The night’s air was clear and crisp, and Starleaf’s breath a puff of white against the backdrop of the small elfin settlement.

Situated between the shore of the Riven Sea and the Umbrial Mountains, it was home to a small clan of about three dozen individuals. Starleaf really liked these late autumn nights, when the stifling heat of the summer was gone and the creaking cold of winter had not yet set in. It was as if the world was slowly going to sleep ... inexorably, but with style. Not that there was nothing to do ... far from it.

The harvest had been brought in and had to be measured and stored. The last wild berries had to be gathered, and everything had to be protected against the harsh winter to come. Nonetheless, there was always time for a walk at night, when everybody except for the sentries was asleep. Starleaf enjoyed these moments of solitude, her oasis against the normal bustle of the day’s work.

Throughout her 43 years, this time of the year never had lost its appeal for the young elf maid. Strolling through the darkness under a canopy of stars, the ground covered with rime, night owls soaring through the wilderness, her spirit flying with them. “A perfect night for a stroll,” she thought.

“A perfect night for a raid,” the huge creature thought as his sharp ears picked up the sound of movement up ahead. A soft, canine growl escaped his throat, warning his pack mates to be ready for action. The wolfen raiders were hiding in a small crevice to the east of the settlement, their breastplates and weapons blackened to avoid any reflections from betraying their position. They had chosen their hiding place well and, despite their great size, had eluded the senses of the sentries and had come within striking distance of the settlement itself.

“Ruthrowl,” the pack leader growled softly, rising to his full height of 9 1/2 feet, and a moment later, as if by magic, an even taller, well-groomed wolfen appeared by his side, a gargantuan, two-headed battle axe made of the finest kobold-steel clutched almost forgotten in his claw.

‘You called, I come,’ the newcomer’s voice echoed through the pack leader’s head, setting his teeth on edge. He hated the young mindmage and his abilities. If he had anything to say in years to come, any practitioner of any form of magic would be eradicated. Sometimes though, they had their uses.

“Do you sense anything?”

‘Not a twitch in the night, not a weapon around, just a lonesome elf feeling safe and sound... ‘

“Shut your maw, Rowl. Any chance of getting that one before it warns the others?”

“Not by normal means, though I could take care of her...”

Ruthrowl’s voice was soft and had a slightly purring harmony, that furthered the pack leader’s dislike of the young psionic. He had been ordered to participate in this night raid, as part of his military training, though he did not like it at all. Too much killing and bloodshed. Maybe his parents were to blame, raising him on their farm near the Northern Wilderness, where elves, humans, dwarves, and other creatures were not uncommon. Maybe it was his natural affinity to creatures’ minds, that had always stopped him from seeing them as food. There were other wolfen with the same attitude, but, sadly, they were a minority within the empire.

So Ruthrowl reluctantly had agreed to accompany this group of raiders, more to make sure that at least some of the elves got away.

In a sense, he was betraying his pack, but not himself.

“Do that ... And then keep away ... We wouldn’t like to have our precious mindmage be hurt by a tiny elfling. Better yet ... Growltooth, you stay with him ... not a word from both of you. Rowl, do your stuff. The rest, let’s be off...”

The night became cold, the plants gaining a frosting of ice crystals, and even Starleaf had to admit that it was time to head back to the settlement. A soft sigh escaped her mouth, the warm air fogging out in the chill night. It was going to be winter soon, with snow and ice, blizzards, endless days cooped up in the house, waiting. ‘Ah, well. Better than a hot summer with dust and dry rivers... ‘

With another sigh of regret, she gathered her cloak tighter around her body and turned to head back, as all of a sudden, two huge, furry forms appeared in front of her. Dark, canine eyes regarded her coldly.

‘Wolfen!’, her mind screamed as her body froze in terror, eyes wide and heart beating furiously. Before she was able to shake off the paralyzing effect of the two beasts’ appearance, the darker of the two, carrying twin swords, advanced on her, his tongue tracing his chops in anticipation.

‘Oh, Gods of Light, I am going to be devoured... ‘ a tiny voice inside her head quavered as she tried, unsuccessfully, to twist and run away, her body betraying her. But before the wolfen was able to skewer her or cut away choice parts of her anatomy, his companion lowered the head of his gargantuan battle axe between them and softly growl-barked something. The other one paused, turning and growled something in return.