"Normal Speech"
'Wolf Speech'
Chapter 3
The Inquisitiveness of Wolf Pups
Kiyiya woke just before dawn the following morning. The sun was just turning the sky a lighter shade of blue when she glanced out the window and she knew she would not have long before the hobbit hole full of slumbering Dwarfs was filled with noise.
The Wolf Princess laid a gentle hand on her sister who still slept deeply and gently shook the wolf pup awake. Honey opened her golden eyes reluctantly but when she saw Kiyiya holding a finger to her lips bidding her be quiet the black wolf quickly rose to her feet and stretched.
Kiyiya spared a moment to gather a couple of her weapons that she kept at Bag End in case of emergencies, a small dagger and a wooden staff that had no blade. Then slowly and carefully she turned the handle on the door and peered into the empty hallway.
The candles in the holders on the walls had burnt low, flickering weakly, nearly at the end of their wick. Seeing and smelling no Dwarfs or Wizards or even the owner of the smial Kiyiya gestured for Honey to follow her out. The pair would have to use the front door as the back door was nearest the bedrooms where the snores of Dwarfs were ringing out in the otherwise quiet morning.
The thick rugs and varnished wooden floor of Bag End helped Kiyiya and Honey sneak down the curving hallways quite quickly. A couple of the guest rooms had doors that were partially propped open and Kiyiya kept a keen eye on Honey to ensure that the wolf pup would not investigate and cause them both to be discovered skulking through.
Finally the front door was in sight and Kiyiya bit her lip nervously. Never before had she felt so trapped. So many people in Bag End was unusual and she had never been around so many beings at once. Her pack didn't count of course, family was different, but this many strangers in somewhere she thought of as under her protection made her feel uncomfortable and her breaths were shallow as her body attempted to flee like an animal.
Kiyiya lifted the latch on the round door and pulled at the round handle only to hear someone behind her yawning loudly.
She spun around, Honey echoing her movement and both females froze at the sight of a Dwarf standing in the middle of the hallway. Bright red hair and beard were thoroughly mussed and Kiyiya could just make out a pair of eyes in the mass of hair. The Dwarf stretched up high his undershirt rising up and Kiyiya realised he wasn't wearing any trousers!
Her eyes widened in shock and horror but she did not dare look away in case he spotted them. Luckily his undershirt was long enough to cover all his private areas and Kiyiya almost whimpered in relief as her young eyes were spared any indecency.
The Dwarf finally realised there was someone there and blearily peered towards her before grumbling out:
"Lookin' fur the bathroom…" He slurred almost drunk with sleep and watched as Kiyiya pointed to a door slightly down the curving corridor.
"Thanking you, very much." Gloin said and turned and staggered down the hallway, his bare feet loud despite the rugs.
Kiyiya wasted no time pulling the green door open and diving out. Honey did not wait for her sister and sped down the lane and into Hobbiton, her black coat a blur in the growing light and her scent spooking some of the farm animals that were penned within the town. A pig squealed loudly as she passed by and chickens began clucking nervously in their coops.
Kiyiya slowly shut the door to Bag End, heard the latch slide up on the metal and then click down into the groove. As soon as she knew the door was once more secure she spun and leapt down the stone stairs that led to the door, careful not to crush any of Bilbo's flowers and then over the gate.
So intent was she on escaping that she failed to notice the pale blue eyes of Gandalf the Grey peering interestedly through the window after her.
Gloin noticed the wizard when he left the bathroom and the red-haired Dwarf grunted at Gandalf before pausing and looking at the front door to the smial.
"I could've sworn there was a human lass there a moment ago… And some gold-eyed furry demon… Maybe Hobbit drink is stronger than we thought…" Gloin dismissed the vision as a figment of his alcohol soaked mind and stumbled back into the room he was sharing with his brother.
Gandalf shook his head at the Dwarf's words and peered down Bag Hill in time to see the girl's form vanish between the hobbit holes towards the edge of town. The livestock that had been in such a ruckus after the wolf's passing settled as soon as she sped by and Gandalf leaned back to stroke his beard thoughtfully.
"How interesting…" He said and Balin who had woken to have an early morning smoke looked at the wizard suspiciously.
When a wizard (or maybe just Gandalf the Grey, after all Balin had not met any other wizard) found something interesting it did not always bode well for those in the company of said wizard.
*DIRTY*PAWS*
The woods just outside Hobbiton were already awake and lively by the time Kiyiya and Honey stumbled into their depths. The wolf pup collapsed next to Kajika panting loudly and Kiyiya dropped down to lean against Menewa. Her head tilted back on her neck until it thudded down on his flank and the giant male wolf opened one eye to look at his sister with something akin to annoyance.
