Hey guys! Check it out, another chapter update! I finished this one a little earlier than usual and I couldn't wait to share it. I would like to start picking up the pace a little more too, so then I can finally get the others into this story. I probably should have introduced them waaaay sooner and more people might be still reading this. But the reason why I had started off on such a slow build was because I am trying to get the story to mimic life more. We want things to happen so fast all the time (myself included). We have to take the time to learn whatever it is we need to learn in the season that we're in right now before moving onto the next big jump. So my apologies for that. Also I want to give a big THANK YOU to Missreadstoomuch. You've been so supportive of me every chapter and step of the way and I probably wouldn't still be writing this, at least not as a story anyway. So thank you again for your amazing support. And I am going to speed this up a little to get everyone in this story! WOO HOO!

As screechy of a sound it was for a rooster to come crowing right outside one's door, this morning she was grateful for it. Last night was rough, to her disgruntlement.
She had dreams of various howls and hisses echoing around her as she ran through and abandoned town trying to get away. At one point she fond Nori, but when she went to him for help, he dodged her and jumped from rooftop to rooftop to escape her. Not to mention, those first dwarf creeps from the woods. What if Leo and her husband did not show up when they had? Then she'd have been at their frightening mercy. Alicia scrubbed at her face fervently. This morning she wasn't feeling quite as upbeat. Alicia shook her head and sighed. No matter, she'll get her wind back and make it a good day. No silly nightmare is going to bother her!

Thankfully it didn't rain again either. Everything had dried up. Also today they had a full load to deliver around town. The day did start out well enough, until everyone neeed help that she barely even got her section done. That of course just meant more work for tomorrow of course. No worries. she was off now so work was not something to think about. Now, it was shopping and washing clothes. Scooping up a small bag of money, she went on into town.
Alicia was a tight wad, so it wasn't hard for her to know how to shop for deals. Of course that was what nearly every girl was good at doing afterall too. She got her new clothing, after being very indesicive between green and grey. She did finally settle on the green.
Happy with her perchase, her stomach reminded her of how late in the day it was. Especially when she passed by a small restauraunt that had always piqued her curiosity.
A nice little place that always had som tantalizing smells had been tempting her for the past couple of days, so now she'd treat herself to it today.
The place wasn't crowded, but the staff was still very busy perhaps preparing for the evening crowd. Good, she was going to miss it. Alicia took a spot at an empty table, deciding between two options she could have, when three more bodies approached the place. Alicia would have ignored them if one of them didn't look so familiar.
"Hand over the coin purse girly." The Tattooed dwarf said in a gruff manner.
"I'm not the owner of this place." Alicia said, raising a brow at him like he was crazy for thinking she was loaded with money.
"That's not what I asked. Coin purse. Now." He growled out.
"I'm a patron here just like you. I don't owe any taxes." The islander argued again. This dwarf's eyes squinted into dangerous slits the longer she took and it wasn't hard to tell he was losing his patience fast. It was a surprise at seeing him here. And where was the white haired old man that was with him last? Also, up close he didn't look exactly the same as she quite remembered. Maybe because he didn't have to yell out this time, but his voice even sound a notch or two off. She fought to maintain control over her spiking fear by this imposing dwarf. She saw his nostrils flare he inhaled and exhaled, leaning an inch closer. "Do you know to whom you speak?"
"A hairy bully." She deadpanned.
He snorted. " I am Dwalin, son of Fundin. One of Thorin's Thirteen girly. My job is enforcing the peace and, discouraging possible trouble makers such as you."
"I did nothing." Alicia quipped back. "But you, standing over me, bullying me for my hard earned money. What kind of peace keper is that?"
"The kind that is still giving you the chance to behave yourself. I've not heard good things about you. Many tell me of a shady looking woman, a smuggler perhaps wandering from place to place."
"Not me. I just came here for a meal." Alici tried to reason with him.
"Look lass. I don't have much time to argue. I'd like to believe you, so I'm willing ta let yeh off with a warning and a payment. Will ye comply or shall I go ahead and arrest yeh?" The barrel chested dwarf left no room for argumeent. His muscles bunching whenever he bent his elbow.
