Prologue Cattannia sat up. The fur blankets that had covered her body slid off as she stretched. She stepped off her pallet, her feet gingerly stepping on the cool stone floor. She walked to the line of shelves carved into the gray rock and pulled out a tight black sleeveless shirt and brown leggings. She pulled up the pants and pulled the shirt over her naked torso. She pulled out her long straight raven-black hair and let it tumble across her back. Grabbing the wooden brush from the bedside table she pulled it through her hair so it lay across her back untangled and shining.

Stepping into her leather sandals she stepped through the round door out of her room and into the long curving hallways carved into the living rock. She walked through the stone passage, her feet hardly making a sound. She walked past her brother's room without hesitation. It was hardly dawn. Cattannia knew exactly where her brother would be.

She reached the end of the passage and stepped out into the dim light of pre-dawn. The great mountain from whose inner depths she had just exited towered majestically over the city Karrukksharr, the home of the Rukklenn.

She now walked the cobbled streets of her city. She passed the buildings belonging to Rukklenn who chose to live outside the mountain, the beautiful vegetable and flower gardens tended with immense care, and a few Rukklenn who were awake at this time.

Cattannia reached the city wall and climbed up one of the many wooden ladders that led to the stone parapet. She pulled herself onto the pathway atop the wall and turned to right. There a male Rukklen was standing, staring fixedly at the horizon.

"Hello, Josa," she said calmly.

Josa smiled, a slight twinkling appearing in his gray eyes, but held his gaze where it was. His hair, as black as his sister's, was cropped short except for the tail that grew from the base of his neck which grew down to his hips. This haircut left his slightly pointed ears exposed.

"Good morning, Cat," he said kindly, never shifting his gaze. "What brings you here this morning?"

Cattannia feigned an exasperated sigh. "The same reason I come every time you are on watch duty, brother. Speaking of which, when is your turn over?"

Josa chuckled. "A half hour ago. Marlan is after me."

"Marlan? Well it's no wonder you're still here. Marlan is always late!"

"That is very true, Cat-you and I both know that. But I cannot leave until he comes to take his turn, belated as it may be. If we are attacked from the east, who will warn the people of Karrukksharr?"

Cattannia sighed. "You're right, Josa. But do you really believe that something will happen? It has been four years since an elfin race was last attacked."

"That last battle was a horrific one. They may have needed all this time to recover. We must always be ready. The loss of most of the Cristullann race is a heavy blow to our side. We should be ready for anything, should we be attacked."

"I understand what you are saying, Josa. But, I really don't think that anything will happen in the short while no one will be here."

"Never be so sure, little sister." * * * Cattannia leaned against the wall with her eyes closed, listening to the first twittering of the early birds. She had been sitting on the wall for a half hour as she as Josa kept a lookout while he waited for Marlan to come and take his turn. Josa still stood, looking towards the eastern horizon. The tip of the sun was just showing himself.

Cattannia was suddenly woken from her daze when her brother took a sudden sharp intake of breath. She jumped up and walked over to him. "What is it, Josa?" she asked anxiously.

His eyes were squinted as he stared sharply at the horizon. "There is something coming," he said softly.

Cattannia looked in the same direction as Josa, but could not make out much. Not that she expected to see anything, in any case; Josa's eyes were the sharpest in the entire city.

"What's coming? Can you make anything out yet?" she asked eagerly.

"Not quite, Cat, but whatever it is, there are many," he replied, "and they are coming swiftly."

"Is it a migrating herd?"

Josa shook his head. "No. It is no animal. I can make out armor glinting in the sun."

"It could be an army of men, going off to fight in one of their wars," Cattannia suggested.

" they are coming directly towards Karrukksharr."

Cattannia's dark eyes widened. "What?!" She leaned against the edge of the wall and stared as hard as she could. She could now make out a mass of creatures coming towards the city.

"Josa," she said worriedly, "Josa, who are they? You don't think."

"I can almost make something-" Josa cut himself off. Cattannia turned to her brother. His mouth was gaping open, and his eyes were wide with fear.

"Oh, by the spirits, Josa, what is it?" Cattannia's voice was shaking with fear."

