[Child of the 7th Age]

Alkanoonion's Post:

Carl listened to Branda outline his plan for the next day. Branda seemed to be droning on and on. After so much ale and a hard day on the trail, Carl's mind was drifting in and out. He was in danger of falling asleep.

.... Tomorrow, we need a group to scout out the road ahead. You'll need to rise early, and get a head start. The road shouldn't be dangerous, since we're still within the Shire....

Not paying the best attention Carl was making pictures in the tabletop from a puddle of spilt beer, and he only started to really listen at the mention of "howling wolves."

Carl looked up at Branda and said:
"Before, when I was preserving the squirrel meat outside, I thought that I heard a wolf howling in the distance far from the road, but I dismissed it as the wind. Now I am not so sure."

"Perhaps I should scout for the group tomorrow, going far beyond Whitfurrows down to the River, leaving the road and heading cross country to get a sense of the real dangers that lie ahead. Then I will come back and meet you in Whitefurrows at the end of the day. After all I have my bow and dagger, and I am an expert in the art of hunting and scouting."

As he made his speech Carl was fingering his bow and holding it out for the group to see.

He continued on a bit boastfully, "If any wolves are around tomorrow, I will make myself a nice warm wolf fur cloak. Also scouting ahead, I might have the opportunity to catch some more fresh meet for our host."

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Child's post

Branda was scratching his head, uncertain what to do. He knew he and Dinodas would be going to the Water to ice-fish after they reached Whitfurrows. But who should he choose to do the scouting tomorrow morning? Giles and Carl seemed to be making very different proposals.

He slowly got up from the bench. His body ached from the exertion of having walked so many miles through the ice and snow. Now, his brain seemed to be aching too. He shook his head. This kind of decision was beyond him and really belonged to Bullroarer. He decided to go up and talk with Bandobras, hoping that he hadn't fallen asleep yet.

It took him a while to locate the hobbit. He finally found him out in the stables talking to one of his horses, scratching the beast behind the ear, and feeding him a poor withered apple.

At Branda's approach, Bullroarer quickly pulled back and addressed the younger hobbit, "Do you have the name of those scouts for me? Speak up, lad. The cat got your tongue?"

Branda blurted out a bumbling explanation about the offers by Giles and Carl, and how he wasn't sure what to do. Bullroarer sat down on a bale of hay, and thought for a minute. Then he spoke, "These two offers are very different, but maybe that is not such a bad thing. Let's do this."

He started drawing a rough picture in the dirt and sand of the stable floor. He put a large dot where Frogmorton was, another for Whitfurrows, and a third where the Brandywine Bridge stood at the end of their roadway.

First, he pointed to the East Road between Frogmorton and Whitfurrows. "This is where Giles will go in the morning along with Autumn. They'll stick to the roadway and scout out any immediate dangers, and let us know if problems arise. Their main job will be to arrange accomodations in Whitfurrows where we'll spend the night."

"Carl will focus his efforts here." He pointed to the countryside north of the roadway which extended from Whitfurrows down to the Brandywine. "If there are problems to be had with wolves, this is where they'll appear."

"Except for my own steed, he has the fastest pony in the group, and is an experienced tracker and woodsman. He sould be able to make good time, going on his own."

"But there's one thing, you've got to tell him." Bullroarer stuck his nose directly in Branda's poor face. "His job is to scout and stay out of sight. A good scout can get a look at wolves without them seeing him. If I hear for one minute, that he's attracted their attention, or, even worse, attacked them, I will personally break his body in two!"

Branda groaned inwardly. He'd been so proud of his new job as Bullroarer's assistant. Now he would have to carry this difficult message back to Carl. Outwardly, he only nodded and acknowledged Bullroarer's orders and went off to tell Giles and Carl.

Giles seemed quite happy to hear the news, but Carl looked less pleased. Knowing that escape was sometimes the most prudent course to take, Branda quickly ducked out of the way, and retreated to his sleeping quarters to turn in for the night. Down the hall, he thought he could hear the sound of things being hurled against the wall. But he couldn't be certain and wasn't about to check.

[ December 03, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]