And that is how the Company had begun running aimlessly through a grassland dotted with jagged rocks here and there. Radagast, true to his word, was steering his rabbit-drawn sled all around, successfully leading away the Wargs and orcs. However, it seemed as if the wizard had lost all sense of direction, for he was driving in circles and thusly was preventing the dwarves, Gandalf and Bilbo from thoroughly escaping.

 The group was now hidden behind a rock, waiting for a chance to bolt once again, "Where are you leading us?" Thorin glared upwards at Gandalf.

 Kali listened for an answer from Gandalf, though it seemed by his expression that he had not given one. 

 She knew precisely why, too. At that moment, a Scout had jumped onto the top of the very rock formation they'd been hiding behind. The group went dead silent, listening to the gentle sniffing coming from the Warg as they were all careful not to be seen.

It is trying to find our scent... Kali thought, readying her bow once more as she prepared to turn and down the animal. Thorin gave a sidelong glance at Kili, who was right next to him. Kili nodded and he, too, and readied his bow. With a single nod at Kali, both whirred around and shot at the Scout.

Kali's arrow went straight through the rider's head, where she was aiming. Kili's arrow, however, sunk straight into the shoulder of the Warg, not making a killing shot. Both the Warg and the corpse of the rider slid down to the ground, the Warg making a lot of howling protests as Dwalin and Thorin killed it.  

That's sure to give away our position now... Kali thought sourly, placing another arrow in her bow.

 The air was now filled with gross howling as the pursuers closed in on the dwarves, "Move! Run!" Gandalf ordered, shoving dwarves past him to hurry them along.

 Gloin suddenly yelled out, "There they are!"

 "This way!" Gandalf attempted to turn everyone around, "Quickly!"

 They were all led into a small clearing, full of lush green grass that went waist high on the dwarves and completely hid Bilbo from view. It would have been a beautiful sight had there not been imminent death approaching, "There's more coming!" Kili shouted with a wave of his bow.

 "Kili!" Thorin shouted, "Kali! Shoot them!"

My pleasure, Kali aimed quick and shot off one arrow, satisfaction coming from the gurgling noise an orc made as he slid off his Warg, which was quickly dispatched by an arrow from Kili nearby. There was no time to think, though, for more orcs were closing in. Arrow after arrow was shot, meaning Warg after Warg and orc after orc was killed as well, but it made no difference.

 "We're surrounded!" Fili's voice was brimmed with despair as he did his best to fend off the monsters.

 "Where is Gandalf?!" Kili hollered.

 Dwalin was quick to assume, "He has abandoned us!"

Kili's attention distracted for a split second was all an orc needed for a window to attack. A particularly scrawny one, sitting atop a slightly bulkier Warg, knew that apparently, and was closing in for the attack. 

 Shouts came from everyone but the loudest was from Thorin, "Kili watch out!"

 The Warg was shot down mid jump. By Kili? No, by Kali, across the small clearing they were in. Several looked at her in shock and she simply glared at them and turned a cold shoulder, "That's not the only group! There's more, over the hill!" she warned loudly, arming her bow once more.

How could she see that...? Thorin's call was loud and clear, "Hold your ground! Everyone!"

 However, Gandalf's pointy-hatted head suddenly appeared from a crack in a nearby rock, "This way, you fools!"

 And then, Thorin changed his mind about things, "Come on, move! Quickly, all of you! Go, go, go!"

 Almost all at once, many of the dwarves (and Bilbo) jumped past Thorin and slid out of view. Now it was only Thorin, Kili and Kali above the rock, "Kili, Kali!" Thorin yelled, his sword easily slicing through a Warg that got too close to the secret hiding place, "Run!"

 Moving backwards, Kali was still sending arrows flying, although the aim was very much off and many didn't get a killing shot. Most didn't hit anything at all for her hands were shaking so badly, making the entire bow work incorrectly. At last, when her hand reached for her quiver, her fingers closed around nothing. Still grasping, Kali's heart froze and sped into a frenzie. 

 Kali turned and ran straight for where Thorin was still standing, waving a hand frantically as if it would make her run faster. Indeed it did, however her legs were no match for the four legs of a Warg and she could feel one nipping at her heels. Just as she got close to her target, as fate would have it, the tall grass happened to conceal the leftovers of Thorin's Warg kill and Kali tripped on the tail.

