*I have no desire for your gratitude.*Alder jerked his head, but Leonie still had a firm grip on his mane.*And I wantnothing to do with any of you humans. Once the owls informed me that Mountain was on his way, there was no further need for me to remain.*
Leonie narrowed her eyes at the unicorn. “And you didn’t want Shan to find you. Not after you lied to us about not knowing the location of that hollow tree. That’s therealreason you rushed off, isn’t it?”
*It was…a factor in my decision, yes,*Alder said grudgingly. He let out a heavy breath.*I see there is no point in trying to evade your irritating primate curiosity any longer. Stop yanking on my mane, Lioness. I will answer your questions.*
“Truth,” Shan murmured to Leonie. She released her grip on the unicorn, though there was a certain catlike tension to the way she stayed near him. “Alder-in-Winter, I will know if you are not telling us the truth. You lied when you said you knew nothing of the hollow tree or its contents. Why?”
*Because it is none of your business,*Alder snapped.*None of this is. If there were any threat to the children here, I would tell you. And that is the truth.*
“I believe you,” Zephyr said, tone mild. “Even without Shan’s ability. But we do need some answers, Alder-in-Winter. Why are you so certain there’s no danger to the camp?”
Alder sighed again, head drooping a little.*Because the items you discovered do not belong to a human, or to a shifter. They were stolen by a unicorn.*
Leonie’s mouth fell open. “A unicorn? Alder, what on earth does a unicorn need with underpants?”
*Alder-in-Winter,*the unicorn corrected. He shifted his weight on his back hooves.*Some of the younger unicorns are fascinated by anything human. Unfortunately. I have…known for some time that a member of the herd has been trespassing into your territory, against our laws.*
“So that’s our mysterious thief,” Conleth said. “Who getsto tell the sheriff that a juvenile unicorn is behind the recent local crime wave?”
“It would certainly make for an interesting police report,” Zephyr agreed, one corner of his mouth hooking up. He turned back to Alder, looking rather less tense than he had previously. “You didn’t want one of your people to get in trouble, did you?”
Alder nodded stiffly.*I had hoped to deal with the matter privately, without involving anyone else. Human or unicorn.*
There were no traces of rot or sourness. Shan still had the nagging, tantalizing hint of some richer flavor underneath the surface sweetness—but the unicorn wasn’t lying.
“All right, but what about the lights?” Leonie broke in. “Some of our campers have seen a strange floating light in the woods. How do you explain that?”
Alder gave her a level look. He said nothing, but his horn brightened. Up until that moment, Shan had not realized it was possible to glow sarcastically.
Leonie rolled her eyes. “All right, point made. Literally. But the campers said the light seemed to be floating.” She lifted a hand, indicating a spot a bit over her own head. “At about this level.”
Zephyr frowned. “That is a lot taller than a young unicorn. Or even any of the adults.”
“Except for Alder-in-Winter,” Leonie agreed. She stopped dead. “Waaaait a second.”
*Primates,*Alder muttered, as if the word was a curse.*Give them a piece of fruit to satisfy their hunger, and they only scream for more.Fine. Since you seem determined to not leave me with even a shred of privacy, yes. Your campers saw me. Are we done here?*
“Not even close,” Conleth said dryly. “Give me back my phone, Leonie. I need to clear my schedule for the rest of the morning. Possibly the rest of the week.”
“You’re claiming you’re the camp ghost?” Shan asked Alder-in-Winter. “You don’t think the campers could have seen anything else, other than yourself?”
Alder snorted.*By the consensus of the herd, this area around the camp is forbidden to all of us during the summer. I am the only exception. While some of the more rebellious foals occasionally try to sneak through, the creatures of the forest help me catch them and send them home. I can assure you that if another unicorn was hanging around your territory, I would know.*
“One of our kids said she was led back to camp by a floating light last summer,” Leonie said. “Was that you, too?”
Alder paused, one ear flicking back and forth in thought.*A small filly? Long mane the color of ripe chestnuts?*
“That’s the one,” Leonie confirmed. “Hetta. She thought you were a ghost. Why didn’t you talk to her?”
*I do not believe in unnecessary contact with humans,*Alder said haughtily.*I ensured she made it safely back to her own people, where she belonged. There was no need for conversation.*
Conleth frowned. “You spoke to Spencer, though.”
*He could not see me.*Alder-in-Winter turned, pointedly addressing Zephyr.*I have answered your questions, Slight Breeze. Will you finally accept that there is no need for you and yours to continue chasing this so-called ghost?*
Zephyr regarded Alder-in-Winter, dark eyes thoughtful. “Yes. That does seem to settle everything.”
“Not quite,” Shan growled. In his head, his qiongqi echoed the sound, muzzle wrinkling back in a snarl. “Leonie saw a light as well. At the dead tree. Where she was attacked.”
