[Encaitare]

Nurumaiel's post:

Falco trod along with his eyes fixed on the ground, and his eyes flashing first with anger, and then with worry. He was still upset about the split of the group, and the fact that he had gained only one supporter. And, of course, the fact that Sondo was the best. That still hurt. It had been hurting for a long time, and would continue to hurt. But worry also assailed him. They had been trudging along for sometime, and had in fact already made one camp, but there was no sight of Sarn Ford. Falco had expected to reach it the evening he set out, but it was almost a day later, and there was no hint that they were drawing close. No sign pointed and informed them that Sarn Ford was close, and no hobbit wandered about to give them directions. Clearly they were still in a wilderness.

"Is it almost suppertime?"

Falco looked up. Reggie had tagged along faithfully with him, though he hadn't said much. Falco suspected that the boy was still feeling rather badly about having to split with his brother, and so he had exerted himself to show Reggie a special sort of kindness, and for more than one reason. The first reason was to comfort Reggie and distract his mind from the parting with his brother, and the second reason was to show his one follower that he was a kind, compassionate leader who cared about the feelings of those under his command. But Falco could not deny that he was getting tired of being kind and compassionate, and was feeling quite snappy at an unforseen happening.

"Yes, I think it's quite suppertime," he said, and promptly sat down. Gesturing for Reggie to do the same, he cleared his throat and said. "Er... now, Reggie, I have something to tell you. We lost most of our supplies, as you know, and we've been dining off what I have in my pack. But the fact is, it's taking longer to reach Sarn Ford than I had thought, and we're running low on food." Reggie said nothing, but his look clearly implied that he was waiting for more. Falco went on, saying: "Well, then, Reggie, I suppose I'd better be blunt. The fact of the matter is, we're clean out of food. But," and he quickened his words so Reggie could not speak till he was through, "that doesn't matter, because we're almost to Sarn Ford, I'm sure of it. We've gone to bed without supper often enough, or at least I have, and we can do it again tonight, for the sake of an adventure. We should reach Sarn Ford by morning, and everything will be all right."

To his surprise, Reggie raised no clamour of protest, but was rather uncannily silent. He was so silent that Falco began to wish he would start complaining. Reggie was thinking, that was clear, and Falco was afraid of what he might be thinking. Not mutiny, surely... hopefully...

"Well, we've got sometime until it gets dark, so we can just hang about as we please," said Falco, trying to speak in those kind, compassionate tones. "Go where you will, but I guess it would be best if we didn't stray too far from the camp." He opened his pack up and peered in. "Here's one last bit of a biscuit, Reggie," he said. "It might be a little stale, but it will fill you a little bit." He placed it into Reggie's hands, and then strode to the river-bank, hoping that his sacrifice made a good impression on Reggie's mind.

Sinking down into the grass, he dropped his feet into the cool water and swished his toes back and forth, gazing uneasily down the river. Were they really as close to Sarn Ford as he hoped? What if they weren't? They couldn't trek miles with no food in their stomachs. Or, at least, Reggie couldn't. He was younger and not as strong and hearty. But Falco wondered if he himself would be able to march a whole day without any food. This was an awful situation. But it was best not to worry about it. Sarn Ford had to be close. They'd been walking for so long. And their only choice was to go back to Sondo.

"And I'll never do that," Falco murmured. He directed his eyes to the river and watched its gentle running, and resolved to think of something else.

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Encaitare's Post:

Reggie watched Falco's retreating back, and then eyed the bit of biscuit he held in his own hands. This was all the food they had left? Why hadn't Falco told him they were running out of food?

He wondered if Falco really knew how close (or far) they were from Sarn Ford. Reggie did want to go there, truly he did, just for the sake of going somewhere he had never been before and seeing something different for a change. Still, Sondo had said something about heading east...

His thoughts a confused jumble, he decided to take advantage of Falco's suggestion and go off by himself for a bit. He wandered away from their semblance of camp until the noises of the river were faint. As he walked, he nibbled on the biscuit. It was stale, and seemed much smaller when he actually raised it to his mouth. Instead, he broke off a corner and stuck the rest in his pocket. He rued the loss of the nice pack which Bingo had assembled to him.

I hope he's okay, he thought, wondering what the others were doing now. He then realized that he shouldn't care, since he had chosen to leave them, and made himself push the thought out of his mind. He focused on the squirrels, the patterns the sunlight made on the ground as it came through the leaves, the hopes he had for reaching the Ford -- anything to distract himself. But that one pesky thought of his brother kept returning. Bingo had looked so hurt when last he saw him, and he wasn't very sorry about it at the time. Now, though, he was sorry that he had made Bingo, his closest friend and kin, feel so terrible.

"I thought you'd want to stick together. That's what brothers do."

Why was it that Bingo's final words to him were getting to him so much? Guilt was eating away at him not unlike the way he was gnawing on the hard biscuit: slowly but relentlessly.

Bingo had done so much for him throughout his short life. He was Reggie's co-conspirator, sharer of secrets, the one he looked up to the most. Never had he thrown a harsh word at his younger brother -- and look how Reggie had repaid him!

He should go back. He didn't care if he was a baby anymore.

But still... Falco was being nice to him. He seemed to realize that he was upset, and was trying to be especially kind.

But, he had grown snappish as the day grew older. And, if he knew how torn Reggie was, then he would not be surprised if the younger hobbit left.

I must go back, and that's all there is to it, Reggie decided, immediately feeling like a much better person. He hoped Bingo wouldn't be mad at him. With that, he turned back towards the river.

On his way, he encountered a berry bush he had not noticed before because of his musings. Many of the berries were still green, but he found a good number that were ripe or close enough. These he picked and put in his pockets until they were filled to capacity. He then returned to the campsite, discovering that the shadows had grown long in his absence. Falco was probably wondering where he had been for so long, but the other hobbit said nothing until Reggie approached him.

"Anything interesting around here?" he asked in half-interest.

"Not really," Reggie responded. He drew the rest of the biscuit from his pocket and held it out. "Here, Falco. You should have some supper too."

Falco looked at him in surprise, but Reggie did not lower his hand. He took it with a grateful "thank you."

That evening was spent mostly milling about camp in boredom. Reggie was considering telling Falco he meant to go back, but something Falco said changed his mind.

"I hope the others are alright," Reggie had said offhandedly.

Falco grumbled. "Who cares? I certainly don't." He then added, more to himself than to Reggie. "I want nothing to do with Sondo right now, nothing at all." Perhaps he realized what he had said and remembered Reggie's earlier kindness, for he quickly said, "I do hope Bingo is alright, though."

Appeasement, Reggie thought it. Falco had been doing that sort of thing since leaving Sondo: trying to prove that he was a good and kind leader. But Reggie's plan was now set in stone.

He waited until the moon was high in the sky, pretending to be asleep until Falco's gentle snores told him it was safe. Quietly, he rose and took half the berries and stashed them in Falco's pack. Hopefully he would find them in the morning and realize that Reggie's intentions were not hurtful. He wasn't a bad leader, really. It was like what he had said to Bingo, only this time the situation was a little different.

"It's not about Sondo or Falco; it's about doing what we want to do," he had said. And now all he wanted was to be reunited with his brother.

He left Falco silently, following the river north and only hoping that Bingo could forgive him.