[Child of the 7th Age]

After he had finished telling the others of the danger they were in, Owl had quickly tendered his goodbyes and, stretching out his snowy wings, lept into the heavens, making his way back towards the Inn. He could do little to battle the shadow creature. Owl was under no delusions. He had neither the wits or power for such a monumental task. There was no use remaining with the Green Man or even going back to where Mori and Stamo were waiting. He had done what he could for the little wren, but duty beckoned him elsewhere.

Owl had brought the creatures to the back courtyard of the Inn on the eve of Yule to witness the burning of the Log as had been their custom for countless years. Only this time, things had played out differently. He could not help feeling some regret. In a real sense, these creatures were his responsibility. Shadow creature or no, he must make sure that his charges were safe. Owl could never have put these feelings into words, but he felt compelled to fly steadilysouthward in order to revisit the Inn and check to see if all the birds and beasts were safe.

Without the two-leggeds holding him back, Owl covered the ground quickly and soon reached the countryside where the Green Man Free House was located. His first impulse was to drop down to the roof of the Inn and call upon the animals to gather in the courtyard that he might speak with them and know that they were alright. But, as any bird of prey might do, Owl decided to make a short flight first to spy out the land and be sure that there were no unknown dangers lurking on their doorstep. Owl climbed into the air and circled the Inn two times. It was on his second round that he glimpsed a dark shadow spilling over the ground, one some ways distant; he could barely make out its grey outline, but he was sure the shadow was relentlessly advancing in the direction of the Inn. Unike the great creature of shadow that he had glimpsed earlier, this threat was at least somewhat familiar: a pack of ravenous wolves. Why they would be moving during the day and what impelled them to speed forward so quickly, Owl had no idea.

Darting in for a closer look, Owl was overwhelmed by the relentless rage and snarling jaws of the lean grey beasts. These were no ordinary wolves. He could not account for their behavior, but it was unquestionably clear that they were on a collision course with the Green Free Man Inn. His heart thumping furiously in his chest, Owl turned back to the Inn and hooted loudly, trying to convey to the men inside what he had seen. His animals had no trouble understanding what was going on. Immediately, they began crying and braying and bellowing loudly, much to the surprise of the hobbits and the others who were sheltered inside the Inn. Owl was at a loss to know what to do. None of the men seemed to understand him, yet it was imperative that he tell them how much danger they were in.....