Hello Nuggets,

Here is the next instalment, I have been so excited to write this back into my fic again. Its something that has been missed I feel. So this chaptarrr is a little longer, so I hope that you all like it!

Thanks for the F/F: Woman of Letters

Thank you fore the kindest review , you are so right though, Thorin is such an arse! I am thoroughly pleased that you have moved Bofur up in your favourite Dwarve ranking system, he is definitely at the top of mine, I hope you like this chapter!

I only own little Todd.

Chapter 28 – Autumn Bones are Breaking

Todd was deep in thought, everything she had said with the wandering Istari was flying through her mind and it was making her uncomfortable. She knew that what stirring within her was not good, but she had thought it a figment of her own mind, something from the many traumatic things she had been through, just appearing as an itch like symptom. She knew better now, and the truth really did not sit well with her. For she had been told now that it was a dark call to arms, trying to pull her into a life of which she had so desperately tried to avoid. She knew now that her running away had not made a difference, for it was still there, if not getting worse.

Her mind was full of the story of her forefathers, she did not want to fall like them, like Nastas and Devoss. She wanted to be strong like the forefather she hailed from, he had resisted the urge, the pull into the depths or depravity. Refr and Crevan had remained true to their maker, and she was determined to do the same.

She sucked in a deep breath, herself still sat on the steps over looking the beautiful garden. Closing her eyes she started to feel fidgety, she stretched her whole body out to the point where she began to feel her muscles shake a little, it felt so good, but still these were not the muscles she needed to stretch. She knew what she needed, she needed to feel the earth beneath paws, for there was nothing better than then treading the ground, feeling its heat or feeling the movement from creatures in proximity. To feel the breeze tease her red fur as she ran freely, she wanted to be filled with senses of smells and sounds that she was beginning to loose from being in her second skin for so long. She missed it, the instinct that filled her bones and the comfort of knowing there was no need to converse, no need to cover emotions and feelings, because in her first skin, it was all covered. She knew that if it had not been for her injuries she would have turned back by now, for a little while anyway, so she could scout ahead and hunt like she had promised her King she would, way back when in the ethereal Imladris.

She spent some time then, inspecting the wounds that she could reach and tensing and flexing her back to sus whether it would hold or not, and all in all she felt like she had healed up pretty well, considering. She would be ok to change now, she wasn't in danger of warping and twisting open or fresh wounds now. Yet letting her fellow company know what she was going to head off to do, would be the first port of call. Her King, she knew, would be happy to know that she was ready to become a help again.

So she stood herself up and took one final look out before setting back in, making a mental note to remember to find a bag that she could put her clothes in before she shifted so that they were safe and didn't get ruined. Opening the doors made almost the whole company look up to her, some with fright some hands going to weapons, yet once they realised it was only her and she had given them a rather sheepish smile at disturbing and or startling them, they all settled back down into what they were doing before hand. Todd noticed that they were all pretty busy, some were bustling around counting money and going through belongings that had obviously been saved from the Goblins that had pretty much stolen everything else. Then everyone that wasn't doing that task were cleaning and sharpening any and all weaponry that they had. So for Fili she knew he would be at this task well into the night, if the wide array of knives, daggers and the twin swords surrounding him were anything to go by. Yet he looked content with his Brother Kili sat beside him playing around with the tightness of the strings of his bow.

She let her eyes fall over everyone as she wandered through them as they were chatting away with each other, some in Westron others in Khuzdul, her mind easily recognising and following both. Then finally she spotted her King over to the side, away from everyone else in what looked like an intense conversation with Bofur. The usual hatted dwarve didn't appear to be very happy about whatever was being said, if the slightly down cast and defensive look on his face was anything to go by. She paused and watched slightly, not knowing whether to go and interrupt or wait until they were done. She eyed her King and saw that he had a harder expression than she had seen him wear for a while now, suggesting he wasn't too comfortable with their topic of conversation either. Her curiosity peaked and she cursed herself for not being able to hear what they were discussing. This was why she needed to shift back to her first skin, she needed to let these heightened senses back in.

Shaking her head and figuring they looked like they were almost done with what they were talking about, she started heading towards them again. She caught her Kings eye from over Bofurs shoulder, and he immediately told Bofur he was free to head back to his job.

"I appreciate this Bofur, you know it's the right thing to do…" She caught him saying.

Yet Bofur didn't respond, he simply nodded his head and turned, striding away and straight past her with nothing but a look that turned downwards immediately. The smile that had found its way to her lips from being close to him vanished and her eyes followed him as he moved to sit back next to his Brother. Todd came to a stop beside her King and couldn't help but look between them.

"Is he ok?" She asked, and Thorin could hear the genuine worry in her voice, and he let himself feel for one second the guilt and sadness of what he had just set in motion, but it was soon gone.

"He will be fine, now what can I do for you?" He asked, sensing that she needed to talk to him about something, she never usually searched him out for stimulating conversation. She shifted on her feet and then rooted herself.

"I would like your permission to take my leave outside the walls of the house so I can shift back into my first skin." She stated, her eyes lighting up at the mere idea of it, he could tell it was something that she really wanted. Yet he was nervous of it.

