Free Elf Killers by Carol Marrs Phipps, Tom Phipps

run.”
    "Now?”
    “I'm watching the spot. Go on.”
    Kieran slinked warily away as Olloo strained to make out details through the grass. A nearby field sparrow sang out its first declaration of the day.
    Oisin appeared almost at once, bow in hand. "Where is it?" he said as he nocked an arrow. “What did you see?”
    "Right through there," he said, pointing into the tall grass. "I saw it until just now. It's been following us and stopping every time we do. It's one whopper of a bird, but if it's a shawk spoogh, it's 'way smaller than I was led to believe... There he is. See?"
    "My. He's the biggest thing with feathers I've ever seen, and he certainly is watching us. But you're right, I thought they were bigger than that," he said, craning his head from side to side. "I also had the impression that they were white with black crests and wings. It's getting light enough to see that this fellow's streaked with different shades of brown. I'd lay odds that he's half grown."
    The bird suddenly ducked out of sight as Kieran quietly approached, carrying Doona.
    "Has she stirred?" whispered Olloo.
    Kieran nodded and stayed silent, trying to see what they had in the grass.
    "There he is," whispered Olloo. Oisin drew his bow.
    "What if you make him squawk?" said Kieran. "Sorry to spoil your shot, but what if its cries bring the parents? It is growing light, after all. And did you see your big rock when you laid out Doona in the path, up yonder?"
    "Good point," said Oisin, relaxing his bow. "I've certainly never bagged one before. Who knows what he'd do..."
    "You could see Carraig Faire?" said Olloo.
    "Yea,” said Kieran. “But it's not where it's supposed to be. It's 'way north.”
    "How far would you reckon?" said Oisin.
    "How would I know? Two league? Five league? One long way piggyback, if these shawkyn spooghey are supposed to be out and about."
    "So what do we do about this one in the grass?" said Olloo. "I don't trust him."
    "I don't either," said Oisin. "We simply have to stay together. All of you wait here while I go escort everyone behind us to catch up."
    He set off back down the path at once. He hadn't gone far when he thought he heard Olloo or Kieran jogging up from behind. He looked back just in time to see the young strike falcon in the path coming right for him. As he wheeled about drawing his bow, the huge bird vanished into the grass. To his vast relief, the others arrived at his feet very wide-eyed and out of breath the moment he turned about once more to go find them.
    They wasted no time getting to where Kieran had spotted Carraig Faire. Sure enough, it lay almost straight north. Doona began squirming in confusion as she awoke and had to be set on the ground. "Can you walk?" said Olloo.
    "Will you please tell me why I was sleeping on Kieran's back?" 
    "See that rock yonder?"
    She nodded. "Is that it?" she said, snapping to.
    "Yea. Do you think you can make it there as fast as the rest of us without talking?"
    She nodded again.
    "Well, I'll tell you all about it when we get there."
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 7
     
     
     
    At last the sun rose flame red beyond the reaches of the sea of grass, setting aglow the red sandstone of Carraig Faire. A meadowlark called from one end of the great rock and took flight. The party of Elves paused in the grass not two furlongs away, catching their breath. Rory was squirming and stirring, but not really awake yet. At a nod from Oisin, everyone got to his feet and made a run for it.
    "This looks like we might be able to manage our way to the top right here," he said, catching his breath when they got there. "Olloo, you and Kieran run around opposite sides of the rock to see if there mightn't be a better climb than this. For Fates' sake, keep your eyes on the grass. I'll have my bow handy and wait here with everyone else."
    Directly, Olloo had made it all the way around. "This is one huge rock," he said, jogging to a halt. “I'd