[Susan Delgado]

As they rode on, Thorondruin continued to listen to the rustling sounds. They were definitely being followed; the sounds were sometimes behind and sometimes ahead, but they were always there. After an hour of this, he called a halt for a meal, loudly anouncing the fact. Ozracles and Himelilek looked at him like he was insane-they had few supplies and had already agreed not to stop-but they obligingly halted and dismounted, watching to see what he wanted. Thorondruin stayed on his horse, listening as the following sounds gradually quieted down in a thicket on the north side of the clearing. By this time, the others had an idea why he'd had them stop and when he gestured them toward the clearing, they knew what to do. Himelilek circled around in front to flush the stranger out while Ozracles went behind. Himelilek walked straight toward the thicket and when the man panicked and tried to flee, Ozracles leapt out of hiding and caught him around the waist. Ozracles dragged him, kicking and screaming, before Thorondruin. After ten minutes and several irritated cuffs from Ozracles, the stranger had calmed down enough to stand still.
He was young and very thin, and looked (and smelled) as though he hadn't bathed in far too long. His clothes were in rags, and despite the defiance with which he stared up at Thorondruin, Thor sensed that he was very frightened. He decided to move somewhat carefully.
"All right, who are you? Why were you following us?"
The man said nothing, only continued to stare, but Thorondruin knew from his look that he wouldn't be able to tolerate the silence and he was content to wait for a response. Eventually he got one: the man muttered something to his feet, which were all but bare. Oz cuffed the back of his neck and growled, "Speak up!"
He gave Oz a hateful look and spoke a little more loudly. "My name's Carathon. I followed you because you looked like you might have food."
Torondruin considered this. He glanced around at the others to judge their reactions as well. Oz looked understandably annoyed, but Himelilek was staring at the stranger consideringly. "Well, Himelilek, what do you think?"
She nodded slightly as if coming to a decision and turned to face Thor where he still sat his horse. "We could always use someone to do the chores."
"Ahh...our chores, I take it? We certainly could at that." He laughed a little, not in amusement, and Carathon gave him a wary look.
"Very well!" Thor continued, "Himelilek, give him some of that dried meat you have." While she turned to her saddlebags to get the meat, Thorondruin turned to Oz. "Well, are you willing to carry him on your horse until we can get him one of his own?"
Oz grinned and gave the newcomer a friendly clout on the back that nearly knocked him off his feet. "Absolutely!" Oz exclaimed, "Happy to!"
Thorondruin laughed, a real laugh this time, and gestured for everyone to mount up. As they rode away, he considered ways he could use the new man. Yes, he could definitley be useful.

[ September 04, 2002: Message edited by: Susan Delgado ]