"There is some traces Uncle." Kili called from distance and Thorin turned to look his youngest nephew adjusting his crossbow.
"And what's so special about that?" he called back and noticed that Fili was already going after his brother.
There were traces all over the snowy forest landing beside the Mountain and they were checking out the rumors of the bear near the High Lake. Kili, still learning to track and maybe bit too earnest to do his work well, moved like a rabbit to find anything interesting. The young man stood still his back at his Uncle and brother staring the snow.
"Human's traces."
Thorin's eyebrow rose a bit and he started to walk toward Kili .Fili had stopped more south from his brother.
"No shoes." Fili informed and his alarmed face turned to search his Uncle. "And blood. Fresh."
Kili started to run following the traces, Fili and Thorin fast on his heels.
"Carefully Kili!" Thorin reminded when they got near the lake what was more as a big pond middle of the forest. Kili stopped suddenly and it didn't take long before the others were standing beside him. The young man pointed forward toward small form almost middle of the frozen lake. Fili had his phone out. "No field Uncle."
"Go, go to the hut, call Balin. And tell him to bring Oin. Come back with snowmobile and stretcher. Go!"
Fili turned to leave. Kili was already sprinting over the ice and Thorin listened how the ice moved, then followed.
"Kili, keep your eyes open for the bear." he commanded when they finally reached the still form and Thorin kneeled down. Carefully he studied the body of the unknown man. Man it was with bare feet and his clothes were soiled and ragged. There was more blood on his left side when Thorin turned the body to see. The head lolled to the side and Thorin tried to find a pulse, but it was too cold. The wound didn't bleed anymore.
"Is he dead?" Kili asked and his voice sounded so tiny, his eyes focused to the surrounding forest.
"Too cold to say." Thorin muttered and took off his jacket. "We have to get him inside." With care Thorin wrapped the jacked around the too still man afraid that they had found him too late. The cold and the blood loss weren't very encouraging combination. He hoisted the too thin and too light body on his arms and just knew that it would be a miracle if the man was able to survive.
"Lets go. We can come back tomorrow."
The ice under their feet cracked dangerously when they hurried away and they never saw the bear watching them hidden behind the fallen tree trunk. Its bright eyes followed the running men until they disappeared and the bear rose and shook its huge body. For a moment it stood there until finally sniffed and turned to leave. He had done his part and wanted to just go home.