* quick note

Ama = Mommy

Amad = Mother

+l+

"...won't believe what I found!" A child's voice wakes Emery. Her ears perk up and her eyes snap open, but she's slow to move her head, for fear of jostling her leg.

"Are you sure you didn't simply imagine it?" a much deeper, much older voice asks. Is that...could that possibly be...?

"I'm sure! I'm sure!" the child replies. "Now, I know I saw it, but if only finding it again were a bit easier." Emery decides to try and get a better look. She stands, hoists herself up on her uninjured leg, with her front paws on the side of the hole to give her a bit more height. Her head raises just enough for her to peep over the edge. She can hear the faint sound of footsteps and children's voices, but doesn't see anything besides the trees and shrubs. Her foot slips and she slams back to the ground. Unable to catch herself, her head lands roughly in the dirt and the motion sends a wave of pain through her leg, and she lets out a loud whimper. Curling herself into a ball and bringing her leg closer, she shuts her eyes against the pain. She doesn't keep them shut for long though, as a shuffling noise gets her attention. She looks up and sees a small blonde figure peeking over the edge of the ditch. After a moment, the boy raises his head and calls to the others.

"Hey, Kee! I think I found it!" He looks about 6 years old in human years, but his big ears suggest that he's a dwarfling, which would make him much older. His eyes are a striking deep blue. His blonde hair is curly and barely brushes his shoulders. On the left side of his head is a family braid with two clasps on it: one is plain and silver, and the other is blue with intricate designs and a tiny blue stone, probably a sapphire. Before Nora has any time to wonder what those beads mean, another child appears, excitedly peering into the ditch. This one looks about 5 in human years. His hair is the slightest bit shorter, and is dark brown. He wears the same beads in his family braid as the blonde. His eyes are a rich chocolate brown. His face morphs into an excited grin with wide eyes.

"I told you! I told you!" the younger boy softly exclaims. Something seems familiar about these two...but she doesn't have time to figure out what before another person looks into the ditch. Thorin Oakenshield, though with a much younger face than featured in the movies, is unmistakable. Minus a few light wrinkles and grey streaks, he looks almost exactly as he did in The Hobbit. The same curly black hair, short beard, and stormy gray eyes.

"Indeed," he says, crouching beside the boys and looking into the ditch. "It seems you were right, Kili." Kili! That must be who the younger dwarfling is! Which means the older one must be Fili! The fangirl part of Emery squeals in delight. She slowly gets to her feet, but her right hind leg hurts even worse than it did the day before. She scratches at the side of the ditch with her left front paw and whines. Fili's excited expression morphs into one of concern.

"Uncle, I don't think she can get out," he says. Kili looks at his brother.

"How do you know it's a girl?" he says.

"She doesn't have any...well, any..." Fili sputters and turns slightly red. Aw. How cute. Kili thankfully understands and doesn't need him to finish. His ears turn a bit red, as well. Fili changes the subject. "Well, she can't climb out, and I can't reach her. Uncle, can you get her out?" Thorin pauses for a moment, as if trying to decide how to proceed, then moves to put his knees on the ground. Carefully and slowly, so as not to step on Emery, he puts one foot into the ditch for support. He then reaches down with both hands and gently picks her up, then hoists himself and her out of the hole. Sitting down beside the boys, he sets her in his lap. While he examines her leg, the dwarflings pet her head and back. Following her canine instincts, Emery sniffs their hands and licks them, causing Kili to laugh. Suddenly, a sharp pain shoots through her leg, and she flinches and whimpers.

"The hock seems to be fractured," Thorin says. Hock? What's that? Kili asks that question at the same time that Fili asks if fractured means it's broken. "Kili, a wolf's hocks are the bones in the ankles of its hind legs. A fracture is a crack, Fíli, not a break. Her right hock has been cracked. If it was fully broken, she would not have been able to stand," he explains. Well, at least she knows what the fall did to her leg.

"But will she be alright?" Kili asks, concern evident in his voice and on his face. Thorin shakes his head.

"I doubt it, Kili. A pup so young, especially an injured one, would not have been left alone by its mother unless something had happened to her, and even a fully grown wolf would have a difficult time fending for itself with a fractured hock." Thorin's words cause the boys' faces to scrunch in worry. After a moment, Fili's expression changes to that of a child convinced he's come up with the greatest idea ever.

"What if we brought her home with us? We could take care of her, and Ama wouldn't mind," he suggests eagerly. Kíli's expression quickly morphs to match his brother's.

"Yes, that's perfect! Please, Uncle? Can we take the pup home?" The dwarflings give their uncle their best puppy dog eyes and pouty lips. Emery can feel Thorin's abdomen tense as he holds in a chuckle. After a few moments (which she's is almost certain he waited just to add to the suspense), Thorin sighs.

"As long as you understand that whether or not she stays is up to your amad." The boys grin and nod their heads vigorously. "Well then, we'd best be on our way if we are to be back in time for lunch." All three of them stand up (Emery still carefully held in Thorin's arms), and head off in a direction she assumes leads to their home. After about an hour, the three of them walk out of the forest. Seriously? She walked around for days and wasn't able to get out, and these Dwarves did it in an hour. Well, it probably helps that they know their way around the forest. An odd smell wafts up her nose, and she looks up to see what it is. Oh. Well, that does make sense.

In front of her is a small range of small mountains covered in green foliage. At the base of the center mountain is what resembles a giant eighteenth-century mine entrance from Earth. Spread out along the base of the range is a well-defended community. There are houses and other buildings surrounded by a high wooden wall and farmland. This must be Ered Luin, the new settlement of the Dwarves of Erebor. The trio and the pup approach the gate. The door is shut, and a Dwarf in armor walks towards them after stretching his back.

"Welcome back, Master Thorin, Master Fili, Master Kili. I see you've brought a friend," says the Dwarf. His voice is friendly.

"Thank you, Fefur," Thorin replies. "This pup has been injured. These two-" he gestures towards the dwarflings, "-insisted she come with us." Fefur squints at her.

"A bit big for a wolf pup, don't you think?" he asks.

"Definitely, but a pup, just the same. I doubt she'll be very much trouble," Thorin answers. After talking for a few more minutes, Fefur unlocks the gate and allows them to pass. The fangirl part of Emery has its jaw hanging wide open at what's inside.