"Was that a wolf? Are there—are there wolves out there?" Bilbo asked, his voice trembling slightly, his apprehension as plain as the furrow on his brow.

Mizuki shook her head, her crimson eyes scanning the shadowed terrain beyond the firelight. She sighed softly, her expression grim. "Wolves? No," she murmured, her voice steady but laced with tension. "That was not a wolf."

As if to confirm her fears, a hulking Warg lunged from behind a crag, its feral snarl cutting through the night. The beast launched itself into the midst of the Company, its massive frame knocking over a startled dwarf.

Mizuki moved without hesitation, her sharp claws raking across the Warg's flank in a swift, precise strike. The creature howled in pain and whirled to face her, its bared fangs glinting in the firelight.

"Mizuki!" someone shouted from behind, but she paid the voice no mind. Her breaths came slow and measured, her focus unbroken. She couldn't afford to lose control—not here, not now—or the flames inside her would consume everything around them. Instead, with fluid precision, she reached for her dagger and drove it into the Warg's skull.

Another Warg appeared from the darkness, its eyes gleaming with savage intent. But before it could close the distance, Kili's arrow whistled through the air, embedding itself in the creature's side. The beast stumbled, snarling, but Dwalin was already upon it, his hammer crushing its head before it could rise again.

"Warg-Scouts," Thorin growled, his voice heavy with dread. "Which means an Orc pack is not far behind."

The words hung in the air, their weight palpable. Bilbo glanced nervously between the fallen Wargs and the darkened horizon, his face pale. Mizuki stepped closer to him, her hand resting lightly on his shoulder.

Gandalf leaned toward Thorin, his expression sharp. "Who did you tell about your quest, beyond your kin?"

Thorin turned to him, his brows knitting together in confusion and hurt. "What?"

But before the tension could escalate, Mizuki stepped between them, her presence commanding. "Easy, Gandalf," she said softly but firmly. Her gaze shifted to Radagast, who had been hovering at the edge of the camp, his wild eyes darting nervously. "Get the hell out of here, Radagast," she snapped, her tone brooking no argument.

The Brown Wizard shook his head, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'll draw them off," he offered, his tone both resolute and resigned.

Before anyone could respond, the distant howls of approaching Wargs echoed through the night. Gandalf exhaled sharply, his voice grim. "These are Gundabad Wargs," he said, his tone heavy with certainty. "They will outrun you."

Mizuki tuned out the conversation, her senses honing in on the faint tremors in the earth, the unmistakable sound of approaching doom. Without a word, she leapt into the branches of a nearby tree, her movements as fluid and silent as a shadow.

"Wait!" someone called after her, but she was already climbing higher, her bow in hand and an arrow notched. From her vantage point, she could see the first flickers of movement in the distance—the Wargs, massive and hulking, prowling at the edge of the thickets with Orc riders astride them.

Hissing softly, Mizuki smirked, her crimson eyes narrowing. She loosed an arrow, striking the lead Warg through the throat. It toppled with a gurgling snarl, taking its rider with it. Another arrow followed, embedding itself in an Orc's chest before he could raise his weapon.

Then, with a soft growl, Mizuki leapt from the tree, her body shifting mid-air. Scales erupted along her skin, her limbs lengthened, and her form twisted into something monstrous—a sleek, deadly indoraptor form, its bioluminescent markings glowing faintly in the dark.

She hit the ground running, her powerful legs propelling her toward the open lands. The Orcs let out guttural howls, their Wargs snarling as they gave chase. Mizuki glanced back briefly, her lips curling into a feral grin.

If they wanted a hunt, she thought, she would give them one.

SCENEBREAK

"Run," Gandalf commanded, his voice steady yet urgent as he led the Company out of the tangled thickets and onto the open plain. Behind them, the forest pulsed with movement, the growls of Wargs and the shouts of Orcs growing louder.

In the distance, they caught glimpses of Mizuki—a black blur streaking across the terrain, her lithe, monstrous form weaving through the chaos like a predator toying with its prey. One Warg, in its reckless pursuit, misjudged its footing and crashed to the ground, tumbling end over end with a guttural snarl.

