"Thank you" they said as food was placed before them.
Smiles spread over their faces as they each picked up a knife and fork.
"I'll be back with a pint for you both" she said.
No words were exchanged as she turned and walked away. The resident cat strolled by her, its tail brushed up against her leg.
The girl looked down. She smiled as she saw the jet black cat look back. Its tail gave a swish as it stared at her. The girl felt a strange vibe coming from the feline. It was disapproval.
The young girl had many things to worry about as she entered the kitchen. Inside, three other men were working. Smells hit her every time that she entered the kitchen. The kitchen was very warm and inviting. The sounds of sizzling bacon and eggs met her as she walked by a stove. The Prancing Pony had its own cellar. Barrels of the finest ale and beer in Middle-earth were stored here.
Many of the travellers that came to Bree were there only due to the beer and ale that the inn provided.
"Best ale anywhere" they said.
"None can beat it"
A few minutes later, she entered the kitchen again. In each hand was a mug full of golden ale. She entered the busy lobby and made her way over to the two gentlemen that were sitting.
"Here you go" the girl said.
The men thanked her and continued on eating. The girl smiled as she made her way towards the bar. There, a tired looking Barliman stood.
"Hello there" he said.
The girl smiled. She had never been treated so nicely in all her life. Barliman had been so nice and fatherly that she now had a name. A very pretty and suitable name for her.
Jorga.
"Have you had lunch yet?" Barliman asked.
Jorga shook her head.
"Well, you go have some food" Barliman told her, giving her a wink.
Jorga smiled, but she did not walk away. She was unsure about going to lunch.
"Are you sure, I could have lunch when its all a bit quieter" she explained.
Barliman gave a deep breath. He knew that the girl had worked more then what he expected.
"You just grab your lunch" he said.
At this, the girl walked away, feeling no guilt in leaving him to do the work. In fact, the flurry of people coming into the inn had died down.
The girl pushed opened the swinging to the kitchen. Yet again, the rich smell of cooked food hit her. Jorga smiled as she picked up a plate. No questions were asked as she piled food onto her plate. She left the plate on the side as she went to get some water.
A few moments later, Jorga came back. She was holding a large mug of water as she picked up her plate. A few seconds, Jorga walked out into the lobby and found herself an empty table in the corner. She placed the mug down first and then the plate. she drew out the chair and was just about to sit down when she noticed something was missing.
"Oh no" she said, taking a deep breath.
She had forgotten her knife and fork. So, walking to the kitchen, she grabbed the knife and fork and them walked out again. she saw Barliman talking to two men. She smiled as she walked back to her place.
She could finally start eating. Jorga had gained a lot of weight since she had been with Barliman. For she was getting three square meals a day.
Jorga looked cleaner as well. For, unlike the pub she was working in a few weeks before, she had not been allowed to wash. In fact, she had forgotten everything that had been done to her.
For now, she had everything she ever wanted. She had a warm place to stay. A fire was always flickering in her room, sending out the warmth that she needed most.
There was a never ending supply of food and work. The girl loved being here. The people were friendly and talkative.
After a few minutes, the girl was feeling much better. Strength returned to her as she ate everything on her plate. She smiled as she placed the knife and fork down. Jorga then picked up her untouched mug of water and drank the lot.
She was feeling much happier and more awake. Jorga picked up her plate and started to walk away. As she did, something caught her eye. There were more empty plates waiting to be taken back into the kitchen.
So, Jorga made a bee-line for the table.
"Are you finished?" Jorga asked them.
A man was sitting on the right hand side and an old woman sitting on the left.
"Oh, yes dear" the man said.
He had a big bushy beard that was greying, so was his hair. Jorga smiled as she picked up the two knives and the two forks. Jorga smiled as she finished up gathering the plates.
Jorga opened the door and walked back into the kitchen. Down one side of the room were a few old cupboards. They were full of bowls, plates, saucers, pots, pans and unused caldrons. There were even more cupboards standing on the floor, against the wall.
Jorga placed the three dishes into the sink. They would be done later. Jorga smiled as she looked around. She stood there for a few moments before she made her way out again.
Meanwhile, a little boat was sailing down a fast section of the river. Legolas, the elf, was paddling his way down towards Tharbad. There, along with Gimli, the dwarf, was sitting in the boat as well.