Josa was breathing hard, and his heart was racing. "Elves. Those are elves marching on our city."

"But how could they find us! Our city is a secret! How would they have known-oh no!" Cattannia gasped as realization hit her. "No! It can't be! He wouldn't tell them where our city lies!"

"I'm afraid so, Cat. He did sell us out." He turned to his sister, his stare hard. "Those are Durmshenn warriors marching on our city."

Josa grabbed the metal mallet resting on the stone railing, and banged it viciously against the hanging iron slab. A penetrating ring vibrated the air, alerting the Rukklenn in the city below of the danger.

After a few minutes, Josa finally stopped. The sound remained echoing through the through the air. He snatched the spear leaning against the wall, and he and Cattannia raced to the ladder. Neither bothered to take the time to use it, though. They both jumped off the wall, bending their knees as their feet hit the ground.

"Cat, you should go find mother, make sure she's alright."

Cattannia nodded. "Right." She started to run, then stopped and turned. "Be careful, Josa."

Josa managed a slight smile. "Of course, dear sister."

Cattannia smiled back, and then raced through the streets, her hair flying behind her, desperately trying to find her mother as others ran past to get to their designated spots.

Finally, she spotted her in the Northeast garden. Her hand was held up to her mouth, and her gray eyes were wide, worried, and searching. She cried out when she saw her daughter.

Cattannia ran to her mother, Chalna. "Mother, it's the Durmshenn, they are- "

"Hush, dear," Chalna said quietly. "I know what is happening. I have been expecting this for some time now. In fact, I had been wondering why it had not happened before now." She sighed. "I only wish that your father was here with us."

Cattannia drew her head back in surprise. "Mother?"

Chalna smiled, placing a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "I wish him here as he was, my child. Not as he is now."

Cattannia remained quiet for a few moments. "Mother, there must be something that I can do to help."

"Go to the Shoga Hawk Clan, dear. They also may need help, and if not, they can help us here. We need every capable warrior in the city, but you have a great bond with them. And also, you are one of the fastest here. Go now! Go!"

Cattannia gave Chalna a hug, and then sped off, leaving her mother behind in the street. She reached the city gates, and quickly snatched a bow and a quiver full of arrows from one of the storage rooms. The gatekeepers reluctantly opened the doors for her, but only enough so she could slide through. As soon as she was through, the door shut behind her with a bang. Cattannia then raced down the narrow mountain path, following it to the forest. Her swiftly moving feet made no sound on the forest path, and showed no signs of stopping. But suddenly, they did. Cattannia now stood still in the forest, listening. Something was wrong.

It took her a minute to realize what it was that was wrong. And then she noticed. The trees, which were usually whispering to each other at this hour, were dead silent. They only let out a faint wisp of their emotion. That was fear, a great, horrible pain striking through the heart of the forest. Something good was dying, and there was an evil in the forest.

"I'm going to need some help." Cattannia brought her thumb and forefinger up to her mouth, and let loose a whistle pattern that was so high pitched it could never be heard by human ears. But that didn't matter for who Cattannia was calling.

When she finished her call, she stood waiting. Soon there was a rustle in the brush to her right, and a large wolf leapt onto the path, stopping himself with his black nose barely an inch from Cattannia's face. He was breathing hard, from having just run a great distance. His shaggy gray fur rippled slightly in the light wind, and his tail and ears were up and alert. A black mark was on his left ear, a circle with a short wavy tail coming out of either side.

"Oh, Tambor," she breathed. "Thank you for coming. But where is Lupin and the other wolves, and Razz?"

~Lupin and a few of the others have gone to Karrukksharr. They wish to help there. As for Razz, I believe that he is coming. He was simply further away than I. Also~ he added with a tinge of pride, ~I am much faster than he.~

Cattannia smiled slightly. "Of course, Tambor. But we can't afford to wait for Razz."

~No, we cannot. The hawks are in danger. We must hurry to them.~

The two both sped off. Cattannia's feet once again became a blur of silent movement, and Tambor bounded beside her. Finally they came close to the great tree the hawks nested in. But the sight, instead of making her feel happy as it usually did, made her feel sick.

