Part Two - Desiccated Blossoms

It wasn't long before they ventured beyond the stretch that Shadow could safely scout, and it became Bilbo's task to ensure the orcs wouldn't trail them. A difficult charge, indeed, but necessary for their continued secrecy.

Shadow settled in the cool shade of a stubborn little birch tree that had anchored itself to the roots of a cliff. Her vast scales absorbed the warmth of the sunlight's burden. Bofur, Fili, and Kili gathered around her; Kili rested against her ribcage while Fili found a spot near her breast. Her wings, draped casually to the side, revealed the purple markings running along their edges. With the pearl in her ear glinting in the fading daylight, she was truly a spectacle to behold.

Suddenly, Bilbo came sprinting towards them, clearly winded, his face flushed with the effort. At his approach, Shadow stood, causing Fili and Kili to tumble over with startled yelps, but they quickly picked themselves up without a word of complaint.

As Bilbo drew near, Shadow strode to his side; the company forming a circle around the hobbit, their eyes full of concern. "How close is the pack?" Thorin asked as Bilbo faced the dwarves, with Shadow looming protectively behind.

"Too close. A couple of leagues, no more. But that's not the worst part," Bilbo responded, catching his breath.

Before he could continue, Shadow's head whipped upwards, her nostrils flaring as she scented the air. All eyes shifted to her, observing as her pupils narrowed to slits. She growled a warning in Gandalf's direction, "Run, now!" And with that command, she burst through the circle and took to the air.

The company heeded her cry, darting into motion with as much speed as they could muster. Shadow circled overhead, vigilant, until she glimpsed the black mass—a massive bear, unfamiliar and threatening, not an evil creature, but one defending its territory fiercely.

Shadow swooped down, landing squarely before the bear with the grace and power of night incarnate. The bear roared ferociously, and in return, Shadow slashed with her talons, her claws raking through the thick fur on the bear's back, tearing at tufts rather than flesh, in a move that seemed more of a warning than an intent to maim.

The bear rallied back to its paws, swiping aggressively at Shadow who nimbly dodged, rolling onto her back and then fluidly springing to her feet. She let out her own mighty roar, a challenge mirroring the bear's as they stood off before the dwelling of the great skin-changer.

Meanwhile, amidst the clamor, the dwarves were in a frenzy at the door, their efforts doubled as they heard the commotion. "What on all stars is happening?!" shouted Bilbo, anxiety mounting as he feared for Shadow's wellbeing. His eyes were torn between the struggle to open the great stone door and the showdown unfolding in the distance.

Shadow abruptly withdrew from the enraged bear, swiping him across the face with her tail in a formidable blow that left him sprawled on the ground, not rising again. She then hurtled towards the house, landing just outside as the dwarves flung the door open and she ushered herself inside alongside her panting and spent friends.

"That... that was one of the finest brawls I've had in quite a spell," she laughed, settling herself down on the hay, stretching out with a contented sigh.

"You liked it then?" Gloin asked with an eyebrow raised in amusement, observing Shadow's relaxed posture.

She hummed in response, a rumble of mirth in her chest. "I often sparred with my old comrades back in my world. I just haven't had much combat like that recently—here and there, a spar is better than lying dormant for centuries gathering moss." Her eyes gleamed with the thrill of the fight still evident. Even in this strange new world, the spirit of her home persisted within her.

"I suppose you're right," conceded Bifur, scratching his head thoughtfully. "I do enjoy a good skirmish now and then myself, but I'm far too old for that sort now. But..."

Bifur trailed off, and Shadow chuckled, unfurling her wings in a welcoming gesture. "Just rest," she advised, turning her head towards Gandalf, who was in the process of removing his hat and settling himself near one of the cow stalls, leaning his staff against the wood.

"You too, old friend. You don't get enough sleep as it is," she added, a hint of concern in her tone. Gandalf let out a chuckle and positioned himself comfortably at her head, laying down with a contented exhale.

Together, and in relative safety within the skin-changer's abode, they sank into a deep and healing slumber, their rest earned by the day's trials and their unity reaffirmed by the shared vigil of the night.