With much effort, the company made their way off the stony ledge and continued on their path. Whenever they had to break camp, wounds were inspected. Tara approached Kili who had but a few small scratches. She dabbed some medicine that she made on the cuts and Kili watched her with a smirk. They were a good distance from the company and they were busy after being put to work by Thorin.

"Well they aren't bad, but I'm going to need to clean them every night so that you don't get an infection," Tara explained, "They should be closing up soon though so that's always good new, but it would be safer if I still added medicine to it so…"

Before she could finish, Kili pressed his lips to hers. She was a bit taken by surprise at first, but then leaned into the kiss. She pushed away quickly though and looked at the company.

"They might see," Tara whispered.

"It doesn't matter," Kili grinned.

"Yes, but what about your uncle," Tara reminded him.

"He'll figure out one day," Kili said and leaned in for another kiss.

"Yes one day," Tara said, putting a finger to Kili's lips, "But it's not going to be today."

Kili sighed as he watched her walk away to grab his brother. After her and Oin inspected all the wounds, it was Thorin and Faedra's turn. Thorin did it without question, just to get it over with, but Faedra was being stubborn as ever.

"No I'm fine," Faedra said, "There just a couple of scratches."

"Whip cuts and burn marks are not scratches," Tara stated.

They both got their stubbornness from their father, much to everyone's dismay.

"I may be younger than you, but you are going to listen to me when it come to healing," Tara snapped, "Now sit!"

Faedra huffed and sat down on a rock. A small smile tugged at the ends of Tara's lips after finally winning an argument. She lifted her tunic, carefully, because of all the dry blood that was making the tunic stick. She added her medicine to the cuts and then grabbed a bottle out of her medicine bag. She poured it in her hands and started to rub it on her back and her side. She finally finished and went to make some tea over the fire. She added some small leaves to the water and poured it in some cups for the company.

"Drink," She ordered, "It will help the cuts heal quicker."

Some dwarves looked at it hesitantly and Tara rolled her eyes.

"Do I need to drink it for you?" Tara questioned, "Just to prove I'm not trying to kill you."

Thorin took a cup and gulped it down. The rest of the company followed suite and Tara practically had to shove it down Faedra's throat. After a good night's rest they started at first light. They came across a ledge and they send Bilbo to scout ahead after hearing the sound of Wargs. He comes back quickly, a look of fear on his face.

"How close is the pack?" Dwalin asked.

"Too close," Bilbo said, a bit out of breathe, "A couple of leagues, no more, but that is not the worst of it."

"Have the Wargs picked up our scent?" asked Dwalin again.

"Not yet," He reassured them, "But they will; we have another problem."

"Did they see you?" Faedra asked.

"They saw you!" Gandalf looked a bit frightened.

"No, that's not it," said Bilbo.

The company relaxed a bit and Gandalf turned towards the dwarves, a smile on his face.

"What did I tell you?" He said, "Quiet as a mouse. Excellent burglar material."

Everyone chuckled loudly in appreciation of Bilbo. Bilbo, on the other hand, looked exasperated that no one is hearing him out.

"Will you-Will you just listen?" Bilbo tried yet again.

"Shut it!" Faedra yelled over the silence.

Bilbo looked at her, giving her a silent thank you, and said, "I'm trying to tell you there is something else out there."

Everyone looked at each other worryingly.

"What form did it take?" Gandalf asked, "Like a bear?"

"Ye..." Bilbo paused, looking curiously at Gandalf, "Y- yes. But bigger, much bigger."

Faedra and Gandalf exchanged worried looks and looked at the dwarves.

"You knew about this beast?" Bofur questioned.

Gandalf turned and walks a few steps away, Faedra following.

The dwarves started trying to discuss a plan, but none seemed to work.

Faedra looked at Gandalf and said, "No, Gandalf these dwarves will most likely get ripped to pieces."

"But it's our safest bet," Gandalf whispered to her, "You know that we have no other choice."

Faedra sighed and nodded her head.

"There is a house," Gandalf cut into the company's plans, "It's not far from here, where we might take refuge."

"Whose house?" Thorin asked, "Are they friend or foe?"

"Neither," Faedra answered for him, "He will help us…"

"Or he will kill us," Gandalf interrupted.

Thorin didn't look to keen about the idea and asked, "What choice do we have?"

A roar split the night behind them. The roar of a great bear.

"None," Gandalf and Faedra said at once.

They immediately started to run through the forest, an Orc pack on their trail, as well as a bear. Tara trips over a root, twisting her ankle, and is helped up by Kili. The group suddenly halts when an ear splitting roar is sounded is the distance. The group continues on running and Faedra pulls Bombur along after he froze in fear.

They run into an open plain where a house comes into view. Faedra was skilled greatly with her weapons, but she knew better that no sword she wielded could pierce the bear's hide. They run through the front door, but bounce off the door that led into the house. They take no notice of the handle above them as they try to shove the doors open by force.

A giant black bear barreled out of the woods and approached the house with great speed. Thorin pushed through the company and unlatched the door. They barreled in and shut the door, catching only the head of the beast in the door. Bilbo unsheathed his sword in fear, but Faedra just stood next to him calmly. They finally shut the door and latched it, everyone trying to catch their breath.

Gandalf then explained to the dwarves who the bear was, while Faedra walked towards Tara. She head an arm wrapped around Kili and one foot was lifted off the ground. She sat down and removed Tara's boot. She wasn't a skilled healer, but she did know the simple things like if a foot was sprained or broken.

"Just a sprain," Faedra spoke, "Nothing to terrible."

Tara pulled out another bottle and uncorked it. She took one swig before putting it back into her bag.

"Should heal overnight," Tara said.

"What was that?" Kili asked, "That you drank?"

"It was a potion to mend bones or heal sprains," Tara explained, "I won't bore you with the names of the plants used and how to make it."

Kili nodded and helped her over towards a pile of hay. While no one was paying any attention, Kili gave her a sweet kiss before lying down to rest. Faedra walked towards Thorin who was looked out a window.

"Get some rest," She ordered, "You are going to need it for tomorrow."

He nodded and went to a pile of hay like the rest of the company did. Faedra leaned against a post and sleep took her immediately.