Alicia looked worried. She made a show of looking at the bar where the food was being prepared looking at it longingly. With another defeated sigh, Alicia stood up and reluctantly handed over her small pouch to the tattoed dwarf.
He had a humorless smirk on his face for a second as he took it with a nod. The dwarf stuffed it somewhere in a pocket of his own before looking back at her, face smoothened to a more solemn stare. "Good Lass." He rumbled.
The lady made no response. Instead she walked out of the little restauraunt, shoulders bowed.

Down the road she went, ignoring the smells of fresh bread or another restauraunts, inns, and stands. There was an old bench and table that very few, if any, still used since it was more in the back of the buildings. She sat there and sulked a little at not being able to now enjoy the big hot meal she was looking forward to. Nora and her husband weren't just stating opinions, those bearded boot-stompers really did have this 'I'm better than you' attitude. Like Alicia needed any reminder that she was not special in any sort of craft. Anyone could learn how to wield a weapon with a the right trainer. There were many people who were better at farming than her or better at any field she really wanted to try her hand in. Through her life she was the person who set her standards high, but never actually made it in the top of any class. If she was brutally honest with herself, she'd admit how completely average she was. Alicia sighed to herself again, making sure no one was watching again, she made her way back to the farm. There she ventured into the barn where the other workers would gather for breaks and the like.
The islander made herself a sandwish with the food provided for the workers and sat heavily on a bench. at the end of the table two were playing some dice game. Two guys around her age who were a friendly pair to chat with. SHe talked to them a few times before.
"Can people around here charge you some sort of fine when they'e letting you off with a warning?" Alicia asked them.
"How do you mean? What warning did you get?" One guy rose his brows at her.
"This dwarf, he says he's heard people talk about me, that I cuase trouble and he came to investigate, then took my pouch of coin, letting me off with a warning." She summarized.
The two boys frowned in confusion. " That's a load of rubbish." One said.
"What dwarf did that?" The other asked.
"Said he was Dwalin. Son of, some other dwarf." Alicia shook her head once.
The boys stopped to look once at her now.
" Dwalin? Son of Fundin..." The first said. "Now I'm not so surprised."
"He does that often? Why doesn't anyone else stop him?" Alicia asked.
"Because he can. He's one of Thorin's thirteen. One of the closest ones perhaps, but certainly one of the most dangerous." He went on, stopping to take a drink.
Alicia was also frowning. "Who is he exactly? That he thinks he can make up his own rules?"
"He's one of the king's right hand men, er, dwarves. His older brother is also one of Thorin's Thirteen. But Dwalin's business is more into the law enforcement." The second answered digging a finger in his ear. " Because they helped build this town much better than it was. Trade started coming in much more often and people are beginning to pull themselves out of an early grave of poverty. So everyone owes it all to them." The last part was said with a hint of sarcasm.
"Oh." Alicia groaned. " So I am to expect this attitude from all the dwarves here?"
"Aye. If you stay out of their way, they usually won't bother you or ask too much more of ya. What sort of trouble are ye starting?"
"None!" Alicia shook her head." I work on the farm. I shop for necessities. But I don't talk to anyone else. I stay out of peoples' way. I don't know where he's getting that from. In fact, I'm pretty sure he's just making it up to take my money." Alicia crossed her arms in frustration.
"I'd try a little harder to stay away from him if I were you. In case he might try to take you for himself." The first boy warned.
"Take me where? The jail?" Alicia couldn't help but ask.
He snorted. "Take you to Claim you I mean. If he transforms, bites you and takes yer life blood, you become his servant."
"WHAT?!" Alicia blinked rapidly at the boys in shock. "Whatchu' mean my lifeblood? Like a bat? He drinks my blood?"
"Not enough for you to bleed out of course. That would defeat the point. Actually I'm not real sure how much they take. But once it happens. It's permanent. The only thing to break the spell is by one of you dying or maybe being claimed by another. But now you're attached to them." The second boy explained.
Alicia could only stare. So they could turn into big animals and they drink people's blood and make servants out of them... "Dwarves sound ridiculously overpowering. The hobbits can change too but they're such kind people to be around." Well most of them. Lobellia was always the acceptation there.
