DISCLAIMER: Let's get this out of the way. I do not own or have any hope of ever owning the characters or happenings of middle earth. They belong to Tolkien and as far as I'm concerned he can keep them. For now. I do however, own my OC, Kidhuzel! So don't steal her. Please, feel free to leave any comments and/or questions that you may have. Follow the story in which ever way you would like, but make your thoughts known but be polite while you do it. Thank you!

Chapter 23

"Has everyone done a count of their gear?"

"Aye!"

Nodding, Thorin directs his company to begin their descent down the cliff edge while they still have enough daylight to make it to the bottom. Although Erebor is within sight, it is still a journey away. Only sparing enough time to confirm what supplies weren't lost in goblin town, the dwarf King aims to hasten the company down from their perch.

"I'm sure I do not need to warn you lot, but the way down is not very safe." Gandalf waves his staff with care "Do be sure not fall."

Kidhuzel gazes over the edge of the cliff, looking down the winding path the company must take. Having overexerted herself over the last few days, the half Drake rests in a seated position on the ground. She is tired and hungry and more than a little irritable but so is everyone else, so she offers no outward complaints. She'll simply have to climb down slowly with the rest of the group. Her wings, though exhausted, will be able to catch her if need be.

"Go ahead of us, Kidhuzel." Thorin instructs with the wave, dashing her hopes "See if there is a path. If so, find where it leads."

"O-okay!"

With the child-like need to please that she has yet to outgrow, the Drake rolls forward and clears the side of the mountain; barrelling down toward the ground in search of a way forward. She doesn't use her wings, relying on her tail for balance, until the very last moment. This allows her to be swept forward and dumped into the foliage just out of sight of the group. Rubbing her sore shoulders, and now overall back, the girl sets about her task in search of a path... and maybe a meal. She hates being hungry and right now she feels all but starved. She'd burnt too much energy and needs to replace it. Quickly. Searching the area briefly, she discovers there are a few paths but one is slightly more traveled than the rest. Drawing a quick symbol in the earth to let her treasure know which direction she chose, the girl begins briskly walking along the road.

It is quiet here. Not so quiet that it alarms her but quiet enough that she knows she will not find a stray rabbit. Although the youth prefers her meat cooked, eating it raw does not cause the same illness in her that it does dwarves. Her stomach groans dejectedly but she pushes onward; snatching leaves off bushes and swallowing them just to fill her belly with SOMETHING. The woods smell heavy of bear and man... and not... and both. Tilting her head back to breathe deeply, El frowns even deeper. The smell is new to her yet not. A collection of familiar scents smashed into a whole new one. Still, she forges forward slowly until she finds a house covered in bees. Marking the ground once more, she spreads her wings with a groan.

"Just a bit longer. Just a bit further."

Taking to the air once more she acknowledges no other homes in the vicinity and only one road out back leading away from it further into the forest. The home smells amazing and El all but collapses onto the roof to rest. Just for a moment. Assuring herself that she is just resting her eyes, the youth almost rolls off the roof as she is startled into awareness. A large bee buzzes around her head and angrily she swats at it. Her claws miss the dodgy creature as it floats away. Grumbling, the exhausted dam drops from the roof and heads back to where she can meet up with the company only to find them breaking the tree line before her.

"Kidhuzel!" Her bearer calls urgently "Door!"

"That is.. odd." Still, she turns and opens the large door for the group. Her confusion is short-lived as a large black bear breaks through the trees shortly after them. Immediately the smell greets her and she knows that this bear is also a man and not and the owner of the bee home "It doesn't explain why he is chasing them..."

Had she been better rested, the girl would have done away with the creature that would dare to threaten her hoard. As she is, she'd have to rely on her poison and that is not a skill she has yet to even begin mastering.

"In addition, I was only instructed to open the door. I shall assume that Thorin does not wish for the creature's death just yet." El clumsily returns to the roof as the dwarves rush into the home, slamming and barricading the door safely behind them. As the creature snarls up at her, she knows it was the correct choice to not go inside. He would have continued to try and break in had she gone inside with them. With an exasperated sigh, El takes to the sky to keep her scent from re-engaging the bear man.

"My treasure is safe so there is no need to meet the Bearman like this. Maybe when he is in better spirits."

