[Child of the 7th Age]

Owl had lined up all the animals in a large semi-circle behind the Inn and was counting beaks and noses to make sure that all his charges were safe. The dogs seemed to be missing, but most likely they had gone inside the Green Man Inn and were now toasting their toes in front of the fire. A few of the older animals had ventured into the stables and dug out all the little ones who had been hiding in large hay piles. Most of the families were now reunited.

With the help of one of the hobbits, Owl had begun a small bondfire to burn the bodies of the few small creatures who had valiantly fallen during the fight. It is not the way of beasts to say lengthy goodbyes, but the others had lined up for a moment or two to think about those who had died. There would be longer goodbyes said within each family that had suffered a loss, once they returned to their individual burrows and nests.

Only a few of the creatures in the circle were nursing injuries. Most of these were minor and required no special care. There was one, however, that seemed much more seriously wounded than the others. He lay exhausted on the ground, and was letting out a series of terrible yowls that reverberated through the courtyard and Inn.