It twitched a tasseled tail in amusement. :Not a unicorn, child. Not before, and certainly not now.:

"My name is Ellyn," Ellyn decided to trust the creature. Even if it read minds.

:I should resent that,: The creature shook itself slightly. :My name is Kae'renla.:

"Were you the one who..." Ellyn paused as another memory surfaced. "No. You were the second elf. The first one was the one who dug me out..." Then what she said hit her. "Elf?"

:Once.: The creature looked interested. :Ye saw that, child?:

"I have what Tulan calls Mage Sight," Ellyn said abstractly, then spied a bundle on the ground that looked familiar. She picked up the Travel-Fox and began checking it for damage.

:Mage Sight? Ye seem more like a sorceress...but I suppose many sorcerers now also have Mage Sight. Though why did ye not summon up magical help?:

"Because I can't." It hurt much less to say it now, if at all. Satisfied that the gun was fine, she placed it back carefully on the ground. "Where's the other elf?"

"Here," Ellyn spun around at the sudden draft of cold air. An elf closed the entrance doors, and turned to face her.

His face was completely covered except for a sensuous mouth and strong chin, by a rather scarred and weather-beaten helm that probably had been rather handsome, once. It was a deep obsidian black, and seemed to be made of some sort of material resembling horn, that still shone a little in the firelight. The more elaborate carvings were jagged, as if bits had broken off, and the horsetail was lackluster, though vaguely the same hue as the helm.

A ponytail of the strangest toned hair she had ever seen emerged from the helm, falling haphazardly over the elf's shoulder. He wore the skin-like armor that she had seen on some of the elven Lords ... some sort of metal meshed into a flexible and very tough casing that could only be removed magically. This one gave the impression of scales linked together ... from what she could see from the sleeves, which were the only part of the armor that could be seen from under a light robe which also had been rich once but was now faded. Embroidered breeches were tucked into knee-length, tattered boots.

Everything had runes stitched into them...for warmth, she realized. There were some others, which she didn't recognize, especially the two large ones on the gauntlets-gloves, which he wore.

The elf was tall as most elves went, but he seemed cautious, wary, but more as though feeling this way was a habit, not just of her. He was lean and muscled, slightly hunched, probably a result of living here. There didn't seem to be any other 'life' in her Mage Sight ... which meant this elf was probably some sort of hermit.

The rim of his helm held a slightly tarnished silvery metal circlet, with a large stone set in it that glowed faintly amber in the sight, and looked like a large ruby in 'normal' sight.

Funny, that sort of stone is only worn by high-ranking elves...

"And who are you?" she asked, realized it sounded rude, and flushed slightly.

"My name is Ma'xae'raln," he said, sitting down in front of the fire thankfully, then put down the bowls he had been holding, locating a ladle, then began scooping some sort of broth out of the pot into a bowl. He handed it to her, along with a spoon, then began to scoop out his own portion.

"Why do all elves have such long and involved names?" Ellyn asked, sitting down to eat. It tasted good, even if she didn't recognize the meat. "Knowing you lot, it probably means something." She remembered something. "Oh. Thanks for saving my life. And if you're wondering, I always have a very bad attitude after a brush with death."

"Poetic," Ma'xae'raln commented, enthusiastically consuming his portion. "The short form for my name is 'Max', which you can use if you wish. And yes, it does mean something ... sunlight over darkness, I think."

:The touch of the Sun, Giver of Life, on the empty and desolate.: Kae'renla settled down next to Ellyn.

"Ah yes," Max smiled. "Forgot about that...it always sounded so ponderous and pompous...And do not worry about offense. My mother's tongue is more acid than yours ... and I am used to it. She has burned me so often that I feel it not any longer..."

:More's the pity.:

"Your mother?" Ellyn blinked.

:This isn't my true shape, Ellyn.:

Cahp-lat, forgotten, chittered anxiously. Max glanced at her, then shook his head once, and it subsided.

"It asked if I wanted it to return," Max shrugged at Ellyn's raised eyebrow. "Now, some questions, if you do not mind...Ellyn, was it?"

"Yes," Ellyn nodded. "Questions. First, where am I?'

"I was supposed to be the one asking," Max smiled again, something which he seemed to do easily, though the tightening of his jaw showed her that the move brought him pain. "Very well. You are in the Plains of Ice."

"Underhill?" Ellyn asked.

"Yes," Max nodded. "You have been asleep for the better part of the day while Mother here healed you slowly."

