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piosenniel · 11-18-2002, 11:55 AM

Holly whistled for Peri. Gandalf had assembled his ragtag troops and was preparing to start down the road. The Hobbit stood up from her seat beneath the oak tree, saddle blanket in hand, waiting for the arrival of the pony.

She put her fingers to her mouth and whistled again. Where was he? It was not like Peri to go off when he knew they would soon be on the road.

Holly walked toward the stable, thinking he might have gone in for a few more bites of hay, but there was no pony to be seen. She whistled once more and heard a muffled whinny come, it seemed, through the rear wall of one of the stalls.

She ran quickly to the back of the building. There was the Peri, digging furiously at the edge of the foundation with his front hooves. Straw and dirt were flying. 'Hey!' she shouted, as a clod of dirt hit her thigh. 'Watch what you're doing, you crazy pony!' She stepped a little closer, avoiding the flying debris. 'And what are you doing?'

Peri had ceased his digging, and had something secured in his front teeth, tugging mightily at it. Holly reached down to help him, her hand closing round some sort of leather strap.

'What's this?' She held up a familiar looking pack, and brushed off the dirt clinging to it. Inside she recognized the tumbled clutter of belongings. 'Good work, Peri! Now let's get this into your packs and you loaded up. Gandalf and all are already legging it down the road.'

By the time they reached the oak tree, the companions had long left the yard, making good time down the road. Peri was soon re-packed. Holly reached into the pack they had dug up and took out a small, light purse that jingled faintly when she shook it. 'I'll just keep it safe here.' she said to the attentive pony, placing it in the same inner pocket as she had the folded map.

Staff in hand, rucksack swaying gently at her back, she strode down the dusty path. If anyone had watched her, they would have thought it odd that she held an animated and ongoing one-sided conversation with the pony, and gazed often into the sky and trees above her, as if seeing something there.

11-18-2002, 11:55 AM	#42
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	Holly whistled for Peri. Gandalf had assembled his ragtag troops and was preparing to start down the road. The Hobbit stood up from her seat beneath the oak tree, saddle blanket in hand, waiting for the arrival of the pony. She put her fingers to her mouth and whistled again. Where was he? It was not like Peri to go off when he knew they would soon be on the road. Holly walked toward the stable, thinking he might have gone in for a few more bites of hay, but there was no pony to be seen. She whistled once more and heard a muffled whinny come, it seemed, through the rear wall of one of the stalls. She ran quickly to the back of the building. There was the Peri, digging furiously at the edge of the foundation with his front hooves. Straw and dirt were flying. 'Hey!' she shouted, as a clod of dirt hit her thigh. 'Watch what you're doing, you crazy pony!' She stepped a little closer, avoiding the flying debris. 'And what are you doing?' Peri had ceased his digging, and had something secured in his front teeth, tugging mightily at it. Holly reached down to help him, her hand closing round some sort of leather strap. 'What's this?' She held up a familiar looking pack, and brushed off the dirt clinging to it. Inside she recognized the tumbled clutter of belongings. 'Good work, Peri! Now let's get this into your packs and you loaded up. Gandalf and all are already legging it down the road.' By the time they reached the oak tree, the companions had long left the yard, making good time down the road. Peri was soon re-packed. Holly reached into the pack they had dug up and took out a small, light purse that jingled faintly when she shook it. 'I'll just keep it safe here.' she said to the attentive pony, placing it in the same inner pocket as she had the folded map. Staff in hand, rucksack swaying gently at her back, she strode down the dusty path. If anyone had watched her, they would have thought it odd that she held an animated and ongoing one-sided conversation with the pony, and gazed often into the sky and trees above her, as if seeing something there. __________________ Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.