A howl cut through the forest.
Low.
Hungry.
Dangerous.
It echoed through the trees like the call of a predator that had already caught the scent of its prey.
The company froze.
Another howl answered from deeper in the woods.
Then another.
Gandalf's eyes hardened.
"No time to waste," he urged.
Nearby, Radagast the Brown hurried toward his rabbit-drawn sleigh.
He scrambled aboard and gathered the reins, his large rabbits already stamping the ground impatiently.
"Come along then!" he called.
The rabbits twitched their ears, sensing the urgency.
Mallory swung onto Rowan's back in one smooth motion, gripping the horse's mane as the powerful animal shifted beneath her.
Rowan snorted, his muscles tense and ready.
The forest seemed to hold its breath.
Then the trees behind them exploded with movement.
Dark shapes burst from the undergrowth—orc riders mounted on snarling wargs.
Yellow eyes glowed in the shadows.
Jagged spears lifted into the air.
"Go!" Gandalf shouted.
Radagast snapped the reins.
The rabbits launched forward instantly, the sleigh jolting as it shot through the trees at astonishing speed.
Several wargs immediately veered after him.
Mallory leaned low over Rowan's neck.
"Run."
Rowan surged forward like an arrow released from its bow.
Hooves thundered against the earth as they tore into the forest, branches whipping past them in a blur of green.
Behind them came the furious snarls of the pursuing wargs.
Mallory glanced back.
More riders were breaking away from the pack.
Coming straight for them.
She tightened her grip on her staff.
Golden light flickered faintly along the crystal tip.
The forest rushed past as Rowan pushed harder, weaving between ancient trees and leaping fallen logs.
But the wargs were relentless.
Their howls grew louder.
Closer.
The hunt had begun.
Rowan thundered through the forest, his hooves pounding the earth as he wove between ancient trees.
Behind them came the furious snarls of the pursuing wargs.
Mallory glanced over her shoulder.
Four riders were closing in fast.
Too fast.
She tightened her grip on her staff as the crystal at its tip began to glow faintly.
"Let's see how you like the forest," she murmured.
She lifted her hand.
"Rise."
The ground behind them burst open.
Thick roots tore free from the soil, twisting upward like coiling serpents.
One warg slammed straight into the tangled mass and tumbled violently, throwing its rider into the dirt.
A warm pulse surged through Mallory's body.
A familiar voice echoed softly in her mind.
Level Up — Level 21
Mallory blinked once in surprise.
Even now… the system was working.
Rowan snorted and pushed forward, leaping a fallen log as they raced deeper into the woods.
But the remaining wargs were relentless.
One rider closed the distance quickly, raising a jagged spear.
Mallory turned in the saddle.
The crystal on her staff flashed.
"Thunder strike." MP -300
Lightning cracked through the forest like a breaking sky.
The bolt slammed into the charging warg.
The ground exploded as the beast collapsed in a smoking crater.
Rowan veered sharply between two towering pines, barely slowing.
Another warg burst from the undergrowth ahead, trying to cut them off.
Mallory thrust her staff forward.
The forest answered instantly.
Thick vines erupted from the earth and wrapped around the beast's legs, dragging it violently to the ground.
The rider crashed hard against a tree.
The pulse returned.
Level Up — Level 22
Now only two riders remained.
They howled in fury and pushed their wargs harder.
Rowan charged up a steep ridge, his hooves striking sparks against stone as he climbed.
At the summit, Mallory turned in the saddle.
Wind whipped through the trees.
She raised her staff high.
The ground beneath the charging wargs softened suddenly.
Mud swallowed their paws as the beasts skidded and collapsed into the earth.
Another wave of power surged through her.
One of the trapped riders tried to climb free.
Mallory lowered her staff and flicked her fingers.
A thick root snapped upward like a whip and slammed the orc back into the mud.
The final pulse surged through her body.
Stronger than the rest.
Level Up — 23
Silence slowly returned to the forest.
Mallory exhaled as the glow faded from her staff.
Rowan snorted softly beneath her.
She leaned forward and patted his neck.
"Good work."
The black horse turned and galloped down the far side of the ridge, disappearing into the deeper forest.
Far away through the trees, faint but unmistakable, came the distant shouting of Radagast the Brown as he continued to lead the rest of the wargs on a wild chase through the woods.
Just as Mallory burst from the edge of the forest, a dozen orc riders suddenly cut across her path.
Rowan skidded to a halt mid-stride. His front hooves lifted off the ground as he let out a sharp, high-pitched neigh.
The orcs spread out quickly, forming a tightening circle around her.
Wargs snarled and snapped their jaws as they paced across the road.
Steel glinted in crooked hands.
The riders believed they had cornered their prey.
Mallory looked around at them calmly.
Then she smiled.
An amused grin curved across her lips.
At the tip of her staff, green light began to flicker and flare.
"Really?" she murmured.
The earth answered her call.
Roots burst violently from the ground, twisting upward like serpents.
They wrapped around the wargs' legs first.