The bloody, crumpled bodies of the hawks lay all around. Bones were snapped, skin was torn, and arrows were poking through chests and backs- black arrows.

Cattannia stood too stunned to move. She was too late. They were dead. They were all dead.

Tambor came up to her and nudged her arm with is cool nose.

~Cattannia, I have found them, the Durmshenn who did this.~

"Where are they?"

~Follow me.~ The wolf turned and walked silently through the woods, and Cattannia went after.

They were in a small clearing, and there were five. They had left their helmets on as they rested, so their original race could not be easily determined. All that could be seen were those haunting yellow eyes. Cattannia burned with a deep-set hatred at seeing them.

She stopped in the dark shadow of a tall tree. She tied up the bowstring quickly and quietly, and silently reached behind her back, pulling a brown- feathered arrow from the quiver. She aimed carefully, and shot.

The arrow whistled as it cut through the damp early morning air. It glided straight and neatly through the air before it stuck in the throat of one of the armored demon-elves. The one she had hit-a female-fell to the ground, twitching and gargling. Red blood ran out of her mouth, forming a small puddle on the ground before she finally stopped moving. Before the others had regained their senses, Cattannia let loose three more arrows. One arrow hit the hand of one. The second missed by a hair, and the other was off just enough so instead of hitting the open spot in the armor it merely bounced off the breastplate.

By then they had determined which direction the arrows were coming from. Knives and swords were drawn from their sheaths, and they charged at Cattannia's hiding place.

Cattannia threw down her bow and pulled out her knife, cursing herself for not having brought her short sword. Tambor crouched, getting ready to pounce when they got close enough, and Cattannia was in the ready stance, her knife poised in front of her.

But it was then that Cattannia felt the ground rumble beneath her. There was a crash as small trees and brush were toppled. A great, brown bear broke through the tree line, and bowled through the group of warriors. Two were crushed beneath the great bear's paws, and one was knocked out. The other managed to get out of the way, and jammed his curved knife blade into the beast's leg. The bear roared in pain and rage, a horrible sound that shook the air and ground. He turned and reared up to his full height. The Durmshenn warrior held his sword before him, and he was visibly shaking. He charged at the bear, aiming his sword at the belly. But he fell before he got there. A brown-feathered arrow stuck through his neck.

The bear dropped onto his forelegs again, grunting from the pain of the knife in his leg. A black mark was on the paw of that leg, the same mark Tambor had.

"Razz! You don't know how glad I am you came," Cattannia cried, holding her bow.

The bear turned to Cattannia. ~It's a good thing that I did come to help, you two looked like you needed it.~

Tambor snorted. ~I'm sure that I could have handled it with Cattannia, even if you had not come.~

~I'm sure, Tambor. But Cattannia,~ he continued, ~why did you come out here by yourself in the first place? Aren't you needed at the city~

"I came here to help the Shoga hawks." Her voice dropped. "But I came too late. They are all dead."

~Well, they seem to believe that there is something in that tree worth their time,~ Razz replied.

"Who?"

Razz looked up at the sky. ~Those raven's up there, circling around the Great Tree.~

Cattannia followed the bear's gaze, and saw that there were ravens, the allies of the Durmshenn, flying above the Great Tree.

"There must be something that they missed up there." Cattannia almost smiled. "There's something still alive! Let's go, before they get to whatever it is!"

Cattannia began running to the tree, and Tambor followed. Razz began loping behind, but when he stepped on his injured leg he cried out with pain. Cattannia whirled around when she heard him and began to run back to her friend.

~No!~ Razz yelled. ~Go to the tree, that is more important. I can take care of the knife.~

Cattannia nodded. "Right. We'll meet with you later. Be careful." She and Tambor then continued on to the tree.

The ravens were cawing ceaselessly. The way they were flying, staying close to the tree and diving down now and then, it was obvious that they were looking for something. But for what, Cattannia couldn't tell. All the hawks had died-hadn't they?

She and Tambor stood at the base of the tree, training their eyes and ears upward.

