Hod

David jumped a little at the voice, but turned around smiling. "Hod, why are you always sitting in the dark?" He flicked the lights on and set his backpack next to his chair. His best friend Hod was revealed in the dark, his peculiar blank-screen computer humming quietly in front of him.

"No point in turning on the lights when I can't see anyways." Hod answered softly.

"But when you sit in the dark like that, you startle people."

Hod smiled slightly but kept working.

Nobody quite understood how David, the most popular, handsome, and well-liked guy in school could be best friends with a scrawny blind kid whose name the teachers could never remember, with pasty white skin and ice-blue, milky eyes that seemed to see everything and nothing at once. Hod was wearing a black hoodie with a huge fluffy cap even though it was barely the beginning of September, still warm enough for some kids to be wearing shorts. He was always like that, always cold and wrapped up, always sitting quietly in the background while everybody constantly paid attention to David. He never seemed to mind.

That's part of why David liked Hod, why they were best friends. He was literally blind to David's charm, but it wasn't just that- Hod was smart. Really smart. Plus, their was the fact that Hod had saved David's life once.

He'd wanted to get a little work done before everyone else arrived. Allot of kids thought that student body president was more of a title than anything, but to David it was a real job. He loved working with the other students, loved persuading the staff, balancing the budget, providing extra opportunities and services the school otherwise wouldn't have. Somehow even the principal would come to him for ideas, and the school board had been persuaded more than once by his impassioned speeches. This was something he thrived on. Hod and David usually met up a little earlier than the rest of the council, going over last minute ideas and changes, just to make sure.

"I think the 9-school gymnasium proposal is going well," Hod said, "but you're going to have to really watch the budget on that one. Some of the board members are starting to have second thoughts on it, David."

"I think I can handle that," David said easily.

Hod shook his head, "Don't just charm them into working for you again. I've told you before, you need to listen to opposing views, not just assume that you're always right."

"That you are always right. All my best ideas came from you, Hod." David pointed out.

"David, we're just kids. Even getting the school board to consider the idea is incredible. But getting it built? That's a big deal. And you might like to think so, but I don't know everything. I've probably overlooked something, and I want to know about any problems we could face, so we can be absolutely prepared."

"Okay, I'll listen." David glanced around. "Where's Claire?"

Hod paused for a second. "She... well, I don't think she was comfortable with just me here." David could hear the hurt in his buddy's voice.

"Sorry bro. She can be really stuck up sometimes." David shook his head sadly.

"Love is not love, which alters when alteration finds," Hod quoted. "A little melodramatic I guess," He laughed bitterly, a short bark without humor, "but it seems to fit."

David put an arm around Hod's shoulder, "I wish I could help, you know that. I could set you up with Monica, Yue, Felicia, two different Sarahs... I'm sure any of them would go out with you if I asked them to."

"Shove off," Hod pushed his friend away, grinning. "I'm not cutting your grass."

"Whatever," David settled back in his own chair at the head of the table as the rest of the student council and some of the teachers filed in: Alex Snowater the secretary, Tonya Cottle the historian, Mr. Shumaker, and others. David smiled and greeted each one while Hod quietly gathered his things and went to the library, keeping the door open a crack. He wasn't technically part of the student council.

David

  “Hey David.”

  “What’s up David?”

  “How’s it going David?”

  “Hi David”

  “Hey David, where are you going?”

  “David, whutz up?”

  “Hey David”

Don’t stop, stopping takes too long. David had found this out a long time ago. He made sure to smile wave and say hi back to those that talked to him. He even said hi to those that were too shy to say hi to him in the first place. Make sure to call everyone by name. Not calling them by name might mean he didn't like them. If they thought he didn't like them then- something might happen. He didn't want that.

Being swarmed by admirers was an everyday occurrence for him, and had been for as long as he could remember. Someone might think 'wow, everyone likes him, it must be great'. But being in the spotlight 24/7 got a little tiring.

  

“David, are you hungry!? I made you lunch!” A pretty little freshman with brown wavy hair and bright blue eyes jumped breathlessly into his path. She thrust a brown paper lunch bag at him, arms outstretched.

Sidestep twist and turn, keep walking.

“Thanks Sarah, I appreciate it. But I already promised to have lunch with someone else.” If he accepted every lunch box or bag girls made him he wouldn't be able to eat all of them if he had a week. Sarah looked crestfallen. David was willing to bet that she had made the lunch personally. He sighed internally, but kept a smile on his face.

