Born from Stone (A Thorin Oakenshield story)

*Sleeping sun

"Kili will you shoot that bloody arrow! The deer is going to escape!" Fili whispered angrily.

"Don't tell me what to do..." Kili felt his small hands trembling almost uncontrollably. The need to save that poor creature was too strong, but the demanding eyes of his uncle lingered heavy on his back.

"It-is-going-to-get-away..." -Fili hissed- "...look how it's ears are perking up. Your foot is grinding the leaves way too loudly!" With that, Fili's foot kicked Kili's and the boy fell on his face causing a racket which send the deer over the hill with a majestic canter.

"See! I told you he wasn't going to make it! He send the deer away!" Fili crossed his arms and looked proudly at uncle Thorin.

"And now you are stranded without food for the rest of the day, for you cannot linger long in one place to hunt when you are travelling in the wild." Thorin's deep voice coloured the air.

"It's his fault," Fili flicked his shoulders.

Kili stood up and cleaned his tunic from the leaves that autumn had managed to tear away from the trees. "He kicked my foot right from under me uncle, didn't you see?"

Thorin raised his brow.

"Did no such thing you little liar!" Fili gritted his teeth and his small hands became tight fists.

Thorin sighed patiently and rested on his heels. "During autumn and spring going one day or more without food will be possible, as your body doesn't need to sustain through harsh conditions, but that would end up in a catastrophe during winter. Especially if you become stranded in a snowstorm." His hand touched the ground gently and his own ears perked up for any sounds around them. Maybe they still had a chance to catch up with that deer.

"I would have killed it. I had it right in the middle of my aim!" Kili poked Fili's chest angrily.

"Are you poking me you little troll?" Fili's nostrils flared.

"You called me a liar when all the while it was your fault the deer escaped. I will poke your eyes out of your face if you don't admit it, right now!" Kili retorted.

Thorin pursed his lips and looked sideways at the boys. "Also arguing so loud in the wild makes a very good target out of you. He resumed in a calm and low voice.

Of course the boys' didn't listen to him, enveloped as they were in their battle for superiority. "I will admit nothing! It was you that hesitated to shoot it when it was time!" Fili growled.

"You pulled my leg right from under me!" Kili took a handful of rotten leaves and rubbed them on Fili's face. That was the last straw as they embraced in an adrenaline filled battle that send them rolling all over the wet forest bed with painful growls of anger.

Thorin towered over them patiently. On seeing their fight not abiding, but becoming even more intense he decided to intervene, but rather unconventionally. He leaned over and picked up a rather heavy stone in each hand. Then he weighed the stones for several moments before targeting his nephews.

"Ouch!" Fili grabbed the back of his head that gushed blood and looked at his uncle who then threw the next stone on Kili catching him right at the forehead and sending him rolling on his back with a roar of pain.

"Uncle!" Fili looked up dolefully.

"And now you are both dead from Orc's arrows, since you managed to draw close every black blooded demon within a ten mile radius." His eyes were deadpan.

Fili exhaled and stood up.

"Help your brother up, for he is your only help when you are surrounded by so many enemies," Thorin's solemn voice made Fili look guiltily at Kili that had blood running over his eyes.