Thefour companions were making good time walking to the airstrip. Rory in front, followed by Glorfindel and Brin, with Jessryn bringing up the rear, where his superior archery skills would useful in case of any attack from the rear.
And, of course that's exactly what happened. A surprised archer loosed an arrow at a young rhino that showed far too much interest in the small company, and his mother immediately charged the group. Being in possession of no weapons capable of dispatching an adult rhino, so all four ended up climbing a large acacia tree. Once there, they resigned themselves to a long wait before the enraged mother gave up waiting for them to come down. While they waited, stuck in the tree, listening to Brin complain about trees, and climbing, and the unbearability of combining the two, it was decided to have a meal of the bread and cheese they had brought from Rivendell.
Rory had eaten meals in more pleasant surroundings, but at least Brin couldn't complain while his mouth was full of food.
'How long before this crazed animal goes away? Asked Glorfindel.
'As long as it takes for her to lose interest in us, or get hungry, or thirsty' replied Rory.
'What kind of a beast is it? Either in Middle Earth or Valinor, I have never seen its like! Said Glorfindel, leaning out from the branch he stood on so far Rory was sure he'd fall. Of course, him being an elf lord no such thing happened.
'A rhinoceros. They're not real smart, poor eyesight, excellent hearing, bad temper and long memories. Oh, despite their appearance, they are grass eaters, but even the lions leave them alone unless they sick or injured', she answered.
'Quite dangerous then,'Glorfindel remarked. 'I expect that there are many other dangerous creatures nearby?'
'yeah, lots. At least three are in this tree with us, by the way'.
'Where?' asked Brin, looking slightly panicked.
'That snake there,' she said pointing a slender green snake that lay on a branch some distance from them. 'The bee hive there, if we stir it up, and nobodies noticed the meat ant nest at the base of the tree. Nothing that will hurt us if we leave it alone'.
Brin looked far from happy still, but the two elves were laughing quietly at his reactions. 'I knew that living underground was safer than being in a tree!' the dwarf grumbled to himself.
Jessryn moved to stand near Rory on the branch she was sitting on. 'The young one that I shot, will it be all right? I would not have shot it if I had known it was only a baby'.
'It'll be fine, I'm sure. See where your arrow is, in the shoulder there? Well, even a baby rhino has very thick shoulder hide. Your arrow would not have gone through its hide, and will eventually come free. Even if the arrowhead stays, I've seen rhinos carry such things all their lives without causing the animal any problems', she answered.
Jessryn smiled down at her, 'I feel much reassured. Certainly the little one does not appear to bothered by the arrow.' He said, and then to Rory's surprise he leaned down, and brushed her hair out of her face, his hand lingering on her, his fingers moving through her hair.
Rory was frozen, unable to move away from his gentle touch. She was slightly embarrassed to discover that she liked his presence by her side, and his soft caress. Why, she did not know, but she was unable to feel angry with him, and did not resist when he sat next to her, and continued to play with her hair.
Brin and Glorfindel watched Jessryn and Rory, and smiled at each other. Brin was especially pleased as it looked as though he might win the bet with Glorfindel.
'The creatures are moving off', announced Glorfindel after some time.
The four climbed down out of the tree, and after some hard walking they reached the abandoned airstrip by early evening. There, they set up camp in one of the old buildings, and settled down for the night.
Elrond came awake with a jolt. For an instant he had no idea where he was, then memory surged back along with the pain in his arms which still ached from his earlier confinement.
Voices just outside the small room he was in were the cause of his awakening. A chill ran through his body as he realised he was to be the subject of some kind of tests on the next day.
Frightened, he sat looking up the stars he could see out of the window, praying to his father's star for courage, and rescue, however unlikely that seemed.