[Galadel Vinorel]

Auutmn pulled her cloak closer around her. It was very cold. Looking around from where she stood by the house, she saw a small squirrel running through the snow. The small squirrel then climbed up a tree with a nut in his mouth, an dissapeared from sight.

The hobbit smiled to herself, and then tears began to weld up in her eyes. She remembered how Carl had shot the squirrel that just two days ago. Just two days before!! Autumn couldn't believe it, two days ago they had been so happy, and now everyone was so sad.

Two days ago Emerald had been alive, but now she was dead. How could it be? Though, Autumn hadn't really talked to Emerald, she was still a member of this expedition, and their group would never be the same again, now that she was gone.

Autumnn rubbed the tears from her eyes, but more came in their place. She didn't know why she was crying so much; she hadn't even really known Emerald. Besides, she should be used to lossing people that she knew by now. Slowly, a memory crept into Autumn's mind. Too weak to let it pass, Autumn let it fill all her thoughts, mind, and being.

It was a time when Auutmn had only been in her tweens. Her twin brother, Tim, and she, along with her older brother, Harry, had enlisted as patrolers of Bywater. One day, they responded to a call that a pack of wolves had entered Bree and taken over a farm. They surrounded the farm, and were about ready to attack when a wolf suddenly leaped out of nowhere and bit Tim's arm. The hobbits fought off the attack and drove the wolves from Bree, though a few of them did loose their lives. Autumn escaped with only a few bruises and claw marks, but her brothers were not so lucky. You see, when Tim was attacked, Harry went and stabbed the wolf, only to be attacked by another wolf himself. They lost thier lives that day, and Autumn quit the patrol squad after that.


Autumn tried desperately to brush away her tears, but they kept coming. Hearing footsteps behind her, Autumn swung around. Standing there was Giles, looking the saddest that she had ever seen him look before.