[Birdland]

It was the sound of a hound that woke them, baying far off in a meadow by a stream. The family froze, barely breathing as they listened to the dog, wishing it away on some hunt for fox or deer.

But it came closer, and it came fast. And then they heard the the crashing of bushes and the voices of Men, encouraging the hound with shouts of “On, Gyrth, Dig them out, good Sir. Hunt the hares!” And it was then they knew that no hares were being hunted that night.

“Go now“, whispered Ruddoc, and Avice quickly scooped up the baby, bundling her in her cloak and pressing her close to her breast. Enid signaled to her twins, “Come. Take nothing!“ she said, as the children had reached for favorite possessions. “We’ll come back for that later, Go!” The four scrambled up the tunnel towards the secret exit, Osle coming behind with his bow. Ruddoc bringing up the rear with bow and his steel knife. All else was left behind.

They cleared the tunnel and were fleeing up the hill just as the huge, shaggy cross-bred hound found the front entrance to the hole and began a frantic scrambling with his paws, baying “Here! Here!” to the Men following behind.

The Hobbits ran swiftly, and they ran silently. But they had no control over the wind. The breeze shifted, and the hound threw up his head as the scent of his quarry was carried down the hill to him. Gyrth was a seasoned hunter, he knew when the game had fled the hole. He turned from the bank and sprang up the hill, running swiftly and calling to his slower masters.

The dark shapes were running before him. They had almost reached the top of the hill. Gyrth sped towards the last of the fleeing Halflings, and Ruddoc turned as he heard the hound gaining behind. It was too late to draw a bow, though, and he flung up his arm instinctively to protect his throat as the hound leaped upon him. Gyrth’s teeth closed on the arm to bone, and he began the fierce shaking of the caught prey.

Osle turned at the sound of Ruddoc’s scream, snatching an arrow even as he ran back down the hill and letting fly into the moonlit form of the monster hound. The arrow struck deep into the side of the beast, and it released it hold to turn snapping at the arrow shaft, while it let out a string of frantic yelps. Then the dog staggered and fell, paddled its legs feebly, and was still.

Osle ran to his father, kneeling and trying to get him to his feet. Ruddoc clutched at Osle’s tunic as he bit his tongue to silence a scream. His left arm was hanging uselessly as he tried to stand and follow his family. Just then the sound of heavy footsteps could be heard coming up the hill. Osle set his father down again, and grabbed the bow.

Beda emerged from the trees, cudgel swinging to clear the underbrush in front of him. He stopped as he saw the two halflings. Then gasped as he spied the dead form of Gyrth where he had slid down the hill, arrow sticking from his side. “Gyrth! What have they done? Oh, Gyrth!” Beda turned towards Osle, towering over the Holbytla as he raised his club over his head. “Why you little rat!…“ Then his eyes went wide, as he looked down at the small, feathered shaft sticking from his chest. His mouth opened, but no other sound came from it again. Beda slumped to his knees, and fell limp by the hound.

When Cadda finally came staggering up the hill, winded and puffing, the first thing he saw were the moonlit, still forms of Man and dog. He staggered back, gibbering in fear, then looked up to see above him the Halfling standing farther up the hill. Osle and Cadda locked eyes, both white-faced and still. Both pairs of eyes widened in fear and shock. But Osle had his bow drawn, and after a second he turned his eyes away from the face of the Man, and sighted on his heaving chest. Cadda could not see the slight trembling of his arms.

Cadda let out a scream of terror, and rolled stumbling down the hill. He scrambled to regain his footing, finally finding his legs, and fled, arms flailing, back down the slope.

Then Ceo came down the hill, having broken free from his mother’s arms. The boy also froze when he saw the scene before him. Then he saw his father stretched on the ground. Ceo did not cry out. Young as he was, he knew better. But he flung himself down by Ruddoc, as the silent tears began to flow.

“Come”, whispered Osle, “Help me to get him out of here.“ The two sons raised their father to his legs, Ceo trying not to hurt the injured arm any further. Then his feet slipped in the blood. There was so much blood. The wound was open and jagged. The blood flowing freely down Ruddoc’s side and into the grass.

They staggered to the top of the hill, Where the rest of the family hid waiting. Enid knelt over her husband, ripping her skirts to try to bind the wound. Ruddoc rolled his head weakly towards his oldest child, and asked weakly, “The man..?“

Osle looked into his mother’s eyes, then down at his father. “Da. I think I killed him.”

Ruddoc closed his eyes and turned his head away. “Enid. Enough” He clutched at the arm of his wife. “Stop. Enough.” Raising his good hand, he stroked the face he had known and loved for forty years. “I’m sorry. You must all go, now. Osle will lead you.”

“No, Ruddoc! We’ll get you out of here, too. We go together or not at all. Be still, my darling. I’m here. We’ll go together. Just like always...Ruddoc?...No! Ruddoc!”