11

WATERING HOLE

FOUR DAYS PASSED FOR MORNINGLEAF AND HER friends in the underground cavern. They’d survived by drinking from the aquifer and grazing on patches of wet moss, but now it was time to go.

“Nightwing may have left warriors behind to patrol the river,” said Dewberry.

“And in the sky,” said Hazelwind. “We’ll have to travel at night.” He glanced at the yellowish rock walls that leaked water like tears. “If we’re spotted . . . ,” he began, but didn’t finish his thought. They all knew that if an Ice Warrior spotted them, Hazelwind would have to kill the steed before he or she could inform Nightwing about them.

“We won’t let that happen,” assured Brackentail.

Morningleaf had felt triumphant the last four days, but not anymore. Exiting the river, tracking Nightwing, and spying on him would be as dangerous and stressful as traveling with him. Besides that, her confrontation with the Ice Warrior in the cavern had reminded her how young and small she was against her enemies. Even fleeing from them would be tough. Morningleaf stared at her ruined feathers, feeling useless.

Brackentail edged closer. As if reading her mind, he said, “We’ll protect you. That’s what a herd is for.”

Morningleaf’s crumbling resolve thumped to life at his words. She gazed at him and nudged him gently with her muzzle. “Thank you.” He’d said the exact words she needed to hear. Louder, she spoke to the group. “Instead of heading to the main channel, why don’t we follow this outlet a little farther. It should eventually lead to the surface, but far from the river.”

Dewberry and Hazelwind looked skeptical.

“We have time to try it,” said Brackentail. “We know Nightwing is taking the herd to the interior of Anok, and it’ll be safer to follow this branch than to return to the main channel, where Ice Warriors might still be looking for us.”

“That’s true,” said Hazelwind, glancing at Morningleaf, “but I’m worried about getting lost. What if this tunnel takes us deeper underground and we become trapped?”

Her brother’s gaze was unwavering, and Morningleaf saw their sire reflected in him—Thundersky’s bravery and his commitment to his family. Hazelwind had abandoned Morningleaf and their mother once to form his own herd because he didn’t trust Star. She’d been furious with him, but since then Hazelwind had decided to accept Star. Now their broken bond was healing, and like a broken bone, it was healing stronger than before. “Trust me,” she said to her older brother. “I was trapped in the lava tubes, and I found my way out.”

“All right,” Hazelwind said. “Lead the way.”

Morningleaf turned and walked deeper into the aqueduct, with her friends following.

Many hours later, the rocky ledge ended abruptly, but the river channel continued, flowing ahead. A smidgeon of light in the distance indicated that the surface might be near. “We’ll have to swim the rest of the way,” said Morningleaf.

Bumblewind lowered his nose to the dark water. “Are you sure this leads to the surface?”

Morningleaf had counted on a breeze to indicate open land above their heads, like she had in the lava tubes, but underground the air was still. “Wait here; I’ll check it out.”

Before they could stop her, Morningleaf slid into the water. Without the sun to warm it, the cool liquid chilled her bones. She paddled forward and relaxed, feeling for a current. Small, luminescent creatures glowed along the sides of the rock tunnel. She had the eerie feeling of being watched. She swam on, kicking gently. Then she felt it, rising water, but the tunnel narrowed ahead, cutting off her air. She’d have to duck under the surface and swim the rest of the way underwater. But would this aqueduct take her to the surface, or trap her under land and drown her? She returned to her friends.

“What did you find?” asked Brackentail.

“A way out, I think. Just a few winglengths that way I can feel the water sifting upward.”

“That’s good,” said Brackentail.

“Not if it’s leading to a dead end,” said Dewberry.

“Well, if I don’t come back, then it’s a dead end.” Morningleaf nickered as if she were joking, but her friends just blinked at her in silence.

“I’m coming with you,” said Brackentail.

Morningleaf peered into his soft golden eyes, opening her mouth to speak.

“You can’t change my mind,” he said.

She exhaled, nodding. “All right, follow me.” He jumped into the water, and she led him back the way she’d come. When they reached the spot where the river filled the entire tunnel, they each took a huge breath and dived under the surface. They paddled on and then upward, toward the dim light above.

