The elfin from Vere'brius

chapter 3

We were currently moving through the forest towards Duuin'shenyl. My son and his squad were the ones who were escorting us. I would've been fine without them, I used to be a part of the sentinels myself. Even while bringing Seryna we weren't in any real danger since my son was adamant on coming with us and Ilinya was far from incompetent. The rules were clear though, an elf was only allowed outside the village under escort of a Sentinel squad. Only the Sentinels themselves were allowed without.

Even while we were travelling Seryna kept up her curiosity. "Gramps, what are those tracks? They look like it's from a wolf, but it's too small. It's not a fox either, those look slightly different at the back..."

"Ah, those are from cubs. I'm amazed that you managed to see those while doing all your acrobatics up there." She had been adamant about keeping up with her training, but I highly suspect she just enjoys jumping from branch to branch.

"Can we go look for them gramps? I want to see the wolves den! I'll be real quiet and everything. We can move through the trees if we have to!"

I could feel her excitement through the bond her ability creates between us. Ilinya put a damper on that. "I don't know what your father will think about this... We can't just run off without warning."

She closes her eyes in concentration for a second and says. "Dad will allow it if we ask two of the Sentinels with us." The sentinels were spread out around us to make sure they would catch anything before it even gets close to us.

I let out a whistle which sounds not unlike a bird. Within a few moments one of the Sentinels drops behind us. He tried to give Seryna a little scare, but she turned around before he could put his hand on her shoulder. He lowers his hood and lets out a light laugh.

The elf, Bryn, absentmindedly rubs the back of his head "Attentive as always girl, your dad can be proud of you."

"You've known me for how long? You should know the telepathy gives away presences around me within a few metrum."

"That ability of yours has failed you before, even if you get better with time you're nowhere near perfect." He gave her a glance that said she shouldn't try to act too high and mighty about it. "Now then, was there a reason you called me, honorable elder?"

"Pah, the name is Cydanuil and you know that perfectly well. Use the name unless I'm in the council room. Seryna here, found a wolf cubs tracks and wanted to see the animals themselves. The rest of the squad need to know we're taking a small round about and her father wanted some of you close with us. I assume incase the wolves turn aggressive."

"The wolves around the villages are as wary of us as they are of the dryads, unless you drive them in a corner of course. Seeing the animals for real is different from the books, it'll be worth the effort. Maybe she'll learn something from them as well."

---

Bryn and the other Sentinels that worked with dad picked up the trail within seconds. In less than an hour we were at the den of the wolves. It was a small group from what Ilinya whispered to me earlier. Most of the Sentinels had stayed back a bit further to not alarm the animals. They were still fully capable to help the moment one of the animals made a wrong move though. We were sitting in a tree overlooking their den.

"Look at how cute those pups are!" I had set up the bond with Ilinya as well as long as we were close to the den. Ilinya, like dad and gramps didn't care for the bond and rather liked it, it would get tiring if I kept it up at all times though.

"They sure are, just remember that they aren't like the deer or rabbits that wander into the village sometimes. Wolves won't always flee when they feel threatened."