The Company ran across the plain, their breaths heavy and ragged, their feet pounding against the hard-packed earth. Ahead, the horizon offered no promise of refuge, only the open expanse of land where they were exposed to their enemies.

"Take cover!" Thorin barked, his voice cutting through their panic as he gestured toward a cluster of jagged rocks.

The dwarves scrambled behind the outcropping, their weapons at the ready, while Gandalf glanced over his shoulder. Mizuki reappeared in the distance, her silhouette leaping atop a rock as though daring the Orcs to follow.

She spun around to meet an oncoming rider, her talons slicing cleanly through the air as she tore the Orc's head from its shoulders. The body tumbled from the Warg, and before the beast could react, Mizuki dodged an arrow, snapping her jaws at the Warg's snout with a feral snarl.

Then, as suddenly as she had appeared, she was gone again, disappearing into the chaos to draw the enemy further from the Company.

"She's insane," Dwalin muttered, clutching his hammer tightly as he peered over the rocks.

As they pressed forward, darting between the sparse cover the plain offered, Thorin stopped behind a larger boulder to catch his breath, keeping low to avoid the sharp eyes of the Wargs.

That's when Ori made his mistake.

The youngest dwarf bolted out of cover, his short legs carrying him into the open. "Ori, no! Come back!" Thorin hissed, but the lad was already too far.

The Wargs weren't far behind now, their snarls growing louder as they closed the distance. Thorin turned to Gandalf, his frustration boiling over. "Where are you leading us? And what on earth is that?"

Before Gandalf could answer, Mizuki's dark form streaked overhead, leaping across the rocks with a ferocious growl that echoed like thunder. Her presence alone drew the attention of several Wargs and their riders, who peeled away from the chase to follow her into the shadows.

"That," Gandalf said with a faint smirk, "is for you to find out, but I can tell you this much—our dear Mizuki knows exactly what she's doing." His sharp eyes glinted with determination as he grabbed Thorin by the arm. "Now run!"

The Company pressed onward, ducking behind another outcropping of rock. Thorin motioned for Kili, who readied his bow, his sharp eyes tracking the movements above.

A scout and his Warg appeared atop the rocks, the beast sniffing the air and growling softly. Without hesitation, Kili stepped out from cover and loosed an arrow, striking the Warg through the throat. The beast collapsed with a strangled yelp, its rider tumbling to the ground.

The dwarves swarmed the fallen Orc, dispatching him quickly and silently, but the sounds of their fight carried far. The distant howls of the Wargs shifted as their attention turned back toward the Company.

Mizuki, crouched low among the rocks, heard the change. She growled softly, her bioluminescent markings flashing as she turned her attention toward the nearest Warg. The creature hesitated, disoriented by the commotion, and Mizuki seized the opportunity. With a swift, brutal motion, she leapt onto the Warg, her talons tearing into its neck as she wrenched its head clean off.

Blood sprayed across the rocks, and Mizuki snarled, the metallic tang of it sharp in the air. She turned, her crimson eyes locking on the distant figures of Thorin and the others.

The Company froze as she moved toward them, her monstrous form illuminated by the pale moonlight. Her growl rumbled through the air like a distant storm.

"Run, you fools!" she snarled, her voice guttural and feral, before whirling to meet another oncoming Orc and Warg. Her claws raked through the beast, sending it sprawling, and with a ferocious bite, she tore into its rider.

The sight was enough to spur the Company into action. Wide-eyed and panicked, they turned to flee, Gandalf grabbing Bilbo by the arm to guide him.

"Go!" Gandalf urged, his voice cutting through the chaos as the indoraptor continued to hold the enemy at bay.

As the Company disappeared into the shadows, Mizuki stood her ground, a lone figure against the tide of darkness. The growls and snarls of the Wargs surrounded her, but she didn't falter.

She had made her choice. She would protect them—no matter the cost.

SCENEBREAK

The Company sprinted across the wide, open plain, the tall grass whipping at their legs as the howls of Wargs echoed around them. Shadows darted in and out of the growing twilight, and it became clear they were surrounded. The Wargs were closing in, their snarls growing louder, their hulking forms visible against the dim horizon.