“Sarah do you know Sam? He's that redhead in your English class.” David said in his best helping voice. He waited for her little nod before going on. “Well I don’t think he has ever had a homemade lunch before. I’m sure he would love to eat yours.” Can’t let food go to waste. "Besides, that I think you guys look cute together.” Sarah blushed and nodded a little.

“Sorry Sarah, I gotta go to student council. See you around.” He had taken care of that without even breaking stride. It was time to take a shortcut if he wanted to be the first one to the council meeting. Taking his next left then right he entered the Lynn Secondary School library.

He saw Emily Weird in the far corner of the library putting books away. Normally he would have stopped and talked to her but not today. It was nice that Emily didn't treat him like everyone else did. It made him feel almost normal. Probably the smartest girl in school, she looked and didn't look the part. David guessed she was what people referred to as a sexy librarian. She was tall and slim with long dark hair in a ponytail and black rimmed glasses.

David headed over to the other end of the library to the back door of the student council room. The janitor was nice enough to give him a key when he asked for one. So now this was like his own private entrance. Using his key he slipped into the pitch black room and closed the door behind him.

“Nice to see you could escape your fans.” came a cool voice out of the darkness.

Break Camp

They felt a tangle of invisible branches and leaves brushing past their legs, through their hair and across their arms. The giant chicken roared at them, pounding the ground as it bulldozed towards them, but it was too late. They were gone. 

Ben, Mark, and Holly stood blinking in the sunlight, momentarily blinded by the bright light, the sound of the thousands of people attending the Fair drowning them in noise. Slowly, like waking up from a dream, the boys let go of Holly's hands. The smell of malted popcorn, cotton candy, grass, and hot dogs roasting all mixed with the heat. An roar, faint and far away, seemed to echo in their ears. A little boy cast an admiring glance at their armor, tugging on his mother's arm. "Look at that spear, mom! Let's find where they sell those. It's so cool!"

Despite the heat, the siblings starting shivering uncontrollably, then shaking, and then laughing. They collapsed on the ground together, howls of laughter causing the crowd to give them a wide berth. Finally, after what seemed like eternity, their uncontrollable giggling gradually subsided into fits and bursts.

"That was a pretty cool shop." Ben remarked to no one in particular. 

"Yes." Holly looked back behind them. The tent had disappeared, leaving only trampled grass in its wake. She stroked the armor she was wearing. "I hope that man got out alright."

"Dwarf." Mark corrected. "6 foot dwarf."

"20 foot tall chicken."

Ben suddenly surged to his feet. "Crap guys, we're gonna be late to the booth! We were supposed to help out, right?"

Mark looked at him incredulously. "After what just happened, you're thinking of that?"

"Well, yeah. they'll be wondering where we're at. We could get in trouble if we don't show."

Holly stood up too, grimacing. "Ben, you didn't even want to go in the first place." She was feeling cranky and tired. 

Ben was quiet for a moment. "Look, I'm not trying to avoid that what just happened was- well. But we need some time to think about it. That's what coach always says, you gotta take some time to analyze the situation. And I think that getting back to normal for a little while, just until we can catch our breath, might be a good idea." 

Mark struggled to his feet, nodding his head. "He's right Holly. And we don't tell anybody for awhile. Not even mom and dad."

"Yeah." Holly agreed, and after a moments hesitation, Ben joined in. 

On the Count of Three

Holly watched in fascination as Ben and Mark battled the giant chicken. It was unbelievable that they were fighting such a ridiculous animal. Suddenly an arm grabbed her wrist and she let out a little yelp. She looked down into the eyes of the dwarf.

“You need… you need to get… away.” The Dwarf said. His words coming out in slow shallow breaths. “Get off of… Yggdrasil”

“We are not going to leave you!” grabbing the dwarfs hand with her own. “We’re all going to get away. We are going to take you to the doctor.”

“Baa… you’re the reason I haven’t already gone. Your pull… it is too strong. It’s what holding… what’s holding us here” The dwarf said. “Get your brothers… walk back home. Get off the tree! Don’t worry about me girl… not the first time…”

Wlfric started to push himself to his feet. He only got halfway up before falling down onto one knee. Holly tried to put one of his arms around her shoulder but he just huffed at her and gently pushed her away. Starting to breath heavy he picked up Holly’s axe and put it back into her hands.

