Saphira sighed deeply as Gandalf leaves them. She turns to see Thorin taking the lead and walking towards the entrance of the forest. She shuddered, but followed anyway.
"Come on," Thorin commands. "We must reach the mountain before the sun sets of Durin's Day. It is our one chance to find the hidden door."
Saphira chuckled loudly, catching the company by surprise. "Very encouraging Thorin, but we knew that already," She said sarcastically.
Thorin rolled his eyes. "Nice of you to destroy the moment."
"You're welcome Thorin," She said sweetly, feeling proud.
The forest was dark and the air was heavy, the humidity was high and Saphira kept her mind as clear as she could. The path was hard to see as it was covered in leaves. She would be the only one out of the company who wouldn't be affected so greatly by the magic of the forest, but wasn't sure if any of the dwarves would listen to her. Bilbo will, but the stubborness of dwarves will be their downfall oneday. It wasn't a very interesting place to look at either, if it was green and clear Saphira would be much more cheerful. That cheerfulness faded quickly after entering the forest. Thorin lead the company on the path, occasionally checking the road in front of him in case they had gone astray. The path had many turns and was narrow in many parts, the air grew thicker as they walked further into the forest. Without the sun Saphira had no idea how long they've been in Mirkwood for, perhaps a few hours, she knew it hasn't been a day yet as the forest was very big. She was sure she was the only one who was annoyed by the grunts and heavy breathing from the dwarves, but didn't speak up about it since she didn't feel like talking at all.
"We found the bridge," Kili announced loudly.
Saphira walked forward, seeing the stone bridge was gone. "What bridge?" She groaned. "We'll have to find another way across."
"We could try and swim it," Bofur suggests.
Saphira was alarmed. She could sense the magic in the water, and didn't want to go swimming in it at all. The smell of the water was strong with dark magic, like melted tar poured onto rock and stone.
"Didn't you hear what Gandalf said?" Thorin grunted. "A dark magic lies upon this forest. The waters of this stream are enchanted."
Saphira could swear the dwarf was exhauted. He had a shine of sweat on his forehead and she had never seen the dwarves fighting their headaches, it was like they were walking in a dream. She knew it was probably the case since the forest was heavy with illusion. A quick breath of a nature dragon and the forest would just move away and help them across, but not today.
"Doesn't look very enchanting to me," Bofur said, looking at the water.
"We must find another way across," Thorin said firmly.
Saphira looked to her right and saw vines hanging from trees. They looked strong enough to cross the river with, and she hoped so.
"These vines look strong enough," Kili said, pulling at a vine with a strong arm.
"Kili!" Thorin exclaimed suddenly. "We send the lightest first."
"Sorry Bilbo," Saphira said hoarsely, looking at the hobbit who glance at the dwarves.
He wasn't happy about crossing the stream. Bilbo nervously walked over to the finds and began to cross over cautiously. Saphira watched him like a dragon eyeing off a large deer, making sure he wasn't going to fall suddenly into the water. He seemed to almost fall into the water, but catches himself as the spell almost worked on him thanks to water. She smiled, glad hobbits were resilient to any kinds of magic. She began to climb over before Bilbo reached the other.
"What are you doing Saphira?" Thorin asked in alarm, seeing Saphira starting to cross.
Saphira glared at Thorin. "What does it look like?" She hissed, stepping onto another vine. "I'm the second lightest here, and I would prefer to go before all of you dwarves."
"You should have waited," He grunts.
Saphira stopped and rolled her eyes. "Swallow that stubborn pride Thorin and come on!" She snapped. "Bilbo is almost on the other side."

She was half way across the water when Bilbo seemed to be wanting to say something. He was tense and knew something was wrong with the water. Saphira realised she probably should have waited for Bilbo to reach the other side, but she was already half way across and the dwarves have started climbing across too.
"Stay where you are!" Bilbo yelled, before glancing up and seeing the company already crossing on the vines.
Saphira reached the other side with sigh, seeing Bilbo slapping his face. "Sorry Bilbo, it's my fault for crossing after you," She said softly.
"It's done," Bilbo said, waving his hand lazily.
She turned to watch the dwarves continue climbing across. She was nervous. Bombur was yawning, and he looked like he was going to fall asleep any moment now. Oh how Saphira wished she could use some icy cold water to throw at the dwarf right now. And he falls asleep, landing on a branch beneath him. Thorin was the first dwarf to cross over when Saphira heard the sound of an animal approaching them. Saphira looked up to see white, young elk looking at them. She was a beautiful creature, and Saphira was about to walk up to the elk when she heard Thorin arming his bow.
Glancing at him with wide eyes. "What are you doing?" She asked hoarsely.
Thorin doesn't respond as he aims and shoots the arrow, missing the elk and scaring her off. Saphira shook her head and sighed deeply.
"You should not have done that," Bilbo said. "It's bad luck."
"I don't believe in luck," Thorin replied hoarsely. "We make our own luck."
Saphira rolled her eyes, despite she winced hearing the breathlessness in his voice. Everyone looked a little shocked when Bombur fell into the water, still fast asleep and snoring loudly. Now the water was likely to keep him asleep for a long time. The dwarves grumbled as they had to carry the heavy dwarf through the forest now as more of the air filled their minds. And that wasn't easy within the forest as the dwarves were growing tired quickly.
