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Marroc woke the next morning feeling strangely distant. He barely slept at all the night before, he kept thinking of Sassy's lifeless form lying in Sondo's arms. At first no one had wanted her along and now it was so hard to let go. They should have known better, Sassy had so wanted to go home. But it was too late now. Marroc knew this, all they could do now was get themselves home safely and bear Sassy's body back to her parents.
Sondo looked tired and gave instructions to the others as they prepared for the final leg of their so-called adventure. The lads all followed him down to the river. It was the only thing standing between them and home.
"We can use that log over there. We can tie the rope around each hobbit as they go, so if they fall off the log they can be pulled back to shore." Sondo said.
A few of the lads went to retrieve the fallen log Sondo was pointing at. When the log had been set in the river everyone looked to Sondo.
Marroc let out a sighed, and moved closer to Marroc. "Can I go first?" He wanted to get over to the otherside as fast as possible. He knew it was selfish after what had happened, but he couldn't bare being one of the last to go.
"Yes, Marroc." Sondo said, handing him the rope.
Marroc smiled weakly and scanned the ground for a small branch that could pass for an oar. When he found one he tied the rope to his waist and knelt on the log. The other lads picked up the other end and helped Marroc cast off.
It isn't so bad, he thought as he slowly rowed out. Finally Marroc was close enough to the other side. He reached a foot out and found that the water was not so deep anymore. He hopped off the log into water that was just below his waist. He moved closer to the shore.
Marroc untied the rope and tied into onto the log and signaled for his friends to pull it back over. "Who's next?" He called when the log was back on the other shore.
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