:Did quite a good job, too.:

Max seemed to roll his eyes, behind the helm, and Ellyn grinned.

:No one appreciates me.:

"How can you say that, light of my life?" Max said expansively. "Of course I appreciate you. You are the flowers in my meadow, the sweet smell of spring after a hard winter, honey on..."

:I think I will...what is that charming human word for it now? Ah yes, barf.:

Ellyn laughed with Max. She was beginning to like the two of them already.

"Now, your turn," Max said, "How did you end up inside the glacier?"

Ellyn frowned, then said cautiously, "Do you know about the Gates of Heaven?"

"Some idiots are attempting to open them." Max nodded.

"Right." At least they weren't with the enemy...so Ellyn told them what had happened on the Isle, backtracking a little to what had happened on the Uncertain Sea, then to what they planned to do.

It took some time, but Max turned out to be a very good listener ... he gave the impression that his attention was totally centered on her as she spoke. Kae'renla was less so ... she made the occasional sarcastic comment through Ellyn's commentary, but other than that was silent.

:Well,: Kae'renla sniffed after Ellyn stopped, :I had no idea it had gone this far. We were not paying attention ... this sort of attempt has happened before, and had never been really successful. However, with the appearance of what appears to be a genuine Anti Christ, the situation is more serious...:

"Without saying," Max nodded, then looked back to Ellyn. "So what do you wish to do now, my Lady?"

"Ellyn will do," Ellyn said automatically, then grinned. "Lady has a nice ring to it, though. I would like to return to my friends, however."

Oddly, Max looked to his mother, as if expecting her to say that she would be able to help in some way.

:When the Bright Paths are in place, I can try.:

"Bright Paths?" Ellyn asked.

"Mother used to be lesh'jai, a Walker of the Paths," Max shrugged. "There are several Realms intersecting ours, and a lesh'jai can 'walk' on them to travel to another place in a much shorter time, say a few minutes, and take others with them, as well."

:I still am lesh'jai, boy.:

"Most assuredly," Max said wryly, "As you do not fail to remind me of every day, best beloved."

:Not for long.:

Both Ellyn and Max looked puzzled as to what Kae'renla meant by that, but finally Max spoke up again. "Well then, you'd have to bear with our company until the Paths align themselves with the Plains tonight. I claim no responsibility for any possible losses in sanity..."

Ellyn grinned, deciding that she did like Max. "I doubt it would be any worse than living with Tulan and Zaknafein."

"Ah, the Black Bard," Max shrugged. "Bards are difficult to live with, especially if they have no training over their greatest Gift."

"Which is?" Ellyn raised an eyebrow.

"Influencing others," Max said. "With their music. It's difficult, but it can be done."

"Tulan doesn't do it," Ellyn said defensively. "Because he tried it on Zak once, and it didn't work ... long time ago when Zak was still trying to kill him. So he told Zak that if he ever seemed to be using it on me, Zak was to hit him very hard with something very heavy."

Max chuckled. "Any more questions, my Lady?"

Ellyn sighed, and thought over the few days, then over what Max would probably find most startling now. She brightened. This was one question that never failed to make both Zak and Tulan stare at her. "Can I have hysterics now?"

"What?" Max blinked.

"I think I deserve hysterics. I have been, of note, chased by a giant serpent in sewers, fallen off several buildings, seen people I care about die, traveled on a ship manned by ghosts, and buried alive. People in books and movies seem to have hysterics over much less." She kept a straight face, though not without effort.

Max stared at her, then slowly smiled, even if it seemed rather painfully. "Well, Mother here had many hysterical fits before. Since it is obvious that I survived, I can probably survive yours."

:Hey! Ungrateful brat.:

Ellyn laughed. "Somehow I cannot associate your mother with hysterics."

"Well, neither can I associate you with having one," Max countered. "And she had a good reason for having hysterics...or that is what she claims."

:They were discussing whether to MindBlast ye, my dear Ma'xae'raln, and leave ye a Power-less, unthinking vegetable for the rest of yer days, as calmly as they were discussing whether to rid the garden of a few annoying weeds. Hysterics were the only way to get their attention long enough for them to listen to me.: Kae'renla shook out her mane.

"Them?" Ellyn blinked. "Power?"

"I'm a Wild Power," Max said easily, and waited.

"Um. Am I supposed to have hysterics now?" Ellyn peered at him over her nose, a sarcastic twitch to her mouth.

