19
THE DREAM
MORNINGLEAF FLEW OVER SKY MEADOW ASSESSING the damage to the herd. She counted the bodies of the living and the dead, keeping track of the numbers in her head. Later she would make a report to her father. She circled for a long time, and two mares circled with her: Silverlake and Dawnfir.
“Look at that black pegasus,” Dawnfir said, nodding downward.
Morningleaf followed her gaze, and sure enough, a black steed was crumpled on the grass in a heap, covered in flies. “It must be Star,” said Morningleaf, but Star was living in a cave, wasn’t he?
She landed next to the stallion and saw a festering wound on his flank. It reeked of infection. “Get Sweetroot,” she said, and Silverlake flew away. “Star?” she said to the black steed.
He didn’t move, and his forehead was solid black. It couldn’t be Star. “Who are you?” Morningleaf pushed his body with her wing. The movement caused the wound to drip pus onto the grass, and where it landed, the grass died and black flowers sprung out of the soil. She shoved the stallion again. “Get up.”
He startled and swiveled his head at her, teeth bared. Silver starfire electrified his hide, and smoke drifted from his nostrils. “You want to know who I am?” he asked, spraying the grass with sparks. “I’m the destroyer.”
Morningleaf screamed, and a hoof as hard as bedrock snapped her neck.
“Where’s Star?” she said, falling and landing on a bed of her own blue feathers.
Nightwing snorted. “I ate him.”
Morningleaf woke from her dream in a cold sweat. Thunderwing was up and consulting his captains. Her eyes swept Sun Herd’s grasslands with renewed horror. The dead were piled along the boundaries of Sky Meadow. The wounded were groaning under Sweetroot’s care. The stench of death and infection permeated the air. Shocked steeds wandered aimlessly, unable to graze because of the blood and fluid on the grass, and weanlings bleated like newborn foals. Flamesky, who had lost both her parents, stood with Crystalfeather, but her eyes were blank and reflective, like the surface of Big Sky Lake.
Morningleaf wanted to go back to sleep, but the memory of her dream was too vivid. What did it mean? Was Nightwing returning or was Star going to be a destroyer? Her thoughts chilled her, and she remembered the oozing wound. Star was in trouble, only of that was she certain.
She scanned the meadow for her mother and spotted her speaking with Star’s supporters. Then Silverlake and Dawnfir separated and flew over the grass, landing near the over-stallions—Rockwing, Icewing, Sandwing, and Jungle Herd’s new over-stallion, Smokewing. While the mares waited to be addressed, Morningleaf trotted to the edge of her boundary to listen.
Rockwing finally looked at them. “You may speak.”
“We seek your permission to search for the black foal,” said Silverlake.
Another group of mares led by Brackentail’s dam, Rowanwood, appeared. “Don’t let her go,” Rowanwood said. “She nursed the black foal. She just wants to help him.”
Rockwing braced at Rowanwood’s commanding tone but listened. “Is that true?” he asked Silverlake.
“Yes,” Silverlake said matter-of-factly.
“Then how can I trust you to bring him back if you find him?”
Silverlake looked directly at Morningleaf, and Morningleaf saw sorrow buried beneath her mother’s fear. “Because you have my filly.”
Rockwing snorted. “So you are Silverlake, the banished lead mare of Sun Herd?”
Silverlake nodded.
“And this is your filly?” Rockwing pointed his wing at Morningleaf.
Morningleaf saw her mother’s knees quiver as she nodded agreement.
“She’s pretty,” he said.
An avalanche of fury crashed behind her mother’s unblinking stare, but only a slight trembling of her silver feathers belied her feelings.
Morningleaf whispered to Thunderwing in awe, “Look how strong she is. She wants to strike him, but she’s as still as a viper.”
Thunderwing exhaled, his eyes riveted on Silverlake. “Indeed. She’s always been a steadfast mare.”
“The black foal trusts me,” Silverlake said. “I will bring him to you and trade him for my filly’s freedom.”
Morningleaf opened her mouth to protest, and Thunderwing slapped his wing over her mouth. “Shh,” he nickered.
