08.
Radagast the Brown

The smell of the cave the Trolls had been hiding in was the most rotten thing that Aninth had ever smelled. It wafted up and out of the cave, prompting the blonde to cover her nose with her hand before even reaching the entrance.

"Oh, what's that stench?" Nori asked.

"It's a Troll-hoard," Gandalf answered, "be careful what you touch."

They delved deeper into the cave, coughs coming from everyone as the smell worsened. Torches were lit and bathed the cave in soft light, glittering off of metal mugs, tankards, bowls, plates, and most importantly, coin.

"Seems a shame to just leave it lying around..." Bofur said, nudging a pile of gold with his foot, "anyone could take it."

"Agreed," Gloin said, "Nori."

"Yeah?" Nori answered.

"Get a shovel."

Aninth turned her attention away from the Dwarves and towards Thorin as he came upon a container of swords. She perked up at the thought of getting a new sword. She was in desperate need of a second one and it was hard to come across cheap, well-made swords that came in her size.

"These swords were not made by any Troll," Thorin said as she approached and grabbed one out of the container.

They were covered in cobwebs, but Aninth didn't mind since it was easy enough to clean them off. Especially with Ryvniss' help. She pulled one out by the sheath as Gandalf wandered over to inspect the swords that Thorin had found.

"Nor were they made by any smith among Men," Gandalf answered. He unsheathed the sword to look upon the blade. "These were forged in Gondolin, by the High Elves of the First Age."

Aninth herself unsheathed the blade to have a better look at it. It was indeed a fine blade, and most definitely of Elven make. She wasn't surprised when this instantly repulsed Thorin, and he pulled his hand back from the handle and made to put it back.

"You could not ask for a finer blade," Gandalf protested.

"Well, I am taking this one for sure," she said.

Thorin reconsidered as Aninth sheathed the blade again and hooked it to her belt. She could clean it (or rather, have Ryvniss clean it) later.

"Let's get out of this foul place," Thorin commanded, "come on, let's go."

Thankful to be able to leave the stench behind, Aninth eagerly followed. Out of the cave, she breathed in fresh air and made her way over to the rest of the group and where they were gathering everything together.

Gandalf came out a moment after everyone else and spoke to Bilbo. She didn't hear what they were talking about, and she didn't have more than a moment to dwell on it because in that moment, something happened.

"Something's coming!" Thorin yelled.

"Stay together," Gandalf instructed and everyone closed ranks, "hurry now! Arm yourselves!"

Aninth unsheathed her sword as the sound of something crashing through the brush reached her ears. She got into a defensive stance, ready for whatever was going to come bursting out of the brush.

"Thieves! Fire! Murder!"

A figure in brown crashed out of the trees. He was stood on a sled pulled by six rabbits. Aninth's brow furrowed. Who was this strange man?

Gandalf answered her as if he could read her thoughts. "Radagast," he said, "it's Radagast the Brown. What on earth are you doing here?"

"I was looking for you, Gandalf," the other Wizard explained, "something's wrong. Something's terribly wrong."

"Yes?" Gandalf prompted.

Radagast opened his mouth to respond and stopped. "Oh!" he said, as if he'd remembered, but still didn't say anything. "Just give me a minute. Oh, I had a thought and now I've lost it. It was right there on the tip of my tongue. Oh, it's not a thought at all, it's a silly old..." Radagast seemed to realize, sticking out his tongue. Gandalf pulled something off of it. "Stick insect."

Aninth's face wrinkled up in disgust as Gandalf dropped the stick insect onto Radagast's hand. This was the Wizard that Gandalf had spoken so highly of in the rain? The dwarves, along with Bilbo and Aninth stayed back a few paces while Gandalf pulled his daughter and Radagast off to speak privately.

With a huff, Aninth turned away from the trio and picked Ryvniss up from around her neck and onto her forearm. He gave a hot huff against her skin, upset at being woken up and moved, but she smiled as he curled around her arm and fell right back asleep.

"What's his name?" a voice asked.

Aninth turned and saw Bilbo staring at her apprehensively, his eyes flickering between her and Ryvniss. "Pardon?" she asked.

"Your, ahem, dragon," Bilbo clarified nervously, "what's his name?"

"This is Ryvniss, The Dark, The Swift and The Stubborn," she answered with a smile. At least someone else in this Company was showing an interest in her and her companion. No matter how nervous he was about it.

"Those are quite the titles," Bilbo said.

"Yes, every person and creature in my culture have their own titles," Aninth explained, "we earn them from a young age, usually as we grow into ourselves and after we've gotten our Dragons."

"How long have you had him?" Bilbo asked.

"Since I was but a babe," Aninth told him, "he is like me in many ways. My parents' dragons formed a relationship as my parents had and Ryvniss is their child."

"Really? That's a long time," Bilbo noted.

"Yes, indeed. I got him earlier than most young Dragonkin did," Aninth explained.

"And what happened to your parents' dragons?" Bilbo asked innocently.

"Like the rest of my people, they perished when my parents did," Aninth said, quickly turning away as she moved Ryvniss back to her neck.

Suddenly, a howl is heard in the distance, which alarms them all. Aninth quickly pulled her sword from it's sheath (not her new one, of course) and held it high and steady in the direction the howl had come from.

"Was that a wolf? Are there­ are there wolves out there?" asked Bilbo.

Bofur shook his head. "Wolves? No, that is not a wolf."

Suddenly, something large tackled Ygritte and a few of the Dwarves to the ground. She heard Ygritte let out a groan just as Thorin struck and killed the Warg. Ygritte is quick to grab her sword and be on her feet as another Warg suddenly attacks from the other side of them. Kili quickly shoots it with an arrow, bringing it down. However, it got back up, so Aninth quickly drove her sword through it's skull and pulled it back.

"Warg­ Scouts! Which means an Orc pack is not far behind."

Bilbo paled, and he swallowed in fear. "O-Orc pack?"

"Who did you tell about your quest, beyond your kin?" Gandalf questioned Thorin suddenly.

"No one," the Dwarf replied.

"Who did you tell?" Gandalf insisted, seeming to not believe him. Aninth couldn't blame him. Thorin was a man who gave off the impression to have many hidden secrets.

"No one, I swear," Thorin snapped. "What in Durin's name is going on?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Aninth said with an eye-roll aimed in Thorin's direction. "You are being hunted."

"We have to get out of here," Ygritte said with a sense of urgency.

"We can't! We have no ponies; they bolted," Ori said.

"I'll draw them off," Radagast spoke up, drawing all eyes over to him.

"These are Gundabad Wargs; they will outrun you," Gandalf said.

The wizard smirked. "These are Rhosgobel Rabbits; I'd like to see them try."