16

DISCOVERY

STAR DROPPED ON THE ATTACKING WOLVES, FOLLOWED quickly by Frostfire, striking them with sharpened hooves, but their thick fur resisted tearing. Star changed tactics and struck at their heads. The wolves were monstrous, the size of yearling pegasi. Star slammed a black one between the eyes, and it reeled off a pinned mare. She cracked it in the ribs, pushing it the rest of the way off. “Take that, you big coyote!” she neighed.

Star’s heart fluttered at the familiar voice. “Dewberry!”

She rolled to her hooves as one of the two gray wolves leaped for her, snarling and showing long, white fangs. Star landed in the wolf’s charging path and butted it in the chest like a mountain ram. The furry beast somersaulted into a tree and collapsed in a daze.

“Use your starfire!” whinnied Dewberry.

But Star had sworn never to use the silver fire again. He tossed his mane and dived into the fight, relying on his hooves and teeth. The black wolf recovered and leaped toward Frostfire. The white stallion kicked him in the chest, sending him flying across the clearing.

Dewberry lifted off, joining Frostfire in attacking the other wolves. Her lip curled in disgust at the sight of the past Mountain Herd captain. “Is he with you?” she whinnied, but Star was too busy to answer.

Star galloped toward the pinto who was trapped under the giant paws of a white wolf, kicking for his life. Star saw streaks of yellow and brown, and his heart thumped with hope. “Bumblewind?”

The bay pinto lifted his head. It was Bumblewind! The second gray wolf, which was darker and bigger than the one that attacked Dewberry, dashed for his friend’s throat. Star whirled and let loose both hind hooves, knocking the wolf out cold. Bumblewind flew toward Star just as a giant white she-wolf snatched his tail and hurled him into a tree. Bumblewind’s head cracked against the bark, and he slumped onto the dirt.

Star, Dewberry, and Frostfire landed to protect Bumblewind, kicking the circling wolves. The beasts’ eyes flit between the four pegasi as though they were thinking, assessing their odds. “These aren’t normal wolves,” Star said.

“No,” rasped Dewberry. “They’re dire wolves.”

“Those don’t exist,” said Frostfire, kicking one in the ribs.

“Tell them that,” said Dewberry.

Bumblewind shook his head and rolled onto his hooves.

“Can you fly?” asked Star.

“Yeah. I’m fine,” said Bumblewind, but his eyes were still swirling from his impact against the tree.

The white dire wolf, the leader of the attack, growled low and angry, then signaled the others to follow her. They slunk back into the woods, returning to the shadows.

The four pegasi lifted off, hovering between the trees. Bumblewind stared at Star, his eyes full of joy. “I knew you’d find us,” he said.

Star looked away. Yes, he’d found them, but he was too late to save Morningleaf.

“Does Nightwing know you and Dewberry are here in the woods?” Frostfire asked Bumblewind.

“No. We slipped away from Nightwing in the Wastelands and followed the herd here, and we’ve been hiding and watching them ever since, waiting for Star to arrive.” Bumblewind peered at Star again. “I can’t believe you’re really here.”

Star battled back fresh tears. They’d grown up together, and Star would never be able to look at Bumblewind or Echofrost again without also seeing Morningleaf.

Dewberry huffed, jerking her head toward Frostfire. “So what’s with him? How’d you two end up together?” she asked Star.

Frostfire bristled, but they were all out of breath, and Star merely said, “Long story.”

The pinto mare looked doubtful.

“We need to get out of here before the Ice Warriors come,” said Bumblewind. He turned to Star and explained, “They fly patrols through here sometimes.” Bumblewind lifted off, and then his eyes fluttered and rolled back in his head. He fell toward land.

Star and Dewberry dived after him and snatched Bumblewind’s wings, preventing him from crashing onto the soil. The retreating wolves yipped and snaked back through the trees, coming closer as they sensed Bumblewind’s weakness.

“He’s hurt,” said Dewberry through a mouthful of Bumblewind’s feathers. She glared at Frostfire. “Take this wing from me. I’m going to look for herbs before his bites become infected.”

Frostfire did as she asked and took the wing from her.

Dewberry turned to Star. “See that deer trail?”

A thin path wove through the trees, barely visible unless someone was looking for it. He nodded.

“Follow it until you reach the tallest elm tree. Turn left and then land and walk the rest of the way. When you reach the old fallen cottonwood, stamp the soil three times and then wait.” Dewberry darted off in search of healing plants.

“Wait for what?” nickered Star, but Dewberry was gone.

