My velvet black ears turned and swiveled around on top of my head, listening for any signs of intrusion. My body stood frozen with anticipation. I was sure I had heard something! Another rustle of leaves and snap of twigs proved my suspicions true and I quietly ran through the vegetation that I took up as my home.
I had once been a human – a witch to be exact- and I had been studying under Saruman the White Wizard in the Tower of Izenguard. He was my mentor, my model, and I was proud to learn the knowledge of magic from him. But he changed, was corrupted by the eye of Sauron. It was one night that I had been up late, practicing magic without the watchful gaze of Saruman to criticize and disapprove my foolish and reckless use of magic. Voices reached my ears and I became silent, listening in on what was being said. Eaves dropping was a horrible habit I had, and Gandalf the Grey had warned me that one day it would get me into trouble. Then, I hadn't known how right he was.
As I listened, I became struck with horror and fear. For the whispers of the dark lord Sauron were answering my master's calling voice. The ball of iron I had been playing with dropped from my hands, the thud echoing throughout the hall. The doors had been thrown open, light filling up the darkened hall. My old master's eyes stared at me disapprovingly. "What a shame that such talent should be thrown away." His words repeated themselves inside my mind. As Saruman pointed his staff at me and uttered a curse, I let out a horrifying scream.
I guess it was better than dying, but to live as a black-coated jaguar for the rest of my life was horrible in its own ways. Though I do admit having better hearing and sight and smell was a terrific advantage, I could not speak, and more importantly, I could not go back to my life that I had before training with the horrid wizard. I now led a life of solitude. Only my own thoughts to keep me company.
As I hid in the dense bushes, I could make out a company of strange people traversing through the forest. Two mortal men, an elf, a dwarf, a wizard draped in grey, a pony, and four tiny hobbits walked through my domain. I watched curiously as the wizard turned to look back at the party. "Come now, we must keep going. Our journey is a long one and we have little time to make it."
No, it couldn't be! I stared in surprise at the old wizard, for it was Gandalf, my old friend. And now that I looked more closely, I recognized three of the four hobbits, Frodo, Pippin, and Merry. It had been too long that I had seen the faces of my hobbit friends! I had met them when I went with Gandalf to the Shire. Merry and Pippin were my partners in crime, for we loved to cause mischief among the peaceful people.
I was so excited and overjoyed, that I sprung forward, without any thought, to meet them. I had surprised them no doubt, and the ringing of metal rang through the trees as the warriors pulled out their weapons. Then I remembered that I was in a new, different form that none of these friends would recognize me in and I stopped short of the group. They watched me with cautious eyes, the elf's bow strung back, ready to release at any sign of attack. Slowly, I backed away, back into the cover of the forest.
As soon as they could no longer see me, they all sighed in relief. Gandalf again looked back at everybody, "We must hurry, for we are trespassing in that animal's territory. I would much rather not have to kill it." He advised. The hobbits and a few others nodded in agreement and picked up their pace.
Now with the adrenaline finished rushing through me, I began to wonder. Why was such strange company traveling together? What mission could they possibly be on, especially when in the presence of kind, gentle hobbits? Whatever they were up to, I was going to find out.
I hoped everyone liked it! If anyone has any questions, comments, concerns, or just plain old encouragement, write me! And thank you so much for reading!