"I know. that's why they run this town now. When I raise the money, I'm going to move my family and I out of this place. We could go now, but we don't have a lot to our name ye see." The first boy went on, taking his turn in the game.
What. On. Earth?! The islander thought in her head as she ate her plate. That was A LOT to sink in. But surely not all dwarves were so bad right? Nori and his friends when they first met in the Ranger's Post weren't so unfriendly. But then they were not hanging out with Dwalin either.
Her mind entertained random scenarios about how she would handle another confrontation with Dwalin.
She smiled to herself at finding some ways to make him look ridiculous in some free running chase through the town. But in reality he'd probably still win unless she could him earlier. Oh wait, but what if he wanted to go all ooga booga monster on her. What would he turn into anyway? A mutant troll under the bridge?
"Tsh...Bugaboo dwarf." Alicia grumbled to herself on her walk home, kicking at dirt rocks as she went on. Yeah that's what she'd be calling folks like him now. Bugaboos.
Unlocking the door and starting up a little fire in the cheminea. While getting some water boiled for a little tea, her eyes drifted towards her old travel bag. Inside it was the rest of her funds. It wasn't as though she couldn't afford a meal, but she did like to treat herself to a really nice one every so often. And too she was fortunate enough that there was a mess hall/barn on the farm too. The girl drank her hot tea, looking at the dark sky sprinkled with stars. This place was losing its charm. " How did this outrageous turn happen to me?" She said allowed. It was hard enough keeping her head up at home when her parents wanted her to do one thing, and she wanted to do another now that she was out of school. But many other teachers have said. 'appreciate the contrast. Because with contrast comes focus. With focus comes asking. With asking comes receiving. And during the contrast in one's life, they are weeding out the things they need to get rid of, and learn the things they need to learn before the desires they wanted so much could come.
All the lessons and encouragement she got over the years she tried to remember, to help keep her head up. she tried even meditating on these things, repeating them in her head until she grew drowzy. but it was late afternoon, if she tried to sleep now, she might not be able to sleep the night. So instead she went to see if he might do a couple of extra hours as an 'errand boy'.
it actually stretched to three hours before she decided to collect her pay in the mid evening.
The day was cloudy, which gave it a pleasant feel, but man she missed having a nice pool to cool off in. She had never realized how much of a luxury that was till coming here. But she hadn't known this place ever existed either. Running errands this week had also become an easy job. This place did not have the winding roads or was nearly as big as some of the towns on her island.
Alicia seemed to have made it a habit to buy a cinnamon streusel sweet bread after a hard days' work. It was a nice treat and not expensive to buy. In a show of carefree attitude, she weaved down the streets, looking for a quite place to sit in the shade while enjoying her treat.
From her shaded spot, a wagon had come rolling by, pulled by a trotting horse. There was old large sheets over the top, but what really made the object stand out was the fact that a peculiar sound was coming from it. A rather disturbing muffled, long moaning like a disturbed woman in distress.
One of the three men took some club and jabbed at it, muttering something Alicia was too far away to make out. The same man turned to the driver to speak, and in response the driver flicked the reigns to make the horse move faster. Alicia stilled, following their trail with her eyes. Curiosity piqued, she wanted to know what that was about. Logic did set in however, making her second guess whether following them on her own to find out was a safe idea or not. Of course it wasn't safe, yet she found herself getting up and scattering to hiding place after hiding place as she followed suit. Her dark browns, greys and blacks made it easy for her to be more unnoticed. In an effort to stay hidden, she had to stay out of ear shot too. The wagon took a left turn, down a direction of forest she had never been to. Crouching behind trees and staying low, avoiding too much dead leaves if possible, she followed the wagon until they came to some hidden grove where some run down hidden old shed was. Slunk behind some trees, Alicia watched, glued o the scene of the three men grunting as they jumped off the wagon. One pulled off the old sheet revealing a very large and bound up cat. This cat was not like a typical house cat. it's fur was a beautiful pattern of yellow with elegant black spots. It's body more lean and long compared to that stockier build of most cats.
It made the same disturbing cry that had Alicia's skin crawling as it bucked and tried to break free from it's bounds. The men merely laughed mirthlessly at it. One guy grabbed more rope while the other unhitched the horse and took it aside. The apparent leader went to the back of the wagon, dropping it's gate.
