Heeeeeeeeey. So, once again, sorry for the long wait. This chapter took us a while. BTW this is a ridiculously long chapter so I hope y'all like it. Have fun!

Kaia woke to the sun shining bright in her eyes. She nearly smiled when her eyes snapped open in realization. The sun was higher than it should be, unlike the other mornings when they woke right as the sun was coming up. She sat up, seeing Fili and kili were both gone from her side.

Her head whipped around in panic, until she saw them walking over to the spot she was at. They were coming from next to the rest of the company. Fili noticed she was awake and he slightly quickened his pace as he walked towards her. He kneeled down when he reached her.

"Well, about time you were awake."

Kaia smiled and sighed "Why are we not going anywhere?"

"Uncle thought it best to take a day to rest after everything that happened, what with the Giants and goblins and orcs..." Kili said.

Rolling her eyes, she stood and made her way over to the company.

"G'morning Kaia, would you like some stew for breakfast?" Bofur asked.

"I'm fine." Kaia responded.

"You should eat. You need your strength." Thorin said, handing her a bowl.

They say eating their food and discussing where to go from there and arguing over which way was west.

They spent most of the day arguing, but also laughing and having fun just like they would back at home. Kaia sat listening, eating her stew until she heard Gandalf,

"Quiet!"

Everyone looked to him.

"What is it?"

"Orcs, I believe. We need someone to go and check."

"I'll go." Kaia quickly replied.

"No, why don't we let our burglar check?"

"But..."

"I'll do it." Bilbo piped up, seeing that an argument would resume and knowing he wouldn't want to be a part of it.

As he walked away, Kaia turned to her uncle. She had assumed after what she heard last night that Thorin would stop treating her like a child. Setting down her bowl, she stormed away and started to pick up her bedroll. The rest of the company followed suit. Fili and Kili, noticing her anger, decided to leave her alone and quietly packed their own things. Soon the camp was packed and there was almost no trace that anyone had been there.

They gathered once they saw Bilbo returning.

"How close is the pack?" Thorin asked.

"Too close." Bilbo replied, running to join them,"couple of leagues, no more. But that is not the worst of it."

"The wargs have picked up our scent?" Dwalin asked.

"Not yet,they will though." Bilbo responded, "but we have another problem."

"Did they see you?" asked Gandalf. "They saw you."

"No." said Bilbo impatiently.

"See? what did I tell you? Quiet as a mouse." Gandalf said, smiling. the company nodding in agreement. "Excellent burglaring material."

"Will you just listen!" Bilbo shouted, frustrated.

"I am trying to tell you there is something else out there."

"What form did it take?" Gandalf asked. "Like a bear?"

Bilbo looked at Gandalf in surprise. "Yes, but bigger, much bigger."

Bofur stared at Gandalf his eyes widened. "You knew about this beast!"

"I say we double back."

"We'll be run down by a pack of orcs." Thorin said.

"There is a house." Gandalf said. "Not far from here, where we might take refuge."

"Whose house?" Thorin asked. "Are they friend or foe?"

"Neither." Gandalf replied. "He will help us or he will kill us."

"Oh well that's just fine." Kaia said rolling her eyes.

"What choice do we have?" Thorin asked, as a howl tore through the air.

"None." Gandalf said.

Thorin looked behind them, then back to Gandalf.

"Then we go to the house. Come on!" He shouted as the company began to follow Gandalf.

As soon as the dwarves had moved from their hiding spot, they knew trouble was headed their way. A warg spotted them almost as soon as they moved from behind the rocks. Kaia threw a knife at it, hitting the beast right between the eyes, killing it. The company ran through fields, spotting a fenced off house in the distance. It grew closer and closer as they ran, but soon they had another problem.

The giant bear ripped through the trees, running at them with incredible speed. Some of them had finally reached the gate, but they couldn't get inside. Kaia was one of the last to run through the gate, followed by Thorin. She ran towards the company, seeing them struggle with the door. She rolled her eyes in disbelief.

