[center][h3][color=LawnGreen]Cassi Fairbairn[/color] and [color=Peru]Ted Noakes[/color][/h3]
[b]Southern Mirkwood[/b][/center]

“I can’t believe you wrestled with that spider! It was really impressive, considering it was the size of you,” Cassinia kept up an energetic chat, all while spinning her pipe around in her fingers. She’d ran out of pipe-weed days ago and Ted refused to share any that he still had (from rationing better).

“I wouldn’t have had to if you hadn’t just stood there gawping and shot the thing,” Ted responded with a slightly huff from where he walked just ahead of the younger hobbit. Indeed he bore some scratches on his face and arms from the unwelcome tussle; it had been agreed that Cassi would shoot any creature they came across on sight. Of course he should have expected the less experienced scout to just stand and stare at a new and wondrous sight. 

“Well I’ve never seen something like it before, and it could’ve been friendly. I didn’t want to just shoot it without knowing that,” Cassi shrugged, keeping a wide grin on her face. This was all very new to her – she’d barely travelled outside of the borders of Westmarch and Shire before. It was exciting! Even the hunger and tiredness, which was part of the experience.

“We’re unlikely to bump into anything friendly,” Ted just snorted. He’d travelled more than enough to know that Southern Mirkwood wasn’t a friendly place.

Their group was small, as hobbits weren’t the kind of folk to investigate a matter that didn’t directly affect them. Cassi and Ted were here because of the disappearance of Roderic Fairbairn; friend of both. Cassi had managed to get an old acquaintance of hers to join, Adelard Took. She had said she knew him because the Fairbairns, Gamgees, Brandybuck and Tooks all still kept in close contact. How exactly she had roped him in to their little adventure, though, Ted did not know. 

They’d been travelling for weeks, starting in the Shire and making their way over to Mirkwood. As soon as Ted had realised that Roderic had stopped sending letters he had begun to plan the journey – though the route he had first decided on was changed for a slightly slower, but also safer, one when others joined. That didn’t mean it had been easy.

“Do you think there will be other people investigating? How exciting would that be! We could collaborate with all sorts of people that we don’t know… And maybe even make some friends,” Cassi hadn’t lost the hop in her step even after days of travelling. Why would she? This was all so fun! “Although I do hope Roderic is alright… I’m glad I got to go on this trip. I’ve seen so much and-”

Ted cut her off with a sharp glare and a raised hand. He could hear voices up ahead.

“Wait here, I’m going to go take a look,” he whispered, Cassi noticing the speaking now that she had stopped her endless chatter. He nodded to her. “Have your bow ready just in case.”

“Wouldn’t it be better for me to go look, just in case,” Cassi’s skill with a bow did mean she could snipe someone if needed.

Ted shook his head. “You’re too noisy. Wait here.” He didn’t give them much chance to argue before he slipped off into the undergrowth.

Sighing slightly, Cassi put away her pipe and pulled her bow from her back. Hopefully there wouldn’t be any trouble. “I wonder who else is there. Maybe it’s fair folk! I would love to meet some of them,” she kept her voice to a hushed whisper, but kept up her constant talking – just now it was directed at Adelard instead of Ted.

“If it is, do you think they’ll be friendly?”