"I can't hear anything with their annoying chatter," Cattannia complained. She pulled an arrow out of the quiver. "I think it's time I silenced a few of them."

She aimed carefully, and sent the feathered arrow sailing through the air. With a burst of black feathers it hit one of the ravens. It fell through the tree, hitting branches on its painful journey down. But before it hit the ground, Cattannia sent four more arrows flying, each one hitting its target. She tried a few more as the birds' crumpled bodies hit the forest floor, but the ravens had flown higher, out of her range.

It was then she heard it. The sound was faint, but it was coming from the tree. There was still something up there.

She turned to Tambor. The gray wolf was looking up, his ears pointed forward.

"You hear it, too, then?" she asked.

~Yes. It is a hawk, but it must be young, or else it would have tried to fly away.~ He turned to Cattannia. ~You will have to go get it.~

She nodded. "I know. I just hope I can."

She pulled off her quiver and tossed the bow onto the ground. She would not be able to use them while in the tree, and in any case, they would just have gotten in her way. Finding a low branch she pulled herself up into the tree. She then began leaping upwards from branch to branch, knowing she had to hurry. The ravens could attack her at any time, and if she were attacked there was little she could do to protect herself.

The sound of the young hawk was getting closer. Cattannia climbed faster, knowing she had precious little time.

Finally Cattannia pulled herself onto the final branch. She could hear the hawk crying somewhere near her, but exactly where she couldn't tell. Then she spotted a hole on the tree trunk just above the branch. She knelt down by it and peered inside. What she immediately saw was a white ball of feathers and fluff-the baby hawk. It was screeching and flapping its tiny wings. The shoga mark was on its beak.

Cattannia stuck her hand in the hole. "Come here, small one," she said quietly. "I will help you."

The fledgling gazed cautiously at her hand, then hopped over to her. Cattannia grabbed it gently, pulling it close to her chest. She jumped up and turned around, and was nearly knocked from the branch. A raven dived at her face, but Cattannia managed to knock it away. That didn't stop the bird, though. It regained its balance in the air and continued attacking along with others. Cattannia pulled out her knife and slashed at the ravens that came near her. She managed to cut deeply into many of them, causing them to fall, their bones snapping and muscles bruising as they hit each branch.

But defending herself was becoming increasingly difficult. Raven blood was running down the blade, and the handle was becoming slick in her hand. Also she had to hold onto the fledgling with the other arm, so she could not block attacks on that side or keep her balance very well.

Then a raven hit her hand as it fell. She dropped her knife, and Cattannia watched, horrified, as the now crimson blade fell through the branches. The last few birds came at her, and all she could do was block. One reached with its talons to scratch out her eyes. She hit upwards, and it missed. But it still cut her forehead just above her left eyebrow. Cattannia screamed as she felt its talon grind against her skull.

Blood began leaking onto her face, and Cattannia knew she had to get down before she could no longer see. Holding the fledgling tightly against her breast, she jumped from the high branch to the one below, and from there climbed down as quickly as she could with one blood-slicked hand and half her vision blurred by her own blood.

The birds were not ready to let her get away. They flitted through the tree, trying to keep up with the elf-girl. But even handicapped Cattannia was still much to fast for them. She leaped from the final branch onto the ground, collapsing at the base of the Great Tree.

Tambor bounded over to her. The wolf licked the blood staining her face. He looked up and growled at the descending marauders, baring his glistening, knife-edge teeth. This stopped the yellow-eyed birds in their tracks. The girl was injured and tiered; they could take care of her and the fledgling. But the wolf was fresh, and angry to boot. The remaining ravens thought better of their decision to attack. They took off, cawing as they flew towards the rising sun.

Now that Cattannia had a moment to breath, she put the fledgling down. Taking a firm grip on her shirt, she pulled, tearing most of the bottom half off. She wiped the blood out of her eye with her one clean hand, and quickly tied the make-shift bandage around her head, covering the injury.

"Good. Now I won't be blinded as we go back to Karrukksharr." Cattannia picked up her bow and put the quiver on her back, then picked up the fledgling. "Come on, Tambor. There is nothing more we can do here. Let's get back to the city so I can help my people."