"Oh are you all so dense?!" She shouted as she lifted the latch on the door. Everyone fell inside the gate, the beast still behind them. They all quickly turned, just barely closing the door before the creature could get inside.

"What is that?" Ori asked.

"That is our host." Gandalf said.

"His name is Beorn, and he is a skin changer. Sometimes he's a huge black bear, sometimes he's a great strong man. The bear is unpredictable, but the man can be reasoned with. However, he is not overfond of dwarves."

Kaia shook her head. Would this wizard ever do anything normal?

"Alright now get some sleep. All of you. You'll be safe here tonight." Kaia set her bedroll out on a pile of hay. She laid down, once again, Kili and Fili at her sides.

"This is probably the most comfortable place we've slept yet." Kili said.

Kaia smiled as she closed her eyes and fell asleep instantly.

Kili had been laying still for around five minutes until he became bored. They had all woken up late today, and this was the earliest they had ever gone to sleep. Now he lay awake, staring at the roof of the stables.

He turned, seeing his little sister fast asleep next to him. He grinned, seeing a small ghost of a smile on her lips. She always did that when she slept. She looked so happy even when she was asleep. She was curled up on her side, facing him, her back pressed against Fili. Kili couldn't help the smile that spread across his face. It was a habit Kaia didn't know she had, but it was rather funny to Kili. Fili's eyes were closed, but Kili knew he wouldn't fall asleep that fast.

"Fili!" He whispered. For a moment, Kili received no response, but then Fili cracked an eye open and smiled. He slowly pushed himself up slightly, bracing himself on his elbow.

"She's already asleep." Kili said.

"I know." Fili replied, looking down at Kaia.

"She fell asleep faster than normal."

"Probably from all the running today."

"Yeah…" Kili said.

The two sat quietly for a moment, staring at their little sister.

"Fili?"

"Hm?" Fili looked at Kili.

"What do you think it would be like in Erebor?" Kili asked.

Fili smiled, looking back at Kaia again.

"I don't know, Kili. But we will see it. All of us." He replied. Fili sighed, turning to Kili once more.

"Now get some sleep. Goodnight." Fili said, laying back down.

Kili nodded, looking at Kaia again and smiling. He gently kissed her forehead, as he had done so often as a child. He laid back down, finally able to fall asleep.

Off to the side, Thorin smiled at his nephews and niece. He rolled over on his side again, trying to fall asleep.

Kaia's eyes slowly opened as she woke up. Seeing the dark in the barn, she became confused. Why was she awake in the middle of the night? She sat up slowly, careful not to wake her brothers. She looked around, not seeing much more than silhouettes of the company. She was about to go back to sleep when she saw a sudden movement in the shadows. Something was behind one of the pillars. Checking to make sure both of her brothers were asleep, Kaia carefully stood, quietly hurrying over to the spot she saw the movement. She pulled out her sword very slowly as to not make noise, and quickly turned around the pillar, her sword pointing at...

"Bilbo?" She whispered, lowering her sword.

"Kaia." He said, surprised.

"Wha- what um are you doing up? You should be asleep."

"So should you." She said, quietly putting her sword back in its holster.

"Yes well I um, couldn't so I decided to just... think a bit."

Kaia scoffed and sat next to the hobbit.

"Think about what?"

Bilbo shifted a bit.

"Oh, I don't know.. Just uh... About the weather and-"

"Bilbo? What are you putting in your pocket?"

Bilbo looked at Kaia in surprise again.

"Wha- what? My pocket? Oh nothing... It's just um..."

"Bilbo!" She whispered again.

He sighed, taking out a simple gold ring.

She stared at it, confused.

"Bilbo, why were you hiding a ring?"

He sighed.

"It's unlike most rings… It…"

"Why is it different?" Kaia asked.

"It… it's almost like it speaks at times. Like it's alive and has a voice."

Kaia looked at him.

