[littlemanpoet]

“Are you satisfied, Falco?” asked Thornden as he drew near. “Let’s go back and quit looking before one of us gets hurt! I don't like leaving Garmund alone."

"Aye, I'm satisfied," Falco answered, "satisfied that you shouldn't have left Garmund alone! Better to have brought him with! Get on with you! I'm right behind! I don't want your big lumbering feet tripping me up from behind!"

Thornden furrowed his brow but apparently could think of nothing to say, so turned back around and started for the opening where they had left Garmund.

Falco turned to the brush where Lefun and Ritun were hidden and gave a big wink in their general direction, then trotted after Thornden. Somehow he needed to get Garmund away from Thornden, he was not sure how, but the chance might arise somehow, so that Garmund could meet Lefun and Ritun for himself. He would have to warn the boy somehow so that the poor lad didn't shreek with fright at first glimpse. He would have to see how this would go, he promised himself.

Then his sharp hobbit ears picked up yet another voice, another of the big people, a young man by the sound of him, in the opening where Garmund was. Who? Falco furrowed his own brow in sudden fear for the boy. There was no knowing who it might be.

Thornden had turned the corner and stopped dead in his tracks. Falco scrunched between his legs to get a look. It was Trystan! Garmund was telling him about the man.