The two of them had one more day, twenty four hours, of travelling to go before they reached the bridge. Legolas could make out that the terrain had changed. A few hours before, it had been made from solid rock. But the rocky outcrops had subsided in shape. Instead, as the river flowed ever onwards, the terrain became floored and waterlogged.
The river ran right through a vase marshland. The shallow streams had been frozen by the cold temperature of night.
Gimli continued his inaudible muttering as the small vessel continued on its journey. Tiredness, hunger and coldness all annoyed him further. He longed for the warmth of a fire and the taste of meat off of the bone.
But they still had a long way to go. Gimli's was falling asleep again. The coldness was taking every ounce of his strength.
Legolas glanced down at the dwarf that was facing away from him. He could not see the wrinkled face of Gimli, but he knew that the dwarf was very tired.
"You should sleep" the elf said.
The dwarf jumped as the elf suddenly talked. Gimli snorted and gave a small look back.
"I'm not tired" he said behind his bushy beard.
Gimli was getting old now. But, even so, he still had a lot of life in him. His beard showed the first signs that his time would come to and end.
"We will be in Tharbad soon" Legolas told him.
Gimli huffed.
"Soon is not soon enough" he told the elf.
The dwarf was very cold. The prospect of having another night without food or fire did not go down well. The dwarf knew that Legolas could not feel the coldness that he could.
The hours wore on as the two of them continued on their journey. The river was getting faster and faster as it flowed. Its path had not changed for a thousand years. And it will not change for many thousands more.
Legolas could remember when the mountains had formed. Many were extinct volcanoes that had not erupted in many hundreds of years.
Gimli, how ever, was not at all old compared to his pointy-eared friend. Legolas, who had been across Middle-earth many times, could see changes in every little detail. He could remember the route of rivers and the borderline between grassland and ancient forest.
For Legolas, the hours slipped by like the water that flowed down the river. The sunlight that had once kept the day light was now slipping away too. The sun continued on sailing towards the western horizon.
There was an even small creature for who time slipped by. It was neither elf, dwarf, hobbit or human. Instead, it was a puppy. A sleeping puppy at that.
The sleeping puppy was flaked out as the sun from above warmed him up. It was this warmth, combined with a full stomach, that made him sleepy.
Birds sung as the sun wrapped the green land in warmth and light. The trees around the little pup were swaying gently in the cool wind.
But the puppy did not stay asleep for long. For a buzzing bumblebee flew too close to him. The pup whined as the bee woke him up from his slumber.
The puppies little brown eyes opened to see the bee hover for a few seconds, then buzzed away. The pup whimpered. He needed to sleep more. His eyes were still heavy as he curled up into a little ball.
The sounds of the surrounding forest were now very loud for the sleepy pup. His eyes closed. But, no matter how long he kept them shut, sleep would not come back to him.
A tall figure blocked out the sun. She looked down at him. The girl had shoulder length hair, glistening in the sun. her eyes were just as brown and inquisitive as the puppy that lay on the grass.
Her name was Mya. She was a good friend of the pup that was flaked out before her. In fact, her appearance had not changed at all over her life.
A smile came over the girl as her distinct shadow shortened. Mya was now standing on four paws. Her whole figure had changed entirely.
Mya tilted her head and gave a small whimper. Once again, Origo was woken up. Sleep had now been taken away from him for the second time. And he was not happy about it.
Pilith lifted his fluffy head and looked over at Mya standing there. Pilith noticed that she was wagging her tail.
"Sleepy" he whimpered.
Mya trotted up to his side.
"But, you've had enough sleep" she whimpered.
Pilith rolled over. He rolled over and closed his eyes again. Mya felt a bit upset. She wanted to play and explore the surrounding forest. But Pilith did not want to.
Mya felt disappointed as she hung her head.
"Maybe I should explore the forest by myself" she thought.
Pilith heard Mya slowly walk away. He gave a little look back to see her heading off into the forest. For a moment, Pilith wanted to follow her. But he didn't.
Mya walked away, pasting trees on either side. She got a good distance away before stopping and looking back. To her disappointment, she saw the black bundle of Origo exactly where she had left him.
Mya turned around and continued to head deeper into the forest. Mya loved being a puppy. She had so much freedom, she could do what ever she wanted.
"Maybe a little run" she told herself.
Birds and beasts of all kinds fluttered or crawled around. Rotting logs, coated in moss, housed many a creepy crawly.
Mya stopped. In her human form, she could not see the bugs and critters that roamed under her feet. But now, she could expect them closer.