The beasts howled as the vines tightened.
Then the roots slithered higher, coiling around the orcs themselves.
Before the riders could react, the vines dragged them down.
One by one, they were pulled screaming into the soil.
The forest floor swallowed them whole.
Silence returned.
A faint pulse of power washed through Mallory's body.
Level Up — 23 → 26
HP +120
MP +120
HP: 630 / 630
MP: 1030 / 1030
Mallory lowered her staff with a satisfied sigh.
"Well," she said triumphantly, brushing a strand of hair from her face, "that went well."
Rowan snorted softly beneath her.
But the moment of victory did not last.
Branches snapped in the forest behind them.
More riders burst from the trees.
Orcs on snarling wargs, blades raised high.
Their war cries echoed across the clearing as they charged relentlessly toward Mallory.
The hunt was far from over.
Before Mallory could cast another spell—
A sudden volley of arrows sliced through the air.
The shafts struck the charging orcs with deadly precision.
Several riders fell instantly from their wargs.
Mallory froze, eyes widening in confusion.
More arrows followed.
From the edge of the forest, a group of elves emerged, moving with silent speed.
Their blades flashed as they closed the distance, cutting down the remaining orcs one by one.
Within moments, the skirmish was over.
The surviving wargs fled back into the trees with frightened howls.
Mallory barely had time to lower her staff before she noticed something else.
A tall figure stepped forward from the ranks of elves.
He moved with calm authority.
His armor gleamed faintly beneath the forest light, and a long blade rested steadily in his hand as he approached her.
He stopped a few paces away.
"What manner of creature are you?" he asked, his voice calm but cautious.
His gaze lingered on her horns… her dark robes… and the faint glow still lingering at the tip of her staff.
Other elves began to gather around them, their expressions filled with quiet curiosity.
She looked like them.
Her ears were pointed like those of the Firstborn.
Yet something about her presence felt… different.
Mallory slowly raised both hands in surrender.
"Wait," she said quickly.
"I'm an ally."
She nodded toward the forest behind them.
"And a friend of Gandalf the Grey."
At that, the elf's expression shifted.
He lowered his blade slightly.
"Mithrandir?" he said.
Mallory blinked.
"Uh… yes," she replied. "That one."
The elf studied her for a moment longer.
"Who are you?" he asked.
Mallory gave a small, awkward bow from atop Rowan.
xI am Mallory," she said politely.
"At your service."
The elf finally lowered his sword completely.
"I am Elrond," he said.
"And you, it seems, have brought quite the storm to the borders of Rivendell."
His gaze shifted briefly toward the disturbed forest and the freshly turned earth where the orcs had vanished.
Then he looked back at her.
"You had best come with us."
"Mithrandir will want an explanation."
The valley of Rivendell lay quiet beneath the evening sky.
Waterfalls shimmered in the fading light, their silver streams tumbling down the cliffs like ribbons of moonlight.
Lanterns had begun to glow along the winding paths as the company approached the hidden refuge.
The dwarves rode slowly, weary from their journey.
At their head walked Gandalf, his staff tapping lightly against the stone path.
Beside him trudged Bilbo Baggins, who looked thoroughly exhausted.
"I must say," Bilbo muttered, brushing dust from his coat, "for an adventure, this journey has involved an alarming amount of nearly being eaten."
One of the dwarves snorted.
"You'll get used to it."
"I sincerely hope not," Bilbo replied.
One of the elves stepped forward to greet them.
"Mithrandir," he said respectfully.
"Ah, Mindir," Gandalf replied, stepping toward him.
"We heard you had crossed into the valley,"
the elf said in Elvish.
Gandalf nodded.
"I must speak with Elrond," he said quietly.
"And I have a friend who may be in danger."
The elf hesitated.
"My apologies… but Lord Elrond is not here."
Gandalf's grip tightened slightly around his staff.
"Not here?" he said. "Then where is he?"
Before the elf could answer, a horn suddenly sounded across the valley.
The deep call echoed along the cliffs and across the stone bridge.
Everyone turned.
From the far end of the path came the sound of hooves striking stone.
A small group of riders approached, their armor glinting in the fading light.
At their head rode Elrond.
And beside him—
"MALLORY!" Bilbo Baggins shouted in relief.
The company brightened instantly.
Mallory dismounted Rowan as the riders came to a stop. With a small gesture of her hand, golden light shimmered around the horse.
In an instant Rowan shrank and shifted, feathers replacing fur.
The crow fluttered upward and landed neatly on her shoulder with a soft caw.
Mallory turned just in time as Bilbo hurried forward.
She wrapped him in a quick hug.
"I'm glad you're all safe," she said warmly.
Rowan gave another quiet caw from her shoulder.
Bilbo returned the embrace with obvious relief.
"I'm very glad you are too."
Nearby, Elrond approached Gandalf.
"Gandalf," he greeted calmly.
"Lord Elrond, my old friend," Gandalf replied in Elvish, giving a respectful bow.
"Where have you been?" Gandalf asked.
