[Kitanna]

Peony had noticed the stranger for a fleeting moment on the road, but she gave no heed to him. Even now, after easedropping on the men's talk, she saw no need to be worried about him. He didn't seem like a hobbit "gone bad" as Brown has said. He seemed to be no more than an embarrassed tweenager.

Bunny was prepared to engage the stranger in conversation. Though her own two feet betrayed her and she stumbled before him. Rudy soon joined Bunny, Peony guessed it was to find out about this mysterious hobbit. While they gathered what information they could, Peony hoped to gain some insight from Gaffer Hugo and perhaps even Brown. If they thought this hobbit was a threat, she wanted to know.

Peony turned her chair toward Gaffer Hugo and Brown's table. "Do you really suspect him of being a hobbit that's gone bad?" Peony glanced at the stranger again. She didn't see any real sign of trouble in him. "I can't believe he'd be trying to harm a big group like us."