She didn't sleep while they travelled, she would only take short naps when it was day time and when the hobbits were awake, her eyes seemed to follow every movement that Aragorn made and the twisting in her gut never settled. They only spoke when necessary and it had begun to make the hobbits agitated, and it was Sam who was first to voice their uneasiness.

"I know I'm not Strider's biggest fan but you seem to harbour a special hatred for him," he whispered it to her while they were preparing breakfast, Kit was shaping a small fire as Sam began to cut up some vegetables. A sound escaped her lips that resembled a scoff, "I do not hate him."

The other hobbits were chatting amongst themselves while they packed up camp with Strider who, as Kit had forgotten, seemed to be able to hear all. "Then why are you almost violent towards him?" as Strider attempted to listen sharper to their murmurs, Kit looked up and caught his eye. She looked away and busied herself with the sticks in her hands before she answered, "I hardly even know him, he could be a great person but," she faltered and Sam looked at her expectantly causing her to sigh "I know what people like him are like."

"You've met a Ranger before?" his voice was almost excited and his eyes widened slightly, he had only ever met hobbits and the most exotic thing he had ever met was Gandalf.

She gave him a stiff nod, "It was many years ago," As she spoke she could see Strider stiffen out of the corner of her eye but she thought nothing of it, "Maybe I'm bitter because it looks like Gandalf sent him because he believed that we weren't capable of looking after him."

With a motion with her hands the fire lit and Sam quickly placed the food over it, but it was evident that her words had affected him. She placed a pale hand on his shoulder and gave him a rare smile, "Strider may not be so bad, he did after all complement your braveness."

Sam let out a soft chuckled, "He's a strange fellow isn't he?"

Kit let out a laugh and nodded as she stood to rally the others to breakfast. She gave Frodo a squeeze on the shoulder as she walked past him and towards her own pack, she had noticed that his dreams seem to haunt him now more than ever before. He had awoken more than once to Kit's worried gaze, if it had just been them back at Bag End she would have sung to him like she has since they were children but now Strider has made her place her guards up.

"He watches you."

Kit stopped with her pack in her hands; she turned her head to find Frodo looking at her with such innocence only a child could have. She gave him an uneasy smile, "What are you talking about?"

"Strider, since we've started out on this journey he keeps watching you almost as though if he looks away even for a moment you may disappear."

She felt the twisting in her gut intensify, it was the sickening feeling of forgetting something and Kit felt as though they must have met before but it was impossible. The thought of it made her laugh. She tried to give him a reassuring smile as she pulled her pack over her shoulder, his unwavering gaze caused her to scratch the area on her arm that always seemed to be covered.

"He looks at you the same way Frodo, it will not do you well to worry on such things and I am here to worry about you it's not the other way around." She breathed out a laugh as she closed the space between them and pulled him towards the others so he could get his fill of breakfast. She caught Strider staring at the place on her arm she was scratching and she immediately stopped and stole a piece of bacon from Pippin's plate. He almost lunged at her to take it back but she placed it between her teeth with a smile causing the hobbits to chuckle and Pippin to mutter before continuing to scoop food into their mouths.

She dreaded the moment when the hobbits eating schedule would be announced to Strider but it seemed the cold and rain they had to travel through had silenced them. Strider kept to the front while she rounded the back of the line, as they travelled up the top of hills Kit noticed the frost that covered the ground around their feet which caused them to have to slow down and was about to voice her concerns on the safety when her feet betrayed her and her right foot slipped on a piece of ice with the intent of sending her backwards down the hill they had just climbed when a hand gripped her wrist. The hood of her cloak flew off her head and her foot slammed back down on the down, she reached her other hand out to wrap around the person's wrist and she crouched slightly to regain her balance. The smell of ice and leathers filled her nostrils and for once she was glad that she was a dog shifter which gave her quick reflexes.

She gazed up and caught the grey eyes of Strider before her, how he got to her so quickly was beyond her but she was grateful despite her better judgement. They were both breathing heavily and their breath clouded in front of their lips from the cold, the sound of clattering echoed around them but it was Strider who broke the silence between them.

"I should have warned about the ice; that was a mistake on my part, my lady."

Kit wretched her hands free from his touch and with disgust on her tongue she spoke, "I am no Lady."

With that she pushed past him and stood off to the side of the group staring at the world about her. Her arm ached and burned causing her to pull her lip between her teeth, she clenched her fists in anger. Weak, he has made me weak and haunts me still, she thought bitterly, he has made me cold and unfeeling. She did not trust rangers anymore not after him.

"I did not mean to offend." Strider stood next to her and she did not have to look at him to know that he was staring at her arm that she was gripping so hard.

She sighed and rubbed her forehead with her thumb as her shoulders slumped, "I am not used to social interactions outside of my master and his friends, so it is I who offends you."

Why did Strider have to be so kind? Why could he not be like others and scold her with cruel words like the mutt she is.

He was still eyeing her arm, "What is wrong with your-"

She cut him off, "We should keep going."

He nodded and they began to continue their travelling over the hills, it was when an apple tree appeared before her that she realised that Strider had paused a few steps back. He looked in bewilderment at the hobbits who cluttered around each other with pots and pans, clearly about to cook another meal for the day. Kit let out groan and leaned her head in her hand as she clenched her eyes shut, this is what she had been dreading all morning.

"Gentlemen! We do not stop 'til nightfall."

They all looked up at him in confusion, "What about breakfast?" Pippin cried.

Strider furrowed his brow, he turned to look at Kit, who shrugged at him with a slight grimace of a smile, only to look back to Pippin in confusion. "You've already had it."

"We've had one yes. What about second breakfast?"

Strider frowned whilst shaking his head he turned and walked toward Kit and disappeared between the bushes before her and curiosity got the better of her so she followed. She watched as he pulled apples off the branches of the trees and it only took her a moment before she joined him and began plucking at the apples. She could hear the hobbits moving about and almost smell Pippin's panic, she let out a small laugh as she pulled her long black hair into a bun causing Strider to send her a look. "If only you knew how much of their little bodies stomach is," she chuckled and she could see him smile to himself as he tossed her an apple.

"Don't think he knows about second breakfast Pippin." Merry spoke as they packed their things again. Their voices carried over the bushes and Kit shook her head with a smile, oh how much Pippin will have to get used to!

"What about elevenses? Luncheon, Afternoon Tea, Dinner? Supper! He knows about them, doesn't he?" Pippin cried with worry.

"I wouldn't count on it."

Kit watched in humoured horror as Strider tossed an apple over the bush and her sensitive eyes caught the loud thunk! It made as it met Pippin's skull.

"You like showing off don't you?" Kit teased.

Strider chuckled softly, glad that her spirits were high and the haunted look that she wore had disappeared. He wondered why Gandalf had lied to him so many years ago but he would have to wait until they reached Rivendell and told Arwen about it to understand.