Elrond removed his gloves as he dismounted his horse.
"We have been hunting orcs that crossed into the valley from the south," he said.
Then his gaze drifted toward Mallory.
"We also came across a friend of yours."
His expression carried both curiosity and concern.
"I witnessed her using magic," he continued slowly. "She possesses great power…"
He paused, glancing back at Gandalf.
"But I sense something else within her."
Gandalf smiled calmly.
"Do not fear, my friend. She is… different."
His eyes flicked briefly toward Mallory's horns and dark robes.
"Appearances can be misleading."
Mallory, standing a few steps away, simply waved with an awkward smile.
Elrond then turned his attention to the rest of the company.
His gaze settled on Thorin Oakenshield.
"Welcome, Thorin son of Thráin," Elrond said.
Thorin stepped forward stiffly.
"I do not believe we have met," he replied coolly.
Elrond studied him thoughtfully.
"You carry your grandfather's bearing."
He paused briefly before speaking again—this time in Elvish.
"I invite you and your company to dine with us this evening."
The dwarves shifted uneasily.
They had not understood a word.
One of them frowned.
"What did he say?" the dwarf muttered suspiciously.
Several dwarves began lifting their weapons.
Gandalf quickly stepped between them.
"He is inviting you all to dinner," the wizard said patiently.
The tension slowly faded.
Off to the side, Mallory sighed quietly.
"Tough crowd, huh Rowan?"
Rowan tilted his head and gave a flat caw.
Beside her, Bilbo folded his arms and muttered dryly, "Well… at least no one tried to kill us this time."
———
A few minutes later, the company found themselves seated on a wide balcony beneath the open sky.
Lanterns glowed softly along the stone railings, and nearby elves played gentle music on harps and flutes. The melody drifted through the cool evening air like a quiet river.
Plates of food had been set before the travelers.
One of the dwarves lifted a leaf of green vegetable and stared at it suspiciously.
"Is this it?" he muttered. "Is there no meat?"
Another dwarf leaned closer.
"Try it."
The first dwarf frowned.
"I don't like green food."
He placed the leaf back onto the plate with clear disappointment.
Across the table, Mallory was eating quite happily.
In fact, she seemed to be enjoying the meal far more than anyone else.
Her eyes were half-closed in bliss as she tasted the vegetables.
One of the dwarves noticed.
"I didn't know you liked green food, Lady Mallory."
Mallory snapped out of her little moment of food-induced happiness.
"Oh—well," she said quickly, straightening. "I'm quite fond of vegetables."
Beside her, Bilbo Baggins perked up.
"Oh! Perhaps when we return to the The Shire, I could cook some vegetables for you."
Mallory smiled warmly.
"I would like that."
Nearby, Rowan was also being fed small pieces of food.
The crow seemed perfectly content perched beside Mallory.
However, a few elves at neighboring tables glanced toward the bird with clear disapproval.
Some even cast quiet, judging looks in Mallory's direction.
Mallory noticed.
But she simply ignored it.
As long as she caused no trouble, their opinions did not matter much.
Not tonight.
At the far end of the balcony, Gandalf, Elrond, and Thorin Oakenshield approached the table together.
They sat with the company as the conversation slowly turned more serious.
Thorin placed his sword upon the table.
Elrond examined the blade carefully.
"Orcrist," he said softly. "The Goblin-cleaver."
The dwarves leaned in with interest.
Next, Gandalf presented another blade.
Elrond studied it with equal care.
"Glamdring," he said.
"The Foe-hammer of Gondolin."
Nearby, Bilbo quietly pulled out his own small sword and held it up curiously.
Perhaps it had a grand title too.
Dwalin noticed and chuckled.
"I wouldn't bother, lad."
Bilbo looked at him.
"Swords are named for their great deeds in battle," Dwalin explained.
Bilbo slowly lowered the blade.
"So you're saying mine hasn't seen battle?"
Dwalin shrugged.
"Hard to say if it's even a sword," he said with a grin. "Looks more like a letter opener."
Mallory, who had just taken a sip of her drink, suddenly choked.
The company turned toward her.
She coughed once and cleared her throat quickly.
"Sorry," she said, trying to hide a smile.
———
Later that evening, the moon had risen high above Rivendell.
Mallory walked along one of the quiet stone paths with Bilbo, while Rowan perched comfortably on her shoulder.
Waterfalls shimmered silver beneath the moonlight.
Soft music still drifted through the valley.
"This place is wonderful," Mallory said quietly.
Bilbo nodded in agreement.
"It really is."
As they walked, however, Mallory began to notice something.
Whispers.
Glances.
Several elves watched them as they passed, speaking quietly among themselves.
Mallory sighed.
"Do I really look that evil just because I have horns?"
Bilbo looked up at her with a reassuring smile.
"They simply don't know you yet," he said.
"Not like I do."
Mallory's expression softened.
His words warmed her heart more than she expected.
For all the dangers of the journey, Bilbo had remained the same kind soul she had first met.
A friend she could lean on.
And right now, that meant more than anything.