Alright, here's chapter 2. Remember that the female Benders keep their surnames and hand them down to their daughters. Males do the same with their sons.
Bilbo ducked behind cover, his breath coming in ragged pants from sprinting so far.
"How close is the pack?" Reyna asked, an urgent look in her blue eyes. It had been two days since the Company had rested by the river, and they had hardly stopped traveling since.
"Too close. A couple of leagues, no more, but that is not he worst of it." the small hobbit said, still recovering his breath. The rest of the dwarves muttered amongst themselves, nervously.
"Have the wargs picked up our scent?" Dwalin asked. Bilbo shook his head.
"Not yet, but they will; we have another problem." he insisted. The rest of the company simply brushed of his comment. Gandalf strode over to Bilbo, his grey hat slightly askew on top of his head.
"Did they see you? They saw you!" Gandalf exclaimed. Again, Bilbo shook his head in protest.
"No, that's not it." he said, trying to get the real problem into the conversation. Gandalf payed this no heed, however.
"What did I tell you? Quiet as a mouse. Great burglar material." Gandalf shot over his shoulder at the dwarves. They chuckled in return. Reyna rolled her eyes in exasperation.
"For the love of Durin, let him speak!" she scolded. Bilbo nodded his appreciation towards Reyna.
"I am trying to tell you that there is something else out there." Bilbo said grimmly. That gained everyone's attention. Gandalf turned back to Bilbo, a worried look on his aging face.
"What form did it take? Like a bear?" he asked. Bilbo looked at him, confused for a moment. It was as if Gandalf knew of the creature that he had described.
"Yes. But bigger, much bigger." Bilbo said. Bofur looked at Gandalf, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"You knew about this beast?" he questioned. As his usual, cryptic self, Gandalf turned away from them and walked away.
"I say we double back." Bofur said.
"And be run down by a pack of orcs?" Thorin retorted.
"There is a house, it's not far from here, where we might take refuge."Gandalf chimed in. Thorin looked at the wizard, a small frown on his face. He did not recall anyone inhabiting the surrounding area.
"Whose house? Are they friend or foe?" Thorin interrogated. Gandalf glanced around them, anxiety clear on his face.
"Neither. He will help us, or he will kill us." he said.
"Well that's very reassuring." Reyna muttered sarcastically.
"What choice to we have?" Thorin asked reluctantly. Behind them they heard a loud, bloodcurdling roar.
"None." Gandalf said.
"Time's up! Run!" Reyna shouted. The company found themselves being chased once more and followed Gandalf. They ran acrossed plains and splashed through streams. Reyna took up the rear as they ran, checking behind her every now and again. She could hear Azog and his party not far away from them. Along with something else. A very big something else. The Company came to a brief halt when the roar sounded again.
"This way, quickly!" Gandalf ordered. The Company took off again, Reyna looked over her shoulder and let out a small cry of surprise and fear. Not only was the company being pursued by the orcs; but by an oversized, black bear. And it looked very angry.
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The Oncoming Storm (Book 2 in the Lionheart Trilogy)
Fanfiction★ I suggest reading the first book, Lionheart, before you read this one★ Reyna Stormbringer had hoped that after facing goblins, orcs and even the occasional cave troll, that she and the company would have faced the worst of what their quest had to...