'What took you so long?' Kajika grumbled and yawned.
'Honey snuck in and I had to go after her. Turns out Bilbo's house was overrun with Dwarfs, and a wizard.' Kiyiya replied and massaged her forehead. The feeling of being smothered or suffocated was dissipating but had left an ache in her head.
Menewa huffed with laughter. 'I am sure Bilbo is enjoying his company. Nothing like a few Dwarfs to liven up a party.'
Kiyiya and Honey giggled.
'Bilbo was thoroughly vexed and upset. Turns out the wizard wishes to recruit Bilbo to be a burglar on a quest to the East. The Dwarfs are going to reclaim their homeland, a mountain called Erebor.'
Kajika pricked her ears up at the mention of the East. The furthest East the Ithil Draug Tylwythau ever ventured was Weathertop. The areas beyond were the domain of other packs or un-owned land that was traversed by Nomad wolves. Going East seemed fun.
'We will be following the Dwarfs?' Kajika asked in a dis-interested voice but Kiyiya did not miss the gleam of excitement in her eye.
'Yes.' Kiyiya said. 'Before we do however I wish to sleep some more. Keep an ear out and I am certain you will hear the Dwarfs passing by before long. There are thirteen of them and they are not the quietest of creatures.'
The Wolf Princess curled up on the floor on top of her rabbit fur coat and fell almost instantly asleep.
*DIRTY*PAWS*
Sometime later that day the giant wolves were slowly tracking the Dwarfs out of the edges of Hobbiton. They had slept for several hours until Menewa had heard Bilbo running along the track after a group of ponies.
The male wolf had roused his siblings and they had easily caught up to the Hobbit who was puffing and huffing as he frantically ran after the Dwarfs.
"Want a lift?" Kiyiya asked cheekily as she loped along next to the Hobbit. Bilbo's face was a bright red colour and sweat was already forming on the back of his neck. She wrinkled her nose as the smell invaded her sensitive senses and sneezed lightly.
"Yes please!" Bilbo panted and then yelped as Kiyiya plucked him up and tossed him onto Kajika's back, not once breaking her stride. The Hobbit clung to the she-wolf's back and wound his fingers in her russet fur.
Honey laughingly barked and ran in beside her much bigger sister.
"No need to worry Bilbo. We will drop you off near the Dwarfs so it seems as if you have run after them."
Bilbo looked at Kiyiya suspiciously.
"You are being very helpful. I do hope you will not be in trouble with your mother for leaving Hobbiton and going towards human settlements. I know how she worries about you meeting Men."
"No worries. What Mother does not know won't hurt her!" Kiyiya said cheerfully. "We are going to be going further East than Bree this time though Bilbo. And to be honest I think she knows you and I have been in many human towns. As long as I'm with you Mother won't say anything!"
"What do you mean you are going further than Bree?" Bilbo asked sharply. "You cannot mean to go to Erebor?"
Kiyiya whistled lightly for a while, ignoring the Hobbit's glares and questions.
"Oh look Dwarfs." She pointed at the trail of ponies that had just appeared around the corner. "Off you go Bilbo."
She caught the Hobbit as he slid down Kajika's side and then yelped loudly as he grabbed her front braid with the four beads. She really should remember that whenever Bilbo was annoyed he would grab the front braid. The four beads on it were very good at providing a handhold for the Hobbit.
"You are not coming." He said sternly and stared at her with a stubborn look in his eyes.
"Of course not. We just happen to be heading in the same direction. Kaji, Mene, Honey and I are going on a… diplomatic mission for Mother. Checking in with the other packs, seeing that the Nomads are obeying the Huan wolf laws, things like that. We probably won't even go past Mirkwood."
Bilbo spluttered and tugged at her hair again. Before he could tell her off too much though Honey piped up.
"You'd better run Bilbo, the Dwarfs are nearly gone." The pup pointed with her nose as the last pony disappeared over a rise. Bilbo cursed and immediately ran after the Dwarfs. After only a few steps he remembered what Kiyiya had said and spun around to tell her not to follow the Company but she and her siblings had vanished, not a trace remaining of their presence.
Bilbo could feel the wolf eyes watching him though and after making a rather ungentlemanly gesture in the general vicinity of the forest he ran after the Company shouting and waving the contract.
*DIRTY*PAWS*
Honey sighed as she peered and sniffed through the dark woods towards the Dwarfs campsite. For several days now she and her siblings had been following the Company of Thorin Oakenshield. It was getting rather monotonous now though and the excitement had worn off for the young wolf pup.
