------------------------ Somewhere in the Wilderness ------------------------
The morning sun started peeking through the trees' top branches near a forest’s edge. A dwarf’s hand rose, trying to block the almost blinding light, followed by a grunting yawn. His oversized furry pillow started moving, which would turn out to be in fact a large mountain-goat, offering its side as a soft bed to sleep against. Accompanied by a careful bleat it bumped its nose against the dwarf’s head, to make sure he doesn’t fall asleep again. Another grunt was heard as the Dwarf pushed the goat’s wet nose away.
»Alright, alright! I’m awake, enough!« the dwarf cried, only to be answered by the goat’s somewhat disbelieving snort.
He struggled a moment to stand up, feeling a little stiff after the night’s rest. He bent over to reach inside a small side pouch on one his saddlebags placed right next to him. From there he took out an old metal comb and began tidying his long beard. In the meantime the large animal stood up and walked a few yards to the nearby riverbank to have a sip of water. Having his beard combed, the dwarf would only after that continue with his other morning chores. With a short branch he’d poke the campfire to see if it still smoulders.
»Bah! Been out for several hours now, it seems,« the dwarf muttered.
He left the campfire to be, moving over to search for his other bags, breaking himself a slice of bread and some dried meat, both carefully wrapped in cloth. As he ate his simple breakfast, he had a look around at their campsite very briefly, his gaze eventually turning towards the disappearing night, in the west, and towards the rising sun, in the east. His expression became worried, his thoughts focusing towards both directions - about what he left behind and what awaits him.
The dwarf sighed as he sat down on a nearby rock and began to dig his left pocket. From its depths he pulled out and unfolded a slightly tattered letter, which seemed to have been read several times before. The white goat moved next to him, looking at the letter as well, even though it couldn't read - eyeing a possible breakfast, instead? The dwarrow hummed quietly as he read the letter once more in thought:
Gungur carefully folded the letter and placed it inside his pocket again. He turned to look at his goat, which clearly had no idea of the letter’s content, only offering him a sympathetic stare. Gungur nodded and patted the goat’s cheek, turning to look towards East again.
»Hrmm, how unfortunate, this is. How could I forsake my father after reading his letter, yet it pains me as well to leave unnoticed in such a hurry, no messages and such left for my friends. Alas, I can only hope they understand. Still, I can for some reason feel they know I’ll return someday. When that is, even I don’t know..,« he pondered while stroking the goat’s fur.
They sat there until the morning sun had fully revealed itself from behind the forest. Carefully repacking his gear and setting the saddlebags on the goat’s back, Gungur climbed on his steed and continued his journey towards the place he had been away from for so long - Erebor. Home.