Mya pawed and sniffed at the log. It did not take long before the log started to break. Ants and caterpillars scurried away in fright. Mya's eyes darted around. She had never seen so many small, but beautiful creatures.
Even in the smallest creatures hid in the smallest crevasses. But their beauty was nothing compared to what Mya saw next. A butterfly handed on the opposite end of log.
Pilith had risen from his comfortable spot on the grass. The puppy looked around. There was no sign of his Mya around.
"Maybe I should go and find her" he thought.
So, the puppy yawned as he stood up. His ears flopped as he shook his head. A few seconds later, Pilith placed his cold, wet nose to the ground.
It did not take long to find Mya's smell, still clinging to the blades of grass that she had brushed over. Pilith started to walk that way. He could track Mya's movements as though she was there.
It did not take long to find the other puppy. Pilith stopped behind a tree. He wasn't sure that she would want him there. Mya was too busy with looking at the butterfly to notice him coming. Pilith crept up behind her. he was only feet away now. But still, Mya had not noticed him.
As Mya looked at the butterfly. She noticed a large amount of orange on its small, fragile wings. Dots of white and bands of black had been splashed across the surface.
Mya was transfixed at the little butterfly. The more she looked at it, the more she could see familiar features. She could see two black dots near the top of the butterflies body. These were its eyes.
Mya wondered what the world looked like from those small eyes. Mya watched as the butterfly took flight. A few seconds later, out of nowhere, Pilith pounced at the flying butterfly.
Mya moved back, surprised that Pilith was there. Pilith landed on the grass, looking up at the butterfly. It fluttered just out of reach. But that did not seem to bother him.
"Pilith!" barked Mya.
Pilith looked around. Mya did not look happy. Her once wagging tail had now stopped.
"Why did you scare him away?" she asked, half barking and half growling.
Pilith could not understand what she was talking about. All he could see was a small red dot that quickly vanished.
"Scare who?" he asked, tilting his fluffy head.
"The butterfly, I was looking at him"
Pilith looked over at the direction that the colourful butterfly had flown. An idea then popped into Pilith's little head.
"I'll get him back for you!"
Before Mya had a chance to stop him, Pilith jumped over the log and scooted away. Mya watched him as she stood there. The figure of Pilith stopped for a few seconds. His eyes darted around.
After another few seconds, the pup started to run again. Mya looked down. Pilith always scared away any animal that she got close too. Pilith could see what he had done wrong, but if Mya was happy, then so was he.
After a few moments of running, Pilith spotted what he wanted. The butterfly was perched on a sapling. There were many saplings dotted about in sunlit patches that met the ground.
"Hey!" Pilith barked.
He wanted to talk to the little butterfly on one of the leaves. But it did not work. In fact, the butterfly flew off again. Pilith watched it.
"Hey, come back!" he barked.
Mya, who had slowly followed on behind. She already knew that Pilith's attempts to conjure the butterfly would fail to succeed.
Mya stopped and stood there. The butterfly was now too far out of Pilith's reach. Even if he did change into his being form, the butterfly would still be too far out of reach.
In reality, the puppy was just as playful. His little tail wagged as he walked along. But this did not mean that he was getting very far. In fact, Mya had to pick him up and place him back on the road again.
Ivy smiled as the curiosity of Origo took hold again. Mya was getting very tired of telling the pup what to do.
"Puppy, come here" she said for the umpteenth time.
Origo had been slowly walking off of the path when he stopped. The pup looked back to see a floating ball of green light and a taller figure standing to the left.
"Puppy" ordered Mya.
Ori gave a quick look back. He wanted to explore what lay beyond the road. Mya took a deep breath as she started to walk towards him. But, as soon as she neared him, Origo ran off.
Mya was getting very annoyed. She knew that Origo was just a puppy. But her train of thought had yet to change. She could still see Pilith in the little pup.
It seemed that Ivy was the only one who could control him. So, she fluttered past Mya towards the pup.
"Puppy-cakes?" Ivy asked.
Ori had known Ivy the longest. The fairy had worked long and hard to get Origo to trust her. Origo gave a small whine and looked around.
"Puppy, we have to get going" Ivy told him, gently tickling his ears.
Origo gave a small whimper and looked over at the being standing there.
"But, I thought you liked her"
"Puppy, please come here" Mya said.
Ivy knew exactly what would get Origo to like Mya again.
"Maybe if we stopped for lunch" Ivy proposed.
