Meleth Vreg: Wild Love

Beta: Larien

prologue

The wolf crept closer to the edge of the foliage, sniffing the foul air. The wood in the south of Mirkwood had changed, and he rarely traveled this far. The trees were dark and the creatures dangerous. He crouched low to the ground and looked about with his yellow eyes.

Orcs, everywhere. Darkness and sickness infected these woods. They hunted all that they could find, venturing closer and closer to the stone halls of the Elven-king. Webbing from the giant spiders hung heavy in the boughs of the trees, corpses of various animals lay suspended in the threads, tangled and lifeless.

The wolf's head snapped up as he heard the sound of dead branches cracking under heavy, clumsy feet. The scent of death and evil assailed the wolf's senses and his flight instincts took over. He turned from the clearing he had been watching and darted through the thick underbrush.

He was a powerful, large animal; he could bring down a full-grown buck alone. As he dashed through the dark and bleak woods, the sounds of his pursuers close behind him, he reflected on his lonely state. The only being who spoke to him was the golden Elf-king. The wolf felt a kinship with the lonely Elf; the Elf's mate had perished just like the wolf's had. They shared their sadness.

But, the Elf had a pup, whom he spoke of often. The wolf had a great fondness for the King, which was why he had traveled so far from the safe paths. His friend had asked him to show him the woods' sickness, and the wolf had been happy to repay the Elf's kindness.

Now, he ran. He knew he could outrun the foul beasts, but he feared the spiders that would follow in the deadly dark canopy of the haunted wood.

The hiss of the spiders resounded in the still night, and he ran faster. He had to reach the safety of the unsullied wood, though little yet remained, where the Elven-king's magics still protected all life from the Shadow. But, his muscles were beginning to tire. He had hoped to simply outrun them, but the spiders were quick. He would die here, a feast for the venomous beasts.

Suddenly, he felt a surge of new power, and he knew the Elf-king's presence. His limbs were rejuvenated, and he rushed through the shadow; his senses were all focused on the light of the King's forest.

The wolf stopped when he was well within the Elf's magics, and he felt the power leave him. He limped to his small den, panting heavily. The Elf-king had seen what he needed, had shared the wolf's mind and spirit for a brief moment in time. He could still feel the strength and serenity of the other's life force reverberating within him.

He collapsed to the ground and instantly fell into a fitful rest; his mind was tormented by shadows and death. Before he woke with the dawn the following morning, the wolf thought briefly of his pup, which was odd because he had never sired a pup, and certainly not the golden-haired tad dal that flashed through his mind.


	Navigation multi-part stories next Translations tad dal - biped		Meleth Vreg: Wild Love Beta: Larien prologue The wolf crept closer to the edge of the foliage, sniffing the foul air. The wood in the south of Mirkwood had changed, and he rarely traveled this far. The trees were dark and the creatures dangerous. He crouched low to the ground and looked about with his yellow eyes. Orcs, everywhere. Darkness and sickness infected these woods. They hunted all that they could find, venturing closer and closer to the stone halls of the Elven-king. Webbing from the giant spiders hung heavy in the boughs of the trees, corpses of various animals lay suspended in the threads, tangled and lifeless. The wolf's head snapped up as he heard the sound of dead branches cracking under heavy, clumsy feet. The scent of death and evil assailed the wolf's senses and his flight instincts took over. He turned from the clearing he had been watching and darted through the thick underbrush. He was a powerful, large animal; he could bring down a full-grown buck alone. As he dashed through the dark and bleak woods, the sounds of his pursuers close behind him, he reflected on his lonely state. The only being who spoke to him was the golden Elf-king. The wolf felt a kinship with the lonely Elf; the Elf's mate had perished just like the wolf's had. They shared their sadness. But, the Elf had a pup, whom he spoke of often. The wolf had a great fondness for the King, which was why he had traveled so far from the safe paths. His friend had asked him to show him the woods' sickness, and the wolf had been happy to repay the Elf's kindness. Now, he ran. He knew he could outrun the foul beasts, but he feared the spiders that would follow in the deadly dark canopy of the haunted wood. The hiss of the spiders resounded in the still night, and he ran faster. He had to reach the safety of the unsullied wood, though little yet remained, where the Elven-king's magics still protected all life from the Shadow. But, his muscles were beginning to tire. He had hoped to simply outrun them, but the spiders were quick. He would die here, a feast for the venomous beasts. Suddenly, he felt a surge of new power, and he knew the Elf-king's presence. His limbs were rejuvenated, and he rushed through the shadow; his senses were all focused on the light of the King's forest. The wolf stopped when he was well within the Elf's magics, and he felt the power leave him. He limped to his small den, panting heavily. The Elf-king had seen what he needed, had shared the wolf's mind and spirit for a brief moment in time. He could still feel the strength and serenity of the other's life force reverberating within him. He collapsed to the ground and instantly fell into a fitful rest; his mind was tormented by shadows and death. Before he woke with the dawn the following morning, the wolf thought briefly of his pup, which was odd because he had never sired a pup, and certainly not the golden-haired tad dal that flashed through his mind.