"Bilbo, what are you talking about?"

"I mean, I feel like this ring is special. I- I can't lose it."

Kaia shook her head.

"Alright Bilbo, if you think you hear rings speaking to you-"

"You don't believe me?"

He asked.

"Look."

Kaia rolled her eyes but watched as Bilbo slipped the ring on his finger. Her eyes widened when Bilbo disappeared altogether. She looked around her for a moment before looking back at the same spot Bilbo had been sitting.

"Bilbo?" She whispered.

Suddenly he reappeared in front of her, right in the same spot. Kaia continued to stare at the same spot when Bilbo spoke.

"I'm telling you, there's something special about this ring. It-"

"Have you shown this to Gandalf?" Kaia asked.

"Oh um… no, I haven't really-"

"Why not? Bilbo, this is something that Gandalf must know about."

"Yes, yes I know, but now is not the time."

"And when will it be time to tell him?" Kaia asked.

Bilbo sighed.

"I promise, as soon as Smaug is gone, I will tell Gandalf."

"It needs to be sooner than that, Bilbo."

"Kaia, we have a lot to worry about right now, and I feel like a giant, fire breathing dragon beats a ring with a few special qualities."

Kaia sighed. "Fine. But you will show him then."

Bilbo nodded. "Yes, I promise."

"Alright." Kaia said, satisfied. "I'm going back to sleep. And you should too." She said, standing.

"Oh I will, don't worry."

Kaia shook her head as she walked back to her bedroll. She laid back down, careful not to wake her brothers. She put her head down and soon was fast asleep again.

Kaia woke again to rays of light falling on her closed eyes. She opened them, looking around. She saw she was the last one awake, everyone else was next to the door. She quickly rolled up her bedroll, and hurried over to her brothers, who were peeking out the open window.

"What are you two looking at?"

"The man. Beorn, I think is his name." Kili said, looking outside.

"Bilbo and Gandalf left moments ago to speak with him." Fili added.

Kaia pushed between her brothers, looking out the window herself. She saw Gandalf and Bilbo, standing in front of a tall, strong looking man.

"So what are we waiting for then?"She said

"Gandalf said to come out in small groups, so as to not startle him. He said we are to wait for a sign." Kili replied

"And what is the sign?" Kaia asked.

Suddenly Bofur whispered to Oin and Gloin,

"There it is, go, go!"

The two nodded, quickly hurrying out the door. The others watched as Beorn raised his axe at the sight of the dwarves, Gandalf trying to keep everything under control.

Bofur quickly sent out another pair, and soon Fili, Kili and Kaia were about to go as well, when Thorin stopped her.

"Kaia, wait. You will come with me." He said. Kaia looked back to her brothers, who nodded and walked outside together. Soon enough, the last of the dwarves walked out, including Thorin and Kaia.

Now that she was closer, Kaia had the chance to actually see the man. He had hair on his back, leading up onto his head. He looked far stronger than any man Kaia had ever seen. He looked angry, yet afraid at the same time. When he looked at Kaia however, his expression became more shocked, and even confused. He slowly walked over to her, Thorin tense.

He knelt down in front of her, then looked to Thorin.

"You brought a young she dwarf on your quest?" He asked.

Thorin looked at Beorn straight in the eye.

"She is my kin. She belongs no where else but by my side."

Both Kaia and Beorn looked at Thorin. Kaia could hardly believe what she heard. Beorn stood, walking into his house. Stepping back out, he looked at the dwarves.

"Come in, you should eat."

Minutes later, the dwarves sat at the table, gratefully eating the food that Beorn had given them. He spoke with them of his kind, and Kaia couldn't help but feel sorry for him when he revealed that he was the last of his kind. He soon knew their plan, and despite his hatred for dwarves, he offered them his ponies to get to the forest in time. Kaia mounted a pony, looking back as they took off. Beorn was looking at her, seeming almost upset. She turned back, urging her pony to move faster.

