Free Wonder Light by R. R. Russell

after Wind Catcher, and Indy fought him, but I wouldn’t let Indy finish him off. I couldn’t stop thinking about the one I’d shot and killed the last time. I took an oath to protect unicorns.” He shook his head and his eyes filled with tears of regret. “My father was riding Wind Catcher, and he was injured in the fight. I had to get him out of there. That was all I could think of. But he died anyway, and now Dagger’s still out there. When he’s strong enough, he’ll be back.”
    â€œAll that happened because of us, because the Murleys brought us girls here.”
    â€œIt’s not your fault. Dagger is the reason my father’s gone, and Wind Catcher too…”
    Indy rubbed up against Ben, and Ben whispered back affectionately.
    â€œIt’s nothing like the fairy tales, is it? They say only a maiden can tame the unicorn.”
    â€œIt isn’t true. I looked Indy in the eye. I touched his horn. I dared to say his name and to teach him to answer to it.” He paused, blinking hard. It was a while before he met her eyes again. When he did, the faraway look was gone.
    â€œThey said Mr. Murley built a higher fence after what happened to Caper. But you jumped it with Indy, didn’t you?”
    â€œIndy’s a spectacular jumper. He’s a natural, but I’ve also trained him to jump higher and farther. The others cannot jump it. But if they’re determined enough, they’ll find a way to get what they want.”
    Twig cringed.
    â€œTwig!”
    Twig jumped and Ben stiffened. The shout was closer this time, and it was Mr. Murley, not just one of the girls.
    â€œGo,” said Ben gruffly. “Someone wants you.”
    Twig ran back. Mr. Murley stood at the fence. When he saw her, a smile replaced his look of concern.
    â€œLet’s go, Twig, before they eat all the waffles.”
    Waffles! She clambered over the fence, feeling a strange ache inside.
    â€œTwig,” Mr. Murley said as they walked side by side, “you need to stay inside the fence. It’s not safe to go into the woods alone.”
    Ben was in the woods alone—with his bow and his sword and Indy, yes, but still alone. Standing between them and a herd of wild unicorns that would soon be on the hunt again.

Chapter 16
    After breakfast and chores, Twig tiptoed to Wild Light’s stall. Mr. Murley was in there, his lap covered in spilled milk, trying to feed her.
    â€œHi there, Twig.” He grinned and started to rise, but Wild Light wobbled up too, bumping him back onto his bottom in her newborn clumsiness.
    Twig laughed softly as Wild Light tried to suckle Mr. Murley’s milk-soaked shirttail.
    â€œCan I try?”
    â€œSure. Maybe she’ll find you less distracting, since you’re not covered in her lunch.”
    â€œYet,” Twig said. Then she blushed, feeling dumb. What was she doing laughing, joking?
    Mr. Murley smiled and handed her the rag. “See what you can get down her. I’ve got to get into town and buy some supplies to feed her properly.”
    Mr. Murley left Twig alone with Wild Light. The filly steadied herself, then hopped straight up in the air, all four hooves off the ground, right in front of Twig. Twig yelped in surprise. Wild Light had only jumped a few inches, but it was such a funny, rabbitlike bounce.
    She nuzzled expectantly at Twig.
    â€œCalm down, now. I know you’re hungry, but you’re going to have to be still if you want anything to eat.”
    Twig pushed gently on Wild Light’s rump, and the filly folded her legs under her. Soon, Wild Light was half in Twig’s lap, the bowl of milk was spilled, and she was sucking milk drips from Twig’s hair.
    Casey peeked around the stall door. “Wow. She’s a messy eater. I’m supposed to tell you it’s time to learn how to halter Rain Cloud.”
    Twig rose, gently nudging Wild Light off. When Twig turned her back on the filly,