It took Eleanor a few tries to get the incantation exactly right. The first time did nothing, and the second did indeed cause wings to sprout, but from her head rather than her back. Marg"faz chuckled quietly to herself as Eleanor grimaced and banished the spell with a huff.

The third attempt finally worked, and a large set of brown, feathered wings stretched out from between her shoulder blades. She tested to ensure they were working properly by stretching them out and giving a few test flaps. Satisfied that everything was as it should be, she nodded to Marg"faz.

"Ready when you are."

Marg"faz nodded and shut her eyes. Slowly, imperceptible at first, but growing louder and deeper over time, a low rhythm of tones rose from the gnoll woman"s chest. Her body began to alter shape, bending and contorting in odd angles as the volume increased. With a sudden flash and a snap of sound, the spell completed, and a large hook-billed bird stood where the shaman stood only moments before. The creature inclined its head towards Eleanor and blinked inquisitively, before spreading its wings and launching off the ground with powerful gust.

Eleanor followed suit, feeling the muscles in her back and chest ripple as her new wings beat against the air and lifted her off the ground. Finding just the right amount of pressure to keep herself off the ground while not cresting above the treeline took a minute or two. If she allowed herself a full flap on every stroke, she easily flew higher than intended. Once she found the rhythm she needed, the two of them set off southward at as fast a pace as either of them could muster while keeping a low profile.

They worked their way down the slope of the mountain face, being sure to remain out of sight of the top. At times they coasted along the air currents without having to exert any effort, and in those moments, Ellie found herself lost in the moment as she felt the wind whipping its way through her hair. For all of the discomfort that had come from being covered in fur, the feeling of the air rushing through it as she soared gently down the side of the mountain made her heart flutter.

They flew for the better part of an hour before Eleanor finally spotted the huddled ma.s.s of gnolls in the distance in the fading light of the setting sun. They looked like a gathered crowd of black ants scurrying to and fro from makeshift wooden bulwarks and towers to the treeline and back again. Seeing them, Marg"faz quickened her pace, choosing for the first time to fly up and out of cover as they approached the camp. Eleanor followed suit, breaking out of the treeline and following the shaman as she dove towards her followers.

As they approached, some of the gnolls stopped and pointed skyward, and more than a few readied weapons. Changing course for the rear edge of camp rather than the center, Marg"faz wove her way downwards, before finally alighting at the base of a large tree near the approach trail that led upwards back to the camp they"d just fled from. Eleanor followed suit, and landed beside her.


Within moments, the two of them were surrounded by over a dozen fighters. Some of them seemed curious. Others, however, didn"t seem interested in giving the giant bird and the winged gnoll much chance to talk as they approached with weapons drawn.

With another flash of light and a crack like thunder, Marg"faz returned to her normal form, and held her hand up to the approaching fighters.

"Stay your weapons." She said, looking from one to the next.

Seeing Marg"faz transform, the lot of them froze in place, before one near the front carrying a rather intimidating looking mace furrowed his brows.

"Mishtress? Ve thought you could not leave ze hovel." He said.

Marg"faz nodded, and motioned towards Eleanor.

"I couldn"t. But I aided out mutual friend here in her escape, and in exchange, she helped me in mine." She said.

Sensing the time was right to do so, Eleanor dropped the polymorph spell for the first time since leaving the cave. As she did so, she suddenly discovered that without the larger frame and fur her previous form had given her, the tunic and pants she was wearing were far too large to stay up on their own. Fl.u.s.tered, she s.n.a.t.c.hed hold of her pants and the front of the tunic to keep them from tumbling off of her into a heap on the ground, and grinned sheepishly at the gnoll staring at her.
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"Uh, hiya!" She said, making a quick wave with her tail.

The gnoll looked at her in confusion, clearly unsure of what to think. Seeing the lull, Marg"faz stepped forward and spoke up.

"I need to speak to Graf"ahl. Plans are changing, and we need to move quickly if we are going to have a chance to make things work in our favor. Where is he?"

The gnoll with the mace pondered for a moment, before turning and pointing towards one of the nearby makeshift towers.

"Lasht I"ve seen of him, he vas surveying ze enemy camp to ze south from ze top of zat tower. Perhaps he ish shtill zere." The gnoll said.

Marg"faz nodded, and turned to Eleanor. She leaned in close and spoke quickly and quietly.

"There is a chance I might not be able to convince them to send an emissary in time before an attack. I need you to go to the camp where your sister is, and attempt to forstall the coming attack. If you can, convince them to prepare an emissary to meet here after sunrise tomorrow. If we are able to get both sides to talk, we should be able to get things to work out as you hoped. If not, then I fear you and I may not see each other again, my dear."

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