Chapter 8

The next morning I woke instantly to the sound of a distant howl. In the form of a wolf, my ears perked forward. It wasn't one that I recognized and I rose stiffly to my feet as the others sat up as well. Thorin was on his feet in just seconds with a swift order in Khuzdul. I don't think I had ever seen the dwarves move as fast as they did. In just a few minutes the camp was packed up and the fire was put out with dirt and they were moving. I trotted after them, and we continued our running. I wanted to venture back and hold the enemy off so that the dwarves could get further ahead. Pausing, I turned my head toward the direction of the howl, but Fili pushed me forward into moving so I had to go with him and the others.

Gandalf kept the company running until nightfall before we slipped into the caverns of a lower mountain path that hid our scent from the wind. Everyone was panting for breath, and they were exhausted. Gandalf sent Bilbo to go check while we waited in the safety of the rocks below. I stood next to Thorin and Bofur as we waited, and I inhaled a big breath and caught something interesting in the air. At the same moment, Bilbo came running back into view out of breath as well.

"So where are they?" Dwalin asked.

"A couple leagues away, give or take," Bilbo panted. "But that's not our only problem..."

"Did they see you?" Dwalin asked.

"No," he replied.

"See what did I tell you?" Gandalf smiled. "Quiet as a mouse. Excellent burglar material."

Everyone praised him, before he tried cutting them off. "Will you listen to me? I'm trying to tell you that there is something else out there," he said firmly.

"What form did it take? Like a bear?" Gandalf asked.

Bilbo glanced at the wizard and gave him a look. "Y...Yes it did. But bigger, much bigger."

"You knew about this beast?" Bofur asked moving forward slightly. "I say we double back."

"And be run down by a pack of Orcs," Thorin said flatly as everyone agreed with him.

"There is a house," Gandalf said slowly. "Not far from here, where we might take refuge."

"Whose house? Are they friend or foe?" Thorin asked, turning to look at him.

"Neither," Gandalf sighed his shoulders dropping slightly. "He will either help us...or he will kill us."

"What choice do we have?" Thorin asked and we all paused as a vicious roar echoed through the air rather close.

"None," Gandalf said and I growled lowly and got to my feet.

Looking up at the now night sky, I flinched as the roar echoed again and my instincts wanted to stand and fight it as everyone started to run and follow Gandalf. Turning my head, I grunted suddenly when Thorin grabbed my ruff and dragged me with him. Scrapping my nails against the rocks I turned and ran with him, baring my teeth.

"You're not doing anything stupid," he muttered.

We ran down through the woods and it opened up into a vast valley by the time the sun rose. Everyone was exhausted and we were only stopping for short bursts to catch our breaths before we were off again. The pack that was following us was too strong, and on top of that a giant bear wasn't something they wanted to face down either. We ran through the streams and shallow rivers that flowed through the valley before entering the woods again. From what I could tell the bear was between us and the Orcs that trailed us. I wasn't sure if I should be grateful or terrified of it. As we struggled over some rocks in the woods, Gandalf paused to keep us moving.

"Hurry! Run!" he ushered.

I glanced back as everyone moved ahead and the bear moved into view. The sheer size of the animal had me bolting after the others, and Bombur ran for his life passing everyone else. Had we not been in danger I would have laughed. I had never seen the dwarf ever move that fast.

"There! To the house!" Gandalf called.

Thorin pushed everyone ahead of him as we ran forward and the first dwarves ran right into the closed door. In their panic, they weren't opening it with Gandalf shouting to do so, and Thorin pushed through and lifted the latch. It was his concentration that made him a good leader along with his natural ability to protect those around him. He shoved everyone inside and they hurried to shut the door as the bear thundered in. It crashed against the door as the dwarves shut it, but made no real attempt to get in besides giving off a nasty roar.

The moment it was shut, they locked it and Nori turned slowly and looked at Gandalf with terror. "What was that thing?" he asked.

Gandalf looked at the dwarves as they gazed at him for answers and I shook my fur out and moved away from them for a moment. "That was our host," he said slowly. "His name is Beorn and he is a skin changer. Some days he is a big black bear and others a big strong man. The bear is unpredictable, while the man can be more reasonable."

I looked at the wizard in shock for a moment as he turned to see me and he sighed and nodded his head toward me. It had been years since I had ever heard of another skin changer, or shifter since I had heard of the one who went missing in Dunland. That had been over forty years ago, and there had been no word since.

"He isn't like you; he cannot change into anything. But he is still a skin walker," he rumbled.

"He's leaving," Ori said, moving away from the door as Dori pulled him away from it. "It's not right," he muttered. "None of it is."

I growled softly, and moved through the house as Gandalf told them to get comfortable for the night. He assured them that they were safe for the night. There were animals in the house, goats, a few steers and a horse. Mice were crawling through the place as well and there were other things I couldn't see. As everyone bedded down for the night in the straw or anywhere they could sleep. They were all so exhausted that the moment they laid down they were all asleep, even Gandalf. Sitting down, I watched them all for a moment and curled my tail around my paws.

