"Who are you?" Lauren asked, in awe.
The stag lifted her head. "Maisha."
"You're beautiful. Should I have heard of you?"
Maisha smiled. "I would not expect you to. Your friend Mlinzi called upon me to come here to save your friend here."
"Can you save him?" Lauren asked.
"Yes, it is my power. I am the protector of Eddeathra. Though rarely seen, I do come to help those who ask for me." Maisha stepped forward and bowed her head at Askari so that the multicolored tips of her antlers touched his back. Slowly, the gashes healed as light seeped from her antlers. Askari opened his eyes and looked up at Lauren, then Maisha and whinnied. "Thank you," Lauren said and Maisha nodded.
"I will lead you back to your camp so you do not get lost again," she said with a smile.
Lauren nodded. "Good idea."
_______________________
Lauren soon reached the Knights of Evermore camp. Maisha wished her good luck and disappeared. Lauren entered the camp with Askari walking next to her. William saw her and immediately ran up to her. "Are you okay? Where were you?"
"I got lost somehow," Lauren said as the other knights and Odi and Amias walked over. "A big pack of wolves attacked me and nearly killed me and Askari." She looked over at Odi and Amias. "Mlinzi's ghost chased the pack away!" A wave of relief crossed Odi's face.
Hadrian looked at Askari. "He doesn't seem hurt."
Lauren smiled. That's the best part. Maisha saved him and recognized me as the Moonstar." Everyone gasped and murmured to each other.
"She's real?" Odi asked. "I thought that she was just part of old Eddeathrian legends. But I guess that does explain why the Nites were not able to find the Knights of Evermore though. She helped hide them."
"So, what about the race? I lost?" Lauren guessed, despair creeping into her voice.
Elina said "yes" and Kalzin said "no" at the same time. "If Maisha recognizes Lauren as the Moonstar, I see no reason why she would not be her and why we shouldn't help her." Kalzin looked at the Knights who all nodded. He turned to face Lauren. "We have agreed to lend you our help in taking down the Nites and restoring Eddeathra."