Heh. Note to self: never be like, 'oh, don't worry, I'll have the next chapter up in a day or two!' Why? Because unless I already have it written, I won't.

Anyway. I don't own the Hobbit. Shocker.

Gandalf was highly annoyed. The dwarves were tending to their wounds and moping. Lupa was at the point where ripping someone's throat out with her teeth would have calmed her down.

The company had found a small clearing in among a large clump of trees and bushes to rest in. The sky was hidden by leaves and branches, and it had been a struggle to get Bombur through the narrow gaps that led to it. But it was safe for the moment, so they stayed.

The wizard had had to practically force Lupa to let Oin take a look at her back, however displeased about it she was. Oin had had to cut away the back of her shirt before cleaning her wounds because of how her blood had dried and fixed to her back. She had sat through him cleaning her wounds, than rubbing a burning salve on them with only quiet whimpers. She was silent as he wrapped her torso in bandages, waiting until he was finished to disappear into the trees. When she came back, she wore a new shirt and looked somewhat cleaner.

In the meantime, Thorin had started arguing with Gandalf. "We never should have brought him, Gandalf! He has been naught but a burden and an annoyance for the whole time! The only reason he's been able to keep up with us is because of that wolf-woman!"

Not paying attention to the others, he failed to hear Lupa growl and mutter something along the lines of killing mutual respect as she sharpened her knives; one of the dwarves had managed to grab them for her.

"Only a burden in your eyes, Thorin!" Gandalf shouted back, "and a burden he was not! But if you insist on leaving this place and going on without looking for him, then rest assured that I shall be leaving and will not return to help you!"

He also failed to notice Lupa suddenly sit bolt upright, not even wincing at the pull on her sore back, staring and blinking in the one direction, tilting her head to one side.

Bilbo was thoroughly displeased. First captured by goblins, then dropped from a dwarf's back, than riddling in the dark with… whatever kind of thing Gollum was, and then losing all the buttons on his waist coat. Really, it had been a terrible night.

Well, at least he was out of the mountains, and on the right side, going by the looks of things. Now he just had to find the dwarves, provided they had gotten out. Then he frowned; hopefully Lupa had gotten out all right.

Ah, well. The only way to find out was to take a look around, and no help would that he if something came upon him and killed him. Best to keep wearing the ring, then, if it meant that creatures couldn't see him.

It was only a small amount of searching later that found him listening into what was happening. From the sounds it, Thorin was annoyed with him again. Well, no surprise there. And Gandalf was defending him, sure the hobbit would turn up eventually; Bilbo smiled a bit at that.

Then he remembered, and his eyes did a frantic search around the group, coming to rest with a sigh of relief on Lupa, sullenly sharpening her knives. Very sullenly. He didn't think he'd ever seen the elf look so murderous, and that was saying something.

He shifted the position of his feet, wincing as his movement made a rustling sound in the leaves that surrounded him. He winced as Lupa's head jerked up, staring straight at him. But surely she couldn't see him, as none of the goblins or such had been able to.

The way she was looking in his direction was not a vote of confidence for that thought.

A sudden raise in the pitch of Gandalf and Thorin's voices grabbed both his and Lupa's attention away. "I can hardly be blamed for the loss of one hobbit!" Thorin was shouting, "but we must leave now, or face the threat of being found and killed by goblins or orcs!"

Gandalf was about to make a scathing remark when Bilbo decided that enough was enough. Quickly he stepped forward, taking off the ring as he did so. "And here is your hobbit!" he cried loudly.

Some of the dwarves turned white as a sheet. Nori nearly keeled over. Others looked frozen and stunned. Looking around at them in the sudden silence, Bilbo was taken by surprise when a solid weight suddenly hit him from behind, before realizing it was Lupa giving him a hug.

Gandalf had a look of relief and triumph on his face as he turned back to Thorin. "There! You see? I told you he would show up!"

Thorin growled something completely unintelligible before turning back to the rest of the company. "Right! Everyone pack up! We need to be leaving soon, before this place is crawling in goblins!"

They trekked onwards for some time. The sky was clear and the sunlight warm, making all in the company glad. Not even the dwarves had liked those harsh underground tunnels that the goblins had dug; some even quietly mentioned to others how they had had an almost slimy feel.

Lupa was happy that Bilbo was back, and while she did not shadow him, she did always keep at least half an eye on him.

They eventually came to a steep scree slope, likely caused by a landslide at some point in time. Several of the dwarves nearly fell, and Bilbo did, saved only by a quick grab made by Balin. Lupa was at ease, seemingly gliding down the slope with a clatter of rock fragments. Gandalf was being Gandalf and doing fine.

By the time all were safely down, the sun had almost disappeared behind the mountains. All but Gandalf were rubbing tender bruises, and several wanted to stop for the night. But Thorin, wanting them away from where a sudden slide could bury them, made them press on.

They continued through a changing landscape that sloped gently downwards. Most of the time it was an old pine forest with a soft, needle covered floor. Other times it was a sea of green bracken with fronds almost as tall as Bilbo.

Eventually they came to an opening in the huge pine trees. They stood at the edge of the pine forest, looking at a cliff that suddenly fell away into air. There was a ring of trees standing on the cliff, the roots of them likely one of the few reasons the old, weathered cliff was still there.

Lupa was enjoying the fresh air. While she liked forests, she prefered open spaces, which allowed her to smell more of what was happening. Which, judging by the smell of things right now, was something rather unpleasant.

Gandalf did not like the small grove of trees here. There was something wrong about it, like it was giving off feelings and old memories. It did not help when Lupa limped up to him and whispered that she smelled Wargs in the area.

Nearly everyone was limping by now. The only one who wasn't was Gandalf, likely because he was a wizard. Everyone else, however, was feeling their pinched toes, blistered heels, and bruised pads. Bilbo especially was feeling them, for not even tough hobbit feet could stand up to the day they had had.

They were all startled when a sudden howl split the air, which was followed by several more. Instantly dwarven hands went to their weapons, eyes looking to Gandalf and Thorin. Gandalf in turn looked to Lupa, who shook her head.

"They have surrounded us, I think," she muttered in a low voice.

Oh, cliffhanger, baby!
Well, if you must know, it's not entirely intentional. I was originally going to end once they reach the Carrock, but then, A) this seemed like the perfect place to end it and B) I really have no idea what is going to happen with the wargs and goblins and orcs who show up for the party.

So. Yeah.

Again, not uber long, but like I said above...

Anyway, no idea when I'll have the next chapter up. I have a hope, but I won't say it in case I jinx myself. Ya know, like last time.

Thank you SO MUCH to all my darling reviewers! Seriously guys, three for one chapter! that's awesome!
… do you think we might be able to do it again? :D

And, of course, huge thanks to all those who have followed/faved. You people really make me happy. :)

Umm… that's all, I think.

Twillin out!