Soon enough, they reached the edge of the forest. Gandalf explored the forest for a moment. Meanwhile, the others began setting the ponies loose, when they were stopped by Gandalf.

"Stop! Not my horse."

"You're not leaving us?" Bilbo asked, fear in his voice.

"I would not do this unless I had to." Gandalf said, mounting his horse.

Everyone looked with a mixture of emotions at Gandalf. Kaia was confused. How could their wizard be leaving them? Gandalf looked at Bilbo.

"You've changed, Bilbo Baggins. You're not the same hobbit as is the one who left the Shire."

"I was going to tell you. I..." Bilbo hesitated, "found something in the goblin tunnels."

Kaia looked at Bilbo, sure that he would tell Gandalf about the strange ring he had found.

"Found what? What did you find?"

"My courage."

"Good. That's good. you'll need it. I'll be waiting for you at the..."

Kaia stared in disbelief at Bilbo. He had promised her that he would tell Gandalf. What was so special about that ring?

"...the map and key safe. Do not enter that mountain without me." she heard Gandalf saying.

"This is not the greenwood of old. the very air of the Forrest is heavy with illusion. it'll seek to enter your mind and lead you astray."

Kaia wondered what that could mean. Was this just the wizard babbling again? Did he really mean the things he said?

"You must stay on the path. Do not leave it. If you do, you'll never find it again."

He rode away repeating that same warning as Thorin lead them into the forest. They followed the path. Kaia kept close watch around them, wary of the orcs that had been following them before. after hours of walking, it seemed like they were going in circles. Much of the company was complaining of needing air and their heads swimming. She finally realized what Gandalf had meant when he warned them of the forest. Suddenly, Kaia ran straight into Kili. They had stopped. She heard Thorin asking what had happened.

"What's going on? Nori? Why have we stopped?"

"The path. it's disappeared."

The rest of the company was confused. Slowly, they realized they had lost the path.

"Find it. All of you look. Look for the path!" Thorin yelled.

They started to go back the way they had come. Soon they were lost. They were walking in circles, heads turning, lost. It seemed they would never make it out. After hours of walking it felt as if she was hallucinating. Everyone seemed to be the same way. They tried to figure out which way was easy. Soon, an argument started. She watched as Kili and Fili yelled at Nori for losing the path in the first place.

"Enough!" Thorin yelled,"Quiet! All of you. we're being watched."

Kaia slowly pulled out her knives. She noticed Kili and Fili drawing their weapons as well.

A twig cracked next to Kaia, snapping her out of it. They were lost. They had wandered from the path and now they were lost. Bilbo seemed to realize it too, he was tapping his head, trying to think. Kaia turned to her brothers, seeing the pair still arguing with the others. Kaia looked up, her eyes widening.

"Trees."

She said.

Bilbo turned.

"What?"

"The trees. We need to get up there if we're ever going to get out of here."

Bilbo followed her gaze, and nodded. The two quickly scaled the tree, leaving the company arguing below. Kaia reached the top first, closing her eyes and breathing in the fresh air. She opened her eyes, and saw Bilbo was next to her. The two laughed, overjoyed to be out of the dreaded forest even for a moment. Suddenly Bilbo shouted.

"Look! It's the Lonely Mountain!"

Kaia followed to where he was pointing, and smiled.

They were so close to their home, and soon it would belong to them again. Bilbo was shouting to the others, but they didn't respond. The pair shared a glance before they decided to head back down. Reluctantly, they climbed down the trees, to find the others were no longer there. Then, Kaia noticed a strange noise from behind her.

There was a hissing sound, coming nearer and nearer. Suddenly, a hoard of giant spiders came pouring out into the clearing, attacking them. The two were outnumbered. something grabbed Kaia's leg and she felt herself be flipped upside down. She watched as she was spun up into the spiders web and then there one of the spiders threw her and all was black.

What's with me and cliffhangers? Oh well, see ya soon! ;)