Hey guys! So sorry for not updating for in like, forever!

Also, I'm listening to Naruto music for inspiration. I wonder how this is going to turn out.

Disclaimer: Me no own, you no sue

Arriah knew that the next month or so that she was to be spending wandering aimlessly, well, not aimlessly, they were following a stone path, though that didn't help Arriah much, in a dark and damp forest was not going to be enjoyable. She'd gone through Mirkwood may times on her own, and had once frequently visited the elven prince, Legolas, but that a long time ago. Speaking of long ago, this certainly was not the forest of old. The air was thick and heavy, the ground beneath her felt strange, one moment it was like mud, the next like stone, which was particularly annoying, not to mention...

"Where are all these roots coming from?!"

Arriah grumbled as she regained her footing, having tripped on another root.

"Well, you see, the roots come from the trees, which use the roots to-"

"Yes, Kili, I know, it was a rhetorical question."

A chuckle came from Arriah's right.

"You do not seem to be in a particularly good mood today, Azyungâl."

The blond prince paused.

"Though, I guess that none of us are right now."

Arriah nodded. "It's the forest."

Arriah angled her head upward.

"It's sick, it's making me sick."

"Do you need to stop?"

"No, Minwayla, I'm fine."

The blond dwarf let it drop after that and continued on, though Arriah was sure he'd circle back around to it again sooner or later.

In truth, Arriah did feel sick. All of her senses were being overwhelmed by the forest. It was suffocating. I might be able to deal with it better in my second skin...I heal faster in that form, but... I'm not sure that that will bode such a positive reaction from the dwarves, even if they claim my being a skin changer doesn't bother them, I think my other form does. Maybe it's just because I do turn into a particularly large wolf...

Arriah's lungs and chest burned, and her breaths became shaky.

I might not have much of a choice though.

Days passed like this. Arriah's condition was getting worse everyday, and though she tried desperately to hide it, the others were starting to notice.

"Lass? Are you alright? You're falling behind."

Arriah's eye widened before she let out a long sigh. "I'm fine Bofur, honestly."

The dwarf hummed in and Arriah could tell that he wasn't convinced.

"Uh huh, yeah, sure, whatever you say, lass."

Suddenly Arriah groaned and doubled over, wrapping her arms around her stomach.

"Azyungâl! Are you alright?"

Arriah groaned again. "Ngh...Nope, definitely not alright."

"Lass looks like she's about to hurl."

"Oin!"

A calloused hand was gently placed on her shoulder. "Are ye all right lass?

Arriah couldn't answer. Her mouth tasted sour and it felt like it was filled with cotton. Her lungs and chest burned and she suddenly felt very dizzy. The huntress was vaguely aware of her name being called, someone begging her to respond, and a hand on her shoulder, shaking her.

"Ba...p."

The voices didn't fade, instead they got louder.

"Ba-ba...up."

The voices quieted for a moment.

"Back up."

And slowly the she was left in her own little personal bubble. Arriah struggled to breathe.

What is this? A panic attack? I haven't had one sine I was eleven... No, it's not a panic attack. I think I'm sick. Well and truly sick. Wow, it's been years...Honestly, I think I was nine the last time I got sick.

Arriah inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. She repeated this many time before dared to straighten out her posture. She moved slowly, in fear of the nausea and a headache that was sure to come.

The huntress struggled to find her voice. "I-"

"Azyungâl? Are you alright?"

Arriah inhaled Fili's scent. "I'm sick."

"Well I think that much is obvious now."

Arriah grinned weakly.

"Alright lass. Lets have a look at ya'."

Arriah's hand was taken and she was led slowly forward.

"There's a log you can sit on here."

Arriah did just that.

"Thorin's decided that we could all use a break. So we'll be staying in this area for a few days."

Arriah nodded in understanding.

"Now. Tell me, lass, how do you feel? A headache?"

"Not yet."

"Stomachache?"

"Yeah."

Arriah jumped slightly when a hand was placed on her forehead.

"Hmmm. You do have quite the fever."

The hand disappeared. "Well, I'll cook you up some special tea, see if that helps. I also have some..."

