[Himaran]

"Defend yourselves," Bali screamed over the cries of tree orcs catapulting from nearby branches. They were acrobatic, agile and flexible, wielding primary long, thin spears. The dwarves were forced to move constantly, swinging their short axes in a defensive patern. But Bali knew they wouldn't last for long under the incoming onslaught. As he skillfully beheading an approaching orc, and snapped the spear of another before he disposed of it, the dwarf realized that much of his force had only fenced with targets and each other. They were not great warriors. And so his decison was a quick one.

"Run, follow Eruantalon! Back, out of the forest, quickly! I will pick up the rear." The dwarfs who were unengaged rushed to Eruantalon, who led them up the path towards the river. Nerin was still fighting, being pushed up against a nearby tree. The young dwarf ducked one blow, only to rise and find not an orc but Bali standing before him; his opponent was dead. The two raced after the others, scattering the orcs before them. And then it suddenly occured to Bali that Dwalin and Durin were still unaccounted for...