The Unicorn Thief by R. R. Russell

white square of paper pinned to the passage tree. He pulled it off and held it in Twig’s flashlight beam.
    â€œWhat’s that?” The girls shushed each other and crowded around him.
    He needed more light. He grabbed Mandy’s flashlight and illuminated the message.
    Taylor peered over his shoulder and read it aloud. “‘The fate of one is the fate of them all. Now you know what it is like for those of us who still care about all unicorns. If you want to see your unicorn again, keep your oath and go to the queen.’”
    â€œIs it a note from Merrill?” Janessa said.
    â€œIt’s not from Merrill,” Twig said, taking a peek. “That’s not his handwriting.”
    â€œAnd it’s signed ‘The Unicorn Thief’!” Taylor said.
    â€œWho’s that? What does it mean?” Casey said.
    Twig just shook her head. Her eyes asked Ben the same question.
    â€œI never made an oath to go to the queen!” Ben pulled himself together. “Forget the note. What matters is that Indy’s in there for sure. He’s gone through the passage.”
    Taylor put her hand to the cedar trunk. “This tree is the passage?”
    Twig touched Ben’s arm. “We’ll find him.”
    But Mandy said, “It’s a trap.”
    â€œDon’t go, Twig,” Taylor added.
    And Janessa said, “Mandy’s right this time.”
    â€œIt’s up to Twig. She’s Wonder’s rider. Her life and Wonder’s will be at risk.” Ben fought to keep his voice steady, his heart from bursting, his terror from bringing him to his knees. He had no right to ask Twig for this.
    Wonder sniffed and pawed away at the dirt. She whinnied her fear and yearning. That was her father in there.
    â€œWe are not going to leave Indy in Terracornus all by himself,” Twig said. “Besides, there’s no deciding for me to do. If we don’t let Wonder through the passage tree, she’ll dig it up by the roots.” Twig turned to Ben. “She hates coming here, but she didn’t fight it, the whole way. She wants to go in. She knows something. She can smell it.”
    â€œTwig—” Ben began to protest.
    â€œDidn’t you and Merrill tell me to trust my unicorn?”
    â€œWait,” Regina said, “why would anyone try to trap Ben? They already have Indy.”
    â€œTo get Wonder too,” Casey said.
    â€œBut how would anyone over there know about Wonder? Unless—” Mandy gasped and clamped a hand over mouth.
    â€œWhat?” Twig said.
    A new chill shuddered through Ben. “Merrill.” His old friend’s name barely came out. His mouth felt so dry.
    Mandy nodded. “Your herder friend’s been hiding from the cops over there with that unicorn he’s not supposed to have.”
    â€œCops?” Another Earth Land word Ben didn’t know.
    â€œThe authorities,” Taylor explained.
    â€œWhat if they caught him and…” Twig couldn’t finish.
    But Regina said, “Tortured him or something. Do they do stuff like that there?”
    Ben felt strangely numb. This couldn’t be happening. What if he lost Merrill too?
    â€œWe’ll make sure Merrill’s okay before we go in. But,” Twig warned the girls, “even if he isn’t okay, that doesn’t mean we’re not going. Ben, call Emmie. Casey, you go back with the others and get Rain Cloud. Ben will need a ride.”
    Of course. They wouldn’t get far in Terracornus on foot. Wonder was only a year old and not strong enough to carry both of them.
    â€œWhat about Feather?” Casey suggested.
    Twig shook her head. “We can’t take Mrs. Murley’s horse.”
    â€œThat would be like stealing,” Janessa agreed.
    â€œYou would know,” Regina said, making a jab at Janessa’s past.
    Ben didn’t know why all the other girls were living with the Murleys, but for some reason