"Arina."

Turning my head, I looked to Thorin from where he sat leaning against a wall where he could watch over his dwarves. Flicking my ears back for a moment, I then sighed and got to my feet and padded over to him. I was too tired to go to my human form, so instead I lay down next to him, leaning my body against his side and legs. His hand dropped down on my back as he leaned his head against the wall.

"So when is the next time you are going to be human?" he asked quietly as he looked over his sleeping kin.

I sneezed and bared my teeth in a smile while I put my head on his leg. He smirked a little as my tail wagged. I wasn't going to give him more than that just because I wasn't too keen on being human any time soon.

"Tomorrow then," he said softly and I nodded and kept my head on his leg.

We fell asleep for the night and I woke up to the sun streaming in through one of the windows. Gandalf hushed everyone as they gathered around the kitchen table and I stretched and yawned, showing my teeth.

"I say we should leave and slip out the back way," Nori said, nervously and Dwalin slapped him on the chest.

"I'm not running away from anyone, beast or not," he hissed.

Thorin gave me a pointed look when he leaned against the pillar as Bilbo came up and stood next to him. "Come on," he said firmly.

Giving him a sour look, I moved off and went around the corner to transform into my human form. Clothes replaced fur, and I flexed my fingers once I was human again. "Happy?" I asked in a hissing whisper.

"Very," he replied simply.

"We cannot pass through the wilderland without Beorn's help. We will be hunted down and killed," Gandalf said, interrupting the dwarves who were still arguing. "Bilbo there you are. Now this will require some delicate handling. The last person to surprise him was torn to shreds. Bilbo you come with me."

Bilbo looked at him for a moment, obvious fear on his face and he looked around at the others. Thorin jerked his head for him to go when the hobbit looked at him. "Is...Is this a good idea?" Bilbo asked nervously stepping forward to join the wizard.

"Yes, now the rest of you wait here and don't do anything," he said and continued giving instructions.

I couldn't help but stop listening as a large bumblebee hovered in front of me from where I stood now next to Thorin, taking Bilbo's place. Lifting my finger to the bug, I ticked its belly and was rewarded with it landing on my hand when I stopped. When I looked up, Gandalf was gone and Thorin was giving me a look.

"I...what?" I asked as the bee crawled happily over my hand. "I can't help it...animals...attract to me."

"Indeed," he rumbled slightly. "Don't remind me. They usually brought trouble."

I tried not to laugh at his remark and fell silent, while looking at my feet. Thorin shifted next to me, and leaned against the wooden beam that helped support the house. "Is this even safe?" I asked, thinking of what Gandalf was doing. "Beorn...is a terrifying man. He can transform faster than any I've heard of. He's not like me, when he changes he takes the mind of the animal more than a human."

"I guess we'll have to just trust Gandalf," Thorin sighed as his arms stayed crossed.

I listened to them talking and then Bofur suddenly nodded. "Ah, that's the signal! Go!"

I watched as the dwarves slowly trickled out and I could feel the anger roll off the skin changer from inside the house. I shooed the bee from me as everyone slowly went out and Thorin glanced down at me. There was no way I planned on going out there if I could help it. He tilted his head a little in slight amusement and sighed quietly.

"Mm, good luck," I said, ushering him out.

"You'll be coming out after me," he commanded with an arched brow.

"Ugh..." I groaned as he went and showed himself to the skin changer.

I heard Beorn growl loudly, so I gathered my courage and walked out to see Gandalf look at me helplessly. I shrugged at him knowing that this was not how he wanted to introduce everyone. Beorn looked over everyone with a glare, his axe in hand and I came to the front of the group protectively. He glared some more, and then paused when he met my gaze and then slowly put his axe down. Kili cleared his throat just as several bees swarmed around me, and I sighed helplessly and let the one that had been with me earlier land back on my hand.

"I'm sorry, they like me," I said slowly.

"And...that's...Arina," Gandalf sighed.

"You...are a shifter," Beorn let go of his axe and relaxed slightly.

"Yes, I am," I nodded. "Good to meet you. And I'm sure I speak for everyone here when I say thank you again for letting us stay."

"Hmm," he replied quietly and eyed the bees that hummed around me and several of the others. "Let's go inside. I will find you something to eat. The wizard...said you were hungry."

"Thank you, very much," Bilbo said, bowing slightly and I watched Beorn look at him with amusement, which was slowly replacing his glare.

I felt my shoulders drop in relief and I glanced back at Thorin and saw him nod his head slightly, his expression relaxing as the danger passed. Walking back into the kitchen, I went and sat at the table closest to where Thorin was sitting back in the place he had been at earlier. Everyone moved over to let me, obviously feeling that I felt threatened by this skin changer. I couldn't help it; I could be a coward more than I was a hero. Thorin shifted to lean against the pillar while the others ate, and his position put him directly at my back so I was able to turn to look at him. He looked down at me with an expression that reassured me about the situation. His position and posture told me he was aware that I was uncomfortable.

