The swollen sun on the horizon cast ripples of orange across the sea. The five unicorns waited in array around the bonfire on top of the cliff, fidgeting and pensive, the tension in the air setting Fleet’s hair on edge.
Tempest strode over to him. “There’s still no sign of Gemstone. We can’t proceed without her.”
“You must! I’ve come all this way for help. And it’s the solstice tonight. Isn’t that when Moonglow’s prophecy said you should call the goddess?” Fleet trotted around the pile of firewood, watching the expressions of the other unicorns. None of them would meet his eyes.
Tempest remained calm. “Moonglow is adamant we need six hotbloods.”
Fleet’s temper built. “Did she tell you that? Or is that your interpretation of her riddles? She could mean anything! I can’t make out her nonsense.”
Diamond joined them. “It’s not nonsense. That’s her power. It’s why she doesn’t often speak, and why she says confusing things. But she’s never been wrong. We must listen to her, even if she’s off with the dragons most of the time.”
Fleet gnashed his teeth and lashed out with a hind leg in frustration and anger. “I promised Sapphire I would do whatever I could to stop horses being destroyed and avenge her death. I found King Streak and he sent me to find a unicorn. I found Gem only to be sent away again. I found the goddess’s feathers. I confronted Shadow and barely escaped with my life. I discovered more about my ancestry and Sapphire’s life than I wanted to know. I came all the way here, when all I want is to settle somewhere safe and be part of a herd. And now you’re refusing to help! I’m sick of being pushed around. Don’t you care about horses? Don’t you care about Equinora?”
Jasper wandered up. “Calm down. Of course we care. We’ll do everything we can, but if we need six hotbloods, there’s no point starting without Gemstone.”
“Has she come before when you’ve needed to call the goddess? Is it always at the solstice or will there be another time?” Why were the unicorns being so complacent?
Echo clustered with the others, only Moonglow holding her place at the fire. “We’ve never called Aureana before.”
Fleet reared, neighing long and loud. He dropped back to the ground and confronted Tempest. “I’ll take Gem’s place. Then there’ll be six of us.”
Tempest backed up a step.
Diamond leant forward and stretched her nose to Fleet’s. “You’re very brave, but you don’t have a horn to deflect the power. You’re not a full hotblood. The ceremony might kill you.”
“How do you know, if you’ve never done this before?”
Jasper closed in, too. “Aureana told us how to call her before she left for the spirit world. It’s bad enough I’ll have to counteract the poison in my blood, but you won’t have the strength.”
Tempest stamped the ground. “And whose fault is that? You should take more care of your progeny.”
Yuma walked over and rested a hand on Fleet’s mane. “Take care what you do. You’re still weak from your wounds and the arduous travel, and the fungus Moonglow collected is very potent.”
Echo flicked his ears. “Why was Fleet sent on this quest if he wasn’t meant to take part? Moonglow isn’t worried about Gemstone not coming. We must trust her prophecy.”
Glad one of the unicorns supported him, Fleet thanked him. “And I’m seven-eighths hotblood. I may not have a horn, but maybe the ceremony will cure me. Aren’t poisonous fungi sometimes used as medicine?”
Moonglow walked over to the pile of mushrooms she had collected and carried a mouthful to each of them. “I think I’ve picked the right ones. The yellows and oranges look so similar, then I remembered they had to have white spots.”
Fleet sniffed at the pile in front of him. “Do I have to consume them all?”
Moonglow tilted her head. “I don’t know. Eat until you feel the effect, I suppose.” She ate her share and took up a stance close to the stack of driftwood.
Tempest snorted at the mushrooms in front of him. “It seems Moonglow believes you are the sixth, Fleet. So, let us commence.”
Fleet stared at the fungi, disliking their smell. Sapphire would never have allowed him to eat these.
Diamond chewed her mouthful, her coat darkening with sweat as she resumed her place at the pile of wood. Her horn sparkled. “We must join horns over the flames. How can Fleet do that? We must try with only five of us.”
Tempest shuffled her over to make more space around the fire. “No. There must be six of us. Fleet must take Gemstone’s place.”
Jasper looked at each of them in turn. “I’ll help him. If he holds his head against mine, he can share my horn.”
At Tempest’s instruction, Yuma lit the fire, placing coals from his hearth at close intervals around the base where he had stashed piles of kindling. The driftwood crackled without smoke as the unicorns resumed their places. The two mares stood like the peaks of Snowhaven, their white coats reflecting the flickering light. The stallions glinted like the dragons perching a safe distance away among the trees.
