The Company of Wolves

Chapter 5: The Stubborness of Dwarves

At the end of the day, they came across an old broken-down house, with holes in the roof and cracked support on all its sides. The greenery around it was barely growing over so Ash figured it must've been abandoned recently.

Thorin, up in the lead, stopped right before it and turned around to face them all. "We'll camp here for the night."

Ash gave thanks to the Gods, for even though they were fairly capable of walking on foot long distances. These days of travel had worn her muscles out completely, making it more difficult each trek they went on. Her shins were basically on fire.

When she looked over at her companions, they seemed to have relived faces as well. Dakota looked like she was trying to hold in her exhaustion, while Rhea downright plopped onto the dirt.

"Praise the heavens." She closed her eyes and sighed. "I felt like my legs were going to fall off. Are they still alive?"

She proceeded to poke the legs in question while Ash took some things of Myrtle, like the tent and bedrolls. Dakota helped Bilbo down, his thighs obviously sore as he walked sideways and more wider than normal.

"I don't think I'll ever get used to riding for so long..." Bilbo mumbled, face twisted in pain.

Thorin started to give orders out, "Fili, Kili, look after the ponies. Make sure you stay with them." Gandalf had somehow managed to pass all of them and go up to the abandoned house, his brows furrowed in concern.

"A farmer and his family used to live here." He told no one in particular. Ash walked up to him quickly, leaving Bilbo to waddle away to use natures bathroom.

She stood next to the wizard, "Recently?"

Gandalf hummed an agreement. Ash replied with a 'hmm' of her own. Thorin kept up the orders from behind.

"Oin, Gloin." He called.

"Aye?"

"Get a fire going." They both nodded as Thorin started to walk up to the two mumbling to each other.

"Can you smell anything?" Gandalf wondered, looking at Ash expectantly. She took some deep whiffs in the air, opening her mouth slightly. Something thick and heavy, atop of the undergrowth around them. It was faint, but everywhere. The scent smelled richly of burned skin and possibly a type of wood.

Thorin reached them both and studied Ash trying to recognize the scent.

"You can't smell anything that hasn't been here for weeks." He stated, clearly not wanting to wait around for her to smell something that isn't here anymore.

Ash gave him a side glance, rolling her eyes instantly. She turned to face Gandalf, "It smells like firewood, but also something different. I'm taking a guess towards a damp cave. I don't know. I mean if damp caves have a smell...this'll be it."

Gandalf nodded and seemed to ponder over her poor explanation. Ash cringed when she saw Thorin unimpressed, turning to look around the house more. She had to prove to him and the company that they had things to give too.

"Look, I've never smelt this sent before. It's not an animal, but it certainly isn't man." She tried again. Thorin huffed sarcastically,

"That narrows it down a lot."

Ash almost groaned out loud. She knew she wasn't being helpful, he didn't have to annoyingly point it out.

"That's quite alright Ash, I understand." Gandalf gave her a small smile.

"I can tell you one thing, it smells better than a dwarf. That should narrow it down even more." Ash slyly added in, glaring slightly at Thorin from the corner of her eye. He visibly stiffened.