It had been a few weeks since I had registered any hope on finding Brundt; Isilindil, Olorin, Ranewan and I had been tirelessly searching for him, while the landscape changed around us, we kept our heads down, tracking a ramshackle path that seemed to lead us on a wild goose chase.
It was a cold morning when I woke up earlier than usual - we had been sleeping out in the open, as we were on an open moor. The misty early morning light chased the wind, and the tops of the grass rustled slightly as I moved, careful not to wake anyone up - I wanted to be alone.
I moved away from our camping area, breaking into a confident stride as soon I was sure that I was out of earshot. That was when I heard a strange noise coming from some undergrowth.
rustle rustle rustle SPLOT rustle rustle rustle SPLOT
I stopped walking an listened quietly. I could hear my blood pumping through my veins, and I kept telling myself that I was dreaming. Then I heard a small piping voice from underneath the moss.
"Always mess. Always mist. Never rest. And then that big brute comes tramping through my home. More mess. Always tidying."
I couldn't believe my ears - what was this? I cleared my throat loudly.
"Huuuhhhh!" Suddenly the chattering stopped, and a small area of the moss dislodged itself to show a small persons red head peeping up from the ground.
"Good mornin'. What you be's a wanting?" The petit mouth moved strangely, and I didn't know what type of creature this was.
"Oh... hello." I meant to say 'who are you?' or 'what are you?' but it came out as "Have you seen a young-ish man wearing a green cloak pass by?"
"Why, yes I have... you be's a wanting him?"
"Yes... do you think you could help? I'm his friend, we're trying to find him - will you come and tell my friends what you saw?"
"Big fella' was a' tramping through my home... but I be's a obliged to help... I's a comin'." and the small, red headed creature disappeared inside it's home again, and then there was a series of knocks and booms from under the ground, and then a secret door disguised as moss opened from the ground. The creature heaved herself up, and we walked back to camp.
-Ruby Burrows
