Zaerius and Vincel, fresh from a bout of sparring, encounter a friendly elf, Elthuriel, who requests their help in tracking down his friend -- who turns out to be an elk. They pursue this elk together across forest and fen, hill and valley, through sharp twists and wrong turns, under trees and over ravines, until at last they find him -- just in time for a timely rescue and a harrowing chase and escape from a ravening pack of direwolves.