[Alkanoonion]

Carl Hoarwell, lead his pony along the Great East Road beside him walked the young, curly-headed hobbit lass Daffodyl with her pony, Mooncloud. Carl studied the young hobbit that he had been assigned. Strange that he would be in charge of a hobbit that was older than he. Not being around other hobbits Carl was not very good at conversation with hobbits, never mind one that was of the female persuasion. Every time he opened his mouth around them he seemed to put his feet in.

‘Um… so your name is Daffodyl. Do you cook!’ said Carl. ‘Now why did I say that’? Thought Carl. Of course she cooks she’s a girl.

Daffodyl just looked at him. Carl looked away in embarrassment.

Taking his roll as leader seriously Carl scanned the roadside looking for any signs of wolf tracks. Wolves could be drawn to them from lack of food. Normally wolves would shy away from people, knowing that the larger beings were capable of producing fire. Even those smaller beings like a hobbit. However, during these lean times a female hobbit must look appealing to a pack of hungry wolfs. Taking out his bow Carl nocked an arrow in preparation for trouble.

The pair continued travelling in silence. During this time Carl continued his scanning of the countryside, looking up the road Carl saw a squirrel scamper into a tree beside the road. Taking aim Carl let loss a shaft pinning the rodent to the frozen trunk. At least they would eat fresh meet tonight. Taking the squirrel Carl tossed it to Daffodyl.
‘For our dinner. You can show me your cooking skills when we stop’. Daffodyl did not respond to this comment.
‘ I like my meat well cooked, with a few wild herbs added’. He looked towards Daffodyl to see if she agreed to his demands. She still remained silent.
‘You know… to keep the blood flowing’.
‘…’
‘ Fresh wild herbs, although in this weather they may be a bit hard to find’.
‘…..’
‘If you can not find them then I guess I could sacrifice some of my precious dried ones, although I’m reluctant to do so. You never know when someone might get sick’. She was not responding to him. He looked back at her again. She did not look too happy, ‘but you can never tell with these hobbit women’ he thought. ‘Maybe she is sitting on a bur. At least that’s what her expression would suggest’
‘If you are not fond of herbs, I’ll understand if you don’t eat?’
‘………’
“Um… is you bottom paining you?’ he asked expectantly.
‘……………….Squirrel? I think I can do something with this, but only….’, the squirrel flew back through the air towards Carl. He caught it in time to hear her finish.
“… if you skin it and prepare it first. This is a joint venture. We share all the chores. Even the cooking”. And with that issue settled to her satisfaction, Daffodyl left Carl holding the dead animal and with a stupefied look upon his face.
‘What was that all about?’