With no other option, Fleet consumed the mushrooms. They tasted as foul as they smelled. Not wanting to risk spoiling the ceremony, he ate the entire pile Moonglow had given him. He took up his position around the fire, his head in contact with Jasper’s with his rump pointing to the sea. Sparks danced in the air, spiralling up into the moonlit night.
The unicorns’ horns pointed towards the centre of the fire, flames licking their tips. They held their bodies rigid, tails over their backs and necks arched. Saliva slid from their lips as they mumbled words Fleet didn’t understand. Stars drifted across the heavens and sank into the ocean.
The flames grew and enveloped them. He experienced no pain. Was that the mushrooms numbing him, or the power of the goddess? Wind whipped his mane and tail into tangles. Thunderous clouds scudded above the island. A dry storm lashed waves against the cliffs.
Lightning struck the heart of the circle.
Fleet twitched and trembled. His mind swirled, full of golden flames.
The bonfire flared and roared, engulfing their heads and necks.
Why have you called me?
He almost jumped, almost broke the unity of the circle.
Moonglow raised her head. “We need your help. Equinora is in danger.”
The bonfire flared and roared, roiling about their heads, their necks. Though there was no sensation, Fleet could see that the flames reached almost down to Echo’s powerful shoulders, and realised that to the unicorns, he must seem similarly half-swallowed in the conflagration.
You are the protectors of Equinora. You are ignoring your roles. Why should I help you?
Moonglow, you offer your prophecies yet stay on Tern Island instead of sharing your powers with those in need to the north, east, and west.
Echo, you ignore the creatures in your territory when floods, fire, or storms destroy their food, or when deep snows cover the land and waters turn to ice.
Tempest, you prevent the seasons renewing the land at Seashore, yet allow storms to rage elsewhere without tempering their fury. You allow the rivers to silt up and gales to tear down forests.
Diamond, you wander at will for your own pleasure, never aiding those you encounter, staying hidden, and avoiding your duties. You haven’t even taught your daughter her role. No wonder she isn’t here.
Jasper, as pleased as I am you are finally free of pain, you continue to mope over Dewdrop when you could be using your power to create caves for bats and bears, or ledges for roosting birds.
You must all use the powers I granted you to protect Equinora.
In the centre of the flames, a prancing unicorn appeared. She radiated beauty, golden feathers from her wings sweeping the ground. Her voice moderated, now trilling with birdsong, burbling creeks and rustling grasses. Fleet smelled lupins and lilies.
Fleet of Foot, only you endeavour to counteract Shadow’s harm. You will henceforth live up to your full name, drawing power from the earth, wind, and sun, to become the fastest horse in all creation. Use your speed wisely, and save my land. Return to Obsidian Caves and confront Shadow.
Acrid smoke smothered the sinking moon in a blood-red haze.
Fleet’s heart pounded and his skull threatened to burst. He heaved in deep breaths, relieved that Aureana’s anger hadn’t been directed at him. Yet how was he to confront Shadow?
He blacked out.
The rising sun shone straight into Fleet’s eyes. Yuma crouched by his side and stroked his mane. He blinked, raised his head, and rolled onto his chest. Warmth suffused his veins as if he had drunk from a steaming pool. His body glowed with nourishment. “What happened?”
Jasper blew into Fleet’s nostrils. “Thank goodness you’re alright. Can you stand?”
Fleet braced his legs and shoved to his feet. His heart glowed with love for those around him. “I saw the goddess!”
Tempest walked around the burnt remains of the bonfire and greeted him. “Yes, she came, for all the good it did us.”
The smell of singed hair lingered in the air. Fleet could still taste the powerful mushrooms on his tongue. Each single hair of his mane tickled against his neck as Yuma untangled the sweat-drenched knots. Moonglow’s dragons glimmered brighter than any he had met at Shimmering Lake. The sounds of lapping waves carried up from far below.
Echo shook himself and stretched his hind legs. “It’s been a long night, and we’re no better off. It seems Aureana won’t help.”
Jasper snorted. “That’s not quite true. My neck is healed and the poison has gone from my veins. I no longer suffer depression.” He addressed Yuma with a bow. “I understand why you stabbed me with the fangs to escape Obsidian Caves. Without you, I wouldn’t be here. Now I’m fully cured. I will forever be in your debt.”
Diamond added her thanks for his wellbeing. “But Echo is right. We’re no nearer to overcoming Shadow. How can Fleet fight him?”
Fleet nibbled at a patch of clover. The leaves had never tasted so sweet. He relished his new extraordinary senses in direct contrast to the fear that racked his guts.
Moonglow drifted over and stared at him. She gasped as if startled. Sparks flared from her horn.
“Death and poison cross the land
Entwined destiny
Shoot and dust green stone in hand
For their dynasty”
Echo waved his horn. “Green shoots and dust? Does she mean my power? Or Jasper’s over stone? Or is the green stone emerald, like my horn?”