Ahead of them, Mizuki fought fiercely, her massive claws and snapping jaws dispatching Warg after Warg, but for every one she struck down, two more seemed to take its place. Even for her, the sheer number of foes was overwhelming.

Suddenly, with a powerful leap, Mizuki landed beside Thorin, her glowing eyes flashing as she snarled at the encircling Wargs. Her presence alone seemed to give the beasts pause, her growl vibrating in the air like a living force.

"Where is Gandalf?" Kili shouted, loosing an arrow that struck a Warg mid-charge. The beast toppled to the ground, skidding to a halt just short of Ori's feet.

Mizuki didn't answer, her breath coming in sharp gasps as her vision blurred. Dwalin's gruff voice called out something in response, but she couldn't make out the words. Her head was spinning, her blood roaring in her ears. She shook her head, but her eyes flickered dangerously, their glow intensifying.

Thorin noticed her faltering and stepped closer, placing a steadying hand on her shoulder. "Mizuki—" he began, but before he could finish, she snapped her head toward him, her crimson gaze locking onto his. The feral intensity in her eyes made him flinch, his hand recoiling instinctively.

"Go," she growled, her voice low and guttural, carrying the weight of a command.

Before Thorin could respond, a voice rang out over the chaos. "This way, you fools!"

They all turned to see Gandalf standing atop a rocky outcrop, his staff raised high, gesturing urgently toward a large crack in the rocks below.

Thorin nodded sharply, his voice rising above the din. "Come on, move! Quickly, all of you! Go, go, go!"

The Company scrambled toward the narrow opening, their movements frantic as the Wargs closed in. Thorin stayed behind, cutting down a Warg that lunged too close, while Kili loosed another arrow, felling a second. One by one, the dwarves and Bilbo slid into the crack, slipping into the safety of the cave beyond.

Mizuki stood her ground, her massive form a shield between the Wargs and the fleeing Company. As the beasts closed in, her chest heaved, and her bioluminescent scars flared brilliantly in the dim light.

Then she let out a roar.

The sound was deafening, reverberating across the plain and echoing off the surrounding peaks. It was no ordinary roar—it was a sonic wave of raw energy, carrying with it a force that shook the very air. The Wargs howled in agony, their heads thrashing as if their skulls were splitting. The Orcs screamed, dropping their weapons to clutch at their ears, some collapsing to the ground in pain.

The Company, however, remained unaffected. They heard the sound, but it didn't pierce their minds the way it did their enemies. Thorin, sliding into the crack after his Company, paused and frowned as the sound subsided, the Wargs staggering in disarray.

"Wait," Bilbo said breathlessly, glancing back toward the entrance. "What about Mizuki?"

Gandalf placed a hand on the hobbit's shoulder, his expression grave but calm. "Don't worry about her," he said. "She'll come around."

Just as Gandalf spoke, a horn sounded in the distance, its clear, resonant note cutting through the lingering chaos. The Company froze, their breaths hitching as the sound carried across the plain.

Mizuki heard it, too, the note piercing through the haze of her rage. She turned her head slightly, her glowing eyes narrowing as the first riders appeared on the horizon—Elves, swift and disciplined, their shining armor glinting in the fading light.

For a moment, her chest tightened, a pang of something unfamiliar tugging at her heart. But before she could move, a sharp, searing pain lanced through her side.

Her head snapped down, her breath hitching as she saw the arrow embedded in her ribs. The shaft glinted with a cruel, polished sheen, the fletching unmistakably Elven.

She staggered, her claws digging into the earth as a scream tore from her throat. The sound was raw, primal, and filled with pain, echoing across the plain as her blood dripped onto the grass.

In the cave, Thorin froze at the sound of her cry, his knuckles white as he gripped the hilt of his sword. The dwarves exchanged uneasy glances, and Bilbo's face turned pale.

"She's hurt," Bilbo whispered, his voice trembling.

Gandalf's expression hardened, his grip tightening on his staff. "We must move. Now," he said firmly, ushering the Company deeper into the cave.

Outside, Mizuki's knees buckled briefly, but she forced herself to stand. Her glowing eyes burned with fury as she turned her gaze toward the Elves, the Wargs, and the Orcs alike. She wouldn't fall here—not yet.