[Child of the 7th Age]

Branda stood by the wagon with Tomba at his side. Caught up in the madness of the moment, he grabbed his weapons and raced over to where the achers stood. His fingers itched to draw out an arrow and cock his bow, to fire again and again at these beasts who knew neither mercy nor goodness, but only insatiable hunger. One stern look from Bullroarer quickly set him in his place, and he retreated back with Giles and Tomba to the safety of the wagon, though with some misgivings in his heart.

As he'd been instructed, Branda kept a close watch on the attacking wolves and wargs from this safe perch. He could see the beasts twisting and pivoting between those hobbits who wielded bows and torches, snarling and snapping in their frenzied desire to still the stinging arrows and draw closer to their prey. In a single instant a wolf had pressed in between Bullroarer and Dinodas, slamming into Robin. The girl crumpled to the ground, and Branda sprang into action, glad to be doing something when so many of his companions were hard pressed.

Bow and quiver were discarded near the campfire, since these would be of limited use within a close range. Instead, Branda clenched a blazing torch in his left hand, and the silver dagger he'd taken from the tombs in his right. A great warg was just about to set his teeth upon Robin's shoulder, when the hobbit raced in, crouching low, waving the firebrand, extending it out in the direction of the beast's simmering eyes.

Instinct soon took over. Even with flame and dagger, Branda knew he could not singlehandedly take on such a foe. Moreover, his duty lay with Robin. The warg howled and spun away as the flame came near his shaggy coat, directly under his eyes. Branda grabbed onto Robin's collar, and with some strength he never knew he possessed, wrenched her up from the ground and slung her over his back. He did not look behind, but ran over near the wagon and laid her down as quickly as he could manage. He did not know at the time, but Giles and Tomba had helped cover his retreat with their flaming torches.

Branda's heart was pounding wildly, both with the sheer terror of having been so close to a monster like that, and with the fear that he may have injured Robin more grievously by his none too gentle touch. As he knelt down beside the girl in the accutomed position of a healer, he willed himself to quiet concentration and began to examine her.

[ January 21, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]