The voice faded and Arriah assumed Oin had gone to retrieve his bag.

"Fili?"

"Right here."

I don't want to waste Oin's medicine on me. If I just phased and stayed in my wolf form for a bit I'm sure that I'd get better.

"I think that I..."

"You what?"

Arriah bit her lip and shifted on the log.

"If I could...if I uhm...shifted into my other form...I'd get better."

Fili was quiet so Arriah continued.

"Even though I have the ability to heal quickly already, in my other form my sickness would disappear rather quickly. I just don't want to make anyone uncomfortable and I don't want Oin to waste his medicine on-"

"You are not a waste."

An arm wrapped around her middle and Fili pulled her closer to him.

"Please don't think like that."

Arriah turned her head and buried her face into Fili's shoulder. "Sorry."

"Alright lass. I'll cook up some tea for ya'. It should help."

Arriah pulled away from Fili slightly and nodded a thanks in Oin's direction. "Thank you."

Arriah listened to Fili inhale deeply before kissing her head and standing.

"I'll go get Thorin."

Arriah gave a small nod and sighed as the prince walked away.

"This sucks."

Arriah shivered slightly and wrapped her arms around herself. After some time the huntress became aware of Oin approaching her.

"Here ya' are. Fresh an' steaming. It's hot now, so don't be too quick to start looking for the bottom of the cup."

Arriah took the tea and smiled her thanks at the dwarf. Tentatively the huntress took a sip. Huh. What an odd flavor. It's spicy, but sweet, like honey, and there's something else too...I can't describe it. It's like, wind flavor. Well, I imagine that this is what wind would taste like. Hmm.

Someone cleared their throat to her right.

Arriah blinked. "Oh, Thorin."

"Fili just finished telling me something very strange."

"Oh?"

The dwarf paused and Arriah grinned slightly when Thorin sighed.

"I have no problem with it. It's just that dragging a blind girl through a forest like this is difficult enough, so dragging a rather large blind wo-"

"That won't be a problem."

Thorin didn't respond.

"Only my eyes in this skin are damaged. I can see perfectly in my other skin."

"...Really?"

Arriah nodded. "I'm faster and stronger in my other skin too. I can scout ahead. I knew these trails very well once."

"Very well. What do we need to do?"

Arriah ripped the cup in her hand tighter and chugged it down. Passing it to Thorin she stood and began heading for the trees.

"Just wait till I come back out!"

Arriah quickly made her exit and disappeared into the trees. Once the huntress felt she was far enough away she began to undress, shoving her clothes into her bag. Once fully exposed Arriah inhaled sharply and shifted.

Arriah inhaled deeply through her nose, already feeling her sickness fading. She scraped at the ground with her large pawl and grinned wolfishly. Turning Arriah grabbed her backpack in her mouth and slowly made her way back to where the dwarves had set up camp. The large wolf stopped a the edge of camp, just out of sight, and let out a humming sound as her eyes scanned the camp.

Fili...is really attractive.

Arriah let out a breath she hadn't known that she'd been holding and moved out of the cover of the trees. One paw after the other the huntress staled forward, placing her bag next to Fili's. The two locked gaze's and Arriah then decided that she'd never seen more beautiful and captivating eyes in all her life.

The skin changer let out another humming sound, closed her eyes and lowered her head.

Pet me. I am a large dog in need of attention. Pet me human...ah, dwarf.

Slowly a hand reached up and scratched the top of her head. Then by her ear, then under her chin. Arriah opened her eyes to see Fili grinning like crazy as he ran pet her. Arriah made sure to wag her tail in appreciation.

"Alright, that's enough. Arriah, scout ahead."

Arriah chuffed and backing away from the blond dwarf she raced into the forest.

Alright, chapter 21! Ahhh, super late update! Love you all! Expect a new chapter up newt week.

I've got a bunch of stories in my head right now, but they're clashing with one another as I write them, so I'll be focusing on this one for now.

Also, I'll be writing not just a sequel, but a prequel, and a possible Firiah one-shot as well. Hope you're excited!