Mya, who could hear and see Ivy, agreed with that plan.
"I have something for you, pup" she said.
Origo was now curious. His little head tilted.
"Come here" she said, slapping the front of her legs.
Ori gave a small glance over at his fairy friend. Ivy looked over at Mya.
"What are you waiting for, puppy?" she asked.
A few seconds later, Origo slowly made his way over to the girl. Mya smiled as Origo came into reach. Without warning, she grabbed him before he could run away again.
"Origo, stop!" Ivy told him.
Origo squirmed and wriggled, trying to get away. Mya stood up. She had had enough trouble from the pup today.
"Puppy, if you don't behave, you wont get your turkey!" she said.
This seemed to calm Origo down a bit. But the puppy still whimpered.
"What is wrong with you, puppy?" Mya asked.
There was just one thing bothering the little bundle of fur. Origo looked over at the fluttering fairy. Ivy took a deep breath.
"Of course!" she thought.
Origo gave a small whimper, one that Ivy could understand.
"Why didn't you say something, puppy-cakes?" Ivy asked, fluttering close to Mya.
Mya smiled and kissed the pup on the head at the same time that warmth started to trickle throughout his little body. Mya noticed that Ori had calmed down a bit.
But Origo still wanted something else. His stomach was very empty. Mya looked down into Origo's little eyes.
"Hungry" the puppy whimpered, blinking twice.
Mya took a deep breath. She was behind where she wanted to be. But then, she needed Origo to be happy and cooperative.
"Puppy, if we stop now, will you be a good boy and walk properly?" Mya asked.
She could see Origo's little mind working. A few seconds later, the pup gave a small nod. Mya smiled, trusting the little pup.
"Good boy" Mya said, kissing him on the top of his head.
A few moments later, Mya walked over to the edge of the road and sat down. she too was getting cold again. But, unlike Origo, she could take it better.
Mya placed the pup down on the cold ground. Origo gave a small whimper, thinking that Mya would not give him his food.
"I know, puppy" she said, taking her pack off.
Ivy zoomed around, waiting for her time to shine. Origo watched as the pack fell to the ground. Mya did not need many things on this journey. For, if she had Ivy with her, then she would be alright.
But it would only be a matter of time before Ivy would no longer be with them. For now, at least, she would not be called to action.
Origo watched as Mya sat down on the cold ground. A few seconds later, the pup was scooped up. Origo felt very warm and fluffy. Ori gave a small whimper as he was placed on Mya's lap.
"Right" she said, opening up her bag.
"Lets see what we have here"
Hours past and still, Gimli lay in the boat, snoring away. But he would soon be rudely awoken. Legolas gave a small smile as he saw, out of the darkness, a bridge.
Without waking the sleeping dwarf, Legolas moored the boat. The river trickled by towards the sea. But it still had many miles to go. Legolas smiled as he gently shook the dwarf so that he would wake. But his friend did not wake.
Instead, Gimli grunted, yet did not wake. Legolas then had an idea on how to wake him up.
The elf looked over the edge of the boat. The water that trickled past was icy cold. Legolas, of course, could not feel the coldness. He cupped his hand and scooped out a bit of freezing water.
Legolas smiled as a few drips fell on face of the sleeping dwarf.
"Argh!" Gimli said, insanity waking up.
Legolas found this very strange as the boat rocked as it sat in the small dock. It took a few seconds for Gimli to realise that he was now awake.
"Elf?" he asked, looking around.
Legolas gave a small nod.
"We're here" he said.
Gimli looked around. His eyes were not as good as the elf's eyes.
"Where?" Gimli asked, tiredness still trying to grab him.
"Tharbad" the elf replied.
On either side of the boat were wooden planks. They were there so that the occupants of the any boat that stopped there could disembark.
Legolas stood up, making the boat wobble dangerously. Gimli held onto the side as he sat up. He really did not like being on boats.
A few minutes later, both the dwarf and elf got out of the boat. Legolas held out his hand to that Gimli could get out easier. But Gimli insisted that he did not need the elves help.
Legolas watched as the cold, stiff legs of the dwarf hit the wood on the other side of the boat. The vessel rocked dangerously as Gimli finally made it to dry land.
The bridge that crossed the river was only a few meters away. The water in the small, rarely used dock was calm. Bobbles sailed down the river, into the night. Rocks lay on the silt covered bed of the river.
