10
ESCAPE
A FEW HOURS AFTER SUNSET, STAR HEARD JETFIRE returning with his platoon. The cream-colored captain landed in the center of the herd so abruptly that he startled several pegasi into the sky. His look was grim.
“Give your news,” said Thunderwing.
“We spotted the weanlings crossing the Blue Mountains,” he said, “but the flight path was too narrow to attempt a rescue. We thought we’d have a better chance after we crossed the pass.”
Jetfire stared straight ahead as he spoke, avoiding eye contact with the kidnapped weanlings’ mothers. Star saw that his eyes were sparkling, either with tears or fury; it was hard to tell from where he stood.
“When the pass opened up again, it was too late. All of Mountain Herd was grazing below us in a valley of grass. We ducked behind an outcropping of rocks and stayed as long as we could.”
Thunderwing twitched with suppressed anger. “What did they do with Brackentail and Echofrost?”
“They were taken straight to Rockwing. He put the weanlings under guard and met with his captains.”
Jetfire’s words fell on Sun Herd like a heavy blanket of snow. The pegasi shivered in the absolute deadening silence that followed.
Thunderwing nodded. “They are hostages. I expect Rockwing will offer a trade for something of ours.”
Under normal circumstances, Rockwing would offer to trade the weanlings for a wingful of Sun Herd fillies, a medicine mare, the detached head of a Sun Herd captain, or rights to a watering hole. But these were not normal circumstances, and Star knew what Rockwing would ask for: himself. Rockwing would try to force Star to make a pact with him in exchange for the lives of the Sun Herd weanlings.
Star took a step forward, and Silvercloud caught his eye. Star guessed she had come to the same conclusion, because she was the one who’d first told him about the ancient belief that a pact could be made with the black foal. It was why Star wasn’t too surprised when Rockwing tried to make a deal with him in the first place. If Rockwing partnered with a destroyer, he could rule Anok side by side with him. It was an evil pact, but then, Rockwing was evil. And this was one reason why Silvercloud would never allow Sun Herd to trade him for the weanlings.
Star watched as the lead mare nickered quietly to her adult colt, Hazelwind, and Grasswing. They moved silently away from Sun Herd, and Star followed them, curious. They stopped miles later, when they reached Horsetail Falls, where the rushing sound of water covered their voices.
Star stayed hidden but within earshot as they all gathered by the shore. “I believe Rockwing will ask to trade the weanlings for Star,” Silvercloud began.
Hazelwind blinked in confusion. “But no herd wants the black foal. Why would he ask for Star?” He stretched his jade wings and refolded them on his back.
Grasswing interjected. “For power, Hazelwind.”
“You mean the pact? But that’s pure speculation,” said Hazelwind.
Silvercloud held up her wing. “Even if Rockwing doesn’t ask for Star, the black foal isn’t safe here any longer. Thunderwing’s patience is worn to the breaking point, and the herd is ready to stampede.” She sighed. “I have a plan to save Star, but it’s treason, and you know what the punishment is for that.”
Star nickered and stepped closer, but still stayed out of sight.
Hazelwind drew in a deep breath and let it out. “Execution.”
“Right,” said Silvercloud. “You are either in or you’re out. If you’re out, you should leave now.” She looked at each one.
Neither stallion hesitated. “I’m in,” said Grasswing.
“Me too,” said Hazelwind.
Silvercloud let out her breath. The mist from the falls wet her forelock, and the water dripped down her nose. “Good. I’m going to hide Star. We’re leaving tonight.”
Tonight? thought Star, and his heart thumped with apprehension.
“Tonight!” said Hazelwind.
Silvercloud tossed her silver mane. “Star isn’t safe, and no over-stallion can be trusted with him. He has to be removed from the herds until his birthday.”
“Where will you hide him?” asked Hazelwind.
“It’s better if you don’t know, but I’ll need your help so we can escape.”
As the stallions listened to her plan, Star left, heading to the Drink, the big lake north of Sky Meadow. He had to think, to clear his head. He wanted to run away, but not tonight. He wanted one last day with his friends.
Star stood in the shallow end of the lake, letting the cool water soothe his torn feathers. Clouds had blown in, bringing rain, and they masked the light from the moon. He cried silently, his tears dropping into the water where the white flowers could not grow, where there would be no evidence of his terrible sadness.
Suddenly he heard hoofbeats approaching. He tensed, ready to bolt, not sure why he was so afraid. Maybe it was because it was dark and he was alone. Through the developing fog, he glimpsed a mare trotting toward him. He recognized Silvercloud and relaxed.
She coughed to get his attention. He realized she couldn’t see him well in the dark, so he lowered his forehead, showing her his big white star.
“What are you doing?” she asked when she caught up to him.
He stared at her for long minutes as the falling rain stuck his forelock to his head. Finally he spoke. “I followed you to Horsetail Falls and heard you talking.”
She exhaled. “Then you know I’ve come to take you away.”
“Yes. But do we have to go tonight?”
Silvercloud nuzzled him, her eyes soft. “I’m afraid so, Star. You aren’t safe here anymore.”
Star and Silvercloud looked up, tilting their ears toward the sky. Hundreds of pegasi flew over their heads and through the rainclouds like bats, scouting the clouds and the horizon for Rockwing’s army. If they noticed Silvercloud and Star at all, they would think the two were drinking water at the lake. Star swished his tail. “I just wanted to be alone, but I agree with you, and I was planning to run away, just not tonight.”
“I’m sorry, Star, but you can’t wait another day. Where were you going to go?”