Every day was the same: Get up and follow after the Dwarfs, hunt a little bit, sleep during midday, follow the Dwarfs, wait for the Dwarfs to set up camp, go for a run and then sleep through till morning.
Kajika and Menewa had grown bored too and this night Kiyiya had sent the two off to hunt further afield and to scout the area ahead of the Dwarfs. Honey hadn't been allowed to go, she could not keep up with her bigger brother and sister and had a propensity for getting lost when she got left behind.
Kiyiya had played with the black pup for a little while but had grown weary and fallen asleep in a ball under her cloak. She had told Honey to go to sleep but the small pup had too much energy and curiosity pent up.
So as soon as she was certain Kiyiya was asleep, Honiahaka had crept through the woods towards the Company's campsite. The Dwarfs were fast asleep as far as she could tell and the two keeping watch could not see her sneaking around the trees at the edge of their campsite.
The ponies had smelt her but she had moved downwind and they had quickly settled back to quiet slumber and grazing.
Honey paused and glanced around, expecting Kiyiya or Kajika to suddenly descend of the darkness and pluck her away from the intriguing Dwarfs.
Honey decided that having a look was fine. Just have quick peek around the slumbering Dwarfs, smell their belongings, maybe pinch some of the dried beef that she could smell in one particularly rotund Dwarf's pack and then sneak back to Kiyiya with no one any the wiser.
Everything went well for a while. Honey padded along quietly through the sleeping Dwarfs. Carefully stepping around or over legs and arms that had been flung haphazardly around and were just waiting to trip up inquisitive wolf pups.
She had liberated the dried beef from the round Dwarf's pack and had even saved a piece for Kiyiya which she was holding gingerly in her mouth and resisting the temptation to eat. Honey had also sniffed several of the Dwarfs and now knew each one by scent as well as name.
She thought Oin smelt interesting, all planty and leafy. Bofur smelt like the pretty rocks that lined the walls of the Ithil Draug Tylwythau's caves near Lake Evendim in the north. Ori smelt like the paper and ink that he carried in his pack as well as smelling like sheep.
Some of the other Dwarfs were not so appealing and their scent's scared her slightly. Like the bald-headed Dwarf she was currently smelling. He smelt like blood and metal and anger as well as sorrow and sweet smelling grease that also covered his bruised knuckles.
Honey noticed the interesting patterns on his head and peered closer to try and look at them in the dim light of the fire. Her eyes were not keen enough in the dark to see the full designs and she stepped closer to try and see.
All of a sudden the Dwarf opened his eyes and sprang up with a roar. Honey yelped, dropping the dried beef on the grass and attempted to flee but everywhere she turned there were very awake Dwarfs blocking her path and preventing her escape. Her only other path of escape was over the edge of the cliff upon which the Dwarfs had made their campsite and she mentally cursed her inquisitiveness as she had chosen the one night where they slept in a place with only one entrance and exit to investigate the Company.
She cowered low to the ground, her tail tucked between her legs and her ears pressed against her scalp, trying to look intimidating and friendly. It obviously didn't work as a few seconds later a large hand lunged and grabbed her.
Dwalin hoisted the wolf-pup in the air with one hand, his strength no match for the wildly struggling black-furred pup who writhed and kicked her legs out. Despite the wolf's struggling she didn't once attempt to bite Dwalin and the Dwarfs watched with interest as the she-wolf slowly ceased moving until she hung limply from the Dwarf's fist.
Then she opened her gold eyes, looked in the direction of the trees and let out a whimpering howl:
"Kiyiyaaaaaaa!"
Bilbo woke at the wolf howl and sprang up from his bedroll recognising Honey's voice, as he spun around looking for the she-wolf he was horrified to see her dangling from Dwalin's hand.
"It talks!" Kili exclaimed as he moved forward and prodded the she-wolf in the belly. Again Honey didn't snap or bite at the invasive Dwarf but let out a whimper and a small snarl, her top lip curling up to reveal her sharp white teeth.
"I didn't know wolves could talk. Do it again?!" Kili moved to prod the wolf again but before Bilbo could call out to the Princeling Dwarf there was a blur of movement from the forest as Kiyiya burst out of the darkness.
Nori didn't even feel her lift two of his knives as the strange woman sped past him, reaching to draw them himself he realised that she had snatched them and he was astonished at her light-fingeredness.
Running full speed Kiyiya barrelled into Kili, the force behind her hit knocking the Dwarf to the ground and the pair rolled as they fell so that Kiyiya eventually ended up on top of Kili with her knees holding his arms down and her right hand holding a long thin knife over his left eye.
The moment he realised that the woman had a knife to his eye Kili stopped his movements fearing that if he dislodged the female she would stab or scratch him with the knife by accident. The Dwarf kept his body tense but allowed his back to press into the grass underneath submitting to the woman.
