The following day Pheonix was up early, ready to get on the adventure. 

She had overheard Gandalf's conversation with Bilbo and was a bit down because the Hobbit wouldn't join them, but she had a hunch that he would later, perhaps. So all that mattered now was that they got on the road for who knows when she had to return to her pack. 

"I see you're awake," came Thorin's voice as the young shapeshifter looked out the window. She smiled and turned to face the Dwarf King. "I am true. it appears you are too young, king." Thorin nods but doesn't say anything more and walks off, leaving Pheonix to shrug at his behavior. 

She has met many alike in her pack, whether they plan down ignore her or they dont like her at all. Thorin thought it was a harder nut to crack. He didn't fall for her charms, nor did she fall for his, if he even had any. All he did was brood and look miserable, but could she blame him? he had lost his home while she had her still intact. Her pack was not in her house but in her heart. And she would soon return to them when the time came, of course. 

She walked outside, took a deep breath in the fresh air, and made clicking noises with her mouth, and soon a beautiful white mare came running down the path and stopped just in front of the Hobbit house. Pheonix smiled and stroked the mare. "hey, Sky Ranger. How are you, my friend?" she said, unaware of those eyes on her. 

Good, replied the mare in the shapeshifter's mind. as a natural being herself, Pheonix had developed a close bond with this horse that was one of the Meras and best friend with the Lord of Horses Shadowfax. The two had something going on, but Pheonix didn't ask. It wasn't her life. 

"That's good, my dear. Now let's get you ready. We have an advocate to go on," the shapeshifter said and patted her friend's neck before moving inside again to get her bag that she had put right by the door. Many of the dwarves were awake and greeted her when they saw her. Some of them were already heading outside. 

Gandalf came last, looking sad but somehow even more mysterious than before. Pheonix narrowed her eyes at her old friend, who saw it, but he smiled at her. She shrugged it off and walked outside again with the bag over he shoulder. Sky Ranger bowed her head so her rider could strap the bag onto her neck. 

The two girls knew of the glances the Dwarves were giving them, but they could care less. They both were pretty, and they knew it. 

"What a horse!" Kili exclaimed as he walked over to Pheonix, who smiled na finished tying the knots that held her pack in place. "thank you, master Kili. Her name is Sky Ranger, and she is a very good friend. one of the oldest I have, in fact," she said and stroked her friend's head, receiving a content nicker. Kili smiled "you sure have a good bond with her. are you always like this?" he asked, and Pheonix frowned "like what?" 

"Your bond, I mean. you seem to love animals more than any lady I've ever met." Kili explained, and Pheonix chuckled. "I am one of them, Kili. And they are one of me. The Middle Earth's creatures will always be contacted with me, and I will be with them. It is a gift from Manwe, I believe," but no more detail did Pheonix give the young Dwarf before she had hosted herself upå on the mare's back, who stamped her hoof in anticipation. 

Pheonix felt her friend's excitement and patted her to soothe her. "everyone ready?" Thorin called, and lots of 'aye's came to form the company. Pheonix let herself hang back some time to look at the Hobbit home. 

Come whenever you're ready, Bilbo, she thought before going after the Dwarves and away from the Shire. 

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Pheonix had right in the hunt she wer feeling. Then, some paces away, Bilbo came running. 

The shapeshifter heard him long before the others and stopped her horse first. The Dwarves gave her looks but stopped their ponies when they heard, "Wait! Wait!" Pheonix is smiling when the Hobbit comes to their group and catches his eyes, giving him a soft, welcoming smile. 

Bilbo smiles back at her before walking up to Balin and handing him the contract stating proudly, "I signed it!" Balin smiles and takes it, inspecting it with a pocket glass. When he is done, he pockets the contract and nods at Bilbo, saying, "Everything appears to be in order. Welcome, Master Baggins, to the company of Thorin Oakenshield."

Some dwarves cheer and congratulate the Hobbit. Pheonix is silent, but the smile she has revealed her feelings. Thorin doesn't look impressed and orders, "Give him a pony." Bilbo gets scared hearing this as he has no story about horses or ponies. 

He starts to deny it and tries to let the Dwarf let him go along with them, but Pheonix doesn't let him finish and grabs his arm, swiping him up in front of her. Sky Ranger snorts and eases her walk to it becomes more comfortable for the Hobbit, who looks pretty flustered. "he can ride with me," Pheonix calls out, and the Dwarves nod. 

Then they all set out again. Pheonix and Bilbo soon come deep into a concentration but stop when they both see money bags passed between the Dwarves. The little Hobbit gets curious and asks Gandalf as he rides behind them, "What's that about?"

Gandalf looks at him, shrugging. "Oh, they took wagers on whether or not you'd turn up. Most of them bet that you wouldn't." Bilbo glance at his old friend and then at Pheonix, who is smiling. "What did you two think?" while gandlaf was silent as he caught his pouch, Pheonix patted her new friend's shoulder. 

"We never doubted you, Bilbo," and she, too, caught a sack of money. 

An hour or so goes on without any incentives. That is until poor Bilbo sneezes and Sky Ranger nickers, uncomfortable. Pheonix looks worried down at the Hobbit in front of her, and he mumbles excuses and exploitation. Still, before he finishes, he shouts, "Stop! We have to turn around." this causes distaste and an interruption among the Dwarves, and they all grumble as they stop their ponies. 

Pheonix is the first to question the Hobbit's sudden outburst.  "What on earth is the matter?" Bilbo sighs and says, "I forgot my handkerchief." a small scoff comes from Sky Ranger, and she walks on, knowing that this her rider would take care of. the others start to move on, too. "ah, Bilbo..." Pheonix laughs and takes out a silver embedded handkerchief studded with golden and small dragon symbols "use this," she says and gives it to the staring Hobbit. 

Gandalf laughs beside them and starts to lecture bilbo softly. "You'll have to manage without pocket handkerchiefs and many other things, Bilbo Baggins before we reach our journey's end. You were born to the Shire's rolling hills and little rivers, but home is now behind you; the world is ahead."

Pheonix is silent, but she agrees with the wizard. Her home is behind her too. The world is ahead. 

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