Her stomach snarls and her eyes droop, worrying the girl. Distantly she wonders what bees taste like but decides against it. She can not take much more of this. The moment the Bearman is gone, she swoops down to the entryway. She is unable to stick the landing and roughly hits the earth with a 'thunk' as her rucksack slams into the back of her head. It contains no weapons but it still causes a bit of discomfort. Dusting herself off, El knocks drowsily on the door to await entry. After a moment the voice of Bombur calls out.

"Is.. is it gone?"

"If by it, you mean the Bearman then..." Shrugging has become something the girl finds extremely useful so she does it. A solid mistake. It agitates her sore shoulders but she swallows the snarl on the tip of her blackened tongue "For now at least. I have no doubt that he shall return though."

"Hurry in then!" The door creaks open just enough for the girl to slip inside. Bombur wastes no time in slamming it shut again behind her. The noise irritates her ears but again, she ignores the sensation. Watching the dwarf breathing heavily the child frowns at him. He places a hand over his chest before taking a seat nearby "He's a -Huff- Skin changer. Bjorn. We will be... safe here.. -huff-... for tonight."

"...Right."

Fatigued eyes glance around the home until they locate her leader and mate. Moving over to them, she silently watches as the next steps for the journey are decided. Thorin glances at her in acknowledgment but it too preoccupied to address her fully. Balin pulls out a separate map and the small group focuses on it. 'The Greenwood' she reads without interest. 'One would hope so.' While a brilliantly quick wit, the dwarrow-Drake is no strategist as she quickly grows bored in the build-up of events. The lazy contentment of a dragon erased any need to scheme while her hoard is safe. She can follow the orders of her bearer but making plans do not entertain her in the least. Especially when she is this hungry. Drifting away El moves around the ground floor rooms in search of food. If the present animals did not walk upright, she'd have devoured them in an instant. Although the animals look delicious, she imagines it would cause trouble if she were to eat one. Sensing danger, they bring her bread and honey which she all but inhales. It is enough to take away the edge and drive her mind to her next most important need: sleep.

"Think of something else..."

At her command, her mind wanders to her mate. Despite her standing mere feet from him at times, the dwarf still refuses to look at her. She returns to her treasure's side, staring across at her mate but he refuses to look at her. He knows the power of a dragon with a goal but clearly, he has not suffered the wrath of one. His rejection when his attraction is so obvious is becoming more annoyingly unacceptable with each instance but she wisely remembers what her bearer told her about privacy. 'Later then' pulling a claw into her mouth, she gnaws on it and promises that she will have words with her mate soon. Even so, she continues to stare in vengeful sleep depravity until the king dismisses the company as a whole.

"All right now, get some rest." The dwarves stretch and murmur, no doubt all of them are spent from the recent events. Turning to the half-dragon and guard, the King sighs when his partners do not move "All of you."

"Kidhuzel," Balin chuckles as he repacks his items "My dear brother will burst into flames if you continue."

"It is no more than what he deserves for ignoring me so." swiping a stray lock from her face, the youth continues her mission "It has gone on long enough."

"I am inclined to agree." turning to his old friend and cousin, Thorin pats Dwalin on the shoulder with a look of amusement "There is a room upstairs. Dwalin, take your mate to bed."

"Thor-"

"To sleep. We are all drained, even my dearest weapon." lifting his other hand, the king pets El's head with understanding. Had she been more aware and less asleep on her feet, she might have blushed at his care "Go but before you bed for the night do what you must to continue this journey in peace."

"I would be at peace if-"

"All right." Cutting off her mate, Kidhuzel pulls her claw from her mouth, steps between the two males, and gestures for Dwalin to move towards the stairs. As expected he stares at everything but her. With an exasperated sigh, El folds her arms over her chest "This has gone on long enough. I am your mate. We were unprepared and you did minor damage to my body. Your feelings on it are becoming more unpleasant for me than the experience itself."

"... Wh..." Balin grimaces and immediately walks away as his brother flounders. Startled at the statement, Dwalin swallows deeply and coughs out a response "What?"

"In Rivendell. When we mated. You hurt me when you put your-

"! I- Yes. Yes." His face becomes a ruddy shade as his One brings up his deepest regret. "I did. I know. We shouldn't talk about that out here though."

"Correct. I have learned about privacy. So..." Gesturing again, the Drake inclines her head towards the staircase "Shall we?"

A/N: Hey hey hey! Doing my best to keep 'em coming. I want to finish everything all at once and also not rush. Wish me luck!