"The area outside of that wall is dangerous, not only is our host a large bear, but Azog is tracking us, I do not think its wise, could you not do so within the walls?" He pondered, before asking. He was keen to be able to use her first skin, as she put it so eloquently, to scout ahead once more, especially now there were being tracked by orcs.

"Well, you see I need to be able to save these clothes, so I would need to… well become rather completely, disrobed… before I changed to be able to preserve the only clothes I have that fit me…"

"Naked?" The King gasped, a few eyes wandering over to them, particularly a now seething Bofur. Todd's eyes grew wide as she realised others had over heard and her face went the deepest shade of red that any of them had ever seen.

"Well yes, I need to be able to have some privacy!" She lowered her eyes to the floor, completely embarrassed.

"I understand now, I am still not comfortable with you being out there alone… I will have Balin and Dori accompany you and stand watch" He nodded to himself as if agreeing with his own idea. "They are the most respectful dwarrows I know, and would never compromise your modesty, they will stand guard and then bring your clothes once you have shifted back here!" He demanded more than suggested. She had no time to agree or disagree, for he was off then gathering Balin and Dori together, and briefing them on how they were to be of assistance. Both of the dwarves faces shone a slight redness at the thought of guarding a naked woman, but they understood and knew that they would be able to do so with full respect and honour for their fellow company member. Balin gently placed a hand on Todd's to comfort her.

"No need to worry lass, can't have you out there on your own!" Balin smiled softly to her, trying to ease her discomfort and embarrassment, Dori appearing at her other side nodding also. She smiled to both of them. She was happy it was them out of everyone else. She wouldn't have been able to bare it if Thorin had suggested Bofur. The mere thought had her body turning to jelly, and she stole a glance to him as she was herded out the door. His eyes never left hers as she exited, but they weren't happy like they usually were, he looked, lost almost and she knew she would have to talk to him once she was back from shifting, she needed to make sure he was ok. The thought of something causing him pain left her feeling a little numb.

Once outside on the top step Balin and Dori paused to pull their weapons a little closer, then they took to straining to look around them, trying to make sure they were not going to be pounced upon by a giant bear. Todd chuckled at the two, knowing full well that the bear was long since out beyond the property. She unlatched herself and started striding towards the gateway back out into the open. Once there she paused and scanned the area for any immediate threats, her eyes and ears and nose working in over drive to be able to get anywhere close to their capacity when she was shifted. Sensing nothing too threatening, she stepped out, into the longer grass, feeling it tickle her legs through her leggings.

"I will only need a little while once I've shifted to just stretch my legs out and let my senses catch up, I'll follow you back to the house once I've done that, is that ok?" She explained and then asked, she didn't want them to be clueless as to what she needed to do. Balin, nodded, his eyes never leaving the tree line before them, Dori doing the same. "I will be as quick as possible!"

With that they carried on striding towards the closest copse of trees they could find for a little bit of shelter, to keep them as hidden as possible. Once she had the first shade of the trees falling over her cool skin she sighed. It was starting to get chilly, she could feel it on the breeze, autumn was breaking and she was nervous to be able to sort herself out so they could set off and get to the mountain before winter was even a breath on the backs of their necks.

The trees around them were just enough to be able to shelter them enough so that she could also have some privacy from Balin and Dori, but still be close enough in case of anything going wrong. She paused and let Balin and Dori come to stand with her, waiting for her to let them know what to do. She needed to warn them first, though for she was about to break all her bones and warp her body into something else. The noise alone was off putting for any one.

"So this process hurts, I know you might have seen it when I had to shift on that cliff edge but you probably didn't hear it. I'm about to break all my bones, so please ignore any sounds of pain I make, I can handle it I promise!" She stated to them, trying not to make them feel nervous or anxious, watching as they eyed each other.

"Lass, I don't want to see you in pain, but if it's how the process works, I shall try my best to not react to them. " Balin tried, smiling softly to her.

"Aye, you have my word to respect your wishes!" Dori added, feeling as though he owed it to her after his thoughtless words the day previous.

"Ok, so I will… I'll just be round here…" She half mumbles half alerted them, pointing to just behind a neck high shrub. They both nodded to her nervously, then turned so their backs were facing away from her completely. She smiled softly to them, she was glad that they were with her, she thought that she would be able to come alone, but having someone there to just be with her, made her feel very warm inside. Having people care for her like that, even though they were asked to, was comforting, for they were still willing and ready to help her. She shook herself and set to making her way around the shrub.

Once there she set about getting herself ready. She scanned her surroundings, breathing it all in. Everything was peaceful, and that was what she needed. She stole another peek back to her friends, and seeing them still stoically facing the other way. So she started peeling and pulling her clothes off. First she pulled her leggings off, folding them neatly and placing them inside the bag she had bought with her, the breeze caressing her legs gave her small shivers. She then took off her borrowed shirt and tunic, those too were folded and placed within the bag. She was left in her undergarments then, her eyes watching the wood around her for any signs of movement, still nothing so she pulled them off and was left in nothing but her second skin. She stretched her back out once more, double checking, yet when all she got was the pull of unused muscles she closed her eyes, moved her feet so they were grounded, her toes wiggling in the grass. The earth was calling to her then, she could feel it. Like a being submerged in warm water, it washed over her.

