A/N: some Thorin oblivious to current state of affairs, inner ones, he's on top with the boar thing :)
No Beta: sorry, but we're back on rocky road. Lots of love for those of you who are sticking with me for the story despite my inaptness with grammar.
Thorin hated that boar. He wanted to kill it. But there was no time for that, and in the process master Baggins could get hurt trying to help, and little hobbit did prove to be innovative in ways of assisting. The image of him standing before giant warg was engraved in Thorin's mind. He didn't want to repeat that kind of a scene. Especially with himself lying on the ground helpless. His anger, that blinded him into confronting more powerful enemy that held higher ground, was subsided with shame of his failure, and he was humbled by this very hobbit that laid beside him. It was more than debt to keep him alive, it was his duty. That's why he laid low waiting for the opportunity to run, just as he said he wouldn't before. Life had a great deal of irony instore for Thorin, but he got used to it.
As he turned towards master Baggins to show that boar is far enough for them to run away some damn branch caught his hair. That was one of many reasons Thorin hated forests, they were hostile towards dwarves, even their hair, which was always well groomed and maintained inside caves, became an obstacle, hooks from which they could hang helplessly. Only elves with their magic could move tree branches away from their hair that always lay still like they aren't really alive. Thorin freed his hair and they ran crawling, they ran until Thorin didn't get restless. What if Krill was following them and they can't even hear it? It wouldn't be wise to bring Krill to their company. Who knows who would live to see the end of it? Even wizards had restrictions against magical beasts like Krill.
He tried to explain things to doubting hobbit, but then his concern proved to be sound as Krill's sniffing came near. Thorin pushed them up the tree and they waited for it to pass. It wasn't just one tree torn down when he met Krill for the first time. The rage of Krill was insatiable. That time Thorin managed to escape only because it was near water, and Thorin plunged into the Big Lake down to the west and saved himself by swimming to the other side.
If they stay still Krill might pass by on his route, it was unlikely that it would linger longer so close to the road. But hobbit couldn't gather the gravity of their situation and Thorin had to warn him again pressing hard on his foot to make him pay attention to the moment, not to get an idea of moving around.
Finally Krill moved away and Thorin got up to master Baggins wanting to explain the necessity of being quiet.
"It's gone now, just few moments more and we'll be able to get down and run. But if it notices us we'll be stuck" he said sternly but that only proved to be a challenge to small hobbit, not an obstacle.
"No, we're not" he said a bit too loudly. "At least I'm not."
And without further consultation he just proceeded to the next tree like he's walking the pavement not branches. Thorin watched him for a moment, as he gracefully traced a path Thorin's eyes couldn't see before, thinking of how less clumsy he looked up here. Then he finally moved after him finding it easy to walk through treetop when master Baggins showed where to place his foot.
Master Baggins was of course surprised that Thorin could keep up with him up here and that was all the boost Thorin needed to follow him through trees fighting a growing vertigo. He never before experienced one, being raised in the vast halls of Erebor, but this was different as branches swayed beneath his feet looking fragile and small. He considered of taking off his boots but he needed his hands to keep up with master Baggins.
Finally hobbit stopped suggesting that they continue on hard ground. As much as Thorin wanted that, he listened first to see if Krill went away or was he still sniffing around trying to find their trail.
Master Baggins used their pause to doubt Thorin's decisions. That provoked Thorin to defend himself, something he rarely did. Of course master Baggins wasn't inclined to give in so easily arguing his evident forest skills and Thorin let himself being dragged into argument when he heard too familiar growl. He silenced master Baggins in fastest way available, silencing him with his hand. Hobbit was wise enough to stay still and soon danger passed them by without sensing their scent.
Krill went to west and Thorin knew this was their chance. He leaped from a tree only to discover that hobbit isn't following his lead.
"Come!" he was forced to whisper an order to snap hobbit from fear that had finally got through to him.
On the way back master Baggins ran sufficiently fast and Thorin was content that he managed to convince him in Krill's strength, it was dangerous not to fear when confronted with real danger.
Others didn't need any arguing, Krill's name was enough to move. They were familiar with this wilderness through which they passed in their long run from Smaug. Krill has taken enough of their children to be remembered.
As they moved forward Thorin kept an eye on master Baggins to be sure he won't get an idea to wander of exploring. Master Baggins had that flare of curiosity about him and it seemed that fears couldn't find a permanent anchor in his mind. That was a good thing because if they did he would turn back after Trolls, Goblins and Orcs, but it was also a bad one, because he could follow his eyes without second thought where it would lead. Thorin was uncomfortable with a notion of him being lost here in the wild. He can wander as much as he like in his Shire forests, but here dangerous beasts are roaming around.
Speaking of dangerous they found a place where Kili and Fili left their gear but they weren't anywhere in sight.
Throw a rock my way.