“Northeast, to the Trap.”
Silvercloud gasped. “Pegasi don’t live in the Trap; it’s too dangerous.”
The Trap was a dense forest in the Ice Lands of Anok where the trees were so thick they created an impenetrable ceiling. It was one of the few places in Anok where a pegasus could not be seen from the sky, but it was also so cold even Snow Herd pegasi only traveled there in the summer. And the ceiling of branches and leaves made flying impossible. A pegasus would be forced to escape predators and fires by hoof. But since Star couldn’t fly anyway, he knew it would be the perfect place to hide.
“I know, but there is no other choice,” Star said.
“Yes, there’s a better place,” Silvercloud answered.
“Where?”
Silvercloud glanced around the open grass. Pegasi hear very well, and Star guessed she was afraid to say it out loud. “I’ll just take you there.”
“What about Morningleaf?”
“Hazelwind will watch her until I get back. This is only until you receive your power, Star. Then you can return home.”
“I can?”
Silvercloud nickered, shrugging her wings. “I imagine that after you receive the starfire, you’ll be able to do whatever you want.”
Star shuddered. He hoped he would be a black foal who used the power wisely.
Silvercloud glanced around them. “Now is as good a time as any. Come on; we’ll swim out of Sun Herd’s territory.”
Silvercloud led Star into the Drink. Choppy waves lapped the rock-strewn shore where Silvercloud entered the water. Star followed her, and when the bottom disappeared beneath his hooves, he swam. The lake was deep and cold and so big that they couldn’t see the other side. Pegasi didn’t normally travel by water, and the patrols weren’t watching the lake, so leaving this way made sense.
“Will Thunderwing try to rescue the weanlings again?” he asked.
Silvercloud shook her head. “They are in the heart of Mountain Herd’s territory now; it’s too late. War is not worth the lives of two disobedient foals.”
Star swam next to her, his face earnest and sad. “What will Rockwing do to them?”
“I believe he’ll keep Echofrost alive.” She didn’t mention the fate of Brackentail. Star nodded, understanding.
An hour later, Silvercloud and Star emerged on the opposite shore of the Drink. They shook off the water and continued at a fast trot to unfreeze their legs after the long, cold swim. Star wished they could travel by air.
They continued into the northern Vein, just south of Snow Herd’s territory, and veered west. On rare occasions when the herd leaders met, it was always in the Vein. It was doubtful they would encounter any pegasi here. Star looked up; the moon had traveled far across the night sky, and he was sleepy. But Silvercloud appeared tireless as she eased into an efficient canter, with Star trailing behind her.
“Does Morningleaf know I’m gone?” he asked.
“I didn’t tell her,” said Silvercloud. “Grasswing is covering for me, and Hazelwind will be with Morningleaf when she wakes up. The story will be that you ran away.”
Star jumped over a fallen tree as he followed her. “Morningleaf won’t believe that.”
“I know, but her confusion and doubt will keep her safe from suspicion.”
Star slowed. “What about you?”
Silvercloud turned and gazed at him. Her eyes were unreadable in the dark, and the night felt surreal, like he was dreaming. The rain had stopped at least. Silvercloud changed the subject. “We need to keep moving.”
Their journey ended on the rocky coast of Anok. They trotted through tall sand dunes and then down a steep slope to a beach below. Silvercloud broke into a gallop when they reached the shoreline, leading Star north now, up the coast of Anok. Their thudding hooves splashed the edge where the sand met the waves. Soon she stopped, and Star skidded to a halt behind her.
“Where are we?” Star asked.
“This is it,” she said, breathing deep and looking into the dark maw of a cave.
“This is what?” he asked.
“Where you’ll live for the next four full moons, until your birthday.” She led him to the cave’s opening, carved into the side of a towering cliff.
Star stopped at the entrance, filtering the dank, salty air over his nostrils and looking doubtful.
“It’s safe, Star; I promise.”
He took a few skittish steps into the mouth. “How did you know this was here?”
“I found this cave many seasons ago during a council meeting between the lead mares of the five herds,” she said. “The meeting was in the Vein between Sun Herd’s territory and Snow Herd’s, not far from here. After the meeting I took my time traveling home.” Silvercloud preened her dusty feathers as she spoke. “I spent a day here at the ocean, resting and relaxing, and I discovered this cave.”
Star stood in the cave feeling small and pathetic, even though he was almost as large as she. Four moons alone! He was not looking forward to it.
Silvercloud nuzzled Star, smelling his sweat-soaked hide. “I have to be back by first light,” she said. “Grasswing will cover for me if I’m late, but I’d rather it not come to that.”
Star inspected the cave and the hard floor, his ears drooping and heavy.
“You have the same dished nostrils and wide forehead as your mother,” Silvercloud said.
“I wish she were alive.”
Silvercloud flexed her wings, preparing to leave. “In all my years, I’ve never known a mare more proud of her foal than Lightfeather was of you.”
Star brightened at her words.
“Don’t worry; you’ll be safe here, and I’ll come back for you after your birthday, okay? Until then you’re going to have to take care of yourself.”
They pressed their foreheads together, and Star bleated his sadness.
“Patrols of Sun Herd pegasi will be scouting for you as soon as they know you’re gone,” Silvercloud said. “They’ll search everywhere, including the Vein. When the other herds find out you’re missing, they’ll join the hunt. No one can save you, and no one can help you. But you have to survive. Do you understand?”
Star swallowed, fighting tears. “I do,” he said.
Silvercloud nodded, then took off as Star stood, small and alone in the mouth of the cave.