[Firefoot]

Sondo couldn't believe what a late start they had gotten. Had they all really overslept? He knew that he had been in deep sleep - he had been scared out of his wits when Bingo started yelling for everyone to get up. They were on their way now, though, so that was good. They certainly wouldn't be stopping for lunch today! No, they would have to eat on the raft.

In the frenzied activity preceding their departure, Sondo had noticed very little except the task immediately at hand: getting moving. Now, however, there was little to do and Sondo realized that while it had been clear yesterday, today the sky was full of large, fluffy looking clouds, and some dark, ominous-looking thunderclouds loomed on the western horizon. He hoped there would not be a thunderstorm; not only would the weather be miserable, but they would also probably have to stop if the river got too wild. They had tipped once, in calm water, no less, and already the current was swifter than when they had started out. It was a recipe for disaster, but Sondo cockily dismissed the threat figuring that they could work through it like they had the rock jams and rapids. They were working together now, and the hobbits were all getting along fine; in fact, despite the late start, no one seemed to be in a particularly bad mood.

He saw Reggie laying on his stomach at the edge of the raft, apparently watching something with interest. He was alone, and Sondo had nothing else to do, so he approached and asked about it.

"Oh," he said vaguely, "the water, the fish." Perhaps it was a light in his eyes or the way he said it, but Sondo could sense Reggie's excitement, and Sondo was genuinely glad he had let the hobbit come along.

"Maybe we should try to catch some," suggested Sondo. If it was going to rain, at least they could have some fresh meat later on. Reggie was agreeable, and Sondo dug some hooks and line out of their supply stock. As he was doing so, it began to drizzle lightly. As long as he was at it, Sondo supposed he should get out some cloaks as well, in case it started raining harder. Someone groaned about the weather acting up, but Sondo didn't mind the light rain. It smelled good, all fresh and damp. As long as it didn't start pouring, he would be fine.

He sat down next to Reggie and handed him the fishing supplies. They chatted amiably, generally getting to know each other and forgetting for a while the light but persistant rain. The fish were really biting, and the pair ended up throwing back some fish that might otherwise be considered nice-sized. Most of the fish they kept were nice, fat silvery trout.

"It's the rain," said a knowledgeable, but not snobby, voice behind them. Sondo turned and found it to be Rory. "It brings them to the surface." Sondo nodded, recalling the fact.

"Whatever it is, it's working," Sondo grinned. They now had enough fish for everyone to eat their fill, and he and Reggie reluctantly put away their tackle. The fish, which they had stuck into Bingo's turtle net for lack of a better container, were also put away with the food supplies until they could prepare them to eat. Now, without the pleasant distraction, Sondo realized that a brisk breeze had stirred up, making the damp seem chillier. The dark clouds had moved closer, now, and Sondo feared that the storm was inevitable. The odd part was that through the incomplete cloud cover, the sun was still visible if not warming, and they went through alternating periods of sun and shade mixed with the determined rainfall. He only hoped it didn't turn absolutely miserable. The sun had not even reached its zenith yet, and Sondo could only reason that they would have to wait till lunch to decide what ought to be done.