The Firedrake's Lost Heir

Chapter 14

It got cold when gliding up through the Misty Mountains, Brooklyn shaking a bit from it but kept up his gliding as much as he could despite the elements, feeling Fangspirit whining from inside his carry pouch who wasn't used to it.

Brooklyn reached down to pet him. "Keep still buddy, I'll get us through this," He said gently through the howling winds, the snow hitting his face as he flew over another mountain ridge. His wings felt really achy and tired before he suddenly spotted a ledge with a roof.

Panting slightly he glided down, knowing he would have to rest and look around him for the exit from the misty mountains and save his friends (or if they were friends.) Brooklyn managed to land, crawling further back onto the ledge and leaning against the wall behind him, taking Fangspirit out to rest.

The warg yipped and howled at being up this high in these mountains but Brooklyn did his best to keep him calm, his ears flat from how loud the wind is, hoping he could make his way through. His heart was yearning even further for his father's embrace, to be at the Lonely Mountain, his true home.

In the end there Brooklyn couldn't help the tears that fell into the wind, sniffling as he hugged his warg friend. Fangspirit calmed his howling at the sudden gesture from his master. He tilted his head, whining a little, before licking him and laying his head on the hybrid's shoulders.

"I hope my father will let me keep you boy when we get there," Brooklyn said in a tearful way. "But we have to keep moving, to get out of this. I think we're almost out." Looking doubtful, Fangspirit allowed himself to be placed in the pouch again, as Brooklyn took off once more, spotting some trees beyond the mist and snow that looked somewhat familiar.

His eyes widened as a little smile showed. It was the forest he had gone through to find the cave into the mountain, it had to be! "We made it!" Brook cheered weakly, as he glided towards the safety of the ground, glad to be out of the Misty mountain air.

The red gargoyle collapsed to the ground, which felt great to feel grass again on his feet and hands, shaking a little. That had taken him 6 hours to glide over those damned mountains, and was happy it was over. But his journey wasn't over; not by a long shot. He still had to find the missing company.

Brooklyn staggered to his feet, dusting himself off and brought Fangspirit out of the pouch again, the warg yipping in happiness and jumping around. He laughed. "We gotta find them Fangspirit, no time to play yet." Fangspirit whined lightly and stopped, following Brooklyn along a path as they went to search for the same cave entrance.

Soon as they managed to find the entrance Brooklyn thought he heard voices; and figures running through the trees. He hid behind a tree in case they were goblins or orcs. But to his surprise and happiness it was Gandalf and the dwarves. He was happy they were all safe but wondered how they got out of there alive. And how Gandalf even joined with them when he wasn't around when they all fell in.

Gandalf counted out each dwarf but one person was missing. Brooklyn couldn't see Bilbo anywhere, worry coming back and thinking he was gone. "Where's Bilbo? Where's our Hobbit?" Gandalf shouted out in question. "Curse the halfling! Now he's lost! And that 'gargoyle' had abandoned us as well!" Gloin said angrily, which made Brooklyn grip the tree, his face burning in shame. The others argued until he couldn't take it anymore.

Brooklyn stepped out, his face angry. "I haven't abandoned you," He said in a gruff voice, hands balled into fists. Gandalf smiled at the sight of Brooklyn. "Ah, young one. Welcome back," He greeted, but Brooklyn kept glaring at Thorin who spoke. "So you haven't, doesn't matter. But Master Baggins saw his chance and took it. He thought of nothing but his warm hearth and soft bed. We will not be seeing our hobbit again. He is long gone."