5

EXHAUSTION

NIGHTWING LANDED HIS CAPTURED HERD IN THE scrubby foothills located northeast of Mountain Herd’s territory. They were inland now, far from the coast, flying over a long, winding river. They’d been traveling for twenty-two days. Nightwing settled the herd once a day to drink and eat, and once a night to sleep. The pegasi were weary and hungry, and Morningleaf was no exception. Her wings ached from holding her weight.

As soon as the herd touched down on the rocky landscape, she stumbled to a halt and let her blackened limbs hang to the ground. A glimpse of her shadow showed her how much she resembled Star when he was born: a dud with black feathers and drooping wings. The thought wrenched her heart with memories of him and concern for where he was now.

Brackentail landed gently next to her, keeping one eye on Petalcloud’s Ice Warriors, who guarded the herd. “They’re flying us too hard for such a long journey,” he said, gritting his teeth.

Morningleaf exhaled, taking in the brown colt’s concern. He’d tried to kill Star when they were all weanlings, but so much had changed since then. It had taken a long time, but he’d earned back Star’s trust; then slowly, he’d earned Morningleaf’s trust, and also her respect. She no longer saw the past when she looked at Brackentail, but the future. He was growing taller and stronger each day, as were all the yearlings.

Morningleaf stepped closer to Brackentail and nuzzled him, soaking up his warm scent. Her other yearling friends, Shadepebble, Bumblewind, and Echofrost, joined them along with Morningleaf’s older brother, Hazelwind.

“I heard we lost another foal,” said Shadepebble.

Echofrost nodded. “The filly’s wing muscles cramped a few miles back, and she fell. It happened too fast for anyone to save her.”

“How is the filly’s mother?” asked Shadepebble.

Echofrost winced. “She’s . . . gone. She attacked Nightwing, and, well, you know.”

Morningleaf lashed her tail. Nightwing used Petalcloud’s army of devoted Ice Warriors to patrol the herd. The big-boned, furry steeds pranced among the captured steeds, biting and kicking anyone who complained or who lay down to rest. Nightwing also patrolled the herd, and he killed pegasi quickly and randomly, sometimes with no warning. It wore on all their jangled nerves. Morningleaf barely recognized the pegasi of Anok—they were shedding feathers, hollow eyed, and skinny, and some had drifted into hopelessness. But Morningleaf’s anger, and her concern for Star, kept her sharp.

Brackentail nodded toward the mares and foals who were drinking at a flat blue watering hole. “I overheard Sweetroot advising the mothers to wean the foals early, maybe tonight. Nursing and migrating don’t mix.”

“Poor things,” said Bumblewind.

Morningleaf gazed west, back the way they had come, and imagined Star searching for them. “He’ll find us,” she said.

Bumblewind flicked his ears, knowing exactly who she meant. “Of course he will.”

“I agree,” said Brackentail, “but we can’t keep waiting for him. Morningleaf won’t make it much farther.” He looked straight at her. “I’m sorry, but it’s true. We have a lot of flying ahead of us, and your shoulder muscles are giving out. You almost lost your grasp on Hazelwind and fell today, like that filly.”

Morningleaf tried to deny it. “I—”

Brackentail interrupted. “I saw it, Morningleaf.”

“I did too,” said Echofrost.

Morningleaf closed her mouth, because they were right. Her shoulders were exhausted from holding her weight as Redfire and now Hazelwind flew her through the sky. If the tops of her wings weren’t burned, her friends could use their teeth to carry her; but they’d tried that, and Morningleaf had almost passed out from the pain. But she couldn’t travel this way much farther either. And the winds were increasing as they journeyed inland, buffeting her dangling body and making it more difficult to keep hold.

Brackentail lowered his voice. “Echofrost and Shadepebble are planning a huge fight that will distract the guards. And Hazelwind is working on the rest, getting you out of here while everyone’s confused.”

“It won’t work,” said Morningleaf flatly.

“It will,” said Brackentail as he wrapped his wing across her back. “Trust us.”

Morningleaf leaned against him. “I trust you, but not Nightwing’s starfire. Failing means more than just death.”

Brackentail’s eyes widened. “What do you mean?”

Morningleaf lowered her voice, and the hot wind flipped her mane over her eyes as she spoke the secret that burdened her. “Promise not to tell anyone what I’m about to say.”

“I promise,” breathed Brackentail.

“Steeds killed by starfire don’t fly to the golden meadow where the Ancestors live. Instead their souls are trapped in a place called the Beyond.” Her throat tightened as she heard Brackentail’s startled gasp.

“How do you know this?” he asked.

“The Ancestors spoke to Star in the north. They told him and then he told me, but we don’t want my mother to know. Her mate, my sire, is there, stuck in the Beyond.” Tears stung her eyes. “And that’s where you’ll go if you help me escape and fail. You see, Nightwing hasn’t just captured the living but also the dead. And there’s nothing we can do; only Star is capable of killing the Destroyer and freeing them. Don’t risk your soul for me.”

Brackentail’s muscles tensed at her words, and his wings flared. “But Nightwing will use you against Star like a hostage, or worse. Star won’t be able to think straight if that happens.”

Morningleaf softened toward him, and the two stood in the sun, each lost in thought. She understood his feelings, but she knew there was no way to escape Nightwing and the Ice Warriors. She was sure her friends would die trying to free her. She also knew she couldn’t stop them. They’d proven their bravery and loyalty over and over again, but saving her—it was too much to ask this time, which was why she had a plan of her own.

An Ice Warrior trotted past Morningleaf and her friends. They dropped their heads and grazed. The warrior was Stormtail, the gigantic dapple-gray stallion with the huge hooves who used to guard Petalcloud but who now spent his time patrolling the herd. His black eyes shifted to Morningleaf and her group.

They pretended not to notice him.

He paused, watching them, and his eyes were like shark eyes, empty but searching, his nostrils quivering. Stormtail took a few steps toward them, then turned and trotted away, attracted by a group of sobbing mares.

“The sooner you’re out of here, the better,” Brackentail whispered to Morningleaf.

She nodded, and her thoughts turned to escape as she studied the surrounding terrain. Dusty rocks and shriveled plants covered flat-topped stone mesas that stretched for miles, scorched by the sun. Without the ocean breezes and fog, the air was hot, stale. A wide blue river snaked across the bland landscape, the only spot of color.

And beyond this land lay their destination, the lush grasslands of the interior, which were known for their dangerous high winds. But as Morningleaf considered the vastness of Anok, her captivity made even the huge sky feel small. The Ice Warriors never stopped patrolling, never stopped watching. Her world had shrunk to the space between herself and the guards. The sparkling river caught her eye, and she noticed where it disappeared underground and then returned to the surface. An idea formed in her mind. She inhaled, about to speak.

“What is it?” whispered Echofrost.

Morningleaf glanced at her friends, her plan on the tip of her tongue. Then it vanished from her lips. I can’t tell them, she thought. “It’s nothing. I’m just worrying.”

Echofrost lifted her fine-shaped head, dazzling Morningleaf with the proud arch of her neck and the glittering determination in her eyes. All traces of the rage and bitterness she’d carried after her kidnapping by Rockwing had vanished long ago. “Don’t worry about getting free,” she said. “Let us take care of it.”

Morningleaf sighed, knowing that Echofrost and Hazelwind had made up their minds too. “When do you plan to get me out?” she asked, playing along.

“In the morning,” answered Echofrost.

Then I must escape tonight, Morningleaf decided. She felt her blood rush to her head, and her heart beat like a scared rabbit’s. Her plan would probably fail, but so would theirs, and at least hers only involved herself.