[Child of the 7th Age]

Cami clicked her heels into the side of her mount and noiselessly urged the animal forward skirting along the open range that bordered the southwest side of the plantation. She would have preferred to have more cover than this but bushes and trees were few. The band of five was clearly silhouetted against the inky horizon. Fortunately for them, as they pulled their ponies up to the fence, Ferny's men were nowhere to be seen.

Merimac glanced back at the small herd of ponies that had been quietly following behind them, and whispered in Cami's direction, "Do we have enough? Are there enough for all the children, and Gilly?"

"I think so," she murmurred trying to keep count in her head. "Anyways, the youngest can always double up if we have to, and I'm sure Pio will be holding the babies. Let's just get in there and get them out."

Merimac nodded grimly. It was obvious that he was thinking about his son who'd been missing for so many weeks.

Cami nervously eyed the other members of her party. Merimac at least had experience as a member of the Hobbiton watch, but the others were rank newcomers. Ruby and Buttercup and Frodo-lad had never set foot outside the Shire and had certainly not wielded a weapon before. Not that she was in much better shape than they were. She looked down at the sword that hung awkwardly about her waist and fervently pleaded to all the powers in the heavens that she would not have to use it. Climbing up onto the bottom railing, Cami cupped her hands to her mouth and hooted softly into the night, hoping to attract Pio's attention.

Then she turned round to Frodo-lad and Buttercup. "You two stay here. The three of us will go and make sure everything's all right. When the children come up to the fence, get them mounted up as quickly as you can and pull back over there." Cami indicated a small copse of trees that was a few paces distant. "Then wait for Pio. She'll know where to go."

Turning to give a final hug to Frodo-lad, Cami sternly instructed him to listen to Buttercup and do whatever the older hobbit said; then she walked over to the fence with Ruby and Merimac and slid her body adroitly between the rails. A moment later, all three of the hobbits had slipped through to the other side. In the distance they could see Piosenniel standing and motioning to them to come quickly. Cami and Merrimac sprinted down the trail in the direction of the old shed with Ruby doggedly following a few steps behind.

[ July 20, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]