In soft, quick ageiotly, the shape-hybrid-shifter moved aorund in the Shire, trying to scent out the scent of Gandalf. she found it soon enough, along with the tingly musk of dwarves. What is the Valar are Stormcrow doing with Dwarves? she thought but shook it off and found a nook by the Hobbit home so she could change. Then, quickly and quietly, the wolf was gone, and Pheonix was in her human form, sword and other weapons strapped to her. 

She was a seasoned fighter knowing fully well to define herself if needed. But she was relatively peaceful for a beast such as herself. strangieneting up, she raved her knuckles on the green door, hearing the voices inside cease for a moment before she listened to the soft thumping of feet, and the door opened, showing the host of the house — a brown-haired Hobbit with delicate features and a confused expression. 

Pheonix smiled softly under her hood and stared into his eyes with her own that glowed under the hood. "Pheonix Stormwater at your service," the lady said, dipping her head so the Hobbit could see straight into her golden eyes. he soon snapped out of whatever stupor he was in and dropped his head "Bilbo Baggins at yours. come on in you must be tired," he said and stepped aside allowing Pheonix to step inside. 

She didnt take off her cloak but took off her boots, knowing she should be at least somewhat respectful to the Hobbit who showed her hospitality. 

"ah, Pheonix, good to see you," gandlaf said, standing up and greeting the woman. The Dwarves acted with curios eyes until she turned to them and dipped her head to Thorin, whom she recognized as having scented in her forest. "greetings Company of Thorin Okeakenshild. It is an honor being in your presence. I am Pheonix Stormwater, an old friend of Gandalf," she said and gestured to the grey wizard, who nodded and started to tell the Dwarves -- and Hobbit why she was here. 

"what? No, we don't need a protector," Thorin protested, his eyes angry, and Pheonix chuckled "cleary. but I'm not here for the protection of your kin Thorin. no, I'm here for the Halflings." she said, and cast a soft hidden glance to Bilbo who caught it and blushed. Thorin looked her up and down, his face stony. "what good could you do for us anyway?" anger fired up in the young shapeshifter, and she, in a fluent motion, whipped out a silver dagger, and before the Dwarf could blink, the tip of the blade was sticking into the wooden frame right beside his head. 

"doubt me again, and I will not miss Okensheidl," Pheonix spoke sweetly and smiled before going over and grabbing her dagger and sealthening it, throwing an apologizing look to Bilbo. 

"Now, shall we start this meeting?" she asked the speechless Dwarves. 

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"Far to the East, over ranges and rivers, beyond woodlands and wastelands, lies a single solitary peak," Gandalf explained, showing the Dwarves, Pheonix, and Bilbo a map. 

Pheonix smiled, her hood still drawn over her head. "The Lonely Mountain," Bilbo says, reading the inscription on the map while holding a candle. Pheonix moved closer, placing a soft hand on his shoulder, making him look at her, but when she said nothing, he focused on the map and the conversation. 

"Aye. Oin has read the warnings, and the portents say it is time." says one Dwarf that the wolf girl had heard being called Gloin brother to the Dwarf he just mentioned. Her head was mulling over the information she was getting starting to understand what kind of adventure this was. Another Dwarf continued, "Ravens have been seen flying back to the mountain as it was foretold: When the birds of yore return to Erebor, the reign of the beast will end." that got both Bilbo and Pheonix on edge. 

Bilbo due to his fear of beasts and Pheonix due to her thinking that there was no one like her. a dragon-wolf hybrid, I mean. But maybe this 'beast' was one, and she would finally not be alone anymore. So with a keen ear, she continued listening in. "Well, that would reference Smaug the Terrible, chiefest, and greatest calamity of our age. Airborne fire-breather, teeth like razors, claws like meathooks, extremely fond of precious metals--" a Dwarf in a funny hat explained but Bilbo, who had asked, "Uh, What beast?" cut him off, saying that he knew what a dragon was. 

Thank the Valar for that, Pheonix thought with a slight chuckle so quiet that no one heard it. 

The old white-haired Dwarf Ballin spoke up, calm with seriousness, "The task to win back the Mountain would be difficult enough with an army behind us. But we number just seven, and not seven of the best."

