It was a beautiful summer evening in Bree. The sun was just going
down, and there were crickets chirping in the bushes It was just cool
enough so that the flies weren't buzzing around everywhere. There was a
gentle breeze blowing, and an adventurous you hobbit (adventurous for a
hobbit, anyway), named Poppy Gardener, was out on a walk. She was not
expecting anything to happen on the quiet slopes outside the little town,
but what happened that night would forever affect her life.
As she ambled along, she started hearing noises in the trees and bushes that were the start of a thick forest. As the noises got closer, Poppy started to get uneasy. But, being a naturally curious person, she hid behind a rock to watch. A person stumbled into view, sides heaving and legs on the verge of collapse. He? she? tripped over a branch on the ground and fell hard. As the figure lay gasping and groaning on the ground, Poppy's curiosity finally overcame her sense of caution, and she crept closer to the now- still form. She was soon close enough to see the tattered, travel-stained clothes. And also close enough to see blood soaking through the back of the tunic. Pity replaced any remaining fear and common sense, and Poppy found herself helping the strange person up. With another heart-rending groan, the figure stood, leaning heavily on Poppy and slouching over. The hobbit looked up at the person momentarily, but then had to concentrate on staying standing under the weight leaning on her. But in that one brief glance, she saw a female face, young, and very dirty. Poppy noticed that she seemed rather tall, even though she was almost bent double. She was also very slender. Finally, the girl seemed able to stand on her own. She said something in a strange tongue that Poppy couldn't understand. The girl seemed to realize this, and tried again. "Not safe" was all she could get out, in a very strange accent. But Poppy soon understood what was being said, and not a moment too soon, for off in the distance they could hear hoof beats.
As she ambled along, she started hearing noises in the trees and bushes that were the start of a thick forest. As the noises got closer, Poppy started to get uneasy. But, being a naturally curious person, she hid behind a rock to watch. A person stumbled into view, sides heaving and legs on the verge of collapse. He? she? tripped over a branch on the ground and fell hard. As the figure lay gasping and groaning on the ground, Poppy's curiosity finally overcame her sense of caution, and she crept closer to the now- still form. She was soon close enough to see the tattered, travel-stained clothes. And also close enough to see blood soaking through the back of the tunic. Pity replaced any remaining fear and common sense, and Poppy found herself helping the strange person up. With another heart-rending groan, the figure stood, leaning heavily on Poppy and slouching over. The hobbit looked up at the person momentarily, but then had to concentrate on staying standing under the weight leaning on her. But in that one brief glance, she saw a female face, young, and very dirty. Poppy noticed that she seemed rather tall, even though she was almost bent double. She was also very slender. Finally, the girl seemed able to stand on her own. She said something in a strange tongue that Poppy couldn't understand. The girl seemed to realize this, and tried again. "Not safe" was all she could get out, in a very strange accent. But Poppy soon understood what was being said, and not a moment too soon, for off in the distance they could hear hoof beats.