“I’ll be fine her girl… do what I say and get yourself off the tree.” He looked out the tent. His eyes growing wider at the sight of Ben and Mark battling the chicken. “By Oden’s spear… those boys must have some giant in them.” He grabbed Holly by the back of the neck and she thought she heard a small click but at the moment all she could see was Wolfrics intense expression. “You need to think about going back to midgard… then you need to walk… walk off the tree. Hurry!”

With that he turned her around and pushed her out of the tent. She turned to see his stern face that brook no room for arguments. She felt a sting in her eyes that was the promise of tears and she quickly looked away. Gripping the axe in both her hands she started running to her brothers.

Wolfic watched Holly run toward the sound of battle. Her wild hair bouncing, his axe gripped tightly in her hand. The bright shine of silver flashed around her neck and was gone. He put a hand to his head suddenly dizzy and sat down.

“You’re starting to get old.” He said to himself. “Trying to fight a Hôniôn by yourself.” He looked again at the battle. One of the redhead lads, the bigger one, was wrapped around the neck of the bird while the other was circling it with a spear. “Seeing things you want to see.”

But he had felt it. Power coming off of them in waves, even the girl. It was one of the reasons he wasn’t surprised to see them come into his shop. And it was probably why the Hôniôn showed up in the first place. He had been confused by them not knowing anything. They must have all been abandoned. Sadly he shook his head and immediately regretted it. If the girl kept her head they should be fine. He felt a slight tug, not physical, just something he knew was there and smiled. Time to worry about himself now.

Holly arrived just in time to see Mark flying off the back off the chicken and straight into Ben. Together the destroyed another tent, one of many already marking the battleground. The Hôniôn let out another terrible scream cocking its head to the side. Holly knew that any moment it would try to skewer her brothers. Screaming she threw her axe with all her strength. This time the axe flew true. Well truer than what Holly was expecting, at least, and lodged itself in the monsters beak. The giant chicken let out a roar and started to scratch at its face with a talon trying to dislodge the axe. Holly run up to her brothers, who had already started to get to their feet.

“Where’s the dwarf?” Ben coughed. The wild look in his eyes fading away.

“He told us to get away.” Holly replied. Honestly a little miffed that they hadn’t said anything about her awesome throw. Even if it had been an accident. A loud screech announced the Hôniôn had successfully dislodged the axe. It turned its large eyes on the three siblings and started to make its way towards them.

“Watch out Holly!” Mark said reaching toward her. Holly had had enough off being protected though. Instead she grabbed both Ben and Marks hand turned and stared the oncoming monster chicken in the eye.

“LEAVE US ALONE!” She screamed, pouring all her willpower into her words. Miraculously the Hôniôn stopped dead in its tracks. Not only that but it started to back up shaking its head side to side but never breaking eye contact with Holly.

“On the count of three we are all going to imagine that we are walking off of a tree back to where we came from.” Holly said gripping her brothers hands more tightly. “One..” the Hôniôn stopped shaking its head, it looked at the three and let out a loud screaming roar. “Two…” the chicken started to run at them like a train in high gear. “Three!” and they all took a step forward.

First Awakening

Chickens are terrifying, Holly thought dimly. They are mean, vile birds that we only think are funny because they bob their heads and we eat them. Huh. 

This thing, this onion, or whatever the giant dwarf man had called it, had legs like tree trunks. Like, if a tank suddenly grew legs it would still be smaller than this thing. Its head was the size of a trashcan, and its beady eyes were the size of dinner plates. It had the indecency to have teeth inside of its beak, and instead of a feathers, a long snaky tail hovered above their heads. It was a T-Rex covered in rust-colored feathers, a massive engine of disease and talons and malice. 

"It's gotta be what? Fifteen, twenty feet tall?" Ben whispered.

The enormous bird stalked towards the Wolfric's still body. Holly could see an arm sticking limply up among the wreckage. She watched in horrified fascination as the thing cocked its head from side to side.

"Come on guys," Mark said, pulling on her sleeve. "We gotta go," He whispered, "Hurry, while the thing's distracted."

"We can't just leave that dude there," Ben protested. 

"I'm the oldest-"

'By 7 minutes!"

"And my job is to make sure you guys are safe. We're going." 

