Pippin gave a screeching cry as he was dragged into the air by his ankle. Merry tired to come to his aid but the urak kicked him in the face, which sent the poor hobbit sprawling. However, with the urak in its drunken state, the force from the movement sent the urak sprawling. His head struck a nearby rock and he moved no more. Unfortunately, poor Pippin was also taken down with the orc. He was sent wheeling into the air before he crashed headfirst to the ground. His body bent oddly, nearly snapping his neck, and collapsed to the floor, listless. Merry regained his composure and scurried over to his fallen cousin. The hobbit was breathing but he wouldn't respond to Merry's shaking. He could sense the other uraks looking in his direction, becoming impatient with their comrade's absence. One of the uraks stood and slightly stumbled over the other roaring uraks. Merry gazed down at Pippin pitifully.
"Pippin, please, get up lad!" he wailed. "This is our only chance for escape we'll probably ever get. Move, talk, do something!" Pippin didn't respond. "I suppose this will have to be done the hard way."
"Where are the young one and Wurpig for that matter?" a urak asked.
"I don't know," another said. "Perhaps he's trying to have a little private fun with the halfling."
"That's not fair to the rest of us," a different one growled. "That type of thing should be a group activity so all of us can enjoy."
"Fine, I'll go check on them," one hissed.
The hobbit took the other's arms and slowly lifted him up. Merry hauled the Pippin over his shoulders and walked toward the grove of trees. The extra weight on his body, and his injuries, made him falter and nearly collapse but he pushed on. In the distance he could hear the howling of the uraks. Their departure had been detected. It wouldn't be long until a scout would find them. Merry quickened his pace; working up a sweat that drenched his face and the front of his shirt. His footing failed as stepped into a drop off and wound up tumbling down the tiny slope in the ground. Pippin went a few feet ahead of him. When he stopped rolling Merry found himself half emerged in a tiny stream. He rushed forward when he saw Pippin faced down in the streaming water and turned him over. The hobbit stirred.
"Merry, where are we?" Pippin asked. The water stung his eyes and he rubbed at them furiously. "Are we still at the camp?"
"No, were not," Merry answered. "We've managed to elude the uraks but I fear it won't be for long if we keep gawking around here. I can hear them tracking us in the distance. We have to move on, now."
"But I'm so tired Merry," Pippin said. "And....oh...there's a sharp pain in the ankle. I think it may be sprained." He tried to stand but collapsed crying in pain. "I can't stand on it."
"Then I'll help you along," Merry said. He took Pippin's shoulder and helped him to stand. The other hobbit limped along. "There you go, Pip, keep coming. You're doing swell."
The sounds of footsteps approaching caused the two hobbits to jerk and shuffle to a nearby brush. The two hid behind it as two uraks emerged from the shadows. Both stood directly over the brush causing the two to stifle their loud breathing to a small whisper. Sweat was sliding down both their faces. Merry clamped his hand over Pippin's mouth to prevent his moans of agony from reaching the uraks' ears. In the rush to hide the poor hobbit was forced to sit in an awkward position, tugging at his twisted ankle. The uraks above them sniffed the air.
"I can smell the halflings," one said. "Their scent is fresh around here. They shouldn't have gotten far from the camp. Gr, this never would have happened if those fools hadn't broke out the ale."
"Nothing we can do now," the other growled. "But I can guarantee that heads will roll once we recapture those two and return. Someone will pay for this mess. Let's move. Those halflings may be small but they can move quickly when they desire to."
The two uraks thudded off and when they couldn't be heard Merry released his hand over Pippin's mouth. Both stood and hopped in the opposite direction the uraks went. For what seemed hours the two hobbits walked through the woods. Overhead they could see the remnants of night beginning to fade with the morning light. The two collapsed by a stump and breathed heavily.
"Well, at least we've escaped from the orcs," Pippin sighed.
"Now, now, don't be getting cocky," Merry said. "We're not out of the woods yet."
"Of course, I can see that," Pippin replied.
"You fool of a Took," Merry chuckled.
The hobbit turned to face his cousin and at that moment many things seemed to happen. There was a roar from behind and Pippin was torn from his arms. The previous uraks by the brush had managed to track them. Pippin was held midair but somehow wiggled out of the uraks hold and started to crawl away. Merry tried to help him but the other urak threw himself on the hobbit, slowly crushing him with the unbearable weight. The orc was suddenly ripped off him and smashed into one of the trees and massive hand twisted its neck like a screw. The creature fell limply to the ground with blood oozing from it frothing mouth. The other urak snarled and rushed forward at the assailant. It too found the same fate, landing next to its dead companion. Merry glanced up to only find a tree hovering over him but it was by far no ordinary tree.
"Hoom, how are you little ones?" the tree asked. "Nasty wounds you both have acquired. Do not fear, I shall tend to everything. I am an Ent and go by the name Treebeard. I have many others but we'll stick to that one for now. Hoom. Who and what may are you, if I may ask? I have never seen such creatures before."
"My name is Meriadoc Brandybuck and this is my cousin Peregrin Took," Merry answered. "We are both hobbits or halflings. We too tend to go by many names."
"Hoom, hobbits you say?" Treebeard asked. "Yes, I think I have heard of your kind before but we'll get into more depth later. I need to tend to your wounds before they fester and infect. Your ankle is looking quite swollen, Pippin. I will carry you both. It seems you two have had quite a rough journey, I can tell by your appearance. The two of you shall be quite safe in my quarters. There you will find food, drink, and all the comforts you have missed in the past few days. Come, let us go."
The Ent took the two hobbits in his arms and strode down the trail. The two cousins stretched out their hands and interlocked. They fell asleep in that manner all the way to the Ent's home. Merry and Pippin had finally found peace, for a time.
End