Chapter 18

Bare branches pointed at Gem as if accusing her of neglect as she trudged through the forest. She had never known the seasons to affect her territory. Now the bitter winds from the north swept through the valleys and browned the grasses. Dung lay in frozen heaps as the earthworms retreated to warmer soil. The creeks fouled with mud as too many paws churned the banks.

Tatuk landed on her crest. “There’s a racoon fighting a skunk over by the alder pond. I can’t get them to stop.”

Gem changed direction. “I’m tired of all these squabbles. There are so many animals here I can’t keep up with all the disputes.”

The dragon paled. “I don’t have the strength to feed them, and the lake’s waters aren’t providing the nourishment they need. You should close the veil.”

“If I do that, those outside will perish.” Summoning up energy from the last of her reserves, Gem cantered down the slope to the arguing mammals.

The cramped conditions had taken a toll on everyone, their skin hanging in loose folds with matted fur. Even the chipmunks had ceased their chittering and guarded their stores of hard-won nuts.

At Gem’s approach, the racoon raced to her feet. “He stole a snail right from my paws!”

“It was mine first.” The skunk raised his striped tail. “This is my burrow. You’re trespassing.”

Gem struck the ground with her hoof. “Stop it, you two. If you can’t get on, I’ll banish you both. Everyone is finding it hard to locate enough to eat. Nobody should be eating the snails. I’ve told you before to drink from the lake. I can’t waste more energy sorting out your differences.”

Other animals came to listen. As a squirrel scampered up with an acorn, the racoon snatched it from the smaller creature. The skunk jabbered and hissed.

“Enough!” Gem lashed out at the racoon with a hind leg. Her hoof caught him in the ribs and bowled him over. She whinnied in horror and checked he was unhurt. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”

The racoon scampered up a tree and eyed her through his striped visage. “The lake doesn’t satisfy our hunger anymore.”

She had to do something. She looked for Tatuk, who’d flown off when the skunk raised his tail. He was nowhere in sight. She called for him as she headed back to the lake.

He settled on a rock near her favourite resting tree. The once-mighty oak was almost devoid of leaves, and dead branches scattered the ground. She swished away a fly as it sucked blood through her dull coat. “You’re right. I have to close the veil. What will the creatures do who are stranded outside? I’ve failed them.”

The dragon’s colours no longer pulsed with vigour. “We must save those who are already here. They’ll be needed to repopulate the land. I’ll inform the dragons on the borders that no more animals are to be permitted through.”

Gem sank to the ground. “What sort of guardian am I that I can’t look after those who seek refuge? Who knows how long it will be before Equinora is safe?”

Tatuk flew off without answering. Gem flopped down her head, ignoring the ants crawling into her ears and the flies drinking from her running eyes. As she lay prone, her mind filled with words.

Come to Tern Island. You’re needed here for the solstice.

The voice was one she hadn’t heard often until recently. Tempest rarely communicated with the other unicorns. For him to send out a summons must mean the threat had spread wider than she’d feared. She’d been optimistic when Tatuk had returned and told her that the golden feather had cured Jasper’s horn, and then saddened that the same power hadn’t worked on Shadow. Tatuk had also shared that Shadow could hear the unicorns’ mind messages. She’d had no news since—the dragon had refused to leave her with all the troubles at Shimmering Lake—but the lack of recovery of the land could only mean Fleet and Jasper hadn’t found a way to overcome Shadow.

The summons came again. Diamond and Echo were already there. Good, let her parents deal with the troubles, they were stronger and wiser than her. She would only add to their woes. It might even be her twisted horn corrupting Shimmering Lake—the more she tried to help, the worse the situation became—and everything around her was dying. But why now? Nothing made sense.

Plunged into misery, Gem dragged herself to the lake, failing to feel any invigoration as she waded into the crystal waters. Diving deep, she searched for aquadragons. The underwater channels they loved to frequent were empty. She rose to the surface and struck out for the far shore. A few dragons skimmed the water, their normal giggles absent.

She scrambled up the marshy bank and stopped in horror. Grey, lifeless forms tangled among the reeds. The dead aquadragons’ bodies had shrunk to bare bones. Their sparkling skin had shed and shattered, fragments of turquoise and aquamarine forming a layer of grit at the water’s edge.

Gem climbed onto dry land, her heart bursting with sorrow. One by one, she carried the corpses to a pile of driftwood. A small flock of dragons hovered nearby. A couple had red legs, denoting their mastery over fire. She called them down. “Please give the aquadragons a ritual farewell. I can’t bear for them to be eaten by the other animals, no matter how starving everyone is.”

The largest of the flame dragons landed near the bodies. “We’ll need your help.”

Summoning her love for her lost friends, Gem sent energy to the dragons to light the pyre. Flames licked the tiny bodies that shrivelled and crackled. A wisp of smoke wafted skywards as each body was consumed. She stared at the last remains, her despair deepening like the purple clouds billowing overhead, a sight she’d never seen at Shimmering Lake. Rumbling thunder echoed her pain. She tried to cheer herself up by remembering the aquadragons riding her bubbles, at how thankful she’d been for their laughter and play.

Attracted by her love, Tatuk appeared. “Maybe you need to go to Tern Island.”

“How can I? I don’t have the strength to help my charges, let alone travel. And what would happen here if I were away?”