Authors notes: I DO NOT OWN LOTR!

Well this is my first LoTR fanfiction and my first story that I plan on continuing.

Please review and tell me what you think!

Thanks :)

Chapter 1:

I set out on my next hike through the forest behind my family's house, just as the sun peaks over the horizon. My goal is the towering mountains about 4km away from my backyard fence. My birthday is in three days and I am really excited, I should be getting some new camping gear so I can do overnight camping trips. It's the middle of the summer holidays and the worst thing about having a house that is an hour's drive away from all of your friend's houses is; they hardly ever come and visit. So, I plan on spending most of my holidays exploring the woods and mountains.

Ok, a little background information on me. My name is Zoe Turner and I am 16 (turning 17 in three days) years old and my birthday is on the 29th of November. I have bright green eyes and short, chocolate brown hair. Well, I used to have longer hair but my mother cut it to my ears, insisting that if I was going to be exploring the forest the last thing I would want would be sticks and leaves getting stuck in my hair. I am also adopted. Sixteen years ago, in two days, my parents found me on their doorstep with a note asking for me to be looked after and saying that I was one year old and my birthday is on the 29th of November, the next day. I have never seen this note; my parents insist on telling me that they have lost it. I don't believe them. I think there is something they aren't telling me.

Today I only plan on staying out until sunset, so I have packed light. In my green, canvas backpack I have: a small hunting knife (my Dad never lets me go hiking without some form of weapon), a light bow and arrows (I have always been good with a bow), two tins of spaghetti, an apple and an orange, matches, my map, a campus and a large water bottle. I know of many fresh water rivers and streams where I can fill my bottle up over my journey. Today I plan on exploring a new part of the forest. My goal is to create a map; I have tracked and mapped only a small amount of forest as I usually get sidetracked. I love being around nature, trees and animals. I love the smell of the forest, the feeling of the twigs snapping beneath my soft leather, knee high, lace-up boots, the fresh air and just the general feeling of nature around me. I have never been a 'city girl', I prefer the outdoors.

I walk along my well-worn path to the part of the forest I plan on mapping. I reach the mountains at about 10 o'clock and turn off the path. I take out my compass and map and begin counting and drawing landmarks onto my map. I travel about a kilometre northeast when I look at the sun and judge it is about midday. I look around and see a small clearing with a rock that looks like a small armchair. Perfect. I set down my bag and look around. I am not tired, and not puffed, but I am slightly hungry. I walk around and gather some sticks and branches to make small a fire.

Once I have a reasonable supply of wood I set it down and build a small tepee and fill the inside with dry leaves. I step back and examine my work. I frown as it is a little lopsided and is bound to fall over after five minutes of burning. I replace some sticks, step back. Much better. I dig through my bag and find my matches and strike one and quickly place it next to a dry leave. It instantly lights and I repeat this until the match starts to burn my fingers. I throw it in the flames and sit back to watch the fire slowly consume the lightwood. Once it is well and truly lit, I place two slightly bigger logs on the orange, dancing flames. I walk over to my bag and search for a tin of spaghetti and place it in the edge of the fire, with the lid slightly open. I shudder as I remember the time I didn't open the lid… The tin exploded. I settle down on my rock and look over what I have drawn on my map today. I eat my spaghetti and accidently nod off to sleep with the smell of smoke and nature around me.

I awake with a start with the feeling of falling. I look around quickly taking deep breaths. I am not falling, I thought to myself and calmed down. I get up and look at the sun. Crap! It was almost 3:30! I was supposed to be heading back home by now! I quickly pack my things, put out my fire and start back the way I came, only something seems different. I can't see my footprints from where I came before and the land seems to be different. I shake my head; it must be my mind playing tricks on me. I continue walking and walking and walking. I should have come across my path by now!

I start noticing that the trees are different, they don't feel the same. I climb a large rock, and hope that I will be able to see my house or some landmark. Nothing. Nothing is familiar. I start to panic, it is almost six o'clock! I should be only an hour's walk away from home by now! I walk a little further. I have never gotten lost in the forest before! I have always been able to follow my tracks or see some land mark. But now there was nothing.

I smell smoke on the breeze and the smell of cooking meat. Maybe someone else was hiking out here tonight and can give me directions. I follow the smell and come across some tracks. They are unlike anything I have seen before. Maybe the people are just wearing odd shoes. I walk into the camp and see the most horrible animals I have ever laid eyes on! They have shrivelled grayish skin, sunken yellow eyes, very little hair, pointed ears, sharp jiggered teeth and a horrible smell coming from them. I stood there, in the open, frozen, unable to move as I was spotted.

hahahahah cliff hanger!

please review!