Introduction time. My name is Aden and I'm what you would call a skin-changer. I have slightly wavy hair in a platinum-blond color, which I keep in a tight ponytail and yellow eyes like the most of the pack, and tan skin. My usual outfit consist of a long sleeved shirts and nice black pants with pockets on the side.

I think a lot of people would believe I have a hard life. Yes, I don't know my parents, although the current head says I look a lot like her daughter, who disappeared a while back. But I'm going on to graduate, trying to major in psychology, I'm a pro at playing the violin, and am pretty proud of myself. The only problem was that I tried to introduce my girlfriend to my family. She freaked, broke up with me, and later tried getting back together. The main reason I didn't do it was that she wanted me to bite her. I had to explain that that's not how it works and is completely unsanitary. But the pack was already fed up, and now they blamed me for almost revealing them (although they erased her memories). I never belonged with them. One member found me by the river and I had a strange form, at least to them. So they exiled me. They used that word. This is too medieval for my taste.

As for my strange form, I wasn't a wolf. I was more feline or lizard-like than anything. Smooth, sleek, black colored body and actually a couple of grey scales covering the front of my legs and running down my back, and a long tail. I decided to take my summer break and go on a journey to wherever, and was walking in a forest. Suddenly, I smelled smoke. I smelt a wisp before, but I thought it was from a campfire. Looking behind me, I realized it was from a full on forest fire. And it was approaching rapidly.

I began to run. Fire was one definite way of killing a skin changer. I kept running to where it was coolest, spotting the river. It wasn't very wide, and didn't seem very deep. I was grateful that I decided to buy the water proof case and bag. Carefully, I began to cross. Swimming wasn't my forte and this was a risky move. But I managed. That is, until I got to the middle.

I didn't spot the current or that the bottom dropped off. I lost my footing, and suddenly I was being dragged down the river like a ragdoll. I couldn't get a grip on anything. And then I was in the rapids, head and whole body getting dunked, holding on to my items desperately. At one point, I hit a rock, knocking me out cold.

When I woke up on the shore, I was surprised. I should most likely be dead. But I wasn't. Disoriented, but alive. I dragged myself farther onto land. Somehow, I hadn't lost any of my things. My clothes, slightly damp, were still okay. Grabbing my violin case and opening it, I grabbed my phone. Turning it on, I saw that I had no signal. "Great" I muttered to myself, standing up. Slinging my case around my shoulders and grabbing my bag, I headed in a random direction. Eventually I came across a small road and followed it. After a while, I felt something.

It sounds cliché, but I trust my senses. And I felt something evil. Walking in the opposite direction of where the feeling was coming from, I heard a voice yell "Mushrooms!" excitedly. I ran towards the shout, hoping to find people. When I got there, no one was there. Then there it was. The sound of galloping hooves heading towards me. A small hand grabbed my wrist, yanking me off the road. I was pushed under a small ledge created by some roots, a two hands over my mouth. Beside my sat small kids. No, not kids. They were tiny, but they had adult faces. And were barefoot, showing off hairy feet. Okay.

As the galloping came by, I hoped it would pass. But it stopped. Through a small hole, I could see some of it. A black horse with a black rider. I could not see their face, and I don't think id like too. Beside me, one of the small beings grabbed something and threw it. The black rider shrieked and ran towards the noise it had created. "Go, Go!" one said, and we were off. One was still holding my wrist as they attempted to drag me. I went along, thinking it was the best decision. When they were sure we were safe, they stopped. "Thank you" I said. "My name is Frodo, that's Sam, Pippin, and Merry" Frodo said, pointing to each of the small beings accordingly, "Who are you?"

"My names is Aden" I answered. "What are you doing here?" the one he called Sam asked. "I have the right to be on the road" I answered, maybe a bit rudely. They looked confused as they glanced at each other. "I didn't mean it like that. It's just that we don't get many men in the Shire" he said. The Shire? "What is going on?" Pippin asked. Merry pushed passed the others, approaching Frodo.

"The Black rider was looking for something...or someone...Frodo?" I shook my head, following them as they walked. "Can I come with you?" I said, causing them to look at me. "Why should we trust you?" Sam asked. "I haven't given you any reason to not trust me. I've met some ghost in my life, and that thing felt like a poltergeist" I said, "And I don't want to meet it again."

Merry looked at Pippin, silently asking what's a poltergeist. "You can feel it?" Frodo asked, "How?"

"I don't know. I always could feel things like this" I explained. Frodo nodded. "He can come" he said, "I have to leave the Shire...Sam and I must get to Bree". "Right...Buckleberry Ferry...follow me!" Merry shouted. As they ran out into the open, another black rider burst in out of nowhere. We ran to a river and I spotted a dock. It was small and had a simple raft next to it. But I felt the thing again, and there were more. The shriek rang out through the night. "They're several of them" I said as I saw them. All in black robes and black horses, holding wicked looking swords. We ran to the river, but I heard a thump behind me. Stopping, I saw Sam trying to get Frodo up. I ran over and scooped them both up, running back to the dock. Putting them down, Sam leaped across. Frodo went next, nearly not making it. The black riders were right at the edge now. Taking a few steps back, I leaped and landed on the raft, almost rolling of, but small hands stopped my fall. "How far to the nearest crossing?" Frodo asked. "The brandwine bridge...twenty miles." Merry answered. "What are those?" I asked. "We don't know" Frodo replied. "What are you?" I asked, turning to them.

"We're hobbits"