Diamond nudged Moonglow’s shoulder. “Or does the prophecy mean Gemstone? Her whole body is emerald. Is that it?”
Echo paced around the dead fire. “Maybe our daughter did have to be here.”
Tempest grumbled. “Indeed, what’s the use of having a cohort of six unicorns if one can’t even be bothered to turn up?”
Diamond jumped to Gemstone’s defence. “We don’t know why she didn’t answer our calls. Maybe she can’t leave her territory because of the threat. And we don’t even know if the prophecy means emerald. There are other green stones.”
Fleet had no answer. He no longer believed, like he had before the ceremony, that Gem hadn’t turned up because of him. That would be ridiculous. There must be another reason she wasn’t here, part of the goddess’s plan. Gem. His last memory of her was when she sent him away, when Yuma was carving the image of him. “Yuma! The green stones Tatuk showed you. Do you still have any?”
Yuma retrieved the last two arrowheads of jade from his pack. “You mean these?”
“Yes!” Understanding clicked. “The goddess must intend us to hunt the beasts down like horses and people do with hogs.”
None of the unicorns had ever witnessed a hog hunt. Fleet and Yuma described how herds and clans lived together, the horses driving the hogs to slaughter in return for oats and hay.
The idea horrified and fascinated the unicorns at the same time. Diamond shivered. “I can’t imagine participating in anything so brutal as killing creatures like that, no matter how evil. There must be another way.”
Echo agreed. “Aureana wouldn’t want anyone murdered. If the prophecy refers to jade, it must be to change the animals somehow.”
Moonglow backed up and faced Fleet, the multi-hued dragons settling along her spine. Her sapphire eyes glazed as she scented the air around his withers and along his back. Again her horn sparked.
“He of unhorned black no white
Red and black bubble
Challenge death to put things right
End of the trouble”
Fleet shivered. What did it mean?
Moonglow said no more. The four other unicorns discussed the prophecy. Obviously, Fleet was meant to put things right as Aureana demanded. But how? And how did this latest riddle link to the previous one?
Jasper ended the speculation. “Whatever is meant, it’s obvious we can’t remain here. We must locate Shadow’s beasts. When the time is right, Aureana will guide us.”
The return journey to the mainland flew as if Fleet travelled like this every day. Gone was the strangeness of galloping over water. Gone was the struggle to maintain his balance against an invisible horizon. Gone was the exhaustion of forcing his poisoned body to keep up with the unicorns.
The sun delineated the beckoning waves with glistening rays. The power of the sea thrummed through his legs and swelled his body. With every stride he grew stronger, his breathing slow and deep, his heart a gentle pulse. He revelled in his newfound power, energy coursing through his veins. So this is what Jasper meant about drawing on Equinora’s elements! No wonder unicorns could live for generations.
As they made land, Fleet wanted to keep on galloping up the beach and buck and rear with joy. Only Yuma on his back made him contain his exuberance. The unicorns had also absorbed the energy—Diamond sparkled like Yuma’s dragon scale and Jasper glowed like hot embers. Tempest surged like a massive wave rolling up the beach, deep blue crested with white foam. Even Echo’s form became a moving forest, his dark brown trunk topped with his verdant mane and tail. They raced along the dunes, spraying sand over the crests.
Fleet sped up, absorbing the sun through his black coat. Five abreast, they surged up the grassy hillside, Moonglow having refused to leave the island in spite of the goddess’s recrimination. Clouds of hovering gulls marked their path as they raced with the wind to the summit. Wintering terns rose from their cliff perches, their warning cries filling the air.
They neared the top.
Fleet’s rump throbbed. He propped to a halt in sudden pain. The stench of bloodwolves filled the air.
The others skidded to a stop beside him.
Five bloodwolves, standing abreast, growled at them from the highest point of the hill, their fangs bared, their shoulders hunched, their fur matted with crimson streaks.
Fleet stood motionless, despair returning. The poison remained in his veins. He could draw on Equinora’s energy, but the goddess’s fire hadn’t cured him like it had Jasper. Why was he still suffering? Did Shadow’s blood taint him? What more did he have to do to rid himself of the curse?
The bloodwolves launched down the slope.
Yuma readied his bow.
Echo and Jasper leapt to meet them. Diamond and Tempest headed in different directions.
The bloodwolf pack divided.
One closed on Diamond.
Fleet raced after her, faster than he had ever galloped.
Diamond disappeared in a flash, only to appear further up the hill.
Fleet circled behind the confused bloodwolf to give Yuma a clear shot.
The bloodwolf veered. The arrow missed.
