The Guardian Herd Read Free

army?” Frostfire asked, his jaw agape.
    â€œI didn’t steal them. They wanted to join me. Most of them.”
    Frostfire lowered his neck like an angry wolf. “You poisoned their minds.”
    â€œI didn’t.”
    The stallion backed away. “You’re as dangerous as Nightwing. Did Larksong join you too?” He spat the words.
    Star folded his wings. “No, she didn’t.”
    Frostfire peered into Star’s eyes, his defiance smoldering but his expression hopeless. “If you’re going to kill me, or turn me into one of your slaves—just do it now. Please.”
    Angry thoughts tumbled through Star’s mind. This white stallion had kidnapped Morningleaf, murdered her protectors in front of her eyes, and then taken her to the dark lava tubes in Jungle Herd’s territory, where she’d lived in terror until she escaped. If Star released his rage about this, he could be as dangerous as Nightwing. The dark emotions tumbling through his mind horrified him.
    But then Star noticed Frostfire’s swishing tail, which was curly like his own, and he remembered that this white stallion was his uncle. He and Star’s mother, Lightfeather, shared the same sire, Iceriver. And Star’s mother had once instructed him to follow his love, not his fear. He had to remember who he was, even now when he was alone with his enemy. And he was not a destroyer. Star crammed the silver fire down into a tiny, cold seed.
    Frostfire snorted. “I’m right about you, aren’t I? You are here to conquer us.” He looked terrified, but also smug.
    â€œNo, that’s not true.”
    â€œThan why are you here? What do you want with the herds of Anok?”
    Star arched his long neck. “I don’t want to hurt you, or anyone.”
    â€œBut you do hurt us. You don’t see how you’ve ripped the herds apart? You don’t see the trail of blood behind you—that every over-stallion is dead, that the steeds of Anok are enslaved, and that Nightwing has returned?”
    â€œI didn’t do all that. I united the herds.”
    â€œBut it all started with you, when you were born.”
    Star tossed his damp forelock out of his eyes. “No. It started four hundred years ago, when Nightwing was born.”
    Frostfire shrugged his pale wings. “What’s the difference? You both hurt us; you both bring destruction.”
    â€œCan we stop arguing? Our friends are missing.” Star gazed across the tundra toward the Great Sea, thinking and wondering. “Why did you leave Larksong alone in her condition?”
    Frostfire’s ears sprang to attention. “What condition?”
    Star blinked, only now remembering what Larksong had told him, and that Frostfire didn’t know. “Your mare is with foal.”
    Frostfire staggered as though Star had kicked him. “My Larksong?”
    â€œYes. It’s a colt.”
    â€œHow do you know?”
    â€œI healed them both.”
    Frostfire paced in a circle, shedding feathers, excitement building in him like a storm. “I’m going to be a sire?” He pricked his ears forward, his voice rising. “Larksong was supposed to meet me by the little waterfall at midnight. She said she had something to tell me, but she never showed. I think Nightwing took her when he took your herd. We need to save them!”
    Star’s gut tightened. “Together?”
    â€œWhy not?”
    Star gaped at him. Because you formed an army to kill me , he thought.
    Frostfire seemed to read his mind. “Right, I know we’re not herdmates, but we have the same purpose, do we not?”
    â€œBut I don’t need you,” said Star. “I can look for them on my own.”
    Frostfire closed his eyes for a moment, seemed to make a decision, and then peered intently at Star with his odd pair of eyes. “You can, but it will take you many seasonsto search all of Anok. I know where Nightwing