The Guardian Herd: Stormbound by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez Page A

him—forever. He will heal us, but inflict a direr wound upon us: servitude to his whims.”
    The Snow Herd pegasi trembled, unsure.
    â€œThat’s not true! I don’t want Snow Herd,” whinniedStar. He exchanged a disbelieving look with Morningleaf. She shrugged her wings, as baffled as he.
    â€œYou say that now,” said Twistwing, rearing and flapping his olive-green wings. “I won’t make a pact with the black foal.”
    Star clenched his jaw. By using the word pact , Twistwing purposefully reminded his herdmates of Nightwing. Desert Herd had sought to make a pact with the Destroyer four hundred years ago—but the result was the near extinction of all pegasi when Nightwing refused the deal.
    â€œHe’s come to conquer us!” whinnied a yearling colt, and the healthiest steeds in the herd stampeded into the gray sky, away from Star. Petalcloud arched her neck and stared him down, looking fearless and triumphant both at once.
    Twistwing’s warriors rushed to his side, and they all faced Star. “Leave us,” the over-stallion commanded.
    â€œCome on. Let’s go,” said Morningleaf, nudging Star. “There’s nothing we can do for this herd.”
    Still baffled, Star nodded and kicked off, flying out of the valley. His friends followed, riding his wake, all of them silent. Star cruised across the foothills to an open expanse of land consisting of miles and miles of snow. There were no trees or rocks, and only the occasional lake.Star oriented himself using the movement of the sun as his guide and traveled northeast, toward the Ice Lands of Anok, where River Herd waited for him.
    â€œI don’t understand it,” Star said to Morningleaf, who flew next to him. “Why won’t they let me help them?”
    She sighed. “They don’t trust you.”
    â€œBut I didn’t bring an army to threaten them.” He gazed at his wounds. “It was the opposite. They attacked me .”
    Morningleaf flattened her neck against the biting wind. “You don’t need an army to kill pegasi, Star. You’re the black foal.”
    â€œBut I told them I wouldn’t hurt them, and I didn’t use my starfire.”
    Morningleaf glanced at him, her amber eyes flat and sad. “I know, and they heard you, but they weren’t really listening.”
    A hard lump formed in Star’s throat, and he dropped the conversation.
    At dusk they landed for the night. “I’ll take the first watch,” said Star.
    â€œNo. You’re injured. I’ll do it,” insisted Bumblewind.
    Star nickered, amused. “I’ll be as good as new in a few minutes.” Star called up his starfire and sent it racingthrough his body, healing his wounds from the inside out. The cuts and bites vanished almost instantly. He blasted Morningleaf’s swollen leg, restoring it, and also Bumblewind’s torn and bruised feathers.
    â€œThanks, Star!” said Bumblewind, inspecting his wings.
    â€œI’m hungry,” complained Dewberry, munching on snow.
    Since his birthday, Star didn’t feel hunger or thirst like he used to. The starfire supplied energy, renewed him, and fed his muscles. If the elders were correct about his power, he was immortal. He wouldn’t age or die. He could be killed only if his body was destroyed beyond his ability to repair it, but otherwise he would live forever. Star avoided thinking about that. His friends were not immortal, and they felt hunger and grew weary, and so he let them rest.
    But to find food in this harsh environment, the four of them had to scrape at the snow with their hooves until they found a layer of green lichen. They grazed on the tasteless moss until the last rays of the sun disappeared and the pale glow of the moon cast the only light.
    â€œWhat was Snow Herd’s problem today?” asked Dewberry as she and the others dug into the snow to sleep. “Don’t they