Fili tried to creep up on the female but as he swung one of his swords down he felt the prick of a knife behind his right knee.
"Drop your swords." She barked out without looking at the golden-haired Dwarf. "Drop them or this knife slices through the back of your knee, want to try living without being able to walk? Drop them!"
Fili hastened to do as she said and the moment his swords hit the grass he held his hands up to show that he was unarmed.
Emerald green eyes flicked up to look at him and Fili was startled at the calmness that was shown, not an ounce of fear or trepidation despite the fact that she had launched herself into a clearing with thirteen Dwarfs and a Wizard.
"Good boy. Now if anybody makes any sudden movements then I will slice through Fili's knee and this thin and very sharp knife will go straight into Kili's eye and into his brain. If that doesn't kill him instantly then you will be left with a rather confused and child-like Dwarf for the rest of his life."
All the Dwarfs who had picked up arms slowly lowered their weapons down once more and backed away from the raven-haired female.
She finally lifted her gaze from Kili's face and looked to Dwalin.
"Put the wolf-pup down please. I would hate to make a mess."
Dwalin growled and tightened his grip on the scruff of Honey's neck causing the she-wolf to yelp. Hearing the black wolf cry out Kiyiya increased the pressure on the knife she held to Fili's knee, the blade sinking through the tough fabric of his clothes to slice lightly into the skin. Fili let out a cry and then bit his lip.
"Please put Honiahaka down. I won't ask you again Dwalin." Her voice was smooth and low and hard like tempered steel and nobody wanted to challenge her a second time.
Bilbo had been struggling to get to where Dwalin stood and rescue Kiyiya but he was being held back by Bofur and Balin who were both restraining the huffing Hobbit.
"Just put Honey down and then she will let Kili and Fili go!" Bilbo cried out much to the shock of the thirteen Dwarfs and Gandalf. The wizard raised one grey eyebrow quizzically as the Hobbit referred to the black wolf as 'Honey'. Storing the information for later Gandalf turned his attention back to the current proceedings. It seemed both wolf and human woman had snuck up on the company without making a sound and the wizard was intrigued as to how Bilbo knew the talking wolf.
Slowly and cautiously Dwalin bent down, lowering his arm and fist until the she-wolf had all four paws on solid ground once more. The moment he released his grip from the scruff of her neck the black wolf took off from the camp and fled into the forest, barking as she went.
"Thank you. Now I'm going to withdraw the blades from Fili and Kili and then walk away." Kiyiya eased the blade from the back of Fili's knee and the blond Dwarf nearly staggered with relief. Before she withdrew the second knife from its place over Kili's eye, the raven-haired woman looked around the camp, noting the positions of all the Dwarfs and looking for an escape route. It was going to be a close call.
Rising up off her knees onto the balls of her bare feet Kiyiya then lifted the knife from its threatening position and leapt away. Kili let out the breath that he had been holding and sucked in another desperately. Fili knelt down beside his brother and cupped his face in his palms. The elder looked over the younger frantically searching for any wound and on seeing none pulled his brother into his arms.
The rest of the Dwarfs were in an uproar chasing and swinging blades at the raven-haired woman who merely laughed and ducked under and jumped over the broad strokes. Dwalin attempted to grab her arm but instead found himself holding Nori's hair instead. Gloin attempted to trip her with his axe but instead sent Bifur hurtling to the ground.
Balin and Bofur had also joined the fight which left Bilbo unattended and he tried to draw everyone's attention and get them to cease fighting however the hot-blooded tempers of the Dwarfs were high; no one threatened one of their own, let alone two, and got away unscathed. Thorin in particular was snatching at the female and swinging his sword trying to hit her with the back of the blade, only to knock her out mind, he could not believe someone had slipped past some fierce and seasoned warriors and managed to threaten his nephews with barely any effort.
Kiyiya laughed and dodged hands and axes that were being swung at her. Eleven of the Dwarfs were trying to capture her whilst Fili and Kili looked on in disbelief at her weaving effortlessly among the battle hardened warriors.
Finally growing bored of their shenanigans Kiyiya ran towards the rock face which sheltered their campsite and dropped Nori's knives. Leaping on the wall she slammed into the rock, her fingers and toes finding crevices and bulges and clinging on tightly. She scrambled up until she was too high for the Dwarfs to reach without climbing up after her and then she watched as they swarmed below her.
Bilbo was now at the back of the group rather close to the edge of the bluff pulling at Dwarf hair and clothes trying to catch anybody's attention.
"Oh please! Please stop. Let her down, she doesn't mean anything! You threatened her sister of course she would threaten you. Oh Please! Listen to me you infuriating Dwarfs!"
