[piosenniel]

Wren skittered up and down a low-lying branch of the old apple tree. He flapped his wings and added his piping little voice to the general melee. And yes it was partly from fear, but also from his excitement at a solution that had just come to him.

Frustrated that he could not get owl’s attention, the little bird flew to where the great bird was perched. Owl was tapping furiously at the Green Man’s shutters, trying to get the attention of those inside.

‘Owl! Owl!’ wren cried. ‘Even if they come to look at what’s making so much noise, they won’t understand you. I know where the two tall men have gone. Let me fly quickly and bring them back. Otherwise, the wolves will be upon us before the two-leggeds know what is happening.’

Owl nodded and shooed him off. He would see to the safety of the animals here while wren fetched the men.

~*~

Wren flew as fast as his little brown wings would take him. He shut his mind as best he could to the frightful feeling that crept from beneath the shadows of the trees.

When he at last found the two tall men they were with a third fellow. Wren landed on Mori's shoulder made haste to tell them what was happening. Anxious for his friends back at the Inn and anxious, too, to be out from under the shadows of the trees, he grabbed a few strands of the man's hair and began to fly off, pulling at them as he did so.