Birdie crept off the trail behind Holly, then when in the shelter of the bushes, she spread her arms, shrinking and changing until she had assumed the form of a small, black and white crow.
Flitting to the trees above the hobbit, she checked the area around the clearing, seeing a motley band of brigands, a collection of rusty weapons and tattered finery, obviously stolen from other travelers. Holly and Acron had already spied this group, and had them within their sites.
But they did not see the other figure hanging back from the fray. A tall Southern, clad in black iron mail and dark green cloak. He had an air of command; a captain of highwaymen, who had let his lackeys take on the easy target of travelers walking into an ambush.
But now her was stepping forward as he saw his band being threatened by the elf and halfing. Drawing a short sword, he advanced stealthfully on the unsuspecting Holly from the rear.
"Holly! Acron! Behind you!" screeched Birdie. But the warning cry of the skin-changer drew the attention of the crebain. The three black ravens descended on the black and white crow in mass, pecking at her head and eyes and trying to force her to the ground.
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