I made a face at him that had Fili smiling and I leaned back against the pillar so that my shoulder touched Thorin's. Beorn was a huge man, and he had power unlike any other skinchanger I had felt. It was one of the reasons why it made him so intimidating. With his power came the ability to transform into a bear very easily while sometimes it took me a minute or more to change. He moved around the table with a large cup in his hand as everyone kept eating. He had quickly set the table before we had all sat down. It was supplied with fresh honey, bread, several fruits and meat that he had fried up for us. I was surprised that he was so gracious all of the sudden. Hopefully this was a good thing.

Beorn poured fresh milk for everyone, and handed me a smaller cup to drink from. "Your kind has not been seen for some time," he remarked.

"We may be the last of our kind," I said slowly as he came closer.

When he approached, I felt Fili come to attention the moment Thorin had. Both of them had the natural ability to lead, and with that the nature to protect those they cared about. Having Thorin at my back made it a little easier to speak to Beorn when he had approached.

"So," he said, looking at Thorin. "You are the one they call Oakenshield? Tell me, what is Azog the defiler doing hunting you?"

"You know of Azog?" Thorin asked, taking his eyes off the wall turning to look at him. "How?"

"My people were the first to live in the mountain before the Orcs came down from the north," Beorn replied. "The defiler killed my family, and some he enslaved. Not for work, you understand. For sport. Caging skin changers and torturing them seemed to amuse him."

"Were there others, like you?" Bilbo asked.

"Once there were many," he said, looking at me.

"And...And now?" Bilbo asked, looking between us both.

I tensed slightly, and set my cup down calmly as Beorn turned to continue serving the others. I reached forward and grabbed a slice of bread and some cheese and handed it to Thorin, who thanked me quietly before I grabbed more for myself.

"Now there is only one," he said slowly as he sat down once he finished. "You need to reach the mountain before the last days of autumn."

"Before Durin's Day, yes," Gandalf nodded from where he stood.

"You are running out of time," Beorn said slowly.

I looked down at the little mice that were crawling over the table and picked off a piece of my bread to give to one that was looking at me hopefully. Thorin watched for a moment before getting up as they kept talking about what they were doing. I had felt him tense behind me when Gandalf had mentioned Durin's day and I tried to hide my smile. He was so protective of his people's secrets, but almost everyone knew what Durin's day was for dwarves.

"We will take the Elven road," Gandalf assured the large man. "Their path is still safe."

Beorn looked at him skeptically. "Safe?" he demanded lowly. "The Wood Elves of Mirkwood are not like their kin. They're less wise and more dangerous. But it matters not."

I glanced at him when he spoke and I felt a slight shudder run through my body. He was right on the elves in Mirkwood being dangerous. They were not like Elrond or his elves in Rivendell. Thranduil was much more secretive and would rather hold up in his forest then venture out of it. They could be quick to judge, and sometimes very easily angered. I didn't even want to think about what would happen if he didn't want us there. Thorin paced a few feet from us before his shoulders set at the skin changers words.

"What do you mean?" Thorin asked quietly as he turned to face the skin changer.

"These lands are crawling with Orcs, their numbers are growing and you are on foot," Beorn said slowly. "You'll never reach the forest alive."

Thorin faced Beorn fully as the skin changer got to his feet and moved forward to continue speaking. We all kept eating, but I noticed that the others were keeping a close eye on their leader as the large man walked over to him. Thorin squared up to Beorn like he was facing any other dwarf, regardless of the height difference. For a moment, I saw Thorin's face falter with the last sentence. He didn't want to fail on this quest, but the threat of the Orcs was more then real. If they ran us down, Beorn was certain that we would all die. The skin changer slowly got to his feet, bending to avoid one of the beams in the house as he slowly walked over to Thorin.

"I don't like dwarves," he said slowly. "They are greedy, and do not care for lives that they deem lesser than their own..."

I felt my body tense even more as he approached Thorin after he grabbed a small mouse from Bofur after the dwarf pushed it off his arm. I shifted slightly as Fili glanced at me. The company watched the skin changer, silent for the first time. Thorin kept his arms crossed as he watched Beorn with an almost haughty expression. Beorn considered Thorin for a long moment before putting the mouse down.

"But Orcs I hate more," he said lowly. "What do you need?"

The tension in the house was gone after Beorn spoke and I relaxed as well. Fili smiled at me, and waggled his eyebrows slightly making me shake my head. "We need horses," Thorin said quietly. "And any supplies that you would be comfortable lending us."

"Done," Beorn nodded his head and turned around before laying his eyes on me. "You..."

Everyone at the table tensed when the large man turned his attention toward me. For a moment, my face paled and I felt my blood run cold but I didn't do anything and waited for him to continue with his question, unless he decided on another course.

I couldn't help it, I had to post another one so soon! Enjoy! I'm glad for those who enjoyed the last chapter. I think I deleted it several times before it was right. :D