[Nurumaiel]

Don turned her back on Rie and began eating her breakfast, muttering things under her breath. When she had finished, she turned back and said hotly, "Well, at least I don't go bragging about how tough I am!"

"Don't you?" asked Rie.

"No," said Don, then she stopped. "Well... NO, I DON'T!" The last three words were practically screamed.

Rie hid another smile. The girl had been close to admitting that she had bragged before. "Oh, I see," said Rie in a voice that told Don everything Rie thinking.

"NO, I DON'T!" she yelled again, louder this time. Rie clapped a hand over her mouth and whispered in her ear, "Quiet, or you'll be in trouble."

"What can you do to me?" asked Don defiantly.

"Oh, I won't do anything to you. That dwarf over there will." Rie pointed to the dwarf bearing the axe.

Something wavered in Don's eyes, but then the hobbit girl raised her chin and said, "Oh, I could show him a thing or two."

"There, you're bragging!" said Rie triumphantly.

Don rolled her eyes and glared even harder at Rie.