The Guardian Herd by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez Page A

those ruined wings of yours. So don’t run.”
    Morningleaf snorted. Since she couldn’t outswim, outrun, or outfight this thick-pelted pegasus—she’d have to outtalk him. “Why are you helping Nightwing?” she asked.
    He took a step closer.
    â€œYou can’t believe he’s good for Anok.”
    The stallion cocked his head, ever so slightly.
    â€œLet me go,” Morningleaf implored him. “Tell Nightwing that I drowned and give Star a chance to defeat him. Can’t you do that? Just give Star a chance. He’ll free us all, even you.”
    â€œI am free,” he said.
    â€œRight,” she huffed. “You aren’t allowed to breathe without permission.”
    He shook his head, getting angry. “Star—Nightwing—what’s the difference between them? A black foal is a black foal.” He prowled closer, opening his jaws to seize her.
    Morningleaf leaped to the side, and her hooves slid onloose shale, knocking some into the water with a splash. “Star is good!” she whinnied.
    â€œStar is young,” he argued. “He will change.” He lunged and snatched her injured wing.
    Morningleaf shrieked, and her hooves flew, kicking the blue roan in the chest. He held on to her, unmoved.
    Then three winged shapes, cruising below the surface, raced toward her, creating a large wake. Morningleaf’s heart sank—more Ice Warriors? She yanked her wing out of the stallion’s mouth and bolted. The blue roan whistled, stinging her ears, and he galloped after her, kicking up rocks.
    Morningleaf slid across the stone cavern, cantering farther away from the main channel. The phosphorescent glow lit her way, but she was no match for the stallion. He grabbed her tail, lifted her off her hooves, and tossed her into the aquifer. She splashed into the cool water, sputtering. He leaned forward to dive in after her.
    â€œOver here, you hairy whale!” It was Dewberry, with Hazelwind and Brackentail. Fresh energy shot through her legs, and Morningleaf paddled away. Her three friends surrounded the Ice Warrior.
    â€œGo that way,” neighed Brackentail, pointing with his wing deeper into the aqueduct. Hazelwind nodded, urgingher to go, but her brother’s eyes darkened and she knew what was coming next—her friends were going to battle the Ice Warrior to the death.
    Morningleaf dived underwater and swam farther down the tunnel. When she popped up again, she heard the quick slam of the deathblow. The outnumbered blue roan was dead.
    Then another familiar face popped up next to hers. “Bumblewind!” She swam toward him, and they rubbed their muzzles together.
    â€œWhere is everyone?” he asked. “I was following Dewberry and then I lost sight of her, and now here you are, alone.”
    She nickered. “They’re that way, taking care of something.”
    â€œThe Ice Warrior?” he asked.
    She nodded.
    â€œYou mean I missed the whole thing? The whole rescue?” He tossed his wet forelock out of his eyes.
    She snorted, paddling her hooves. “I guess so, unless more Ice Warriors show up.”
    â€œThey won’t,” he said. “I mean, there were six others who followed us, but four were swept downstream and never saw the tunnel. They’re searching for you along thebanks. One struck his head on a rock when he dived in, and he . . . he broke his neck. The other, well, we took care of him before he could enter this offshoot.”
    â€œSo no one knows I’m alive in here.” She swam to the ledge and used her hooves and wings to climb out of the water.
    â€œNo one but us.” His eyelids flew open. “Wait. Did you plan this? Or did you fall because you were tired?”
    Hazelwind, Dewberry, and Brackentail trotted down the cavern toward them, dripping blood that wasn’t theirs. Hazelwind’s jaw was tight and his eyes narrow. “Oh, she planned it,” he said,