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Bali did not look back as the dwarves left Laketown; heading south down the river. He knew that for the remainder of the day he must endure the complaints of the younger dwarves, who felt cheated out of a day's rest. But Bali also knew that his decision was a wise one; the dwarves could not afford to stay for two entire days in a town which considered their mission a doomed one. And the hardened traveller did not enjoy listening to the hushed chatter either. It had a demoralizing effect, which he would just as soon leave behind the company.
The sun was slowly rising to the east, and luckily their vision remained accurate (as the bright light was to their left, not before them.) They walked mostly in silence, except for the odd yawn. Dwarves are never very talkative in the morning, especially with a days march ahead of them.
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The following week of marching continued in such a patern. Early marches amd stops under tents at noon were standard procedure. No events of any significance occured, until the dwarves had left the edge of Greenwood and turned east; towards Rhûn. There, along the banks of River Running, they made a comfortable camp and decided to rest for two days; stocking up on supplies like fish, fruit and firewood. There was a small forest nearby, and Bali sent Dwalin and Durin to collect dead wood for the fire.
An hour past, and the pair did not return. Bali was anxious. What could have happened two them? The forest did not appear to be all that large; and they could have yelled if something had happened. He decided to investigate.
"Kain, stay and watch the camp. Erulon, and the rest of you, come with me!"
The party hurried into the forest, but slowed as Bali and Erulon searched for a trail. They soon found one.
The group followed the trail into the forest. At first, everything seemed normal. But then, they found a small pile of firewood. It was in an oddly arranged pile, as if thrown down in a hurry. The ominous signs continued. Durin's small hatchet, stuck in a tree. A patch of broken reeds. And a long, thin spear, snapped in half; lying off to the side of the overgrown path. But what had happened?
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