For miles, I'd been running with the orc pack. Thankfully none of them had noticed the lack of mind control over me. As soon as I'd woken up on the mountain, the white warg locked me into whatever power its eyes had. I'd been a willing follower, just like the other wargs in the pack. After a short while the trance ore off, I suspected because we weren't in as close proximity while the pack was running.
I'd no idea where we were headed, but I hoped the pale orc was once again hunting after Thorin and the others.
I didn't want the pack to catch them, but I desperately wanted to be back in their company.
I had a lot of time to think, whilst running. I thought about every clue and fact I'd learnt since first waking in this form. Trying to come up with an explanation was as difficult as learning to fly, since I was missing the most vital fact. Who was I?
I felt the dreams I'd been having were important, but they were of little use if I could never remember them.
Then there was Lady Galadriel. She had more or less said my answers were hand in hand with the Dwarves' quest. maybe it was an elf thing, or perhaps it was just her being frustratingly vague.
A howl from the head of the pack brought me out of my musings. A quick sniff of the ground told me that the dwarves had been there recently.
My heart leapt for a moment, before I caught the scent of something else. Whatever it was, it smelled big, and territorial. Its scent markings were everywhere.
The pack came to a standstill in forest within the scent marked territory. Wargs and orcs alike standing around, waiting for their leader's command.
To the east I heard a thunderous roar. The beast didn't sound close enough to be an immediate threat. In fact, it didn't even sound like it was interested in us, for now.
My mind wandered to the company. Was the beast after them? I liked to think they'd found a safe place to rest and hide by now.
The pale pair ran off, accompanied by another rider, towards the unknown beast. The rest of the pack stood around restlessly awaiting their leader's return.
None of them, were interested at all in me or what I was doing. It was the perfect opportunity to slip away.
Staying well clear of the area I suspected the pale pair to be, I followed the familiar scents of Thorin's company. I eventually made it to a large house which reeked of the beast. I could smell dwarf on the door; it was quite fresh, so I had to hope they were still inside.
Cautiously, I lightly scratched the door a let out a soft whimper.
There were hushed movements from inside, before all fell silent. Now more than ever I wished I could speak. Alas I had to settle for another, slightly louder whimper.
"No! It's not safe!" I heard an urgent yet hushed voice, moments before the sounds of the door unlocking, and opening a fraction.
"Risa! I knew it!" Bilbo threw caution to the wind and ran at me, wrapping his little arms around my neck and hugging me tightly.