Fell Winter --

[rabidsamfan]

March, yet

"There are wolves and there are Wolves," said Uncle Isumbras as he passed around the stock of fireworks. "And we think these are the lesser sort, driven into the Shire by weather all the worse beyond the Brandywine and lack of prey. Keep close to the village. Light and noise should frighten them. Fire certainly will, so keep your torches close to hand. That should keep you safe enough while we hunt them."

"And if they're not the lesser sort?" the miller asked, and the Hobbiton folk crowded closer yet to hear the answer.

"Then we won't be the hunters."

Rising April

It wasn't till the first rain came and the snow began to rot that the hunters had any luck. They brought the carcass to the village, and Bungo opened the last barrel of apples to mark the occasion. Bilbo helped hand them around and then went back to the shed to take another look. He'd imagined wolves as large foxes, but foxes were sleek, comfortable creatures next to this scraggly giant. Its matted fur was more yellow than white, and its ribs showed.

How terrible a thing, Bilbo thought, to be hunted down for no worse crime than being hungry.

Comments

[danachan.livejournal.com]

I do like these. And how you write Bilbo...

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Thank you. It's great fun flipping through The Hobbit and trying to think of what Bilbo was like when he was young. He must have made an impression on Gandalf somehow -- either directly or through the Old Took...

Still thinking on that one...