Still Alicia couldn't tell what exactly was going on. The big cat looked vicious. Maybe it needed to be disposed of because it was being a danger, much like the two dwarves she had run into before.
Quietly she snuck a little closer to overhear what was happening.
"Dead or alive, so long as the coat don't get ruined, we could still make a handsome profit." One man said.
"But she may be worth more alive anyway."
"But what if her other feral friends find out we finally got one of their own, us three alone can't take them all on. Where are the others?"
Alicia narrowed her eyes at the scene, still unsure of what was happening exactly. On her now was only a good hunting knife. She pulled a pout at the loss of her double broadsword, dearly missing it right now. If these three men could take down that big cat, what chance did she have with just one knife?
"OI! You there!"
Alicia quietly gasped. Uh oh. They spotted her!
The men frowned at her, a couple hands reaching for daggers at their belts. They stalked closer to her direction. Alicia mustered up her courage and came out fully from her hiding place, hiding her own dagger in her sleeve. She took the stance of a more masculine figure as she stared hard down at them.
"Who are you then? What do you want?"
"To ask the same of you." Alicia responded. " We've enough trouble around here. You wish to start more?"
"There'll be no trouble here if ye mind your own." The leader said. "We were hired to get rid of trouble ourselves. Now be off with you!"
Alicia glanced down at the big cat, still unable to think of the right name of it's breed, then back at the men. "And what trouble is that?" she jerked her head to the cat. "Looks more like a kidnapping. For where is the sheriff?"
Suddenly the form of the large cat rippled and reshaped itself to a bearded lady. " They've kidnapped me! They work for the blac-!"
"Quiet you animal!" The man closest to her threw some cloth around her face and gagged her. She fought to tear away from him, but the other man had jumped her and re tightened her bounds.
Alicia glowered down at the man still watching her, putting on her best look of intimidation. " Let her go."
"Think you can make us boy?" The man challenged. He pulled out a many notched short sword.
Shells and hooks. She certainly bit off more than she could chew this time hadn't she?
The leader didn't give her much time to decide. He came at her ready to run her through so she'd never talk again. The man started with a straight jab, easy enough for Alicia to dodge, but a short sword was a weapon designed or optimum maneuverability. In other words, she needed to keep moving or get hit.
"Why are ye running now?" the man taunted. "Ye coward of a man are ya?"
Alicia rolled her eyes. Taunting was easy to ignore when a blade was threatening to skewer her. The two other henchmen were having their hands full with the fighting captive, so at least Alicia didn't have to worry about them coming up behind her.
Alicia had to think quickly. She started by just trying to let the man get wore out, or watch his movements to guess his pattern.
the man took wide swings, covering a large space around him. She'd have to try to block the swing and knock him down, or take a hit to hit back.
Onward the man kept on, but he did start to slow down around the same time she was. She needed to think quickly. Her foot slipped once, which was all it took for his blade to bite her arm. Her reflexes alone kept the blade from going too deep. It stung enough to make her hiss from the pain. The man grinned and pressed his attack, forcing Alicia into more defense. He kept up with her until she did pull a surprise attack she learned from Jeremy. It involved a pivoting motion where one used their defensive motion to continue on into an attack.
He swung out again. Alicia readied her dagger to block his sword arm. Once his arch was at it's end, she stepped into his defense, using the dagger to block his reverse arch and her free hand shooting out, choke hold style, to give a hard jab at his neck. The desired reaction was achieved. He staggered back, gagging and spluttering. Alicia had to press the attack now. So again she came at him with a hard swing to his head with the hilt of her knife, knocking him unconscious. Alicia stole his short sword, turning her attention to the other two men and ignoring the burning itching pulsing from her injury. Spontaneously, she moved behind one to deliver the same blow with her hilt. He grunted in pain as he slumped to the ground at her feet. That left one to deal with the big cat. He did not receive the same mercy. With an angry cry, the cat latched her sharp teeth onto his shoulder, pulling him over he rail. Alicia winced and looked just as his screams were silenced.