~Right.~ Tambor stood next to her. ~Get on.~

Cattannia listened, pulling herself onto the gray wolf's broad back. She put the bow over her shoulder and held the fledgling tight, while grabbing a fistful of Tambor's fur right behind his neck. "Let's go!"

Tambor took off. He was moving even faster than Cattannia had before, even with the girl on his back. The trees and bushes were nothing but a blur, but the wolf didn't misstep or trip once. He practically flew through the trees.

They finally broke out of the forest, and Tambor raced up the mountain path. But then they reached the city gates, and Tambor stopped so suddenly, if Cattannia's grip had been any looser she would have flown onto the ground.

The gates to the city were demolished. The tall, strong, metal and wooden doors lay broken and twisted on the ground. Cattannia stepped off of Tambor's back, and stood staring, hold the young hawk close. And then she ran.

"Mother!" she cried as she raced through the city. "Josa!"

The ground was covered with broken weapons and bodies from both sides. The earth was stained with their blood. It ran in rivulets down the cobbled streets, past the broken, burning buildings that had once housed friends. The only sounds were the crackling fire, and Cattannia's desperate calling.

And then she saw her. Chalna was on the ground, her back propped against a broken wall. There was a gaping hole in her side, and blood poured out with each struggled beating of her heart. Her eyes were closed, and she was gasping from the pain. She held a broken spear in her hand, and the corpses of several Durmshenn lay near her.

"Oh, by the spirits," Cattannia gasped. "Mother!"

She rushed to Chalna's side and dropped the hawk beside her, which squawked in protest at being left on the cold ground.

Chalna's eyelids twitched, and she opened them. She looked at her daughter with those same gray eyes, only they were duller now. "Cat," she whispered, "you are alive." She lifted her hand towards Cattannia's forehead. " are hurt."

"Mother, what are you saying? This wound I have is nothing! You are dying!" Cattannia began tearing the cloth off her pants leg. "I need to heal you."

"No"

Cattannia stopped what she was doing and looked at her mother. Her face was pale and covered in sweat. But her gaze was steady. "What do you mean, mother?"

"I said no. I.I am beyond help now. My time almost done."

Tears welled in Cattannia's eyes. "No! That is not true, mother! You're going to be alright."

Chalna wrapped her hand around her daughter's wrist. Already she could feel that it was cold. Cattannia began to cry, the tears mixing with the drying blood on her face.

"Oh, my little kitten," Chalna gasped. "Don't cry. must not worry about me. You strong to fight. Lith- kai'.cannot be beaten if the the rest of our races are not ."

"What?" Cattannia cried. "You expect me to do that? Mother, how can you ask that of me?"

Chalna smiled, her eyes half-closed from pain and exhaustion. "Because you are child, and with the help of friends.I know that you can do anything."

She suddenly gasped, and then coughed hard. Blood spew outwards and poured over her lips and down her chin. New tears ran down Cattannia's cheeks.

"No, mother, please," Cattannia begged. "Please let me help you. You can't go; I need you. I can't do what you ask of me without you."

"Oh, kitten, don't be silly. You can do this." She coughed again, bringing up more blood. " . your ." She sighed. "I'm so tired now."

Cattannia's eyes widened. "Mother? Mother, no!"

Chalna smiled one last time. "Goodbye, Cattannia, my little kitten. I love your that."

She sighed lightly, gently closing her eyes. Her grip on her daughter's arm lessened, and then her hand slid off, hitting the ground softly. Her chest no longer rose and fell.

Cattannia stared at her mother, her eyes wide and wet. She began shaking. "No," she whispered. "No. No! NO!" She collapsed forward, her forehead resting on her hands. Her body shook with each powerful sob. "Mother, you can't leave me! I need you! Why did you go? Why?"

She lay on the ground for a while, crying. The fledgling hawk stared at her with confused, sad eyes.

Then Tambor came. He saw Cattannia in a heap on the ground. Then he saw her mother, dead, and he understood. He stood beside the elf-girl, and nudged her gently with his cool nose.