:I should think that ye are entitled to some.: Kae'renla managed to sound equally dry in their minds.

"First, what is a Wild Power? And don't say anything like 'You don't want to know', or 'You are safer if you did not know,' or 'Ah, the world has changed so much,' or 'You don't know?'. Because this is not a storybook, nor is it a movie. Continue." Ellyn folded her arms.

"You don't know?" Max asked archly, then grimaced slightly again.

He is in pain.

"After that, you can tell me why you're wearing a helmet indoors." Ellyn nodded, slightly satisfied, as Max dropped his grin in shock. One way to find out about people was to catch their weak points or catch them unawares, and she had to be sure about these two if she wanted to involve them in a fight that would concern the entire world...besides, that had been one point that both Zak and Tulan agreed on. Very rare, and hence, probably very true.

:I think ye can answer the first question.:

"If you say so," Max said doubtfully. "Very well. To be a Wild Power...it is complicated. Do you know that there are many magical 'Gifts' around?"

"Obviously."

"Well then, to have a Wild Power is to have one of these Gifts at any time. It's totally random...and it's like it has a store of energy. Once you 'use up' a Gift, it is immediately replaced by another...how strong each Gift is depends on how good a Power you are."

:And my lad here, unfortunately, is the strongest alive.:

"Even then," Max nodded. "I had Bardic once. One of my favorites. The point of Wild Power is it is often uncontrolled. There appears to be no pattern as to which Gift shows up after the next. And the largest problem with Wild Power is that all magics can eventually appear in its holder ... including those before the Untamed. When I was in my first century of life, the Wild Powers were already dying out ... hunted out and neutralized. Because it is very, very dangerous."

:Ma'xae'raln was a Prince of one of the Eight Holdings...his father was one of the Eight Kings. It was embarrassing for milord King to admit to having a Wild Power as a son...because no one wants to wed one ... for a period there were a lot of fuss with all the other Princes and Princesses, because the families-in-law were afraid that all of us could be 'carriers'.:

"It took a lot of people to explain that Wild Power isn't inheritable ... it just happens," Max said dryly. "I was ten when they first realized I had it. I woke up in the dungeon with a record-breaking number of shields on me, and Mother was having her hysterics rather loudly...such that even the guards were talking in apprehensive voice outside my cell."

:It did get milord King's attention,: Kae'renla 'said' sarcastically. :He was a good ruler, but a pathetic parent, and a worse husband.:

"Mother!" Max raised an eyebrow.

:My marriage was convenience, Max. I was a scullion until they realized I was lesh'jai and a Healer in the works. Training made me one of the Seekers, not connections. And it was rather...fashionable in those days to marry Seekers. It did not help that both of us had other...lovers already.:

Kae'renla was candid and matter-of-fact, not a bit of hurt in her voice at all. Ellyn stared at her, then glanced back to Max. He looked wryly resigned, as if he had heard of and known of this for quite a while.

"I would rather we not speak of after that," Max said carefully. "It was rather...painful."

:Huh. The way they treated you...as if you were some sort of psychotic leper. Makes me sick even now to think about it. They did not even think about what that sort of treatment would do to a child...them and all their arguments about helping children, at that.:

Max winked at Ellyn, a she's-at-it-again wink. Ellyn frowned. She knew by Kae'renla's venomous 'mental' touch that the elf was deeply offended and disgusted by what had been done to Ma'xae'raln, and decided to leave the elf a bit of privacy. It was already rather rude, on slight acquaintance, to pry open such obviously deep wounds...

"I'm sorry," she managed.

"Oh, it has been a long time since we told anyone else, and it feels better," Max said dismissively, but she saw that he did appreciate it.

:As to the helmet...:

"Not even Lord Fae'lan wears a helmet indoors, and he's the only other fellow other than Zak who wears his armor everywhere. I know you're hiding your face...and to tell you something, if it's anything like the Phantom of the Opera, I won't be bothered...but if you don't want to show me, it's fine." Ellyn amended, aware that she was being a little rude already.

What does he have to hide anyway? He's afraid he'd scare me? Or is he hiding some sort of face that I've seen?

Maybe he's one of the Seven...I've seen their photos, but not their names. And it's just as easy to make up names as it is to breathe!

What if he is one of the Seven?

Just as she reached that thought, she was alerted back to Max as he moved.

"I doubt that you will not be bothered," Max said, in a flat voice, then appeared to make a decision. He moved his hands to the cheek guards of his helmet, about to take it off.