Fleet spun on his hindquarters to allow Yuma another try.
Again, the arrow missed. Yuma snatched another from his quiver. “They were the only jade heads! I’ll have to use flint!”
His next shot struck home, wounding the bloodwolf in one leg. It ignored the arrow, leaping at Fleet, black drool swinging from its jowls.
Fleet kicked at the shaggy head. His hooves connected with bone. The bloodwolf fell. He bolted after another closing on Tempest.
Clouds roiled in what had been a blue sky. A bitter wind howled over the hill. Lightning sheeted across the ocean.
Tempest galloped into the sea, his horn to the sky, foam frothing around his legs.
The bloodwolf hesitated on the shore.
Fleet caught up.
Yuma released another arrow, wounding the bloodwolf in the shoulder, the wind deflecting his aim.
The beast snarled and leapt into the waves.
Tempest whinnied and galloped parallel to the beach. Waves reared and crashed. Lightning streaked to earth with a crack.
Diamond continued to elude the bloodwolves by translocating. Echo and Jasper raced towards each other, dodging at the last moment, their pursuers slowing to avoid crashing into each other. Then they split up, with Jasper heading for the cliffs.
Bloodwolves streaked after them both.
Unsure which to chase, Fleet recoiled as lightning struck the one pursuing Tempest, the smell of burnt fur drenching out the rank stench of bloodwolf.
Another strike on the hill lit the scene. This one missed, spurring a bloodwolf closer to Jasper.
Fleet took off after it.
Jasper faltered and smashed forward, piercing the clifftop with his horn. A burst of power flashed from the tip as it hit the ground.
A tremble ran through Fleet’s hooves, rattling his bones.
Cracks appeared in the ground, snaking out from where Jasper was now staggering to his feet. He turned, readied for attack. A slab of clifftop broke away, the rumble of sliding, falling rock reaching a crescendo. More rocks tumbled to the sea. Jasper scrambled to maintain his footing.
In vain. The ground collapsed. He disappeared over the edge.
The bloodwolf scrambled back and fled, the remaining two following, one limping, all three with their tails clamped between their legs.
Open air gaped where Jasper had stood a moment before.
Fleet stared at the cliff edge, unable to move. Should he chase the fleeing bloodwolves or help Jasper?
A cry from Diamond unfroze his limbs.
Fleet raced to the edge, Yuma still clinging to his back. Far below in the surging foam lay a crimson body, twisting and tossing in the waves.
“Yuma, slide off! I must get down there.” Fleet neighed long and loud, his rump hammering despite the disappearance of the bloodwolves.
A foul stench rose from the water. The waves churned brown. Crimson-streaked fins broke the surface. When had scorcheels reached the ocean? They must have followed them down the river.
The water boiled red.
A flash of gold blinded Fleet. Heat seared his body.
Diamond screamed and shuddered beside him where he stood transfixed, looking over the crumbling edge. She stepped back. “He doesn’t need us now.”
Jasper’s body was gone. Fleet could see no scrap of hide, no bones, not even hairs from his mane and tail. “What do you mean?”
Diamond nuzzled him. “Didn’t you see the gold flash? He’s joined Dewdrop and Aureana.”
Fleet trembled, the pain in his head overwhelming, his heart breaking. He’d only just started to get to know Jasper—the hole in the cliff was nothing to the hole in his heart.
Between them, Diamond and Echo shepherded Fleet and Yuma back down the dunes to the beach, all of them silent.
Tempest lay exhausted in the sand. He rose on stiff legs and arched his neck as they approached. “Killing a unicorn is unforgiveable! First Dewdrop, now Jasper. Shadow must pay!”
Fleet pawed the ground. Why had the goddess helped them cure Jasper, only to snatch him away? Nothing made sense. He vaguely heard Tempest say something about returning to Tern Island to find Moonglow. “Do you think this will bring on another prophecy? Do we all need to go?”
Diamond avoided Fleet’s gaze and swapped intimate looks with Echo. “There must always be six unicorns. With Jasper dead, one pair must mate and produce another. We created Gemstone when Dewdrop was killed.”
Fleet shook his head in exasperation. Is that why Tempest was going to Tern Island? How could Tempest think of mating at a time like this? “Isn’t it more important to defeat Shadow’s beasts first?”
Diamond attempted to explain. “I can’t fight those beasts. All I can do is move out of their way.”
Fleet railed at the calm unicorns. His nostrils flared and his breath quickened. “You must do something to avenge Jasper’s death!”
Tempest butted his shoulder. “No. This is not for us to do. We must look after Equinora. You and Yuma must pursue Shadow’s beasts and follow Aureana’s plan. You are the chosen one.”