Bilbo's cries and tugs went unnoticed by all save Gandalf and Kiyiya. Just as the wizard was about to move forward and calm the frenzied Dwarfs, Bilbo pulled rather fiercely on Bombur's hair and as the rotund Dwarf turned to see what was going on his wide girth knocked Bilbo sending the Hobbit tumbling back towards the edge of the cliff.
"Bilbo!" Kiyiya cried as she saw the Hobbit rolling quickly towards the sharp drop. She let out a howl as she flung herself over the mass of Dwarfs to land behind the group. Hitting the ground hard and rolling into the fall, Kiyiya rose up from the knock and began running towards the Hobbit.
Fili and Kili had also darted towards Bilbo and Kili managed to grab the Hobbit before he went over the cliff and throw him back to Fili. The blond dwarf caught Bilbo and the poor Hobbit let out a whimpering gasp of relief. Kiyiya slid to a halt beside Fili and Bilbo and looked Bilbo over, sniffing his face and hair.
"Nearly lost Bilbo because of Bombur's girth there!" Kili called from where he stood on the precipice. Laughing he made to move forward but stopped suddenly as he felt the ground beneath his feet shifting and rumbling.
Flicking his head back up Kili locked frightened eyes with Fili.
"Kili!" Thorin cried and made to run to his nephew but the earth beneath the younger dwarf's feet crumbled sending him crashing down. Sliding to a stop Thorin stared in shock at the spot where Kili had been moments before. So shocked was he that he barely reacted when Kiyiya ran past him plucking his sword from his hand.
The woman was a blur of speed as she navigated the still crumbling ground and finally leapt off the side of the cliff mere seconds after Kili went over.
*DIRTY*PAWS*
Falling through the air head first Kiyiya was able to make out the dark-haired dwarf trying to grab anything to stop him from falling. From her vantage point the woman could see there was a bluff of white rock below Kili and if she didn't do something soon he would hit it and Kiyiya very much doubted that even a dwarf would survive that hard a landing.
A flimsy looking tree was growing from the cliff face and Kili grabbed onto the thin trunk with both hands and let out a yelp as he did so. The tree trunk was covered in sharp thorns and the thin blades had driven themselves into his palms but he knew he couldn't let go. Instead he tightened his grip and felt the needle like tips drive themselves further into his skin.
Angling her body Kiyiya was able to move towards Kili's direction. Letting out a cry as she came falling towards him she saw his eyes widen in astonishment at the woman hurtling towards him. Instead of grasping the tree trunk like Kili, Kiyiya carried on falling past him and she heard him let out a hoarse cry.
The rocky bluff came speeding towards her and when she was halfway between Kili and the bluff she reached out her left hand and dug her nails into the rock. Her fingernails had always been tougher and more robust than a Hobbit's or a Man's and whilst not as hard as wolf claws they had aided her well over the years.
Toenails and fingernails carved thin winding scars into the soft lime-like stone and Kiyiya felt sharp slices of rock carve off and drive into her hand. When her pace had slowed the wolf-girl drove Thorin's sword into the soft rock the blade managing to find a crack caused by nature and jamming itself in there. Coming to a sudden and painful stop Kiyiya yelped as her arm was almost yanked from its socket.
Panting from the exhilaration and fear Kiyiya felt a small smile adorn her face. This was one thing she was good at. Unforeseen circumstances leading her to improvise had always given her a thrill and this was no exception.
Kiyiya looked back up towards Kili and cursed under her breath when her braid with the four beads continuously fell into her eye.
"Kili. You're going to have to let go of that tree. Fall down towards me and I'll catch you and then you can drop from here down to the bluff. A fall from my height won't kill you but if you fall from where you are I would say you'll probably die."
Still hanging on for dear life Kili winced as another thorn entered his skin. He would be lucky if he could hold his bow tomorrow: that is if he had a tomorrow to live to!
"And why exactly should I trust you? Not ten minutes ago you were holding a knife to my eye and threatening to turn me into a child!"
"Such stubborn creatures Dwarfs. Fine, plummet to your death, see if I care. I do rather think that your uncle and brother may be slightly upset at your demise. Especially as they won't be able to collect your body and bury you properly, you'll be hundreds of feet below them and probably rather like strawberry jam spread on the ground. Then again you are the spare prince so maybe one extra mouth won't be such a loss."
Blood drained from Kili's face and he swallowed at the thought of turning into strawberry jam. He was too good looking to die this young but he wasn't sure about trusting his life to the woman who had almost killed him mere moments ago.
