I just realized that all I had was a wall of text, and that is very hard to read. So I fixed all the chapters to include enough spacing.

Anyway, I own nothing recognizable as Tolkien's works or characters. I only own Elva, Isil, and Aerin. Enjoy! :)

Chapter 3: Down the Rabbit Hole

Thorin gathered a few others and Gandalf led them to a Troll Hoarde not far away. Elva followed along. Not to be confused with her interest in the Troll Hoarde, of course, but because she wanted to be with the smallest group, away from any questions that could be posed upon her. The wolf woman was able to smell the foul odor of the cave from a good distance away. She wrinkled her nose and forced herself not to gag.

"What is that stench?" Asked the Dwarf with the floppy-hat.

Elva resolved to know their names at least. It was tiresome calling them such lengthy titles.

"It's a Troll Hoarde." Gandalf replied. "Be careful what you touch."

The small group ventured into the cave and looked around. Most of the things inside were dusty and covered in cobwebs. Especially the things farther back. It appeared as though the things inside had not been touched in many years. Elva wondered what the point of it all was if the Trolls weren't even going to do... well anything with them. Thorin and Gandalf wandered to the back of the cave while the others paused at a large pile of gold and jewels. Elva glanced down at it curiously. How many people had met their fates at the hands the the Trolls for them to have stockpiled such a mountain of things.

"It seems a shame just leave it lying around." Said the floppy-hatted Dwarf. "Anyone could take it."

"Agreed." Nodded another Dwarf. "Nori, get a shovel."

Elva curled her lips back in annoyance at not knowing any of their names and rounded on the Dwarf with the strange hat. He glanced at her in surprise.

"It isn't as though we're robbing anyone." He defended.

Elva backed up a step and blinked at him in confusion. Then she realized he thought she was upset over the gold. Elva shook her head quickly. She bent down and wrote in the dirt What is your name? It is irritating knowing you only as "The Dwarf with the strange hat. Of course Elva could have spoken directly to his mind. But it was a very personal thing that she would only do with those she felt were trustworthy enough. This Dwarf, all of the company; save Gandalf, had given her no reason to trust them or open up even in the slightest. Gandalf looked over at Elva and nodded approvingly to himself, it was a very good start. The Dwarf with the floppy hat looked at what she had written and he laughed in understanding.

"I suppose it's no good that we know who you are," He stated. "But you know none of us."

Elva shook her head again and pointed at Thorin.

"Aye, well there's not many who don't know Thorin... or at least know of him." The floppy-hatted Dwarf said.

She pointed at Gandalf.

"He said you two were friends." The Dwarf stated.

The she wolf curled her lips in displeasure. Then she held out her hand, palm facing down, to indicate the Hobbit.

"I'll give you that one." Nodded the floppy-hatted Dwarf.

A sigh of annoyance made its way from Elva. She pointed to the writing she had made in the dirt and gave him a look that said "Well, are you going to give me your name or not?" He grinned and nodded again.

"Aye, aye." He said then gave Elva a sweeping bow. "Bofur, at your service."

Elva blinked at him and quirked an eyebrow. She sniffed and glanced over at Gandalf and Thorin. They had found a barrel of swords in the back. Even from the distance she knew they were of ancient Elven make. She glanced back over at Bofur and the other Dwarves. They had buried a small chest in the ground, claiming it was a "Long term deposit." Elva looked at them curiously and glanced at the pile. A sparkle of light caught her eye. She crouched down and looked closer. It was a simple, slightly wide, silver chain with a small, pale blue oval-cut jewel on the end. Encircled around it was a silver cage with three leaves. Thorin called for everyone to get out of the cave. Elva stood up and headed out of the cave gratefully. She wanted to be well away from the stench that had her stomach turning. The group left the cave and made ready to begin on their journey again. Elva stood away from the company, facing the woods, and stoutly ignored the stares and glances thrown her way. Suddenly she was aware of a presence behind her. She turned and saw Bofur there. He held out a hand and she glanced down at it. In his palm was the necklace she had been looking at in the cave.

"You forgot this." Bofur said.

