Embracing the Shadows

Chapter Ten - So, skin shifter aye?

"How close is the pack?" Dwalin asks as Bilbo comes jogging back, panting with the effort

"Too close. A couple of leagues, no more, but that is not the worst of it."

"Have the Wargs picked up our scent?" Dwalin interrupts Bilbo

"Not yet, but they will; we have another problem."

"Did they see you? They saw you!" This time Gandalf interrupts

"No, that's not it."

Gandalf smiles "What did I tell you? Quiet as a mouse. Excellent burglar material." Bilbo looks exasperated as the dwarves chuckle around him

"Will you listen- Will you just listen? I'm trying to tell you there is something else out there." I glance up.

"What form did it take? Like a bear?"

"Y- Yes. But bigger, much bigger." Bilbo says looking at Gandalf. I move to my feet quickly

"You knew about this beast?" Bofur asks. And when Gandalf ignores them they begin to squabble between themselves. I look to Gandalf and he nods. I close my eyes briefly, when they flicker open I take a breath.

"We may want to start running"

The day had broken and we were still ahead of the beast, though it had now caught our scent. "Come on!" Gandalf calls as a few dwarves begin to fall behind. A roar sounds and the beast can be heard crashing through trees.

Gandalf calls out something and Bombur runs past us quickly. I shove my sword into Nori's hands as we reach the door and turn to face the beast.

"What are you doing?" Bofur asks as I turn.

"Buying you lot sometime" I call back as Thorin pushes through as a massive bear breaks through the foliage.

"Without your sword?" Bilbo asks, I nod

"I won't be needing one" and as they scramble into the house I fall to my knees in pain shrugging off my cloak, a tearing sound echoes through my head, and after what feels like minutes, which is actually seconds I stand, on all four paws and throw myself at the bear, teeth gnashing

I use my lithe body to my advantage as I lead him away then circle back towards the house, settling down outside the front door.

I am prodded awake gently by a boot, I peel open an eye and look up to the shirtless stranger and huff standing on my paws, I grit my teeth for a few seconds and phase back to my elven form, pulling my cloak around me quickly, my clothes had shredded in my hurry to shift, I had been working on keeping them whole but it took minutes at the least to do so. "It's been so long since I've done that" I said cracking my neck

Beron regarded me gently, patting my shoulder before pulling me into a hug and walking inside, I followed him and he threw me a shirt. I pulled it down past my knees quickly and moved up to help him prepare breakfast.

I sat at the table surrounded by dwarves as they inhaled the food Beron and I had prepared. I slumped over the table as Thorin's gaze fell heavily upon me. I wiggled my finger at the curious mouse who had come up to sniff for crumbs. I clicked my tongue and patted its back gently, passing it some bread crumbs.

It nibbled on the crumbs holding them in its front paws, before sniffing my nose tickling me with its whiskers, I giggled quietly as Thorin and Beron converse

"I don't like dwarves. They're greedy and blind, blind to the lives of those they deem lesser than their own." I am drawn to Beron's jab at Thorin as he picks up the second mouse that had been brushed off Bofur's arm. I look up and growl.

Beron makes eye contact with me "But Orcs I hate more. What do you need?"