Bird jumped from the branch, morphing into woman's form as she fell and landing in front of the Elf with a thump.
"Just try it, Elfling. I can squash you like a beetle, should I care to. And as for the treachery of Men - they only took to heart the lessons you taught them. Your kind have had the ages to perfect the arts of treason, greed, and kin-slaying, and I doubt that Man shall ever rise to your level of skills in those areas."
And don't blame Men for your "banishment". We have to stay here and muddle along with the poor gifts Eru has granted us. But when the weight of your follies become too great to bear, you Elf-folk can go trotting off to bang on the gates of Valinor, pleading "Oh, let us in! We're so sorry!"
The little woman whirled and stomped off, but then turned once more to the deadly Elf. "Better a "beast" than a coward and quitter!" she hurled back at Nardol.
But suddenly, the entire camp froze as a call came rolling through the forest. A wail that rose to a shriek, then faded on the air to a ghostly low moan. Breath and wind will stilled, and the very morning seemed to darken. Then it was gone.
[ December 20, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]
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