"We need to take a rest!" Nori groaned loudly, speaking through his weariness.
They all sit as best as they could, Thorin struggled to stand up straight as he held onto a vein. Saphira wasn't exhausted, more impatient on getting through the forest as quickly as they could. She decided to use only a spark of magic to fill all the dwarves' water skins so they wouldn't dehydrated. Whispering a simple spell, the water skins glow briefly as they filled with fresh water. None of the dwarves noticed, or if they had they didn't really care or believe what they saw. Saphira soon heard whispering among the trees. The voices were dark and didn't belong to any creature she knew. Glancing around she noticed some webs, well some would be an understatement. Alarmed, Saphira stood up straighter when she realised they were all in danger in the forest. The elves were the least of their problems right now.
"What is that?" Bilbo asked slowly, hearing the voices and noises in the trees. "Those voices, can you hear them?"
"I hear nothing," Thorin replied softly. "No wind, no birds. What hour is it?"
"I do not know," Dwalin replied slowly and wearily.
Saphira doesn't see Bilbo noticed some of the web, taking a closer look and ready to poke at it. She was more concerned about the nearby voices.
"I do not know what day it is," Dwalin continued.
That was true. Saphira lost track after the crossing at the bridge. She guessed they had been moving throught the forest for a few days, and they were all tired.
"This is taking too long," Thorin groaned. "Is there no end to this accursed forest?"
"None that I can see," Gloin replied. "Only trees and more trees."
Saphira turned to Thorin. "There is always a way out Thorin," She said confidently. "Stay focused, the forest is tricking you with it's magic."
"No it's not!" He snapped. "My head is clear!"
She shook her head. "No, it is not," She said. "Take a rest, sleep and that should help clear your head."
Thorin glanced over Saphira as if he saw something. "There," He said bluntly, stumbling past her quickly.
Saphira turned quickly with wide eyes as the dwarf saw a path that did not exist. This was bad, very bad. She clenched her fists seeing her words haven't gotten through to the dwarf.
"This way," Thorin commands.
"Gandalf said," Oin began.
"Do as I say!" Thorin snapped, shoving the dwarves aside. "Follow me!"
Saphira sighed with a worried look when she noticed Bilbo. "Bilbo don't!" She gasped as the hobbit hit the web with a finger.
The web vibrated, making Saphira panic a little. He did it again, almost infuriating her and they both hear more voices. Bilbo glances over his shoulder and saw the dwarves had gone off the path. He gets up hurryingly and stood on the path.
"No, no wait!" He yelled. "Wait! Stop, we can't leave the path. We must stay on the path!"
Bilbo sighed, leaning on a tree without realising he touched more web as he followed. Saphira watched as the dwarves and hobbit leave the path.

She doesn't follow them straight away, she would probably not be noticed she was missing anyway. Saphira sighed deeply and looked up.
'What now? Should I turn and follow them? I am at a dead end in this accursed forest!' She thinks loudly, as if the Ancients couldn't hear her.
She received now answer but knew what to do. The dwarves were not going to get out of this forest without her help. This was a time to use drastic measures. Saphira closed her eyes and concentated. Her muscles tighten and expand, a thick, long tail grew ripping through her clothes as her size grew, her skin replaced by brown, gold scales and spines on her elbows and knees, curved and very sharp. Opening her gold eyes, Saphira breathed deeply and followed, her heavy feet hit the ground like a boulder. Earth dragons were one of the heaviest dragons, they control the earth and can command it to move, earthquakes, volcanoes and splitting the land in many pieces are their specialty. They can't breath fire, but they do not need it. The build of the dragon is extremely muscular and as big as a mammoth, their wings are twice the size of the body and are sharp enough to slice through trees and boulders with ease. The neck isn't long and thick, the head could be almost described to look like a T-Rex head with a large, stronger jaw and thick, antler-like horns crowning the top of the head. The tip of the tail is round and has large, thick spikes, very hand for defending itself from foes behind it. Saphira would have shifted to an nature dragon, but the forest doesn't need her touch of magic at this point in time. She would love to breath life back into it, but not yet. It took her ten minutes to find the company again, and they were all hellucinating terribly. They've lost the path, and were struggling to keep their minds together. They didn't realise they were heading further and further into the spiders' nest. Saphira ripped the webs down when they were in her way, annoyed the dwarves have yet to discover her absence. Even Bilbo was confused and struggling to even walk straight. The dwarves soon stop when they find a tobacco pouch Bofur had dropped. They were going in circles and the dwarves don't even realise it, and they were being watched by unfriendly eyes.
'Just great! Why does it have to be spiders!' Saphira thinks, seeing spiders slowly approaching the dwarves.
She snarled as Bilbo climbed a tree to reach the sunlight. Saphira hoped he was quick, the spiders were coming and would be upon the dwarves within seconds. The spiders were quick to distract the dwarves long enough to knock them out and wrap them in web. Saphira growled deeply. She walked forward, pushing over trees as she stomped towards the nest where the dwarves and hobbit was taken. She didn't see Bilbo fall and be caught by a spider, but she did see a small figure wrapped up in cobweb. The spiders didn't notice her yet.