Rockwing furrowed his brow, thinking for some time, and then he spoke to everyone. “I believe Silverlake is properly motivated to return the black foal to me.” He looked at Silverlake. “If you return him before midnight on his birthday, the filly may choose her own herd. If you’re late, the filly dies.”
Silverlake gasped. “But—”
“That’s the deal; take it or leave it.”
Silverlake blinked at him, unable to speak, and then she looked at Morningleaf. They both knew she had no intention of bringing Star back before his birthday. Silverlake had tried to trick Rockwing but had instead fallen into a trap. Morningleaf would die when Silverlake failed to return. But Morningleaf was prepared to accept that fate. She folded her aqua wings and nodded to her mother.
Silverlake, fierce with pride, nodded back, and then turned and glared at Rockwing. “We have a deal.”
Morningleaf’s knees buckled, and she sank to the grass, proud of her mother. A good lead mare did what was best for the whole herd, not just for her own filly. And Morningleaf’s mother, banished or not, was a good lead mare. “I knew I would never see Dawn Meadow again,” Morningleaf nickered to herself, thinking of the next migration.
“What did you say?” asked Thunderwing.
Morningleaf exhaled. “Nothing. It’s not important.”
Rowanwood whinnied. “We still want to go,” she said, indicating her group. “And if I find the black foal, can I trade him for my colt, Brackentail?”
Rockwing pinned his ears. “Brackentail?”
“Yes, you captured him in the canyons.” Rowanwood’s voice faltered. “He’s still alive, isn’t he?”
Rockwing snorted. “You mean Brackentail the Betrayer? Yes. He’s alive. He helped me plan this little attack.” Rockwing circled his wing over the stacks of dead bodies bordering Sky Meadow.
“No!” Rowanwood sucked in her breath. “He couldn’t have done that!”
Beside Morningleaf, her father flared his wings, and Rockwing’s guards rushed forward to subdue him. “No,” said Thunderwing, but in a tone that reminded her of her dream. Nearby, the Sun Herd steeds vibrated their wings in rage.
Rockwing looked pleased. “Brackentail hates the black foal as much as you do. After he failed to kill him in the canyons, he made a deal with me.” Rockwing smirked at Thunderwing. “Brackentail the Betrayer is one of us now.”
Rowanwood lunged to attack Rockwing, but his captains flew in her way. “It’s not true!” she said.
“Take her away,” said Rockwing.
“Wait!” she cried, and swept her wing over the destruction of Sun Herd. “All of this is the black foal’s fault—and I don’t trust her.” She glared at Silverlake. “Please let me and my mares search too. Between Silverlake’s group and mine, one of us is sure to find the black foal.”
Rockwing assessed the two groups. “I believe you are also properly motivated to return the foal to me, Rowanwood. I grant you permission to leave.”
Rowanwood whirled around, and her group kicked off immediately. Several more angry mares assembled, and they also received permission to search for Star.
Silverlake stalled her departure, and Morningleaf wasn’t sure why until her mother found a moment to speak to her. “Are you hurt, Morningleaf?” she whispered.
“I’m fine, but I think something is wrong with Star. He needs you.”
“We’re leaving now; we’ll find him.”
“Just you two?” Morningleaf asked, looking at Dawnfir.
Silverlake nodded.
“No, Mother, I saw Star in my dream; he’s hurt. You need to bring a medicine mare with you.”
Silverlake glanced at the hundreds of wounded warriors. “Sweetroot and her apprentices are too busy to leave.”
“Mama, look around. What was all this for if it wasn’t to keep him alive? We can’t quit now; and if you go without help, you’ll only watch him die. Rockwing will kill our stallions and scatter the rest of us. It means the end of Sun Herd forever. You have to convince Sweetroot.”
Tears welled in her mother’s eyes, and she nodded.
“And Mama, don’t trade Star to save me. Please.”
Silverlake wrapped her wings around Morningleaf, pulling her to her chest and choking on her sobs. Then she trotted away with Dawnfir to find Sweetroot. The sun was rising in the sky, and the other search parties had left. Silverlake’s group had to find him first or all was lost.
Morningleaf closed her eyes and sent good thoughts to Star. Hold on; help is on the way.
When she opened her eyes, she saw Silverlake, Dawnfir, and Sweetroot flying into the clouds.