"Egh..."Alicia muttered under her breath. She turned around to see the cat's head nearly in her face, watching her with a eerie unblinking stare. She stared back a second, slowly reaching out and dropping the short sword again. The cat followed her movements, then groaned as it squirmed uncomfortably at it's bonds. The islander swallowed drily, inching her way to the cat with extreme caution.
Alicia held her knife where the big cat could see it, slowly going to the ropes that her front paws still hindered enough that she couldn't step properly. The cat watched her with intelligent eyes not moving too much while Alicia cut the rope. There was a groan from one of the men, making her pause. The leader was coming to.
Guess she didn't hit him hard enough. As the man clumsily staggered to his knees, his words slurred.
"Why ye... I'll cut ye down and feed ye to that creature.." he groaned, pulling himself up.
Suddenly another large animal, wild reddish fur flung about, pouncing on the man. The thing let out a loud screeching sound that even had Alicia's hands flying to her ears.
The man did try to put up a fight, but the creature did not give him much mercy. He was quieted just as quickly.
Alicia tried not to stare and go back to cutting through the big cat's ropes. That was until the animal turned it's angry gaze at her. It let out a loud feral roar and charged her, giving her no choice but to retreat and use the wagon as some defense.
Up close now she could make the red furred monster as a wolverine. The cat made some odd crying sound that was lost to the wolverine. The creature was locked on Alicia. The islander tried just backing away, not making any sudden moves. That didn't last long, as it jumped across the wagon, seeking to lunge at her.
Alicia gasped, spurred into dodging the fierce creature. Alicia tried to scramble around to get at another weapon, but the wolverine was faster and cut her off, stomping on the short sword and hissing at her. No dog she had ever met had more scary looking teeth than that wolverine that gave her a front row view.
Alicia felt the hair on her neck stand up at the snapping of those teeth. So focused on them she did not see the powerful swipe of his paw. It smacked hard against her, sending her flying aside. Alicia left out a loud grunt from the impact and another from the impact of the ground. Her head was spinning as she scrambled to roll and get back to her feet before the creature descended upon her again.
Despite her head spinning, she did still try to run, not caring in which direction she was going but just to get out of there. "Get the hell... Get the fuck away from me." Alicia panted.
The Wolverine pounded the ground with his front paws in challenge. The thing charged at her again, it's teeth. By some unexplainable miracle, the animal's teeth only caught on her clothes and not her skin, but it tore through them, a huge hole as easy as rip paper. On unstable legs she still tried to get away despite the new breeze at her back.
It roared at her, or hissed, or screeched. Whatever the screaming sound it made, it wasn't pleasant, almost mocking sounding even. The thing actually waited until she got to her feet to run again. How chivalrous. She thought sarcastically. This was really no time for weighing options now, her own movements were automatic, flailing and running like a terrified turkey to get away from the beast.
The creature bounded up to her knocked her down again roughly. Hitting the ground hard enough to cause some bruises no doubt, her head was hit hard enough to blur her vision as she went down. she hurt all over and was ready to throw in the towel, out of cards. The wolverine had his maw wide open as he ambled over to come down upon her.
Just as he loomed over her, the large cat dashed over, screeching at the wolverine with her own teeth bared, as she jumped to cover the islander. The wolverine reeled back quickly.
Her head was swampy, unable to clear it enough to stay attentive. the yellow and black cat above her shifted it's form into the bearded woman she saw before, scolding the wolverine. Words sounded like someone talking under water. Alicia cast an angry scowl at them both for being knocked unconscious for the second time. Dwarves! She should have registered that from the beginning! So now what? What were thy going to do to her? Her mind was getting cloudier by the second, her body seemed sluggish. "Crazy people.." was the last thing she mumbled before darkness fell like a curtain.

(*^*) Oh what a world! what a world! The things we put up with just to lend a helping hand sometimes. Yes I am aware that there's a lot of build-up too. My goal was to fill the audience in on the needed logistics before too much confusion happened. How am I doing on that? I know this chapter raises a lot of questions, and they will be answered, but is it at least flowing well? and at least making sense as far as the chain of events? Just checking. Thank you again for staying with me like you have! I love love love hearing how perceive my stories! YOU ARE AWESOME! don't let anyone tell you otherwise!