The Unicorn Thief Read Online Free PDF Page B

in Twig’s chest. “She has a name? Do all of them have names?”
    â€œOf course. You cannot help naming a unicorn.”
    â€œBut you never told me—I thought—”
    Ben answered Twig in a soothing singsong tone that didn’t match their conversation or Bounce’s condition—a tone meant to keep Indy and Wonder at ease and to keep from pushing the already anxious wild unicorn over the edge. “Merrill and I thought it would be easier for you not to know.”
    â€œTo see them as nameless wild things. As the enemy.”
    â€œThey were the enemy when they attacked us.”
    Twig kept her mouth shut only because she knew she was starting to sound upset, and they were here to calm an injured unicorn. She thought of the gentle unicorn Merrill had lured away from the herd last winter with carrots and calming herbs. He’d called him Marble, and Twig had assumed Merrill had named him just then. Had Marble been Marble all along?
    The unicorn had become tame, giving them all hope for the rest of the herd—until those very unicorns, Marble’s own herd mates, had come and nearly killed Marble. In order to save him from Lonehorn Island’s wayward herd, Merrill had to risk taking Marble back into Terracornus—where he would be considered an illegal unicorn and could be taken away, and Merrill punished severely. Merrill had been keeping Marble hidden at a safe house in Silverforest, Terracornus, ever since.
    Twig jumped as the creature emitted a whine that verged on a growl. It seemed Bounce couldn’t decide whether to scare them away or beg them for help.
    â€œHey there, Bounce.” Ben drew a packet out of his pouch, careful not to make any sudden movements. “I brought you a little treat.”
    Ben tossed a ball of calming herbs mixed with chopped apples and wrapped in lettuce leaves. The unicorn startled, glared at them, then sniffed and nudged the packet. With one ear tuned to the humans, she lipped the lettuce.
    â€œThere now,” Ben whispered. “We’ll leave her to eat. In a little while, we’ll come back and—”
    Indy cried out in warning, and Wonder wheeled around. Bounce tried and failed to scramble to her feet. Another unicorn charged through the brush, horn tipped and ready to bore into Wonder.

Chapter 7
    â€œDuck, Wonder!” Twig urged her unicorn to dodge the attack rather than fight back. To Twig’s relief, Wonder complied. She landed right beside Bounce.
    Indy stepped in and confronted their attacker, but instead of stabbing him, he locked horns. The wild unicorn sidestepped and moved to slash, and again Indy blocked him with his horn. On the other side of Twig, Bounce showed Wonder her teeth.
    Twig nudged Wonder back a step. “Easy, girl. She’s just scared. Let’s show her we’re friends.”
    Wonder relaxed. She nickered at the injured unicorn, a cautious greeting. The wild mare’s ears tipped toward her with interest. Instead of a snarl, she let out a blow.
    Wonder neighed at Indy, I think I found a new friend . Indy, horn still holding strong against the push of the other stallion’s horn, neighed back. The wild stallion stepped back and ducked his head, but this time it wasn’t to charge. He bowed, a gesture that said, Okay, you win . You’re stronger.
    Slowly, quietly, Ben dismounted and let the animals sniff each other. Twig did the same.
    Ben held his hand out to the stallion. “Father called this one Ash,” he whispered. “Because he looks like he stuck his nose in ashes.”
    Twig laughed softly. The stallion was pure white, except for his gray muzzle.
    Maybe the herd really was going to be okay. “There’s medicine that can help Bounce. They call it antibiotics.”
    â€œDo you have it? At the ranch?”
    Twig’s heart sank. “Mr. Murley brings the vet—the horse doctor—to the island, and she gives the sick pony a