Sun Seeker

By Angela Dorsey and Marina Miller

Sun Catcher desperately wants to become a trusted scout for her tribe so she can prove that she’s worthy of keeping her beautiful mare, Sunshine. Unfortunately, on their very first scouting trip together, checking the mountain pass to their winter home, they are caught in a rockslide. Then Sunshine disappears!
Hoping the wind-drinker has gone home, Sun Catcher returns as well – to find that Strong Bull, a powerful man among the people, doesn’t believe her when she says the pass is ruined. Even worse, Sunshine didn’t come home, and winter has come early! What is Sun Catcher to do?

Written by: Angela Dorsey and Marina Miller

• Language: English
• Publisher: Enchanted Pony Books
• Release date: Dec 18, 2014
• ISBN: 9781927100349

Book preview

SUN SEEKER

by Angela Dorsey & Marina Miller

Copyright 2014 Angela Dorsey & Marina Miller

www.aydorsey.com

Published by Enchanted Pony Books

www.ponybooks.com

License Notes:

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Table of Contents

Sun Seeker

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Winter of the Crystal Dances

Also Available by Angela Dorsey

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Chapter 1

Sun Catcher leaned down and hugged Sunshine’s golden neck, trying to soak in some of the wind-drinker’s warmth while not thinking about the cliff that dropped away just two yards to their left. She only allowed herself a moment of comfort before sitting up straight again. Her concentration couldn’t drift, not here, not now. Too much depended on her.

Sunshine’s front hoof kicked at a rock and sent it spinning off the edge. The small stone clattered down the steep rocky slope for what seemed like forever before finally coming to rest somewhere far below. Sun Catcher swallowed and clutched her mare’s white mane even harder. Not that she was particularly afraid of heights. Only gigantic heights. Every autumn her tribe had to travel through this pass on the way to their winter hunting grounds, and every year Sun Catcher’s heart caught in her throat.

There were two differences this year though. First, she was with Sunshine, her own wind-drinker, the creature she loved more than words could ever say. And second, she and Sunshine were alone. She was a scout, the first girl she knew of that had ever been entrusted with the job.

Despite the dangerous trail, Sun Catcher smiled. When her father, the chief, had asked her to ride ahead on the week long trail through the mountains and make sure everything was safe for the tribe, she’d asked him to repeat his request. She could still hardly believe that she’d been given this opportunity. It was a dream come true.

And it was all thanks to her magnificent wind-drinker, Sunshine – the mare that had changed her life so drastically last summer.

Sunshine tossed her head and snorted, and Sun Catcher gripped tighter. It was much too early to start congratulating herself yet. This was only a test. Her father was giving her a chance to prove she had the guts and brains to be worthy of keeping Sunshine. It didn’t matter that she was the one who’d found the wind-drinkers and brought them to her tribe. All that mattered was that there were more warriors and hunters in camp than wind-drinkers. It was obvious, even to her, that the useful creatures should go where they were most needed.

Her reward for finding the wind-drinkers was this opportunity to prove herself. To show that she could scout as good as or better than any other scout in the tribe. And if she couldn’t show that? Well, then her father would have no choice but to give Sunshine to someone else. She’d end up stuck in camp, cooking and looking after the little ones for the rest of her life, while someone else rode off on Sunshine every day. No way could she let that happen!

With renewed determination, Sun Catcher studied the landscape around her. On her right the mountain rose into high jagged points against a cold blue sky. There were no obvious signs of danger. No mountain lions lurked in the shadows. No giant rocks teetered on the mountainside, just waiting to tumble down on top of her. Rockslides were hazardous here. They could sweep you right off the edge of the cliff. Sun Catcher’s eyes were drawn to her left. As frightening as the spectacle was, it was also beautiful. Below was the valley, glowing yellow with autumn leaves. More mountains climbed into the sky on the other side. A pair of eagles glided through the cool air in wide circles, searching for prey among the stunted trees that clung precariously to the harsh rock faces.

Sunshine skittered anxiously to the side, and Sun Catcher rested a reassuring hand on the mare’s neck. It’s okay, girl, she murmured. She didn’t blame Sunshine for being nervous. She felt pretty nervous herself. And cold. A freezing wind whipped around her. Sun Catcher shuddered. She needed to get this part of the journey over with. She asked the wind-drinker to walk on.

Where had the eagles gone? Sun Catcher wondered if they disliked the cold as much as she did, and scanned the distant trees looking for a sign of their nest. But it was harder to see the trees on the mountain across the valley now; Sun Catcher had to squint to make out any details.

Sunshine stopped abruptly.

What’s the matter girl? Sun Catcher gently pressed her heels into the wind-drinker’s sides.

Sunshine tossed her head and pranced sideways.

What do you see? Sunshine had followed her into a bear’s den, blacker than night. She had swam with her across a huge monster-infested lake and boldly walked onto this ledge in the mountains when asked – and yet now she stopped. Why?

Danger. What else could it be? Sunshine must sense something that Sun Catcher couldn’t.

Yet, the path forward was unobstructed and more than wide enough for them to pass. As far as she could tell, no wild animals hid behind the rocks. Except for increasing cold, nothing seemed unusual.

Wait.

That was unusual, that wall of white now obscuring much of the neighboring mountain. She squinted. A low cloud? Fog? Whatever it was, it was growing.

The wind was stronger now, and even colder. Far colder than it should’ve been this early in the autumn.

It’s just a cloud, girl, said Sun Catcher, her voice