Storm Over Warlock

On a cool planet called Warlock full of smart animals like sneaky wolverines and chatty birds, young scout Shann sees his space camp get attacked by mean bug aliens called Throgs who kill almost everyone. Shann hides with his boss Thorvald, makes friends with the animals using mind magic from wand-wielding witch ladies, and they use tricks and powers to beat the bugs and save the day by being super brave!

In Andre Norton's 'Storm Over Warlock,' Shann Lantee, a lowly scout in the Free Traders' survey team, is stationed on the primitive planet Warlock, a world teeming with enigmatic wildlife and hints of advanced native psionics. The team's fragile outpost is obliterated in a sudden ambush by the brutal, insectoid Throg warriors, who seek to claim the planet for their empire. Shann and his superior, Ragnar Thorvald, survive the massacre and flee into the savage wilderness, evading Throg hunters while grappling with isolation, injury, and the planet's hostile environment. As Shann delves deeper into Warlock's secrets, he forges a telepathic bond with a pair of cunning wolverine-like beasts, Taggi and Togi, and intelligent avian 'mockers.' These allies lead him to the planet's reclusive 'witches'—female telepaths wielding carved wands that amplify mental powers. United against the Throgs, the group uncovers a galactic conspiracy involving false-flag operations and rival human factions, culminating in psychic guerrilla warfare and a desperate bid to summon reinforcements, blending survival thriller with interstellar intrigue.