A/N: Yes, you get another chapter and it's only been what 2 days? Don't you feel special? Although… no one's reading this… so it doesn't matter :( no one reviews how sad. Hmm that's ok though. At first, I was writing this for you cause I thought people might enjoy it, but seeing as how the only review I got said they hate it well… now im writing it for me and if you guys like it that's awesome. If you don't I could care less. This is now simply to provide me with entertainment while im at school. So I hope you do enjoy.

"You're as Short as a Hobbit"

Chapter 2

By Stellamucca

            "Run!" Jen said as she took off running, followed closely by the others.  She reached the edge of a steep hill and stopped, but soon the other four teens and then the four hobbits ran into her, sending the nine down the hill.  They landed in a large pile at the bottom.

            "Ow… I think I broke something," Merry whined as he pulled a broken carrot out from under him.

            "Mushrooms!" Pippin said joyously as he scrambled over to the fungus with Sam and Merry close behind.

            Frodo stood and brushed the dirt off him as he walked up and down the road.

            "Get off me, you oaf," Kassi said, pushing Katie off her.  Kassi stood and looked at Jen who looked very squashed.  ~Hah. Almost like dog piling in the church bus.~ she thought to herself.

            "Help me," Katie told Kassi.  She helped Katie stand and looked over at a very worried Frodo.

            Phillip stood, brushed the dirt off and walked to Jen.  "Are you alright?" he asked her.

            "Ehh…" Jen moaned.  Phillip and Katie helped Jen up.  "That's why I wasn't on the bottom of the dog pile at lads to leaders," Jen stated.

            Somehow, Alice had managed to stop from falling over the hill and was now standing at the bottom, looking up and down the road.  "I think we should get off the road," she said, but was ignored.

            Frodo was still looking very worried and suddenly shouted, "Get off the road!" and ran to hide behind a tree.

            The three hobbits grabbed what mushrooms they could and quickly hid with Frodo, while the other five travelers hid by another tree.

            As soon as they were hidden, a horse slowly walked up and stopped beside the tree where the Hobbits hid.  The rider dismounted and fell to his knees, wagging his head back and forth as if he was looking for something.

            Frodo sat very still, but soon he could feel the ring calling out to him.  He slowly drew it out of his pocket and was about to put it on when Sam stopped him.

            The sniffing stopped; Merry threw the bag of mushrooms.  The rider screamed and mounted his horse and left quickly.

            The Hobbits ran from their hiding place followed by the humans.  When they felt they were far enough away, they stopped.  Several collapsed to the ground to rest, and Frodo leaned against a tree gasping for breath.

            Merry walked up behind Frodo, "That black rider was looking for something, or someone," Merry said, "Frodo?"

            Frodo stared at nothing for a moment and then turned to face Merry, "I must leave the Shire," he said sadly.  "Sam and I must get to Bree."

            "Buckle berry Ferry, follow me," Merry said as he took off running.

            Everyone followed close behind him.  Suddenly a piercing scream was heard; a black rider appeared in front of them.  Dodging under and around the rider, the group continued running towards the ferry.

            All but Frodo had made it to the ferry and had begun untying the rope.  Frodo ran towards the ferry with the rider right behind him.  The ferry had already floated several feet away when Frodo reached the dock.

            "Run, Frodo, Run," Katie shouted and laughed slightly. (Run, Forest, run)

            "Jump!" the hobbits shouted.

            "Frodo took a running leap off the dock and landed on top of Alice and Jen on the ferry.  The black rider stopped his horse quickly and his scream pierced the night.

            "Ow," Jen said as she pushed Frodo off her.  ~Why do I always get landed on?~

            "How far to the nearest crossing?" Frodo asked anxiously as he watched the rider turn and follow several others.

            "Brandywine Bridge, 20 miles," Merry responded.

            Katie suddenly broke into song, "Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down, like a bridge ov-"

            Kassi put her hand over Katie's mouth to get her to shut up.  "Don't sing," she commanded, glaring at her older (yet shorter) sister.  She removed her hand and sat down.

            The raft suddenly bumped into the shore causing Jen to be thrown to the ground, and so was everyone else who all landed on to of her, except for Alice who once again escaped the pile of people and stepped out onto the shore.

            Everyone slowly got up and brushed the dirt off them.  Jen lay on the ground twitching.  Suddenly, she stood up and shouted, "If I get landed on one more time, I'll implode!"

            The hobbits looked at her, very frightened they slowly backed away.  "Don't make eye contact," Kassi whispered in Pippin's ear, "It will only provoke her."

            Pip tried his hardest not to look at her but he made eye contact with the scary Jen.  "Eep!" he squealed, "Don't eat me!" he shouted, hiding behind Kassi.

            "What?" Jen asked confused. She shrugged.

            Phillip got bored and started walking.

            "Where are you going?" Merry asked.

            "Well, Frodo has to get to Bree.  We should get going," he said as he continued walking.

            "Uhh… Bree is that way, " Merry pointed west of the direction Flip was heading.

            "Oh," Phillip said.  ~Well, how was I supposed to know? I've never been in middle earth.~

            "Come on, he's right, we've got to get Frodo to Bree," Merry said.  Everyone began walking with Merry and Pip in the lead.  They walked for some time in silence.

            "This is it," Merry announced.  "We're leaving the Shire."

            Sam looked at him sadly.  ~How much further from home do I have to go?~ he thought to himself.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I would still really like it if you review. If you review and you don't like this at least give me some constructive criticism that I can learn from. I actually prefer that to "I love this fic update soon" Please though, don't just tell me you hate this fic and then not give me any reason why, and no suggestions as to how I can fix it.  Hey, this is only my second fic I've started; I have a lot to learn.  So… hit that little button down there and review (it'll make me happy)

^-^

~Kat~