Neither said anything.

"Boo!" Zaknafein said with a mischievous grin.

The other elf jumped two paces, spear going up from 'defensive' to 'offensive', then into a more relaxed stance when he realized that Zaknafein had not made an offensive move.

Then he grinned back, rather sheepishly. "Sorry about that, but your ah...paws turned into iron when Shalmater was treating you, yes-yes? Metal, bad metal. Now Yalter wants to see you. I am taking you to him now...no fight between us. Come-come."

Yalter? Now where have I heard that name before?

Probably some sort of different 'tribe' of elf than the normal, which would explain the odd speech. Zaknafein nodded slowly, sheathed his claws, and followed the elf out of the cell.

The narrow corridor outside was lit with mage-lights, and the elf pointed with his spear. Zaknafein walked, the elf behind him, no doubt ready to attack if he tried anything.

The end of the corridor opened up to a larger, square room where several more elves looked up from a wooden table where they had been playing some sort of game involving a pack of colorful cards. All of them were armed, and there was not much more furniture in the room which Zak could use to defend or fight, even if he could get the framed picture of some unknown animal off the wall in time. The guards nodded at him, greeted his 'escort', then returned to their game.

Trust.

Zaknafein stopped thinking on the lines of unarmed combat and began to recall up his training on unarmed combat as he was led down another corridor. Everything was carefully in place, to avoid such improvised armed combat. The time in the drow academy hadn't helped ... they focused too much on the use of swords and other arms.

Maybe I am just being paranoid.

The next room was much larger, more like the Do'Urden training compound. There were several more yawning openings in the wall where more corridors led to, and some sort of large wooden frame set into one wall, like the frame of a massive door enough to allow two elves, one sitting on another's shoulders to pass in height, and four elves to pass in diameter. There was no door, only a stone surface that was obviously part of the wall.

Zak decided to figure it out later if he had the time.

The guard behind him moved away as Zak saw the elf in the middle of the room.

The mage-lights in the room managed to throw the elf's face in shadow, showing enough that this elf did not have long hair. He wore armor better made than Zak's escort, and appeared to be unarmed. He was nearly as tall as Keighvin, but better built, and Zak recognized instantly the build of an unarmed master.

He had a confidence which was disturbing ... not arrogant, nor feigned ... just a quiet air of competence. A master fighter. Zaknafein suspected, and slipped into a 'ready' stance, though he did not unsheathe his claws as yet.

The other elf stepped forward, and Zak tensed involuntarily. His face was familiar... from one of the pictures of the Seven. Now Zak realized why he thought he had 'remembered' the name 'Yalter' from somewhere. Yalter was a 'normal' elf, which meant blond, handsome, and with green, slitted eyes. He smiled at Zak, a smile that was neither overtly friendly nor sneering.

He is unarmed. Though I doubt he would need arms if he is what I think he is...

"Zaknafein, yes-yes?" Yalter settled into a 'ready' stance as well. "A member of the Hunters?"

Zak nodded slightly. "And Yalter, I believe ... one of the Seven."

"Very good." Yalter nodded approvingly, distantly, no real praise, as if it had only been what he had expected. "I see you know what I will do...ah, the bandages have not held your...claws."

Zak had unsheathed his claws in the instant Yalter had settled into a stance, and he nodded. The claws flashed slightly into iron, and back again. Yalter had not seemed the least displeased, which meant that the elf probably also had something up his proverbial sleeves.

On unspoken agreement, they began to circle each other, and Yalter spoke in his quiet, effortless voice. "This is not personal, nor does it have to do with myself being one of the Seven...but I see you understand."

Zaknafein had lunged without any narrowing of the eye or tensing which normally gave away a surprise attack, but Yalter was ready, deflecting his blow and avoiding the iron claws, then throwing a powerful punch which Zaknafein ducked, dropping to the ground with the ease of a gymnast and lashing out with one boot.

Yalter leaped the blow easily, naturally, without apparent exertion as he dropped and regained balance even as Zaknafein whirled back up and away. They began to circle again. Under Yalter's arm guards, Zak could see the glint of something like a metal needle, several of them.

This could get interesting.

***

Tulan grimaced. "Any better ideas?"

"They are impermeable to magic, and run faster than we do, and are impermeable to arrows. Not really." Madrek said, running beside the bard.