"Excuse me!" Bilbo called and shoved his way past the Dwarfs who were peering over the edge of the cliff and trying to work a way down to where Kili was or a way of pulling the Dwarf prince back up the cliff when none of their ropes were quite long enough.
"Kili, I promise she won't hurt you. She wouldn't hurt anyone unless it was to protect her pack. She probably wouldn't have stabbed you at all even if Dwalin had refused to let Honey go. Kiyiya is a good person so just do as she says and you will get out of this alive." Bilbo yelled down to the Dwarf who was wincing as the thorns drove deeper into his hand.
"You better be right about her Mr Boggins." Kili muttered before glancing down at the wolf-woman. She nodded back at him and braced herself against the cliff face.
Murmuring a quick prayer Kili released the tree and fell down through the air only to feel his body jerk to a stop as the feral girl grabbed the back of his clothing and held him with one hand like a cat holding a kitten. Kili felt rather like a kitten but he was glad that so far he hadn't become strawberry jam so he pushed down the mortification and sighed lightly.
Kiyiya grinned down at the Dwarf who peered up at her, surprised she was holding his weight with such ease. Before she could work on a plan to get the pair of them back up or indeed down the cliff face there was a grating noise as Thorin's sword began to slip out of the rock.
Kiyiya yelped and tried to push the blade further into the rock but was unable to do so with her strength focused on holding Kili's weight.
Cursing Kiyiya tipped back her head and let out a long and desperate howl. The Dwarfs at the top of the cliff turned around as they heard and answering howl and as they watched two wolves the size of horses loped through the trees and came up behind the Dwarfs.
The larger of the two wolves had the small black wolf hanging from his jaws and as they looked the small black wolf grinned wolfishly at the gathered Dwarfs and then barked laughingly at their astonished faces.
The smaller giant wolf pushed through the Dwarfs gently, ignoring their muttered conversation and the raising of their weapons and the male followed after her. When they reached the edge Menewa carefully stopped and placed Honey down on the ground and when the young pup made to go and taunt the Dwarfs he thumped his paw down in her mouth and growled lowly.
"Finnnneee." Honey drawled and moved to sit between his forepaws. Her ears pressed down on her skull and she wrapped her tail and her legs and sulked. She knew she was in deep trouble when they rescued Kiyiya and she was not looking forward to the lecture from both sisters. Menewa would merely punish her by giving her several harsh nips when they were next training. In a way the lectures were worst because of the disappointed words and the upset faces her sisters made.
Kajika did not waste any time on the Dwarfs or her siblings. Her main concern was her furless older sister. When she reached the edge Kajika looked down and saw Kiyiya hanging from the sword with Kili grasped in her other hand. For a brief moment Kajika closed her eyes and counted to ten. It was always Kiyiya getting in trouble and Kajika and Menewa usually getting her out of it. The wolf sister had hoped that Kiyiya would grow out of this habit. Their human sister was nearly ten springs older than Menewa and Kajika but more often than not Kajika acted much older than both her siblings. Honey's mischief and mistakes could be forgiven as the little wolf pup had only eight winters in her life and didn't know any better.
Kiyiya had no such excuse.
'What have you been up to Kiyiya?' Kaji growled and rolled her eyes at her human sister.
'Wasn't my fault. Honey got curious and decided to go and sniff Dwarfs, they smell foul by the way, but then she woke one of them up who caught her and the others all decided to come and have a poke at her. I may have intervened, threatened one of the alpha's heirs, rescued our sister and then led the Dwarfs on a merry dance until they nearly knocked Bilbo off a cliff. The alpha's heirs rescued Bilbo but unfortunately the heir that I threatened earlier fell over the cliff and I felt guilty for threatening his life earlier so I decided to try and stop him from turning into a mess on the ground but it hasn't really worked out in my favour. Now Kili and I need to get back up to where you are, any ideas?' Kiyiya growled and yipped back at her sister and the amber-eyed she-wolf surveyed the cliff looking for a way down.
'I have one idea. But Bilbo is not going to like it.' Kajika said and then waited for Kiyiya's reply.
'We just won't tell him. What is this idea?'
Several seconds later Kili felt Kiyiya toss him slightly in the air and released the back of his coat only to grab his hand instead. The Dwarf now dangling from her palm and looking up.
"I'm hoping you have a plan!" He called up to the woman. Kiyiya's answering sheepish grin caused Kili's stomach to churn even more than it already was.
"We have one plan. You aren't going to like it, so I'm not going to tell you what it is. All you need to do is keep still. And stop pestering me."
Thorin turned to look at Bilbo with a deeply furrowed brow. Bilbo shrunk back slightly from the ferocity of the King's gaze.
"What does that witch mean?"