Gimli huffed as the wood creaked under his weight. Legolas walked over the same short plank and did not make a sound. In fact, Legolas, in whole, seemed to make no noise as he walked off of the small pier and onto solid ground.
"Come" said Legolas, spotting a good place to camp for the night.
Gimli muttered something under his big red beard, but quickly followed suit. The two of them did not have to walk for long before they stopped.
Gimli grunted, disliking the ground that he had to rest on. He would have been more comfortable and drier in the boat. Legolas sat down and crossed his legs. Gimli stood there, getting out a blanket for sleeping on and another for sleeping under.
Legolas watched as he too got something out of his pack. But it was not a blanket or even a pillow. It was a small Elvish box. It was placed on the smooth pebbles before his crossed legs.
Without warning, the elf stood up and walked away. Gimli's eyes wondered over to the dark outline of the elf.
"Where are you off to now?" he asked.
But the elf did not answer. After a few moments, the dwarf continued on setting up his camp. Gimli yawned as he slowly sat down. All of his joints were stiff from the hours of coldness that they had endured.
Legolas was gone for so long that Gimli was able to get comfortable. His eyes had started to eel heavy again. the sound of the water running quickened Gimli's trip into the land of sleep.
But, just as the first snore came from the dwarf, he was woken up. Legolas had come back. He had been carrying as many dry sticks that he could find.
Legolas felt that the number he had would not make a good fire. Gimli watched as the elf walked away for the second time.
Gimli was not getting any happier as sleep had been taken from him once more. But, for the third time that night, he was woken up.
"I'll never get any sleep at this rate!" he thought.
Legolas once again sat down. But Gimli's annoyance rose again as Legolas started to make a fire. Legolas snapped branches and twigs. He set them in an orderly fashion.
After ten minutes of snapping and piling, Legolas had built a healthy pile of twigs to burn. Legolas then opened the small box. Gimli watched as Legolas took out two small jet black stones.
Gimli saw sparks fly towards dry twigs. A small section of one of the twigs had been peeled. The wood was wafer thin here and caught the sparks easily.
After many clicks, the fire started to catch. The elf made sure that the flames grew. And grow they did. Gimli smile as the crackling and popping of the fire calmed down. The light grew, making shadows dance.
Gimli felt the heat of the fire slowly warm his bones. Gimli could finally get some sleep. The elf would look out for any trouble that may come their way.
But Gimli was not the only one having to find good spot to sleep. Mya too was getting very tired. The little puppy that was held in her on her shoulder was shivering. Ivy had been hiding in Mya's pocket for a few hours. The wind here was strange and harsh. Mya could now feel it dig into her very soul.
"I think it's time to find a warm place to stay" Mya told the shivering puppy.
Origo gave an agreeing whimper. He did not like this coldness any more. A green light then appeared out of her pocket. This was Ivy. She had been listening to anything and everything that Mya said.
Origo rested his head on his paws. Mya could not have stopped quickly enough. For the past hour, Origo had been whimpering. Mya knew that Origo could and would complain until she found a place to rest.
After a few minutes, Mya found a small wooded area. She looked around, but did not see much.
"This will have to do" she thought.
The trees were large and well-built here. Their trunks were thick and suitable enough to hide behind. For Mya did not want to seen. She could not risk people being curious and follow her.
So, after walking for a few minutes, Mya found that she was a suitable distance away from the road. Origo was held with one hand while Mya took her pack off.
"Oh, sorry puppy" she said as the second strap fell off.
The bag fell to the cold ground. A dull ache ran through both of her tired feet. Ivy was fluttering just feet away. The little fairy could read Mya like a book. Ivy zoomed out of sight.
A few seconds later, warmth started to build up in her frozen leg. The warmth seemed to spill over and trickle down her left leg. Ivy re-emerged a few seconds later, a big smile had been drawn across her face.
Warmth continued to fill Mya as she slowly sat down. Ivy had also warmed the little puppy up as well. Origo yawned, becoming sleepier by the moment. But he was still hungry.
Mya smiled as she looked down at the sleepy looking pup. Ivy fluttered just near by, looking around. Mya gave a small cough. This did the trick as Ivy snapped out her small wave of curiosity.
Origo would not be awake for much longer. Mya knew that if Origo did not get his turkey now, then she would be woken up in the middle of the night.
Ivy fluttered towards Mya's bag while Mya kept Origo distracted.
"Puppy?" she asked, tickling his little ear.