Holly didn't wait for them to finish arguing. Wolfric was going to be munched any minute by a walking advertisement for Chik-fil-A. Darting out of hiding, she sprinted towards the monster, hearing her brothers swear and scramble after her a moment later. The monster paused and looked at her, and Holly realized she was screaming her head off. She threw one of the axes at the creature, aiming for the chest. The throw went wide, but the thing was so big it was kind of hard to miss anyway, and the ax up buried itself in the feathers on the chicken's side. It cocked its head to one side at her, looking puzzled, then nipped at the ax, dislodging it. 

"ROOOAAAAAR!" It charged her, and Holly threw myself to one side just as it stomped past. 

Somewhere behind her, Holly could here one of her brothers yell, "Come on chickenzilla! Pick on someone your own size!" She rolled over just in time to see Ben throw his spear. Instead of getting stuck in the feathers, the spear got lodged itself just beneath the Honions eye. It shook its head angrily and trumpeted its displeasure, a long, ricocheting noise that set their bones to humming.

Ben ran up to the honion, sword in hand, and the gigantic bird kicked him. Holly stumbled to her feet just as her brother crashed into the tent next to her, completely demolishing it. She ran to his side, but he shook himself, raised his sword, and charged, yelling.

A moment later he was joined by Mark. The two boys circled around the honion, every once in awhile trying to get in a jab with a spear or sword. Ben rolled to avoid a tail swipe and a second later the honion pecked at Mark. He jabbed at its beak with the spear, but the huge beast snatched the spear from his hand and through it away. A moment later it screeched and turned its attention on Ben, who had sliced its tail with his sword. Mark hurried to unsheathe his sword and started laughing. We're going to die, he thought. We're going to be eaten by a giant chicken, and Ben thinks we can win.

Holly ran crouched over to the side of the Wolfric, checking his pulse. The huge bearded man breathed shallowly, and blood ran down the side of his head. Holly managed to undo the straps and carefully pull off his helmet. A large gash was seeping on one side of the head, but it didn't look too deep. Holly glanced back to see how her brothers were doing, and then set to work dragging the dwarf into the darkness of one of the other tents.

Ben was backed into a corner, and Mark couldn't get to him. The honion was merciless, stabbing down on the shield with its beak. Miraculously Ben seemed to be holding up, but it was only a matter of time. Mark swung at one of its scaly legs trying to distract it, but the honion kicked at him, spinning the sword from his hand. Desperate, Mark grabbed hold of the swing tail above him and pulled backwards. The bird squawked and redoubled its efforts at Ben.

A strange bubbling sensation surged through Mark, starting from his feet and flooding upwards. His armor began to steam in the cool morning air. Mark planted his feet firmly, suddenly calm, and yanked. The honion stumbled backwards, crashing to the ground and almost squishing Mark. Ben surged forward, sword in hand, and stabbed at the monster's chest, his face bright red and eyes wild. The monster chicken screamed and clawed at him. The armor kept Ben from getting disemboweled, but the thick claws dented the armor and tumbled Ben from his perch on the honion's chest. Mark scrabbled up and gripped the creature around the neck. The giant creature stood up and tried to peck Mark off its back, but Mark kept his choke hold tight, and the monster couldn't do more than scratch at the back of his armor.

Ben had found Mark's spear, and rushed forward, plunging it deep into the honion.

"Hey, watch it!" Mark shouted downward, wincing at the spear seemed to come straight at him. "Stop attacking its chest, you idiot! Haven't you ever eaten a chicken before? That's where all the wing muscles are! Go for the weak spots!"

"This isn't exactly a videogame, Mark! Stop yelling at me!" Ben weaved to dodge another kick, looking around wildly for another weapon. The bird turned to him and he grabbed hold of the spear he'd plunged into its shoulder, yanking it out. 

Hôniôn

           “So what do you mean we are halfway into Yggdasil? I thought that was a tree.” Ben asked. “And what the heck is a Lif?”

               Mark turned to stare at his brother. Holly looking at him from the other side with a look of sheer disbelief on her face that Mark was sure mirrored his own.

                “What!?” Ben asked staring hard at both of them.

               “Really Ben out of all the times to ask questions, you chose to ask when a giant monster, dragon, dinosaur is going to eat us.” Holley hissed.

               “Hôniôn.”  Wolfics gravelly voice whispered. “It’s called a Hôniôn. Lucky for us it’s not as smart as the other things you mentioned. Unlucky at the same time, beast just likes to go after everything.” All three siblings turned their attention to Wolfric who gazed steadily outside the tent. The Loud footfalls of the monster could still be heard accompanied by the occasional loud screechy scream of a roar.