Soon, Morningleaf’s heart was thudding. She thought they’d hit the surface by now, but they were still swimming, and she’d passed the point where she had enough air to turn back. With her chest burning, she glanced behind her, but it was too dark to see Brackentail. She swiveled her ears, hearing only the quiet swish of her paddling hooves.

Morningleaf swam on. Her lungs swelled. Sharp cramps seized her gut. Desperate now, she bolted, kicking as hard as she could and wondering if Brackentail was doing the same. Was there no end to this tunnel?

Her muscles clenched in a spasm.

Her brain shut down.

Her mouth opened.

Then she burst through to the surface. A second later, Brackentail emerged beside her. They pulled hard on the fresh air, sucking at it like starving newborns. “We made it,” she gasped.

They were floating in a small watering hole nestled deep within a rock basin in the Wastelands. Far away a lone coyote slunk into the shadows, disturbed by their sudden presence. Morningleaf stared up at the sky. The moon was a sliver, casting a pale glow, but she didn’t see any winged patrols flying in the sky.

Brackentail dragged himself out of the watering hole, sniffed the wind, and flicked his ears. “It’s quiet,” he said.

Morningleaf also pulled herself out, and she stood, shivering on the shore, dreading the moment of going back into the water. “We’d better return for the others,” she said. “Before they decide we’ve drowned.”

Brackentail tossed his mane. “Why don’t you keep watch? I’ll get them.”

“But—”

He lowered his head. “I’d feel safer if you stayed and protected the area. I don’t want to come back and find a pack of coyotes here.”

Morningleaf peered at him, knowing he wasn’t afraid of coyotes, but she understood the reasoning behind his plea: he didn’t think she’d survive that swim a second time. She’d barely had enough air the first time, and now her legs were trembling. Brackentail was larger, and he could hold his breath longer, but he also knew that she wouldn’t stay behind without a reason, and lame as it was, he had given her one: to keep watch for coyotes. Morningleaf studied him, feeling grateful and curious. For the second time he’d said the exact words she needed to hear. “Okay, I’ll keep watch.”

He nodded and lifted off. “I’m going to get a flying start.” He flew several winglengths in the air, and then he dived like an eagle into the water, splashing down and disappearing into the depths.

It seemed forever that she waited, but then each of her friends surfaced in the watering hole and swam to shore, breathless but safe.

“So far the way is clear,” said Morningleaf. “No Nightwing. No Ice Warriors.” She nudged Brackentail fondly with her muzzle. “And no coyotes.”

Bumblewind climbed out of the water and swept his eyes across the dusty canyon. “The first thing we need to do is find food.” Then quickly, before anyone could harass him for saying it, Bumblewind added, “Tell me you aren’t starving?”

Morningleaf’s belly had shriveled like an old blackberry, but she hadn’t noticed that until Bumblewind mentioned it. “He’s right,” she said. “We need to rebuild our strength.”

“We’ll eat soon, but not yet,” said Hazelwind, glancing behind them. “We need to find better cover. I’ll fly a quick patrol, see what I can find.” He lifted off, sweeping a radius around them, watching for Ice Warriors, and then he landed. “There’s nothing here but desert. We’ll have to stick close to the canyon walls and travel until morning. Farther inland there will be trees and plants to eat—the faster we move, the faster we’ll find them.” He cantered off and soon settled into an efficient lope. They traveled by hoof since Morningleaf couldn’t fly and they were all too tired to carry her.

“And what about Nightwing?” asked Morningleaf, following her brother.

“We know he’s heading east to the Flatlands. We’ll follow, keeping our distance. Once he settles the herd, we’ll hide as close as we dare to keep watch on him, and we’ll wait for Star to find us. As long as it takes.”

Morningleaf nodded, shuddering as a desert breeze blew across her water-soaked hide. Beside her, Brackentail loped and listened for danger. She felt safe between her brother and her friend, and she took the rare opportunity to relax, to let them worry about what happened next. Her thoughts drifted to Star. She’d done everything she could to protect him, and so had his guardian herd, but now the pegasi were captured, and she couldn’t fly, and Star was alone. She knew he was looking for them—and the hope of seeing him again kept her moving forward, in spite of the thin voice in her head that told her all was lost.