"Merrryyy, it's getting cold!" The little Took complained. "We've missed luncheon and afternoon tea and dinner and by now supper! We didn't even have elevenses because we were listening to Sam's story!" Poppy was a girl but was just as strong as a lad, but she also had shorter legs than her older cousin and had the Took appetite she had inherited from her father. Merry could go longer without food, but not this long. His stomach was starting to rumble loudly and there was no way he could deny it. They had meant to walk to Buckland or the Smials, but had underestimated the distance. The snow had started falling at least two hours ago, slowly at first making the hobbits stop and try to catch snowflakes in their mouth and then run gleefully through it. However, after just fifteen minutes of this rare gift of a snow flurry, the snow had started to come down in huge amounts, making it feel like an avalanche was constantly falling on their curly heads. Poppy's hands were so cold that Merry had to help her put her mittens on and pull her cloak hood up tightly around her face. Now the snow was up to past their ankles, making it hard to walk and freezing their feet that were so accustomed to walking without need of shoes.
Merry stopped in the middle of their path and let Poppy catch up. He knew that that they wouldn't make it to the Smials or Buckland as they had planned to do. He also knew that they couldn't go much further. He felt Poppy come to his side and whisper through chattering teeth "I think we should've brought that elven cloak with us too, how about you Merry?" Merry smiled and put an arm around his cousin, who was starting to sleepily stumble through the snow. I think I see an abandoned wagon over there; we'll go get in it and find some food and rest until the storm stops. Sam will send someone out to find us, I'm sure of it. Poppy nodded and smiled, then started to trudge alongside her cousin to their home for the night.
Back at Bag End, Sam had given up his search for the night, thinking that he had heard some noises from behind the kegs in the cellar and figuring at that it was two young hobbits that were hiding from him. His father had always let him come out of hiding and face his punishment when he was ready, and Sam now figured this was the best idea. If he didn't hear them tiptoeing through the kitchen for a late night snack, they were sure to be at the breakfast table the next morning. He fell asleep, not knowing that his young charges were not in the outside getting ready to make a discovery that no one could've imagined.