  
              “Lif, that’s what you three are if your mortal, still not convinced of that though.” Wolfric continued. “Lif can transverse the branches of yggdasil and therefor step into the other realms.”

               “But how can you do that?” Holly asked. “You make it sound like it’s an actual tree.”

                “Bloody ashes, Younglings. It could be a tree, it could not. If you want a better answer you’re going to have to ask a scholar not me. I work with things of the earth. I leave the philosophy and books to alfar, or svartalfar.”

               “But… how can we be in yggdrasil?” Mark asked still thoroughly confused.

            “Uhgg boy! You redheads just can’t stop asking questions can you. This is a branch of yggdrasil. More magic in the air. Those who can’t transverse realms are gone. It’s like a mirror you stepped through. For all I know you three dragged me her.” Wolfrics grip tightened on his spear until his knuckles went white. “We need to move, try to get back to the mortal realm. Now shut up and follow me.”

           Wolfric went to the edge of the tent flap and looked out, motioning to Mark, Ben and Holly to follow. Marked looked at his siblings shrugged his shoulders and followed the dwarf as quietly as he could outside the tent. Wolfric went slowly looking around the corners of the tents to make sure the way was clear before motioning the others to follow. Mark was surprised how easy it was to follow him in armor. Our maybe it was a testament to the dwarf’s skill.

           Suddenly the unmistakable beat of wings could be heard and a massive body of feathers flattened a tent up ahead of them. A head rose up from the mass of chestnut feathers revealing a sharp beak and round yellow eyes. A red flap of skin hung under its beak and another decorated the top of its head in a comb.

           “It’s a chicken!” Holly said incredulously.

           “Shhhhh, girl.” Wolfric said pulling her behind a tent with him. Ben and Mark quickly followed. Mark looked at Ben and they both shared wide eyed confusion. They were running away from a giant chicken. If the situation wasn’t so tense and serious Mark would have laughed.

            “Well it looks like you’re in luck younglings.”Wolfric said grimacing. “I don’t think she saw you.” Just then the gigantic chicken let out a piercing roar. Mark could make out a smell along with it. Almost as if all the chicken farms had been thrown together. Mark tried to grab his nose but his hand rebounded off the helm Wolfric had given to him.

           “That smell is rank.” Ben said his face contorted.

            “Well boy get over it quick because that Hôniôn won’t wait for you.” Wolfric growled. “What am I saying you three don’t stand a chance.” Shaking his head he looked over the siblings. “By Oden’s eye. Urrr I’ll keep the beasty distracted you three find a way back, you here.”

            With that the dwarf ran out screaming and heading right for the gigantic monster. When he got near he slowed planted his foot and threw his spear at its head. Mark watched disbelievingly as the chicken cocked its head to the side and the spear flew harmlessly past. Undeterred Wolfric drew his sword and started to edge nearer the beast. The chicken took two step slowly forward cocked its head to the side again and then faster than Mark thought it could took two more steps and struck at the dwarf with its beak. Wolfric raised his shield to meet the oncoming thrust. The beak pierced the shield and stopped. The monster lifted its head bring the shield and Wolfric up with it. Wolfric brought his sword down in the birds beak. The edge slid in and stopped. This must have hurt the chicken or just made it mad. It started swinging hits head back and forth in violent motions. Eventually it was all too much and Wolfric was sent flying crashing into a tent.

            “I think we just lost our dwarf guys.” Ben whispered. 

Birds

"What do you mean? Are they going to attack us?" Holly shivered. She'd always gotten along remarkably well with animals: dogs, sheep, and cats, but also raccoons, deer, snakes, and even an injured hawk she'd once found. These were different. Their was something about the straightforward, hungry gaze, the raw color of the eyes, and even of the posture of the ravens that felt wrong somehow. They didn't act like right.

"Of course not. It's what's coming after them I'm worried about." Wulfric disappeared into the depths of his shop, but they could still hear him banging around. The three kept their eyes on the ravens, which watched them steadily back.

"Freak, it's like something out of a Hitchcock movie or something." Mark muttered. 

"You mean 'The Birds'?" Ben remarked sarcastically. He found his hand on the hilt of a spear, and forced himself to set it down. Just crows, he told himself. 

"No, I'm sure it was called something different. Like, 'Revenge of the Crows' or something." Mark glanced back at the shopkeeper, Wulfric, who was busy pulling on a coat of mail with a faint chink, adjusting leather gauntlets, knee pads, strapping a shield to his arm and grabbing an axe. 