"Pardon?" Bilbo stammered and wrung his hands together. Why did Kiyiya always get him in trouble? Even when she wasn't trying she caused him mischief and this time there were at least twelve Dwarfs who wouldn't hesitate to cause the Hobbit seriously bodily harm unlike the last spot of trouble Kiyiya and her siblings had caused where the only victims had been the Sackville-Baggins. Although now that Bilbo thought about it he wasn't sure all the Dwarfs would hurt him.
He had struck up a friendship of sorts with some of them: Bofur was always telling the rather prim Hobbit tawdry tales that made the Hobbit's pointy ears flush in embarrassment, Bombur had shared some excellent cooking tips and he and Bilbo had discussed some of the Shire's special cheeses and the like and Ori was very keen to write a small pamphlet or guide to Hobbits as it appeared Dwarf knowledge on Hobbits was rather lacklustre and misinformed (Nori's enquiry as to whether Hobbits grew off plants like strawberries or popped out of the ground like potatoes had been quite disturbing).
So Bilbo was actually quite certain that at least those three Dwarfs wouldn't cause him bodily harm if they didn't like Kiyiya's plan but the other Dwarfs were rather a grey area where Bilbo's welfare was concerned.
"What does that woman mean when she says Kili won't like the plan? If my nephew is harmed in anyway…" Thorin let the rest of his sentence trail away and began fingering the edge of his axe in a meaningful and rather intimidating manner.
"I see. Umm, I'm not entirely sure? Kiyiya is quite inventive and her plans are nearly always successful…"
Thorin did not look reassured by Bilbo's words and neither did the other Dwarfs. In fact Bilbo could have sworn he saw Nori dipping his knives in bottles marked with rather grotesque skulls. Fili was prowling along the cliff edge like a small lion and every now and again snarling at Honey (who was actually the real culprit of the entire fiasco but everyone seem to have forgotten that small fact). Dwalin had brought out a cloth and was polishing the surface of his rather large and heavy Warhammer with relish.
Bilbo squeaked and gulped nervously. He glanced up at Gandalf but so far the wizard had chosen to remain shtum and was instead calmly and contemplatively smoking his pipe as if they were all having a wonderful philosophical conversation rather than trying to save a Dwarf prince from plummeting to his death.
"Just give me two seconds and I'll try and find out what the plan is shall I?" Bilbo said and Thorin growled in response.
"Right!" Bilbo answered and scurried back over to the cliff edge where he carefully knelt next to Menewa and peered over the face and squinted in the darkness searching for Kiyiya and Kili. Menewa had rolled his eyes at the Hobbit's actions but Bilbo felt his jaws hovering over the Hobbit and knew that if Bilbo did begin to take a tumble the large male wolf would pluck him from the air faster than a kingfisher catching a fish in a stream.
"Tell me the plan Kiyiya or so help me!" Bilbo cried out worriedly but the woman didn't reply and merely began growling up at the wolf. Kajika nodded and then dropped down so that her chest was pressed to the top of the cliff edge and her neck and head were bending down towards Kiyiya and Kili.
"Ready?" Kiyiya called and was answered with a high-pitched bark from Kajika and a terrified 'No! Wait! Tell me the plan first!' from Bilbo. Kili meanwhile had decided to take heed of Kiyiya's words and was remaining silent but attentive (his mother would have been proud that he'd learnt to keep his mouth shut although this situation was not one his mother would have been very pleased with and Uncle Thorin would probably be quivering in his boots if Dis was around).
Kiyiya drove Thorin's sword further into the cliff causing the metal to scream as it pierced through the soft chalky stone. The blade did not go much further in but Kiyiya marvelled at the strength of Dwarfish iron and made a note to try and liberate the tri-pointed Dwarf and Fili of some of their many "hidden" daggers after all this was over. The Wolf Princess could use some strong blades that held up under her force.
Once she was sure the blade would not be budged too much the Wolf Princess planted her feet on the cliff, her bare toenails digging into the chalky rock too and she shivered at the niggling chunks of rock that cut the soft skin under her nails. Taking a deep breath she glanced down at Kili who was still looking rather queasy and mistrustful.
"I promise you will walk away from this in one piece Kili." She said softly.
Kili's mouth dropped open slightly in surprise at the strange woman's soft and reassuring tones. They were hanging off a cliff, possibly about to die and not only was she making promises that Kili wouldn't die here but she was trying to comfort him.
Kili nodded his head and grinned cockily at her.
"Of course I will. I'm too young and handsome to die. Besides Fili would be lost without me!" He winked at the feral woman and she laughed merrily. Suddenly a drop of blood landed on Kili's face and both woman and Dwarf widened their eyes. The tree that Kili had been clasping earlier had cut deeper than they both realised and soon Kili's palm would be too slick with blood for Kiyiya to hold onto.
