[Child of the 7th Age]

Cami stood frozen on the hill as she watched Olo slip under the hooves of the rearing beast. One minute here and the next minute gone.... Life was too precarious.

Hob's reaction was far more direct. He had known Olo as a travel companion and, however irritating the hobbit had been, he did not deserve this fate, "Damnable thugs!" he muttered between gritted teeth. He ran over to Josh and spoke hastily, the two hobbits coming to a quick decision on how they wanted to mount an attack.

Josh summoned the band over, first sending Cami off with instructions, "Leave the weed here. Mount up on Dandelion. Take him behind the Men and stay at the base of the hill. Don't let them get by. We'll entice them to follow us. If they try to head back down, scare them with a volley of arrows."

"The rest of you," he said, addressing the others, "we want to surround them like a pack of dogs and draw the noose tight."

"What about Brass?" a voice piped up.

"Live 'im alone. Unless he comes out sword in hand. I've no quarrel with another hobbit."

"What happens after?" Dury asked.

Hob and Josh looked at each other warily and grinned in spite of themselves. It was Hob who responded first, "Try to take the Men down good and clean. We've got somethin' in mind."

With that Hob scurried down the hill raising up his arms and "hallooing" to the bandits. "Hey you beslubbering, beef-witted barnacles! I'm the one! The traitor who stuck you in the ribs. Come and git me...!" He raced up the hill with the Men thundering close behind.

[ October 24, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]