Taking a breath she let the warm feeling get warmer and warmer until her mind was sizzling with the pull of her first skin. Then as if something that exploded within her she felt the first bone crack, the feeling made her lurch a little forward, a painful hiss escaping from deep in her chest. Yes, she thought, this time it was going to hurt. It was inevitable that it would hurt, it had been a long while since she had been through the shift, she didn't remember whether it had hurt or not, it was all a bit of a blur when she tried to concentrate on it. Standing back up she concentrated again waiting with baited breath for the next crack.

Then it really started, with a shooting pain through her right hip, that rippled up through to her ribcage. Then again through her left shoulder making her yelp and fall onto one knee. The pain was white hot and it filled her, but she had felt it all before and she knew it would stop and she knew what blessing waited for her on the other side. She filled her head with thoughts of how she is when she is in her first skin, using the feeling as motivation as she was shifting and lurching, each crack making her body shudder. She looked down to her hands as the tops of her arms started breaking and fusing back together again, a beautiful gloss of red fur starting to break free from its second skin cage.

She waited and waited as her body morphed, waiting for the final snap of her back bone, the one that would cause the most pain, for once that was over it was pretty much plain sailing from there. She got her breathing under control, feeling her ribs expanding and growing within her, pulling at her skin as that too spread over every contorting muscle and bone, her silk like fur emerging. Finally, like a cold stone hitting a raging fire her back erupted into a pain that made her hiss and cry out. He body practically throwing her onto all fours as the rest of her bones quickly adopted the change and fused together then she knew it was here. Her teeth she could feel were growing and sharpening, her nose felt as if it was being pulled from her as it crack outwards creating her snout. Her ears were the most painless, for the cartilage grew outwards with her red fur mottled with black flooded from it. She closed her eyes and let the change sizzle within her.

Silence, nothing but the breeze was touching her then. Finaly the sounds crept back to her, heightened and better than she remembered. She could heard the leaves baying in the wind, as a few trees creaked in the distance. Birds and small creatures snuffling, chirping and rustling filled her ears, noises she knew exactly from which direction they each originated. Then she hit with the most amazing cacophony of scents. From the strong earth bound and smokey scents of her friends, still stood guard, to the soft and encompassing freshness of the pines, grasses and berries of the wood surrounding her.

Opening her eyes she was met with a sharper vision, if not slightly duller on the colours but it mattered not for she could see much farther and with much better clarity than before. Taking a gentle step forward she revelled in the feeling of dirt beneath her paws, of which were looking beautiful in her eyes. Yet she needed to make sure her wounds were ok and her back was dealing with the shift. She stretched out and then bowed her head so her front paws were out before her, her back bending and stretching, yet instead of pain, she was met with a little resistance from the muscles, nothing a good run wouldn't fix.

Letting out an excited rumble and snuffling sound she leant down to gently grab the bag strap within her jaws, her large canines sticking out from her mouth, then trotting round the shrub to find Dori and Balin still stood facing away from her, even after hearing her bark. She huffed playfully and moved behind Balin to nudge his gently, placing her head in his redundant hand. The old dwarve jumped, then upon letting his worried eyes fall upon her smiled and patted her head.

"You really are very beautiful, lassie!" Balin chuckled, she could see the worry fade from him, as he too looked to her back to see if her injuries had reappeared. Dori sucked in a deep breath then, so she turned to him and nodded, trying to convey her thanks. To them she was the largest fox they had seen, by quite far, her eyes were still her though, that's how they could tell now, that she was in there. From the lopsided grin she had on her mouth, they knew that she was happy.

"I don't think I shall be forgetting the sounds of your bones cracking anytime soon, but it is worth it, is it not?" Dori reasoned with her, a slight smile to his eyes, she could tell he felt uncomfortable though. She remembered his words about their host being under some kind of dark spell, he had judged then, but now he seemed understanding, uncomfortable, yet understanding.

"Neither me, took all I had not to turn to your aid… here let me!" Balin shook his head, before moving to take the bag from her mouth. "Go on then, we all know you want to stretch those muscles!"

Letting go she let her tongue loll from her mouth as she panted, nodding towards the house as she couldn't wait any longer. She started trotting out towards the edge of the copse of trees they were hiding in, waiting again for once Balin and Dori were beside her, preparing for their jog to the safety of the walls. She barked and bolted into action, she sped from the tree line, her legs pumping as her paws pounded against the earth beneath her. Every step felt magnificent, the winds rustling through her fur, her senses flying into overdrive. She hadn't realised just how much she had needed to be in her first skin until this moment, feeling as free as ever. All her worries seemed to fade for now, being blown from her shoulders as she sped out and back round to come up behind the jogging dwarves. Making sure they were ok, for that was her job, but loving the run all the same.

She knew that she would be able to be a help again now. For when they set off from their current safety, she would be able to scout ahead and keep a look out for those orcs that were now so mercilessly chasing them. She would be able to provide better protection and for that she was extremely thankful that her injuries were gone and almost forgotten.