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Child of the 7th Age · 12-05-2002, 01:45 AM

OOC: Will erase later. Alk, please put your post after mine. Don't return to the group yet. Just describe what you see on the road. We need a bit more time for folk to respond t the threat below.
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They had been pushing on for several hours, but had only managed to cover about four miles. Several times, the wagon slid sideways into one of the tall snowbanks, and had to be dug out by cold and tired hobbits who used whatever tools they happened to have brought along in their packs.

Bandobras berated himself for not taking more shovels with him. The three that he'd brought from home were not going to be enough. Perhaps, they'd manage to find some to buy in one of the villages along their route.

By mid-afternoon they'd managed to cover another few miles. If all went well, they should manage to reach Whitfurrows before nightfall, and still have time to send that fishing party north to the Water. Bullroarer hoped that their scouts were doing as well.

"Let's break for lunch," Bullroarer cried over the howl of the wind. "Start a fire over there." He pointed towards a spot underneath a protected cliff overhang. Several in the party ran to get a large tarp out of the wagon to hang it down from one side of the small ledge so that there'd be more protection from the snow and blustering gusts.

Emerald, Gaddy, and Daffodyl volunteered to collect some branches to start a fire. The three wandered off in the direction of a small wooded area that stood about 200 paces north of the road. After they'd been gone about ten minutes, Bullroarer noted with some nervousness that their weapons had all been left behind, neatly stacked under the cliff overhang.

The hobbit shook his head in dismay. He'd have to talk to everyone about that. There should be no going off from the main group without making sure to bring weapons. You never knew what might happen.

Hobbits began rummaging through their sacks to find something they could put together for lunch. But before anyone could get very far, a horrible noise issued from the direction of the wooded copse.

"What's that", Branda blurted out.

"It's howling. Maybe the wargs have come." Dinadas ventured wih fear in his eyes.

Bullroarer turned to face the group. "Whatever it is, we need to find out, and fast. Grab your weapons. Now!"

Bullroarer took off at a dead run in the direction of the hideous sounds. The howling and barking seemed to grow louder every second, as the hobbit's legs pounded back and forth on the ground. Most of the company followed just behind. Branda had managed to mount Sandy but the horse was having trouble maintaining balance on the slick ice crusts.

Just as they reached the tall trees, Bullroarer peered ahead and stared aghast at the scene before him. At least there were no wargs to be seen. Instead, there was a pack of some ten to twelve dogs surrounding the three woodgatherers. They had made a tight circle, drawing in closer and closer. Once, these may have been ordinary farmdogs, but they had turned wild and, were now driven only by hunger. They smelled the scent of fresh food, and hungered almost to starvation, they surrounded their prey, eager to pounce.

Bullroarer turned to those behind him, "Now, attack, come forward. Or our companions will die!"

12-05-2002, 01:45 AM	#67
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	OOC: Will erase later. Alk, please put your post after mine. Don't return to the group yet. Just describe what you see on the road. We need a bit more time for folk to respond t the threat below. --------------------------------------------- They had been pushing on for several hours, but had only managed to cover about four miles. Several times, the wagon slid sideways into one of the tall snowbanks, and had to be dug out by cold and tired hobbits who used whatever tools they happened to have brought along in their packs. Bandobras berated himself for not taking more shovels with him. The three that he'd brought from home were not going to be enough. Perhaps, they'd manage to find some to buy in one of the villages along their route. By mid-afternoon they'd managed to cover another few miles. If all went well, they should manage to reach Whitfurrows before nightfall, and still have time to send that fishing party north to the Water. Bullroarer hoped that their scouts were doing as well. "Let's break for lunch," Bullroarer cried over the howl of the wind. "Start a fire over there." He pointed towards a spot underneath a protected cliff overhang. Several in the party ran to get a large tarp out of the wagon to hang it down from one side of the small ledge so that there'd be more protection from the snow and blustering gusts. Emerald, Gaddy, and Daffodyl volunteered to collect some branches to start a fire. The three wandered off in the direction of a small wooded area that stood about 200 paces north of the road. After they'd been gone about ten minutes, Bullroarer noted with some nervousness that their weapons had all been left behind, neatly stacked under the cliff overhang. The hobbit shook his head in dismay. He'd have to talk to everyone about that. There should be no going off from the main group without making sure to bring weapons. You never knew what might happen. Hobbits began rummaging through their sacks to find something they could put together for lunch. But before anyone could get very far, a horrible noise issued from the direction of the wooded copse. "What's that", Branda blurted out. "It's howling. Maybe the wargs have come." Dinadas ventured wih fear in his eyes. Bullroarer turned to face the group. "Whatever it is, we need to find out, and fast. Grab your weapons. Now!" Bullroarer took off at a dead run in the direction of the hideous sounds. The howling and barking seemed to grow louder every second, as the hobbit's legs pounded back and forth on the ground. Most of the company followed just behind. Branda had managed to mount Sandy but the horse was having trouble maintaining balance on the slick ice crusts. Just as they reached the tall trees, Bullroarer peered ahead and stared aghast at the scene before him. At least there were no wargs to be seen. Instead, there was a pack of some ten to twelve dogs surrounding the three woodgatherers. They had made a tight circle, drawing in closer and closer. Once, these may have been ordinary farmdogs, but they had turned wild and, were now driven only by hunger. They smelled the scent of fresh food, and hungered almost to starvation, they surrounded their prey, eager to pounce. Bullroarer turned to those behind him, "Now, attack, come forward. Or our companions will die!" __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote.