warrior pegasus, to believe Star would remain content without a territory.

A gust of wind ruffled Rockwing's mane. “I have the most powerful army in Anok, but the black foal, by himself, can destroy us all. I don't think he'll stand back and let me take his birth land and the territory of his
mother's grave when he has the power to stop me.” Rockwing glowered at Frostfire, shaking his head. “No. This black foal hasn't even begun to use his starfire. I know the legends of Nightwing. I know what black foals are capable of. Star's herd is homeless; he's going to have to make a move for territory, and soon. But I also know his greatest weakness—and it's that pesky filly.”

Frostfire agreed, but stealing Morningleaf meant taking a huge risk. Still, Frostfire often dreamed of the lush, green meadows Mountain Herd needed so desperately. While most mares in Anok birthed only several foals in their lifetime, Mountain Herd mares birthed a foal each year. It was a matter of extreme pride for the mares, and it was a custom that made Birchcloud's failures that much more unbearable, but Frostfire saw other effects of the tradition. The Mountain Herd steeds were bursting to the very edges of their territory. They ravaged their grasslands, consumed thousands of birds' eggs, and were often forced to eat weeds.

This season's foals were thin, and they would make weak warriors in the future. Rockwing had to expand their land or starve, and Sun Herd's territory was perfect. It was currently empty, and it bordered Mountain Herd's western end. The rest of the lands surrounding Mountain
Herd were either inhospitable or occupied by enemy herds.

But did they have to fight for it?
wondered Frostfire. “Sir, we don't know for sure that Star will take the Sun Herd lands back.”

Rockwing's eyes glittered with malice. “Trust me, when he grows into his stallion blood, he'll want his homeland back. And as long as we control Morningleaf, we can control him.”

Frostfire wasn't sure it would be that simple.

Rockwing continued. “Shadepebble's capture makes now the perfect time to leave. No herd will question a search party on the hunt for my filly. You will have an excuse to travel freely through Anok.”

Frostfire nodded. “That makes sense.”

Rockwing arched his neck, pleased. “My scouts tell me River Herd has traveled north to the Ice Lands. Choose six battle stallions and two sky herders to help you. You leave at dawn.”