Elva blinked uncertainly between Bofur and the necklace. She couldn't understand why he had stayed behind to fetch it for her. They had met not even an hour before, there was no personal relationship between the pair of them. In fact other than each others names, they knew nothing about each other. Bofur motioned for her to turn around so he could hook the necklace around her neck. Elva glared at him warily, then turned stiffly. She was only a couple of inches taller than Bofur, so he had no trouble draping it around her neck. Elva placed her slender fingers over the pendant carefully, as though she were afraid a single touch would break it. Bofur tilted his head and Elva gave a half turn to face him. She opened her mouth but hesitated momentarily. Then she took a breath and opened her thoughts to Bofur.

"Thank you." She said in his mind.

Suddenly, her eyes hardened and she stalked away, shaking her head at herself and leaving Bofur in shock of what just happened.

"Something's coming!" Thorin called to everyone.

Elva glanced over in his direction and looked past him. She lifted her chin slightly to scent the air, then remembered her senses were not as sharp in her human form. Through the trees crashed a sleigh that was being pulled by very large rabbits. Elva recognized them as a breed that came from Rhosgobel. Her eyes widened. She pressed herself as far into a rock as she could manage and hid her face. Through the brush crashed the sleigh and a scraggly figure in dirt brown robes and wild hair and eyes.

"Thieves! Fire! Murder!" He cried looking around madly.

"Radagast." Gandalf exclaimed happily.

Elva squeezed her eyes shut and crouched down wishing she could melt into the stones. Radagast was someone she hoped she would never have to face again. Bofur glanced at her and concern flashed across his face. He knelt down next to her, hesitantly reached out a hand, and rested it on her arm. Elva's eyes shot open, she sprang to her feet, and gave a low hiss through her teeth. She glared at Bofur in anger and stalked off.

"I do not desire your concern!" She snapped in his mind.

Unfortunately, Radagast noticed her sudden explosion.

"Elva?" The Brown Wizard questioned. "I have not seen you since..."

He trailed off and his eyes seemed to return to a far distant past. Elva glanced at the Wizard with a pained expression.

"Hello Aiwendil." Elva replied quietly.

"I do not go by that name any longer." Radagast replied softly. "But if it brings you comfort you may still refer to me as such."

"A name could not bring comfort." Elva sneered. "There is no comfort for me in this life."

"Then perhaps it would be good for you to find some." The Brown Wizard cupped her face in his gnarled hand.

Elva jerked away angrily and stalked off to the other side of the tiny clearing. She ignored Gandalf's call to her and the stares of the other Dwarves. She flopped down on a stone and pulled her knees into her chest. Elva curled her lips back in distaste. Radagast had loved her sister, and yet he felt pity for her because of what happened. Why did he care so much whether she lived out the rest of her days happily or not? She shot an icy glance towards the Wizards. What was it about her that made them wish to give her pity? She had no use of it. Suddenly the dark howl of a canine creature sounded through the forest. Elva whipped around and searched the trees for any sign of it.

"Was that a wolf?" Bilbo questioned warily. "Are there - are there wolves out there?"

"Wolves?" Bofur replied nervously. "No, that is not a wolf."

Behind them appeared the great form of a Warg; its ears pinned back and lips curled in hatred. Saliva dripped from its maw as it stalked forward. Bofur, Bilbo, and the largest Dwarf were the closest to it. They turned around in horror. Elva leaped to her feet with a silent curse and forced herself into an quick-shift. It was the quickest way to transform back into her wolf form, but it was also painful beyond imagination, and she could only do so a few times without exhaustion taking over. Every bone in her body felt as though it was breaking at the same time and rearranging themselves. In a split second she had gone from human to wolf. The Warg bounded down the hill and lunged at one of the Dwarves that Elva didn't know the name of. Ilúvatar, she would have to figure out the names of them all if she was going to keep sane around them. Thorin took the first Warg down. A second lunged at him but was finished off by the youngest Dwarf with the stubble for a beard. A third one crept along behind Bofur and lunged. Elva opened her mouth and leaped at him as well. Bofur saw her and quickly ducked. Elva's jaws clamped around the Warg's throat and she bit as hard as she could. Bofur stood up, spun around with his Mattock raised, and paused when he saw what Elva had actually been doing. Keeping her jaws shut, she quickly tore the Warg's throat out; effectively making sure it was dead. She turned to Bofur, dark blood dripping from her jaws. Her eyes were hard and her ears pinned back. Bofur twisted his grip on his mattock slightly, swallowing nervously. But Elva simply gave him a curt nod and stalked away.