"Thank you for reminding me," Tulan sighed, then brightened. "The Lords and Ladies?"

"Not answering. They have a fight of their own," the Adept of the Blue said.

The group was running as fast as they could down the beach. The forest would only hamper them as it would not hamper the giant monsters...

The oldest of the elves in their party had said something to the effect of the monsters being the 'largest T-Rexes I have ever seen', then a curse word which Tulan might have to look up later, then they had tried all sorts of magic on the four creatures bearing down on them as they had been trying to figure out the barrier. On unspoken agreement, they had begun running.

The creatures were catching up, breaking through even the sorcerous holding spell with apparent ease. Already one had caught the usurper to the Red Adept place, and the fellow had admittedly bought them a bit of time as the monsters had stopped for a moment to squabble over his remains.

Tulan shuddered.

"Someone's been watching too much Jurassic Park..." Keighvin muttered, wincing as one of the T-Rexes let out an ear-splitting, grunting roar.

"I agree. That is not how a 'normal' Tyrannosaurus would cry," the old elf said, though he kept pace with the rest easily. Magic had worked for a while on the Isle, then began to warp, so they did not use it again. "I think that..."

"Thank you for making us feel like babies," the Adept of the Green said dryly, "But save your breath for running, Illian."

Illian managed a wry chuckle. Then he blinked. "What's that?"

There was a door on the beach ... like any other wooden door with a brass doorknob. It sat sedately on the sand, as if set into some invisible wall.

"Do we have a choice?" one of the dragons rasped.

"Depends on if this is some sick joke or..."

Tulan didn't catch who said that, as his attention was focused on the door opening. Sunlight, or what passed for sunlight on the Isle, fell into a dark interior. There was a sharp curse inside, then a voice shouting for them to hurry and get inside, and get on with it before they got eaten.

They didn't have a choice ... all ran inside the room.

There was a snuffling sound as the first Tyrannosaurus tried to poke his snout through. Someone cursed, and threw his weight on the door. Amazingly, it shut, though it began to splinter from the blows outside.

Then there was some change in the atmosphere, and the thudding on the door stopped as if what was outside was now another place.

They were in a dimly lit room that seemed rather large. Unconsciously, they stepped closer to each other, facing the darkness...

Vampires appeared from every direction.

***

Ellyn was expecting one of the faces of the Seven, but what she saw was worse.

Ma'xae'raln's face was horribly disfigured, flesh scabbed and still red and tender in places, blistered from burns and scarred from scratches, in one part showing the white of bone. Somehow it wasn't rotting, and it seemed healed as much as it could heal...he had no nose, only a cavity where the nose had been.

The worst of it was the two expressive, sad eyes staring out of the ruin of what had probably once been a very handsome face...

Ellyn didn't know what to say. Somehow, there wasn't much to say ... to just pretend nothing was happening was an insult somehow to Ma'xae'raln, and to commiserate or pity would probably offend him.

"How?" Ellyn blurted. No, she didn't feel disgust or pity, only respect, respect that he still had the courage to live with what was obviously great pain.

"Mage-battle," Max sounded surprised. He had underestimated her, as had his mother...

:I had not.:

Ellyn grinned faintly at Kae'renla's voice, that seemed proud and relieved...and somehow expectant.

"My fault, actually," Max seemed regretful. "I had Chaos-fire as my Power, and I unleashed it on my enemies. Mother sneaked up with me ... I had gone alone, hoping to destroy myself along with them ... and she took me away on the Paths to safety, though she nearly died herself, and her spirit had to enter another's...I did not escape unscathed." Explaining the unicorn-like creature.

"Your enemies were also burned?" Ellyn asked quietly.

"No other way," Max bit his lip. "They were invading my father's kingdom, and the least I could do was to try and stop them. They burned and ravaged the land ... rapine and murder...I also wanted to die. Not much excuse, I am aware...I'm sorry I had to use this way..."

Buoyed by some impulse, Ellyn crossed over to Max and hugged him, strangely glad as, surprised, he returned the gesture. "We'd need to get you some healing."

"Nothing can heal a Chaos-burn, but thank ye," Ma'xae'raln felt more peace than he had for a long time since he had exiled himself to the Plains of Ice where, if he ever lost control, he could not possibly hurt many people...

He wondered faintly at the bond between them in the Sight...it was now pulsing more strongly with the color he did not recognize.

:Oh, you'd find out.: His mother spoke, apparently amused.

