The crow landed on a rounded rock within the liminal space, a few feet in front of the huge she-wolf. He bowed his dark head a few times, as she yawned wide, and sniffed the air. She turned her luminous blue eyes upon him
“Well, small brother?” she asked softly, from the mossy overhang she was lying on.
“Well indeed Lady and sister,” he replied. “They are not far off. They rest in Floodwend this night. She suffers though, your cub. She is weakening.”
The wolf snorted out a warm breath. She blinked.
“It pains me, Hrost, that it is this way. But with an enemy in close pursuit, we have no choice. She needs my protection.” With something close to a smile, she added.”And the guidance of you and your folk,”
“We aim to serve, as do your folk, Lady Othala.” Again the crow bowed politely.
The she-wolf rose to her feet, planting huge clawed paws in the damp earth. She shook herself, silver fur catching strands of the moonlight.
Around her, the usual sounds of the night forest hushed, as if all were listening to their ‘Lady’s’ pronouncement.
“That foolish woman has overstepped the mark. We have enough to contend with, Tir and I, and our family. The darkness spreads its fingers in all parts of the land. And now she is after vengeance. Well, she shall not defy the purpose of our Lord. Blood and spirit shall be reunited.”
The crow had twisted his head to the side, and had given all due attention. He bowed yet again.
“Let it be as you say, Lady.”
At that point the sounds returned, the croaking, twittering and scuffling. So did two other silver wolves, nigh as large as their mother. All three lay down on the overhang.
“Go now,” the she-wolf said calmly. “Very soon the woman will fall. She must be brought here fast if all is to be as our Lord wishes.”
With that, Hrost lunged into the air. His small dark form disappeared into the night.
~ ~ ~
Had any Man or Dwarf drawn close to that meeting, all they would have seen was a Wolf and a Crow, yammering a little to each other. A huge wolf, that was true. But it was well known that crows and ravens oft led wolves to fallen prey, to help rip it open for them.
