Strange animal shapes writhed and played in the shadows cast from the light of a single dying fire flickering on the surrounding foliage. The breeze carried the smell of men and horses over the treetops and deeper into the forest. Wary creatures would be mindful of the scent, and leave the surrounding area to the humans.
One man tromped noisily, breaking the forest�s silent repose. Lumps of sleeping bodies snuffled and snorted in reply to the racket. Away in the distance a wolf called to his pack-brothers and they replied in a chorus of spine-tingling howls. The man in armor stopped, listened, and judging them to be far enough away, shrugged off any concern and continued his rackety pacing.
Overhead the faintest rustle was the only indication of her presence, and with the rustling of leaves in the breeze, her presence remained undetected. She lay on her belly on a slight nest of leaves, one hand propped under her chin and one plucking leaves and letting them flutter to the ground below. She yawned, rolled over onto her back letting her wings droop lazily over the branches. She had been following the humans for days, switching road signs, throwing rocks under their horse�s hooves, spitting in their stew- basically being a minor annoyance. The stupid humans were growing tiresome. They were incompetent as it was, and no matter what she did they seemed ever more determined to continue on their way. If only she could hold her interest long enough while they discussed their plans- she might be able to figure out what was so important- and use that to her advantage of course.
She was beginning to regret the demise of her last project Dardemal the Great! He wasn�t really great of course except as a great source of amusement. Dardemal was a recluse and she convinced him that he was a great sorcerer, and she his familiar and servant. Sure she could arrange for small coincidences- but he was no mage. It really was too bad he had to die the way he did, just when she was beginning to really like him. He was great fun for a human. She had tried to tell him he couldn�t take on the invading orcish army alone, but she had been building up his ego so much. Ah but he was really so much fun. Ever since his death she floated from village to village looking for the next unsuspecting peasant to bless with her existence. Ah but the peasants were getting stupider and stupider these days and it was just no fun picking on the handicapped.
Now, where was that worg den she spotted the other day? Now to have some real fun with her human friends!