"You might as well resume your forms, young ones. I don't know what's coming, but it's best to be prepared." 

"What do you mean?" Mark asked.

"Look, giant, alfar, or svartalfar, I don't know and I don't care, but you should know better than to play games when natteravn start watching." He sounded irritated. 

"We really have no idea what you're talking about." Mark laid a hand on the shoulder of the huge shopkeeper, who shrugged him off angrily. 

"Do you here what I'm saying! Quit play-acting! We're already halfway onto Yggdrasil as it is, and-"

"Stop it! You're frightening my sister!" Ben yelled back angrily, putting an arm over Holly's shoulder. Holly felt like the creep factor had sky-rocketed, but it wasn't the shop keeper. She didn't correct Ben though. Sometimes it was just best to let him get it out of his system. 

Wulfric stared incredulously at the three, muttering, "Mortals? But nobody's been able to traverse- not since?" He seemed to gather himself up, handing his ax to Holly. "You're going to need this, then. All three of you," he said, turning to the boys, "Gear up. This is no time to be explaining things, but I'll try to be as quick as I can before it comes." 

"Before what comes?" Mark asked, holding Ben from making an angry retort. A second later something outside answered. 

The roar echoed distantly, screechy and broken and threatening. 

"Forget Hitchcock, this is totally Jurassic Park." Holly didn't know why she was whispering. 

"Probably a bear," Mark said, looking at Wulfric for confirmation. The man shook his head. Mark and Ben scrambled to pull on the mail shirts, shields, and helmets Wulfric passed to them. A moment later Holly was similarly decked out. Despite the apparent weight, the gear settled comfortably onto them, buckled expertly into place by the old shopkeeper. The whole time he kept a running commentary in a low-pitched voice, glancing nervously at the opening to his stall. At the sound, the raven-creatures and shivered and taken flight, but Holly had the feeling they were still close by. 

"Now listen up, young ones, because we won't have time to explain things twice. You're about to get your first taste of battle I suspect, but if you can stay out of the way, that's probably best. You know old stories about dragons and dwarves and suchlike? Well, some of them are true, and one of them is about to come through that door and try to kill us."

"You mean like Lord of the Rings?" For some reason Holly didn't question it. With the birds and the weird roar, and the way the shopkeeper had been acting, it made a strange kind of sense. She realized suddenly that they hadn't heard or seen anyone outside the shop since they came in, even though the shop had been on a major path through the fair. The air smelled crisper, cleaner, but also more earthy. 

"Tolkien knew his stuff," Wulfric nodded approvingly, "Wouldn't surprise me if he was Lif, although I haven't heard as anyone knew for sure." He gave spears and shields to Ben and Mark, but Holly couldn't handle the weight, so Wulfric handed her two axes. The weapons felt comfortable in her grip. "You ever hear about Ragnarok? Where the gods died on the fields of Asgard. Norse stuff?" 

"Like Thor and Loki and Odin?" Mark grinned. "After watching Thor, we all went out and got allot of stuff on Norse mythology." He frowned. "You're saying all that was real?" 

"Is real." Wulfric, gestured to himself. "Or what did you think I was? A myth?" 

"A cranky blacksmith." Ben muttered. 

"Exactly, kid. I'm a dwarf." Wulfric answered. "Now be quiet, I think it's getting closer."

They stood quietly for a moment, listening to the wooden beams of the tent creak and shudder in a light wind. 

"But, aren't dwarves supposed to be kind of small or something? You're kind of huge." Holly asked. Ben snorted, trying not to laugh out loud. 

"Shut up!" Wulfric hissed, pulling them all to the floor behind a table full of weapons.

For a moment, their was nothing. Then, almost like a train letting off steam, Holly heard the slow inhale, exhale of something enormous. Two nearly silent legs like tree trunks cast long shadows as something walked passed the entrance. The legs were three-toed with talons, like the legs of a t-rex, with a sort of armor-scaling and strangely, feathers. The huffing sound seemed to come from right above their heads, and then away, before the thing brushed up against the tent with its body, nearly knocking it over.

RRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWEEEEEER! AWWWWWWWWWOOOUUUUR! AWWWWWWWWOOOUUUUR!

After a moment, the creature seemed to move away. "Where I'm from," Wulfric whispered. "Dwarves are small."