Kiyiya howled up at Kajika and the she wolf barked and yipped her reply. Menewa had half risen from his sitting position; ready to intervene if anything went wrong and even Honey had grasped the severity of the situation and was sitting well out of the way.
Kiyiya began to swing her arm that was holding Kili backwards and forwards with the Dwarf hanging of the end like the pendulum of a clock. Bilbo's eyes widened in horror and realisation at what Kajika and Kiyiya were about to attempt. He had seen them do this a couple of times before but never at such a great height and never without Menewa at the bottom to catch Honey or Kajika herself if it went wrong.
"One…Two…... Three!" As she counted Kiyiya swung her arm back and forth violently with Kili swinging below her rising higher and higher in the air until his feet were actually passing higher than her head. As the Dwarf began to gain momentum he realised what Kiyiya was about to do. Before he could tighten his grip however and demand that Kiyiya and Kajika think of a new plan the woman reached three and swung Kili up into the air, her hand letting go of his once he was above her.
Soaring into the air Kili screamed (in a very masculine manner) and closed his eyes. Air rushed downwards past him and just as he thought he was going to plummet down the cliff to a rather painful stop, gentle jaws snatched him from the air.
Opening one eye and peeking up through his long black hair Kili saw that the smaller giant wolf had gently caught his arm and coat in her teeth and the she-wolf quickly backed up to deposit the Dwarf on solid ground once more. In seconds Fili and Thorin were at his side taking stock of his injuries. The other Dwarfs crowded round their leader and his nephews and brandished their weapons at the wolves and Hobbit who were still peering worriedly over the cliff.
"Well done Kajika. I'll be up in a minute." Kiyiya's voice called from the cliff side.
Taking a moment Kiyiya closed her eyes and rested her head on the rock in front of her. She was panting heavily and her muscles were screaming at her for holding on for so long and for throwing a being who weighed quite a bit more than she did up the cliff. Kiyiya's arms buckled and she clung harder to the hilt of Thorin's sword.
She wiped her blood soaked hand on her bare right arm, trying to remove the slippery blood that coated her palm and fingers before sinking her nails into the cliff. Bracing herself against the cliff she tugged and pulled at the sword and winced as the blade withdrew from the rock with a sheer and high-pitched scream. Once the full length of the blade was free she slipped it into the waistband of her skirt, carefully positioning the sharp and pointy end back and away from her legs. Impalement did not seem a pleasant experience.
Satisfied that Kili was not severely injured some of the Dwarfs turned to peer over the bluff watched as the woman scaled the cliff face, both hands free she was now able to cling to the rock and move up slowly, testing each hand hold and foothold as she went. For the Dwarfs who had been miners such as Bofur and Bifur they could almost sense the footholds that she would use and were surprised at how speedily she could make her way up. Even for Bofur who had experience with nearly every type of rock or stone in Middle Earth the climb without some sort of aid like a pick or a rope and weights would have taken Bofur longer than the feral woman. It was as if she was able to pierce the rock and lock her position securely with each new hand or foothold.
Just as she was about to make the final stretch up to the top of the cliff the area where her right foot was gripping crumbled and snapped away from the cliff face. Yelping Kiyiya flung her hand up trying to reach the grass and rock above. Instead she found herself grasping the end of Gandalf's staff and the wizard was leaning back, counter-balancing her weight and gravity.
Bilbo scrambled forward and grabbed Kiyiya's other arm trying to help in any way he could. Seeing their burglar trying to aid the woman Bofur and Dori hastened to Gandalf's side and they pulled the woman back up onto solid ground once more with their added weight and strength.
Kiyiya knelt gratefully in front of the Dwarfs and panted harshly. It had been a long time since she had nearly slipped whilst climbing and never before had Kajika or Menewa not been beneath her to catch her if she did make a mistake.
Just as the raven-haired woman was about to thank Gandalf she felt an ice cool blade pressed against her throat. Looking up the length of the sword and travelling up the arm which held it Kiyiya found herself looking at Thorin Oakenshield, and he did not look impressed…
*DIRTY*PAWS*
A/N: Thank you to the new people who have followed/favourited this story! I'd love to hear what you think of it though? Maybe a little teeny-tiny review? Just a wee one? Cause the nine that I've had (A FELLOWSHIP WOW) were from last year and I know I didn't update in a year but there have been a few people reading this so it'd be nice to see what you think? Cause otherwise I might take this down, finish my Lord of the Rings fic and then just leave it there... So please let me know if you think it's worth continuing this Hobbit fic...
