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piosenniel · 06-19-2003, 11:40 AM

Ben and Mirabella sat up long after the others had gone to sleep. The moon was full and bright, though thick, dark clouds sailed along in the night sky, obscuring the light now and again. The two Hobbits sat huddled close together, each with a small pile of twigs and broken up limbs, feeding the small fire before them.

To be sure, the night had grown a little chilly, and Ben told himself the fire was for keeping warm. But, if truth be known, he had scared himself a little with the recounting of the wight story and he wanted the light of the fire to keep back the darkness.

‘You know, Miri,’ he spoke softly to his companion who sat to his left, using a nickname he often called her, ‘I was thinking that when we get back we could write down this little adventure of ours in the new journal I got for my birthday. Remember that scrape we got into when you were about eleven? We could start out with that one, and sort of keep a little list of stories about the fun things we’ve done.’ He looked back over his right shoulder and into the dark grassy field at the edges of the clearing they had camped in. ‘Although, I’m not exactly sure this one will qualify as a “fun” adventure. What do you think about that?’

He turned back to Mirabella expecting her answer, but her chin had slumped down to her chest, and all that came from her was the sound of soft snores. Sighing, and shrugging his shoulders to throw off his own weariness, he picked up a long stick and poked the fire, sending up small sparks like little fireflies that winked and then went out.

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

The fire burnt down to a bed of bright coals, and Ben sat dozing off by it. Something niggled at the edges of his consciousness, some little sound, and he opened his eyes slowly, looking off into the tall grasses. Something rustled there, coming closer. He could see the tips of the grasses swaying as the creature moved nearer.

Ben blinked, trying to get a fix on what it might be. Then the grasses parted where they met the dirt and groundcover of the clearing, and there, in the fleeting moonlight when the clouds parted for a moment, two yellow eyes peered out and then withdrew . . .

‘Wake up Miri!’ he said nudging his companion hard in the ribs. ‘There’s something out there!’ They both hastened to wake the others . . .

[ June 20, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

06-19-2003, 11:40 AM	#79
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	Ben and Mirabella sat up long after the others had gone to sleep. The moon was full and bright, though thick, dark clouds sailed along in the night sky, obscuring the light now and again. The two Hobbits sat huddled close together, each with a small pile of twigs and broken up limbs, feeding the small fire before them. To be sure, the night had grown a little chilly, and Ben told himself the fire was for keeping warm. But, if truth be known, he had scared himself a little with the recounting of the wight story and he wanted the light of the fire to keep back the darkness. ‘You know, Miri,’ he spoke softly to his companion who sat to his left, using a nickname he often called her, ‘I was thinking that when we get back we could write down this little adventure of ours in the new journal I got for my birthday. Remember that scrape we got into when you were about eleven? We could start out with that one, and sort of keep a little list of stories about the fun things we’ve done.’ He looked back over his right shoulder and into the dark grassy field at the edges of the clearing they had camped in. ‘Although, I’m not exactly sure this one will qualify as a “fun” adventure. What do you think about that?’ He turned back to Mirabella expecting her answer, but her chin had slumped down to her chest, and all that came from her was the sound of soft snores. Sighing, and shrugging his shoulders to throw off his own weariness, he picked up a long stick and poked the fire, sending up small sparks like little fireflies that winked and then went out. +++++++ The fire burnt down to a bed of bright coals, and Ben sat dozing off by it. Something niggled at the edges of his consciousness, some little sound, and he opened his eyes slowly, looking off into the tall grasses. Something rustled there, coming closer. He could see the tips of the grasses swaying as the creature moved nearer. Ben blinked, trying to get a fix on what it might be. Then the grasses parted where they met the dirt and groundcover of the clearing, and there, in the fleeting moonlight when the clouds parted for a moment, two yellow eyes peered out and then withdrew . . . ‘Wake up Miri!’ he said nudging his companion hard in the ribs. ‘There’s something out there!’ They both hastened to wake the others . . . [ June 20, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ] __________________ Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.