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It is the morning, and the company is sitting in Beorn's household eating breakfast. The big man is pouring milk to the youngsters, bilbo, fili, and kili. Y/n says nothing, her eyes full of curiosity still she holds it in. Beorn wants to talk to her first, not the other way round. "So you are the one they call Oakenshield. Tell me, why is Azog the Defiler hunting you?" Beorn says, glancing at thorin, who sits next to Y/n, and their eyes meet. Thorin looks up, confused and sepsis. "You know of Azog? How?" beorn glance once more at Y/n and then starts to tell the tale. "My people were the first to live in the mountains before the Orcs came down from the north. The Defiler killed most of my family, but some he enslaved." Y/n then notices the remnants of manacles on his wrists and wince. 

Azog hadn't touched her family, but they had gone extinct, resulting in her being the last of the great wolves. Beorn continues, "Not for work, you understand, but for sport. Caging skin-changers and torturing them seemed to amuse him." Bulbo frowned and glanced at the only female here addressing her and beorn. "There are others like you two?" Beorn met Y/n's eyes, and the female spoke up, "Beorn, just as I am the last of his kind. I'm not a skin-changer, but we are kindred. Not family, you understand, but the same blood that runs through our veins, changing us when we want. I am the last of the great wolves, the biggest and strongest wolf race, and he is the last of the bears, a branch of the skin changer. He is also the strongest." Beorn hummed. "the wolf speaks the truth. For both of us, there were once were many." 

"And now?" 

"Now, there is only one. For both of us." 

There became silence in the house as the words of the two sunk in. Gandalf hadn't known this, or at least not of Y/n. Beorn was another story. The grey wizard glanced at the wolf lady, who looked down in her cup, her eyes filled with sadness. The young girl had been like a daughter to Gandalf, and he wanted all he could to protect her and keep her safe. Though this mission was far from secure, he knew that. But it also helps her socialize, get out more, and see the light. wolves are naturally socially, so there's nothing good ins staying away from people for too long. a sad grin came over Gandalf's lips when he saw the girl considering his daughter look at him

she smiled back. 

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 "A darkness lies upon that forest. Fell things creep beneath those trees. There is an alliance between the Orcs of Moria and the Necromancer in Dol Guldur. I would not venture there except in great need." Beorn says, sitting down on his carved seat. "We will take the Elven Road. That path is still safe." Gandalf says. Beorn looks at him with calm, intelligent eyes. "Safe? The Wood-Elves of Mirkwood is not like their kin. They're less wise and more dangerous. But it matters not." thorin looks up, and so do Y/n confused. "What do you mean?" thorin asks, getting the skin changer's attention as he stands. "These lands are crawling with Orcs. Their numbers are growing, and you are on foot. You will never reach the forest alive." thorin looks shocked, and so do the wolf. Beorn then goes toward bofur, grabbing a tiny white mouse that wanted attention or looking for food by the dwarves gently picking it up. 

"I don't like dwarves. They're greedy and blind, blind to the lives of those they deem lesser than their own." Beorn says as he strokes the tiny creature, and Y/n has to blink twice even to believe that a great bear like him is holding a tiny little creature without crushing it. Beorn's animal-like eyes then lock with thorin's blue ones. "But Orcs I hate more. What do you need?" Y/n can stop the smile that spreads over her lips. 

Soon enough, they are all upon horses. "Go now, while you have the light. The hunters are not far behind." Beorn says and bids goodbye to Y/n, but before she can ride off, he grabs her wrist. she gives the signal for her horse to stop, and it does, and she turns back to the great man. "yes, kindred?" she says tilting her kind eyes in a small smile. Beorn grumbled but held out a wrapped package. It's small and perfectly fits her hands. "it's for your wolf. It helps in times of need and ensures you can control her. It also makes her stronger when needed. Wear this at all times to keep the strength and control. Now go, and Fawell, young wolf" Y/n smiles and nods, giving her horse a slight nudge in teh sides, setting it off. 

And they are off to the wood of Mirk, where the leaves of evil are already out poisoning this first. What will happen? Is the elven road still safe, or will the company enter a significant threat? And how will the wolf react to seeing new creatures for the first time in her life? And how will they respond to her?

Take her down or let her live?

That is up to the time, my dears, I'm afraid. So let it be another journey that will not end here or any time soon. Let's hope their luck or companionship will keep them from harm as long as needed. Y/N will protect the dwarves and bilbo and Gandalf at any cost, even give her own life if needed. That is just how wolves work, shifters or not. 

Now let's see what time has in store for us.

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