Origo's eyes glinted in Ivy's green light. Mya smiled.
"Would you like some turkey?"
Origo gave small whimper. Mya smiled and took her hand away. But, as soon as she did, Origo whimpered even louder.
"What is it?" she asked.
Origo's eyes slid over towards her hand, then back up at her. Mya found this very strange. Mya continued on looking in her bag. The next second, Origo's head rose off of his fluffy paws.
Something had caught his little wet nose and he was very interested. Ivy smiled as she saw the once sleepy pup become very wriggly.
Origo's eyes were now fixed on the steaming plate of turkey. Mya continued to hold the warm pup as she placed the plate on the cold ground. Origo was placed on the ground a few seconds later.
The pup did not have to be told twice to start eating. Mya watched as chunk after chunk was devoured. Ivy green light then caught her eye. A lump had grown in Mya's bag again. Mya knew that there was fresh loaf of bread inside.
Mya liked having Ivy about. It made her life much easier, especially with a little misbehaving puppy. Mya smiled as she opened the bag. The new loaf of bread was warm to the touch.
Mya did not take long before starting to eat. The inside of the loaf was white and steaming. Mya felt her hunger slowly trickle away. Ivy had also produced a flask full of the coolest water she could.
After a few minutes, Origo had finished his delicious turkey. Ivy giggled as she fluttered down to him.
"Did you like it?" she asked.
Origo gave a small nod and looked up at Mya. Origo saw that she was busy eating. A little yawn came over the warm pup.
Ivy tickled his ear, making Ori's head tilt to the side. Ivy giggles as she rubbed her hands through his very soft fur. Origo was now ready for a sleep. It showed in his little eyes.
Mya had had her fill of both water and bread. She took was feeling sleepy.
"Alright, pup" she said, picking him up.
Ivy fluttered off and watched what they were doing. Mya held Origo in one hand while she brought of a large, thick blanket due to Ivy's doing.
Origo whimper as Mya made herself comfortable. Mya pulled the blanket over and made sure her legs and feet were covered up. The duvet then swept over the little puppy. A few seconds later, Origo poked his head out of the blanket.
Mya smiled, feeling more comfortable.
"Go to sleep now, puppy" Mya said, kissing him on the face.
Mya smiled as Origo yawned. Origo fell to sleep quiet quickly, being wrapped in a warm blanket and a coat of fur.
"I wish I could sleep like him" Mya whispered.
Ivy gave a smile and fluttered a few feet closer. She smiled as Mya lay with her back against the tree.
"Has he always been a deep sleeper?" Ivy asked.
Mya smiled, remembering back to the summer months where she was very active and the other puppy was not so. Pilith would eat and sleep.
"Sadly, he is" Mya said.
She sighed, sounding tired. Ivy took a deep breath.
"Well, maybe this is a good thing" Ivy said, a plan forming in her head.
"A good thing?" Mya whispered.
Ivy smiled.
"Maybe if we could get Ori to sleep for most of the day, you could carry him. It might speed up our pace and we could get to Radagast faster" Ivy explained.
Mya's eyes darted away. She needed to see what Ivy was saying in her own head. After a few moments, her eyes darted back to the fairy.
"It's a good idea" she answered, seeing no flaw in Ivy's plan.
Ivy smiled, knowing that now, they could made real progress.
"I best get some sleep" Mya said, sounding and looking very tired.
Ivy gave a small smile.
"Good night" she said.
Mya smile and rested her head against the hard wood of the tree trunk. Ivy's green light dulled as the little fairy fluttered away. Ivy was off to find a nest of her own. One that she could sleep in.
A few moments later, Ivy found an abandoned woodpecker's nest. Ivy stopped just as she entered. Her green light shone inside of the nest.
The little fairy smiled as she looked back. She could see her two friends sitting down by the base of a near by tree.
"They'll be safe for now" she told herself.
A few moments later, she ducked and fluttered inside. The inside seemed to keep out the coldness. But, every so often, a blast of cold air would flood the little chamber, high in the tree.
Ivy took a deep breath as she hunkered down on the chamber floor. Feathers, straw and twigs lined the floor. Ivy curled up.
Sleep came easily for Ivy. For she could either stay awake all night, which was long, slow and cold. Or, sleep. In situations like this, sleep was the quickest way to ward off the coldness. Ivy found that it was easier to sleep when it was cold. For time past quicker.
So, taking a deep breath, Ivy closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.