When Rainshine and Cedarfire had left, Summersong huddled close with Starpebble and Sunfire in the evening air, discussing in whispers how to escape. Their guards had been doubled, so their whispers were almost too quiet to hear, even to them. Summersong didn’t want to spend any longer than she needed to in Mountain Herd, and she was impatient to escape.

She growled. “Why don’t we just fly up and away?”

Starpebble rolled her eyes. “For the twentieth time, Summersong, they would catch us in no time! Our guards have been doubled, with six sky herders as well, and they can fly much faster than we can. If we could just get to the jet streams, though…. We would need a diversion….”

At that moment, a ruckus arose from the west, shouts and high neighs splitting the night air. Sumersong started, then stared at all of the guards, who were restlessly moving around. The six sky herder mares clustered together, whispering and staring west. All the guards moved into a group, whinnying anxiously.

Summersong shook herself, then whispered to her friends, “Diversion, anyone?”

Starpebble’s eyes widened. “Let’s go!”

They turned and leaped into the air, pumping upward, with quick, hard beats. After about thirty seconds they heard startled cries behind them.

“Go, go, go!” gasped Summersong, pushing herself harder. She leveled out in the heights and began to search for a jet stream. Below her, Starpebble circled, gradually rising higher.

Then a flash of color below alerted them to the six sky herders, swooping up and over them. Summersong dived back down toward the ground, the wind ripping out some of her feathers. She touched the ground and galloped a few lengths before slowing to a stop, gazing upward at Starpebble aiming for her.

Starpebble plummeted, the wind howling in her ears, a sky herder close on her hooves. The attempt had failed!

She landed with a grunt and then stared as she saw Ember and Spark galloping toward her through the trees, golden shields encircling them both. She gaped as Ember’s shield flickered and died, leaving him exposed to the four sky herders diving toward him. Silver sparks popped on his hoofs, but he clamped his mouth shut. He was clearly determined not to use the starfire.

The sky herders and more warriors surrounded them and took hold of their wings. They were captured. Up in the sky, Sunfire was trying to avoid three warriors. Starpebble screamed up at him, “GO!”

He looked down and then shot up, where she saw him find a jet stream and streak away. Starpebble wrenched away from a sky herder who had grabbed her wing and dashed to Ember’s side. He was panting, and as she reached him, he let out a burst of gold starfire that spread through the clearing, shoving all the Mountain Herd steeds away. Then he fainted.

Starpebble screamed.

Thanks for reading! Hope y'all enjoyed, and PLEASE inform me of ANY mistakes, including spelling and plot inconsistencies. Thank you!

Mountain Herd:

Flintwing~ (over-stallion) dark gray stallion with slate-blue feathers, black mane and tail

Cedarfire~ (captain) agile bay stallion with blue feathers, black mane and tail, thin white blaze

Snowstone~ (under-stallion) white stallion with mint feathers, white mane and tail. Deceased

Stormrain~ (yearling) dark gray filly with dark green feathers, black mane and tail

Hoperiver~ (single/widowed mare) pure white mare with sparkling blue feathers flecked with amber, white mane and tail

Snow Herd:

Mistwing~ (over-stallion) white stallion with misty blue and white feathers, silver mane and tail

Ashcloud~ (lead mare) smoky gray mare with smoky purple feathers, black mane and tail, large diamond-shaped star on forehead

Frostroot~ (medicine mare) light gray appaloosa mare with pale yellow feathers, light gray mane and tail

Fogfire~ (captain) gray stallion with navy feathers, black mane and tail. Deceased

Moonfrost~ (mated mare) dark silver mare with dark purple feathers, black mane and tail, Deceased

Echoflower~ (single/widowed mare, elder) white mare with pink feathers, white mane and tail

Rainshine~ (weanling) dark silver dapple filly with silver feathers, black mane and tail

Desert Herd:

Cobrawing~ (over-stallion) bay pinto stallion with green feathers, mixed brown-and-white mane and tail

Dustcloud~ (lead mare) palomino mare with pale green feathers, white mane and tail, wide white blaze

Sunfire~ (captain) gold dun stallion with violet feathers, gold mane and tail, thin white blaze

Starpebble~ (weanling) silver filly with pale blue feathers, white mane and tail, deep blue eyes

Ember~ (black foal) solid black colt with black feathers, black mane and tail

Spark~ (black foal) solid black colt with black feathers, black mane and tail, four white socks

Brightsky~ (mated mare) bright palomino mare with mixed blue and purple feathers, white mane and tail

Sunlight~ (single/widowed mare) palomino pinto mare with pink feathers, white mane and tail. Ember and Spark’s dam. Deceased

Summersong~ (weanling) brownish-gold filly with pale pink feathers, light brown mane and tail