This made the other Dwarves angry and upset, but Fili, one of the twin Dwarves, spoke up, making the others quiet. Pheonix liked this spirit, but she knew better than to throw herself into a battle with a fire-breathing beast. Even though she might be half-dragon, that doesn't mean she wants to take on one.  "We may be few in number, but we're fighters, all of us, to the last dwarf!" he says, and the other Dwarves cheer, agreeing with him. Then his little brother spoke up, and Pheonix stiffened. "And you forget, we have a wizard in our company. Gandalf will have killed hundreds of dragons in his time." that made Gandalf uncomfortable, and the bright-haired woman looked at the wizard, who shook his head, starting to cough on the smoke he had been smoking. 

The Dwarves started to shout things like " Go on, give us a number!" and other things that the shapeshifter's ears sting. as if noticing her pain Thorin barked out in kazadul, "Silence!" and the Dwarves fell silent, all eyes on him as he stands up continuing "If we have read these signs, do you not think others will have read them too? Rumors have begun to spread. The dragon Smaug has not been seen for 60 years. Eyes look east to the Mountain, assessing, wondering, weighing the risk. Perhaps the vast wealth of our people now lies unprotected. Do we sit back while others claim what is rightfully ours? Or do we seize this chance to take back Erebor? To arms! To arms!" the dwarves cheered, but Balin shut them down. 

 "You forget: the front gate is sealed. So there is no way into the Mountain." 

Pheonix sighs, but she knows Gandalf would never lead his friends on a meaningless journey, so he must have something up his sleeve. And she was right. "That, my dear Balin, is not entirely true." the wizard says, and in his hand is a dwarvish key, ornately wrought. Pheonix has lived many years but has never seen such an article. She tilts her hooded head at the key, her golden eyes burning through the metal. So this is the key loss of Erebor. The one who can change all misfortune the Dwarves have had. And unlock the doors to my kind, she thought grimly, starting to see what her role in this company was. 

She had stated it herself: she was to be the protector of Bilbo, no one else. But of course, the Dwarves were a part of the company, and so was Bilbo. Well, when he would accept, of course. Pheioniox snaps out of her stupor when Gandalf's voice sounds again. 

"It was given to me by your father, by Thrain, for safekeeping. It is yours now." the wizard gives the key to the Dwarf King in solemn silence. "If there is a key, there must be a door." So Fili states and the firey girl scoffs softly at the young Dwarf's obviousness. But she is glad there is a key, so this mission will not go to darker times. 

Pheonix's eyes follow as Gandalf points at some ruens on the map sprawled out in front of him. Her eyes narrow, trying to translate them, but she is not of Dwarven blood; she has no chance. "These runes speak of a hidden passage to the lower halls." says the wizard, and the Dwarves begin to mutter with each other. "There's another way in!" Kili exclaims, smiling, and that makes Pheonix smile too. Gandalf glances at her, silently asking if she is alright. The shapeshifter catches his eyes and nod. 

Thorin sees this and speaks, "before we celebrate, I would like to know why exactly you are in our company Pheonix" the King's voice makes Pheonix look at him, her eyes hidden under the hood. Still, he can see some golden glint underneath the darkness, and the corners of her mouth turn up. "I told you, Okensheild, I am here for the Halfing. He will need all the protection he can get. as well as you Dwarves. Don't think I don't know about your brawl with the Orcs," she said casually as if she weren't just party insulting them. 

This time Balin spoke up in a softer tone than his King. The shapeshifter's eyes fell upon him, "but Thorin is right, my lady. we do not know you." this made Gandalf sigh. He spoke up, "I chose Pheonix as the 15th member of this company due to her loyalty, her strength, and her ability to be unseen if she wants. I believe that this fellow here is more trustworthy than any of you!" the Dwarves looked at the lady still in her hood. "why don't you take off your hood my dear?" Gandalf said, knowing that the Dwarves wouldn't trust her faster if she had a hood on. 

She sighed and peeled off her hood, revealing the beauty hidden beneath. "you flatter me, Stormcrow. While I cannot say no to the flattering, I am here because you need me, my friends. A dragon is no easy beast. I should know," she said, and this piqued Bilbo's interest, and he spoke up, "uh, my lady, if-if you don't mind me asking, but what do you mean? have you faced dragons before?" he asked, and Pheonix turned to him golden eyes soft. 

"I haven't, but my mother has. Told me about that beast. I have no evil against the dragons. But I will tell you no more master begins. I bet time will show enough," The hall fell silent as all the Dwarves looked at Pheonix, trying to find her out. Same did Bilbo. but they would have to wait. It wasn't like she was going to show them anytime soon. 

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