 Before she even had time to reach for a knife (so Kali could roll over and defend herself) Thorin's blade came down first, killing the riderless Warg.

 "Up," he grunted, sheathing the intricate sword with one hand as the other reached for her, "Up, come on."

 Indeed she did get up and she slid down the not-too-gentle rock slope to join the others.

 Fili was at her side at once, "You've got blood all over you. Are you hurt? Is anything wrong? What happened why didn't you come when you were supposed to?"

 Kali pushed his hands off her shoulders, "Tis not my blood, Fili. It belongs to a Warg. No I am not hurt, nor is anything wrong. I did not come when Thorin demanded because I was busy defending... everyone from being eaten."

 Fili's concern dissipated into a cold frown, "It is not your duty to defend us."

 She patted his shoulder once and began walking away, "We're dwarves. Dwarves protect their kin, Fili."

 "I thought you'd told me you had no family," Bilbo trotted to her side, "From the attack..."

 Kali closed her eyes with a long sigh. He of all of her companions should know this is the least favoured topic for her, "I've no family, Bilbo. It is an expression I use that all dwarves are kin in some way or form. It makes me feel at peace."

 Bilbo gave her the quickest sad smile ever seen in Middle Earth, just as Kali realized there was another sharp horn sounding from above ground, followed by a large commotion "What was that?" she asked, stepping over next to Bofur.

 Gloin was looking around wildly, and though the question was not directed at him it was he who answered, "I've no idea, lass."

 Just then an orc tumbled down the slope, forcing everyone back for fear of being killed. However, there was an arrow buried deep in it's neck. Thorin, who was nearest, bent and plucked the weapon from its flesh to get a better look. He sneered at Gandalf and threw the arrow down in disgust, "Elves."

 All attention was now on Dwalin, who was farther down what Kali now new to be a tunnel and not a cave, "I cannot see where the pathway leads. Do we follow it, or no?"

 Bofur was quick to speak up in an anxious voice, practically shooing Dwalin, "Follow it, of course!"

 So they all set off to shuffling their way through the narrow path that, as time went on, got harder for every dwarf (even the hobbit a couple times, as well) to squeeze through; Bombur more so than the rest. Unfortunately for those behind him, they had to aid him through the tough spots. 

 Eventually, though, there was a sliver of light shining up ahead and the Company surged forward with as much speed they could muster through the tight rocks and soon they found themselves standing atop a small ledge. A gentle stream trickled through where they'd just come from and down into a great lush valley.

 Kali sighed in awe, whispering to herself, "It's more beautiful than I remember..."

 Looking over the valley, words could not describe how perfect everything seemed, the way the leaves of the trees were all so green, surrounding the shining ivory of the Elven home. Sunshine shone over the rocks and the waterfalls, making the rooftops sparkle even more so.

 "The Valley of Imladris. In the Common Tongue, it's known by another name," Gandalf explained to no one in particular as he too looked over the photogenic scene.

 "Rivendell," Bilbo murmured in awe. He'd remembered the many times Kali had stopped to visit Bag End, bringing with her outrageous stories of Orcs and Elves and battles. Her words of how beautiful Rivendell actually was had not done it justice.

Bag End... he thought fleetingly, Oh how I do wish for some tea right about now...

 Gandalf continued, pride edging his voice, "Here lies the last Homely House east of the sea."

 Thorin was absolutely fuming, "This was your plan all along, to seek refuge with our enemy."

 Kali angrily stepped into Thorin's line of vision, blocking the wizard from him, "You have no enemies when in this Valley, Thorin Oakenshield!"

 "I have enemies amongst all elves," Thorin snapped, "They left my kingdom to burn and become infested with a dragon."

 Kali's next step was quick and short, getting her so close to Thorin that he was forced to take a step back, slightly bumping into Dwalin, "The only ill-feelings ever found in this Valley of peace is what you have brought here yourself," Kali stressed. With a grunt in something too incoherent to be understood by Thorin, Kali turned and went to keep Bifur company.

 Thorin looked at Gandalf, standing by his opinion, "You think the elves will give us their blessing? They will try to stop us."

 "Of course they will!" Kali snorted, "They're elves!"

 Gandalf merely chuckled, "We have questions that need to be answered. If we are to be successful, this will need to be handled with tact and respect and no small degree of charm," saying this he cast a sidelong glance in the direction of Bilbo, who was still gazing in awe over the Valley, "Which is why you will leave the talking to me."