The birds were the first to see her and hundreds — from the tiniest flitswa to the greatest eagle — flew to join her. There were thousands more, and she could barely see the sky through the thick of them. It didn’t take long for the other animals to notice her arrival and, of these, Othalas was the first.

Upon seeing her, he let out a great howl and the wolves about him — a hundred other werewolves, all great and terrible, but none so great as he — picked up the call. Then the bears growled and the great cats roared — ligers and tipards nearly as big as the werewolves. All the other creatures paused, some of them resting on their haunches as they watched her descend from the trees.

Othalas padded up to greet her with a bow.

“All of wilddom has come to aid you, Lady,” he said with a formality she was unused to. But her Stone was afire now and the lights about her head gleamed bright as stars. In her left hand Weiryendel sang with lights and rainbows. Her disguise cast aside, she looked in every part a great Faelord, if not something greater.

At his bow, all the other creatures bowed as well. There was a hush and Luthiel’s breath caught when she saw love plain in the animals’ eyes.

Oh what have I done to earn it? I who would hunt them and eat them? With animals bowing before her, she recalled Mithorden and his principles and she wondered if he had the right of it. For she saw in each of these creatures great heart and spirit even to the tiniest among them.

They all love life and will fight for it as I have. 

She did not need to speak. It was as though the animals heard her thoughts and gave silent affirmation.

“We are ready to help you!” Othalas growled. “All you need do is give the word.”

“Then the word is forward!” she cried. “I would save as many elves as possible. Will you follow me!!??”

The responding roar made the wind in the trees seem a whisper by comparison. Even the Glimflirs seemed to glow brighter.

“The wild has answered,” Othalas growled.

Luthiel sprang to his back and the Senasarab gathered with the host. Othalas gave them only one questioning glance. But knowing they were with Luthiel was enough. Now was not the time for questions. That would come later. The wolf was built for action and this was the time for it. Woe to the spider who stood before him or threatened his mistress.

With a final howl, he was off through the woods, the great horde of woodland creatures surging in behind him.

Upon Othalas’ back, she rushed through the wood. Light spilled from her Stone, making all seem to sway and waver. Even the animals looked like a great pack of spirits flowing through the woods. Trees flashed by as the animals ran or flew beside and above her. Werewolves were intermixed with native wolves and Luthiel even saw one unicorn. The air surged with birds of every kind. But borne aloft on the hot summer air, Glimfirs rose up above them, making the sky shimmer with a million false stars. A great wind was howling, fanning the trees, running ahead of Oerin’s dawn.

Othalas found a low spot, making a riverbed his road. They ran along, masked by hill, tree, and rushing wind. But the cloud of Glimflirs must have made a disturbing spectacle as it grew and loomed over the spiders. Two of the rear-guard twittered uneasily as the cloud drew near. The plan hadn’t gone quite right and though the elves were losing, this night’s events made them want to slip off into the shadows. Too many had felt the bite of faerie sword, arrow, and Wyrd. Many more lay burned to ash. Now the wood was filled with strange sounds. It made them long for the mountains — the shadowed valleys no sunlight could touch. They’d caught enough to last for a good while and the greedy, lazy, spiders were ready for a feasting well away from the struggle. Were it not for her they’d be gone in a moment. But the Spider Queen was not to be argued with. So the spiders held tight to the tree limbs and quivered in anticipation of what dawn might bring.

Less than a mile away, a desperate struggle was taking place. The elves had fought their way to the hills. The spiders threatened to overwhelm them. Again and again they were thrown back. The battle raged on the ground and in the trees. The air was filled with birds and pixies on the wing.

Saurlolth sensed the changes. The Vyrl were coming. Beasts were gathering. Luthiel’s magic was at work. Were it not for that girl, the battle would be won. The elves — slaves and food.

(excerpted from Luthiel’s Song book II: The War of Mists)

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