~Come, Cattannia,~ he said. ~I have found others who have managed to survive. They will be wanting to see you.~

Cattannia sat herself up. She wiped her eyes, and picked up the small bird in her blood-encrusted hands. When she stood, Tambor began walking, and she followed.

On their way to whatever place the remaining Rukklenn may be hiding in, they passed more scenes of death and destruction. Cattannia passed places she had often been that were smoldering, and people she had played and spoken with bloody and broken. She gave none a second glance. She did not feel that her weakened heart could stand the pain.

Tambor led her into the mountain and down the winding hallway, past the doors of dead friends.

But then he stopped before a familiar one-Josa's room. Outside the door lay Razz, who was much too large to fit through the door. Shyla, a Rukklenn girl, sat beside him, bandaging the dagger wound. She jumped up when she saw Cattannia, running over and giving her a hug.

"Cattannia!" she cried. "You are safe. This is wonderful. Josa will be so happy."

Cattannia froze. "Josa?" she gasped. "He's alive?"

"Yes, he-"

Shyla wasn't given the chance to finish her sentence. Cattannia rushed past her into the room. There was Josa, on his sleeping pallet. His left arm was bandaged up and was resting in a sling. When he saw his sister enter the room, he jumped up.

"Cat! You're alive!"

"And so are you, Josa." She forced a slight smile. "That is one good thing."

Josa looked at the bundle of fluff in Cattannia's arms. "Now, who is that?" he asked.

"It is a fledgling hawk. I had to save it from the ravens."

"But why did you take it with you? You should have left it with one of the other hawks."

Cattannia bowed her head. "I couldn't do that."

"What? What do you mean?" Then he realized. "Oh no," he whispered. "They're all.?"

"Dead?" Cattannia nodded. "Yes. They are all dead. They were killed by a group of warriors and a flock of ravens that was much larger than the Hawk Clan."

Josa sat back down. "This is awful." He sighed. "And what of Mother? Have you seen her?"

"Yes," she said softly. "I just came from her."

"Where is she?"

"She's dead, Josa," Cattannia said as she began crying again. I found her when I was looking for all of you. I watched her die, Josa! I watched her die!"

"No, Cat," he whispered as a tear trickled down his cheek. "No, that can't be true."

"It is, Josa," she said softly, trying to hold back more tears. "It is very true."

Josa hesitated, thinking over his words carefully. "Did she-did she say anything, before."

Cattannia nodded. "Yes. She said that the races must be brought together. She told me to keep fighting and to stay strong, and to always remember who my friends are."

"She wants us to fight the Durmshenn? That will not be easy."

"I know, Josa. But mother believes that it can be done. We simply must hope that she is right." * * * It was a couple days after the attack. Cattannia stood on the crest of a hill, staring back at her ruined city. Her wound had been properly attended to, and now a clean bandage was wrapped around her head.

They had buried their dead the day before. Each had been given a separate grave, including the bodies of the Hawk Clan. It had been hard work, but none of the ten remaining Rukklenn had complained.

They gave no such honors to the dead Durmshenn warriors, though. The most they did was to remove their bodies from their city; tossing them off the mountain and watching their bodies tumble down the rocks.

And now Cattannia stood on the hill with the last of her people behind her. The small Wolf Clan stood with them, along with Razz, ready to leave with their friends.

Josa walked up beside her. His right arm was still bandaged and resting in a sling. In his other hand he held the small hawk, which was now sleeping. He looked at his sister, at the cold stare she had fixed on their dead city, and he was afraid. After that first morning, Cattannia had not shed a tear, because she wanted to be strong for her people. But Josa knew his sister too well. There was something changed in her. She was usually surrounded by a vibrant, beautiful, happy energy. That was gone now. The front she put up didn't matter. She made herself seem strong, but Josa could tell that everything that had happened was slowly killing his little sister inside.

"We are all ready to go, Cat," Josa said carefully. "We are just waiting for you."

Cattannia sighed and turned around. "Well, let's go, then. There is nothing left for us here now."

Josa nodded, and followed his sister as she walked towards the others. Turning west, they all left, leaving the remains of their home and memories behind.