One hundred and forty steeds had been removed from the valley without Nightwing or Petalcloud noticing. Silverlake chose the steeds, and Echofrost’s growing network of spies informed them and then helped them escape at night, while drinking at the pond. The Ice Warrior named Graystone helped her communicate between the groups. All winter, the captured pegasi had created the habit of drinking in large numbers, so the practice was not suspicious to Nightwing. A few chosen pegasi from each group slipped under the water and swam to the tunnel. The rest returned to their section as though nothing unusual had happened. The pegasi who weren’t escaping didn’t resent it. Each knew what was at stake, and why they couldn’t all leave the valley, and many didn’t want to leave. A trip through the tunnel was a one-way journey to another land, across a dangerous ocean. Finding two hundred steeds who wanted to leave had been the challenge. The remaining pegasi watched Star build the tribute, hope glittering in their eyes.