“She’s enchanting,” grumbled Frostfire. “Let’s go.”

Star and Frostfire flew slowly above the deer path while Bumblewind slipped in and out of consciousness. “He might have injuries inside, where we can’t see them,” said Frostfire.

Bumblewind’s bite wounds had already clotted, and Star saw no sign of swelling around the pinto’s belly or ribs. “No. I think this is all from hitting his head against that tree.”

Star traced the path, looking for the tallest elm. Several trees gave him pause, but they just weren’t large or distinctive enough to be landmarks. He kept flying.

“I think that’s it,” said Frostfire.

The elm ahead towered over the rest, and Star felt sure it was the one Dewberry had described. They reached it, landed as Dewberry had instructed, and turned left. They walked as straight as possible until Star spotted a cottonwood that had been struck by lightning and toppled over years ago, as evidenced by the plants growing around it and over it. The tree lay alongside a rounded berm of land. They stopped and released Bumblewind gently on the ground. Birds chirped, ignoring them and gathering seeds.

Star inspected the area and saw nothing special about it, but he trusted Dewberry and so he stamped his hoof three times.

Their ears pricked forward as Star and Frostfire heard sounds below their hooves. Something was moving underground. Seconds later a branch, heavy with leaves, slid across the soil. A black hole appeared behind the fallen cottonwood tree, and a head popped out—it was Hazelwind.

“Star!” he nickered. He climbed out of a steep passageway and then tensed when he saw Frostfire.

Star waved his wings. “It’s okay. He’s with me.”

Hazelwind glared at the white captain. “How so?”

“I’ll explain,” Star promised. “But later; Bumblewind is hurt.”

Hazelwind glanced at Bumblewind, who was lying unconscious on the ground. “What happened to him? And where’s Dewberry?”

Star explained about the dire wolves, the injury to Bumblewind, and Dewberry taking off to search for herbs.

Hazelwind nodded. “Let’s get him inside.”

“What is this place?” Star asked. “You live underground?”

“There’s nowhere else to hide,” said Hazelwind. “We escaped from Nightwing after he captured us by hiding in underground aqueduct caves. Then we followed the pegasi here, and when they settled in the valley, we dug day and night into this wolf den to make it big enough for all of us.”

“Wolf den?”

Hazelwind grimaced. “Yeah, we stole it from the dire wolves, and they aren’t too happy about it.”

Bumblewind groaned.

“Come on, let’s hurry.” Hazelwind glared at Frostfire, leaning forward with teeth bared. “But you stay out here.”

Star sighed, weary and heartbroken. “Hazelwind, please trust me. Frostfire won’t hurt us.”

Hazelwind lowered his voice. “It’s not that. I’m worried about Morningleaf.”

Star froze. “What?”

“After all he’s done to her . . . and what she’s been through . . . I don’t know if she can bear to see him.”

“You mean . . . she’s alive?” Star’s broken heart shuddered.

“Yes,” said Hazelwind, looking confused, and then understanding dawned. “Ah, you must have been to the valley. You heard she was gone.”

Star nodded; he was breathless. Morningleaf hadn’t drowned?

“She’s inside, Star,” nickered Hazelwind, gesturing into the den. “Go see her, but leave him out here.” He glared at Frostfire.

Star’s heart soared, but now the full repercussions of his alliance with Frostfire hit him. It was one thing to trust the captain when they were alone; it was another to trust him with the lives of his friends—and to bring him to Morningleaf. But he’d also promised not to abandon the captain. “But what if someone spots him, Hazelwind? Or the wolves return? I think he should hide with us.”

“Are you certain he’s on our side?” asked Hazelwind, his voice gruff.

Star remembered what his uncle had said about not considering Star family, but they’d also relied on each during their journey here, and Frostfire had softened toward Star. Still, the captain had lied to him before. Star realized he didn’t know what to believe. “Maybe I’m not certain,” he admitted, avoiding Frostfire’s sharp glance. “But his mate’s been captured, and she’s with foal. By helping us, he’s helping himself too.”

Hazelwind locked eyes with Frostfire. “All right, I’ll let you inside, but you’re not welcome. Do you understand?”

Frostfire nodded.

Star’s heart thrummed with sudden worry. “So Morningleaf is alive, but is she okay? Why does Nightwing think she drowned?”

Hazelwind sighed, and Star noticed how weary the stallion looked. “Just go to her.”

Star groaned. “Then she is hurt?”

“I think you should see for yourself.”

Star’s heart pounded. Soon he would be with Morningleaf. He ducked into the dark passageway, with Hazelwind and Frostfire following.