"About what?" Ellyn asked, puzzled, though she didn't draw back. Warmth from the both of them, soothing, peaceful, calming.

"Nothing," he lied, not very well.

"As if," she murmured mischievously.

:The boy's not built with the tongue of a scoundrel,: Kae'renla seemed even more amused than ever. :Fitting for ye.:

"What?" Ellyn looked confused, then narrowed her eyes. "One day, I'd pry it out of you, you stupid horse..."

:Horse? Me?:

"Ye will need a really big crowbar," Max chuckled, not without pain, but he did not notice the pain much this time.

"That can be arranged."

***

"It's time." Ma'xae'raln looked up at the darkening sky, and glanced at his mother. She nodded graciously.

Ellyn shivered slightly in the cold, even with Cahp-lat on her shoulders, but it would only be a while, Max had said. He helped her to mount Kae'renla, bareback, no bridle or any other such devices, then mounted himself, behind her, one arm around her waist to steady her.

:Eat less, the both of ye.:

"Grow younger," Max retorted just as amiably.

:Ready?:

"Yes," Ellyn said.

Kae'renla did not reply, but took a step forward. They suddenly appeared to be in darkness, on a translucent, narrow path of silvery moonlight, with eternity stretching around them...

Ellyn could see other paths, vaguely, but tried not to feel height-phobias as Kae'renla began to run on the path. Occasionally she would leap from one to another, and Ellyn would try not to dwell on the sensation that she had left her stomach behind on each leap.

She needn't have feared. Kae'renla was quick and competent, even with two passengers, and soon Ellyn relaxed to lean against Max, cradling her rifle that was loaded. Sometimes, Max had said, things appear on the Paths.

Kae'renla stopped occasionally, cocking her head slightly before running on, surefooted. There were wide paths and narrow ones, ones that ran out for long distances until they were swallowed up by the darkness, paths that tapered out to nothing. Kae'renla appeared to know them all, or sense them all.

The paths were their only light, because Kae'renla had said that other light attracted the creatures that lived at the Paths.

From the way they both mentioned 'creatures', she had an idea she did not want to find out what they were.

Some paths gave out enough light to illuminate several meters, some only several centimeters. It was lucky for them that they were on one of the brighter paths when one of the first 'monsters' arrived.

It was oddly beautiful, a panther-lion creature, muscles rippling under smooth velvety fur, fangs bared at them from a head rising out of an impressive mane, great wings flapping, impossibly bearing the creature, which was the size of a small pony, at them.

Ellyn calmly raised the Travel-fox, sighted, and shot, making allowances for curving of the bullet, Kae'renla's gait, and the fact that she had no ground to support the rifle.

The expanding revolver bullet passed between the creature's eyes, through the brain. Nearly instantly dead, the creature fell into the darkness.

"Good shot," Max whispered into her ear, and she glowed at the praise.

:It made quite a bit of noise. I will have to run faster now.: Kae'renla ran without sound, strange but natural.

The next creature was on the paths, massive, like a rhinoceros except with a much larger horns, and teeth, and about twice the size of any rhinoceros Ellyn had seen in a zoo, in height as well as length and breadth. It was a stark white in color, and it snorted at them.

Kae'renla moved closer, and it appeared to make some sort of decision. It charged, the path, which somehow managed to stay firm under the obvious weight.

:Uh oh. I doubt this one's skull is penetrable to bullets...:

Max leaned to the side a bit, and shot his crossbow. It made a wet sound as it sank into the side of the creature, drawing blood. "The body, however..."

The creature was barely bothered, though it paused, sniffing at the scent of its own blood. Then it roared as another of the panther-lions swooped out of the darkness, probably attracted by the smell of blood.

The large cat sank sharp teeth into the tough hide of the rhinoceros-creature, and dark blood stained white hide. The rhinoceros snarled, attempting to shake off the cat, then managed to stab the cat's hind paw with its long horn. The cat shrieked.

Then they all felt the wind of something impossibly huge, and claws like an immense eagle shot out of the dark, grasping cat and rhinoceros both, easily, both animals fitting into the immense talons, and bearing both away off the paths like an owl would bear a mouse.

Ellyn shrank back, and Max's arm tensed on her protectively.

How can anything be so big...

:There are bigger.:

"Thank you so very much for that information," Ellyn was proud that her voice did not shake. "Do you think the bird-thing is coming back?"

:Hush and no. We are probably too small for its notice.:

"Some comfort," Ma'xa