[Maeggaladiel]

Her body shaking, Eleniel ran to the gray figure lying in a ditch across the road. She sunk to her knees at Arrow's side. Red stained his silver fur like wine on gray silk.

She was dimly aware of the crowd of patrons who had run outside to see what the commotion was about, but she paid them little heed, her mind numbed.

"Arrow," she whispered softly. The dog whined misrebly.

Arrow had been her dearest friend and traveling companion for years. She had raised him herself; he was the silvery runt of an otherwise coal black litter. He had comforted her in sadness, joined in her merriment, and protected her from harm. And now--

"Stop it," she told herself. Arrow thought that she was talking to him and ceased his whining. Eleniel blinked back tears. Even now, in this moment of pain, her faithful dog heeded his mistress' orders.

"Good boy," she whispered, scratching his nose with one hand and exploring his wound with the other. She sighed in relief. It was not a fatal blow, as she had feared, but he would need medical attention.

How would she move him? He was not a small dog by any stretch of the imagination, and she feared that abusive handling would cause him more pain. Where would he be safe?

She looked behind her, suprised to see the number of people who had come to her side. Isaac was among them.

"Arrow is hurt," she said, her voice shaking. "Could you help me move him to the stable? And is anyone here a healer?" Arrow's tail wagged a little as he saw Isaac.