"Warg scouts." Thorin informed them. "Which means an Orc pack is not far behind."

"Orc pack?" Bilbo questioned.

"Who did you tell about your quest, beyond your kin?" Gandalf asked Thorin.

"No one." The Dwarf prince replied, confused.

"Who did you tell!" Gandalf demanded.

"No one!" Thorin answered in irritation. "I swear! What in Durin's name is going on?"

"You're being hunted." The Grey Wizard answered.

"We have to get out of here." Said one of the Dwarves.

"We can't!" Cried another running down the hill. "We have no ponies! They've bolted."

Elva curled her lips back in annoyance. Bloody Dwarves kept getting into trouble.

"I'll draw them off." Radagast said.

"These are Gundabad Wargs, they'll outrun you." Gandalf rounded on him.

"These are Rhosgobel Rabbits." Radagast replied smugly. "I'd like to see them try."

He turned to Elva and gave her a wink. She paused for a moment before giving him a wolfish equivalent of a grin. Radagast mounted his sleigh and rushed off to distract the Wargs. The company gathered their things and made their way out of the forest they were in. Gandalf lead the way, knowing exactly where he was taking them. Elva understood where they were going as well. He was leading them to the Elves. Finally Thorin began to grow suspicious.

"Where are you leading us?" He demanded of the Wizard.

Gandalf paused for a moment, but refused to answer. Elva gave him a hard glance and followed after the group. They pressed against a large bolder and froze, waiting to hear where the Wargs were. Suddenly, one broke away from the group and clambered onto the bolder they hid behind. Thorin nodded to Kili who nocked an arrow and shot the Warg. Unfortunately it was not killed. The Dwarves surrounded the Warg and the Orc and beat them to death. The creatures made a great racket and called the rest of the pack to follow them. And so they ran again. Soon they were trapped in a ring of Wargs and they were being closed in upon. Elva snarled and went to rush out to attack the Wargs. She bowled one over and snapped its neck with her powerful jaws. She prepared to rush another one that was just in front of her, but she was suddenly pinned down. Struggling to release herself from the grip of the Warg, Elva felt its hot breath on her fur. And then the weight was gone as quickly as it came. She wheeled around and saw Bofur digging the sharp end of his Mattock out of the Warg's skull.

"And now we're even." He winked.

Elva gave him a nod and ran back to the group next to him. They pressed together in a tight circle, preparing for an attack on all sides from the Wargs and Orcs. Their numbers were much larger than the small company, and there was a slim chance of them getting out of their predicament alive. Elva noticed that Gandalf was missing from the group, but she didn't have time to wonder where he had gone to. Suddenly the Wizard's voice called from a stone. He popped up from a secret passage underneath the rock and ordered everyone inside. The group obeyed without hesitation. Elva stayed behind to help ward off the Wargs until everyone made it into the hole. Thorin was the last one aside from herself. He turned and called to her.

"Get in there!" He ordered.

Their current situation did not leave room for Elva to try and refuse his orders. She wanted away from the Orc pack just as much as the Dwarves did. And so she galloped into the hole. Thorin followed not a moment later. As soon as everyone was in the hole a horn sounded from above ground. Elva knew it was of Elvish make. But the only Elvish city anywhere remotely nearby was... Imladris. She cursed silently. There was about to be a meeting Elva had tried to put off for as long as possible. Unfortunately, that time was up.

Awesome, Elva gets some one-on-one time with this strange Dwarf... well all Dwarves are strange to her, although that's mostly because she hates everyone and just doesn't care. Eru, she should have been a cat lol.