THE ADVENTURES OF TANZYWOOD FURFOOT

By Sandy Seever (Shireling)

Chapter 1 ~ The Beginning

Wind Dancer, the red-tailed hawk soared high over the Old Forest just outside of the Shire. Gwaihir the eagle had sent him on a mission of grave importance. There were two small hobbits, a mother and her daughter, drifting into the forest in search of their family dog. Unbeknownst to them, a menacing evil was lurking ever closer as it sucked the threesome unwittingly deeper into the confines of the woods.

The red-tailed hawks had long been allies of the great eagles of Middle-earth. It was their special duty to watch over the territory of the Shire and any other lands where the rather innocent hobbits dwelt. The carefree hobbits were not aware of this of course, any more than they were aware of the Dunedain Rangers that secretly guarded their borders for many years from the growing dangers spreading from the East.

Those dangers were increasing of late, due to the returning power of the Dark Lord of Mordor. His wicked manifestations had begun to rise in the last 50 years or so, since the finding of he Ring by Bilbo Baggins. But none were aware of the connection of the Dark Lord to this Ring yet. Only rangers, and wizards, and elves grew warily concerned about the subtle changes of widening darkness. Changes that were now becoming less and less subtle than before.

Orcs, goblins, and depraved men were increasing in the lands and traveling beyond their usual borders. Roaming even as far as the Shire. Where they were coming from or why, no one was quite sure. Something sinister was afoot.

These dire tidings were unknown to Tanzywood and her mother, Rosie Furfoot. All they knew was that their beloved pet, Doggers, had run full tilt into the Old Forest with hackles raised and the most ferocious and protective barking they had ever heard.
Doggers had never taken off like that before; not even when old Harry Bolger’s prize bull had taken after Tanzy’s dad while he was delivering peat. Doggers had gone straight for the cantankerous bull, and turned him away long enough for Bob Furfoot to jump the fence, then cut out of the pasture himself. The old pup had done his duty and lovingly protected his master, but not with the same aggressiveness that he now displayed.

Rosie’s adrenalin was flowing freely. She had never been a hobbit to back down from anyone or anything when it was right and proper to stand up for herself, her family, or her beliefs. Still, somehow she sensed something mysterious about this chase. She hesitated momentarily to digest the portent of the situation.

There were numerous legends about the Old Forest that grew on the border of the Shire. Most folk wouldn’t consider going near it for all the ale in the Green Dragon! The forest was queer, full of changing paths. It had an unusual air about it, a temperament of its own. It was almost as if the trees in this woods could think and feel, like people did. The rumor was: “Those what enters the Old Forest, never comes out again!”

She knew that Bob would be furious if he was aware his wife had ventured into the creepy woodland. Especially since she had three-year-old Tanzywood in toe with her. Bob never believed in taking unnecessary chances – legend or not! But Rosie also knew full well that some of the more adventurous hobbits had gone a short ways into the forest in search of mushrooms and such, and had come back out safe and sound. She was in fact one of them!

Rosie was related to some rather bold hobbits, and it was clear she shared their daring traits. Surely it wouldn’t hurt to enter the old trees’ land just a little ways. She could still hear Doggers barking nearby. Perhaps he had cornered something right on the edge. As long as she kept the border in sight and didn’t stay long, the audacious hobbit felt certain they all would be fine.

Having decided her course of action, Tanzy’s mom took a deep breath, looked cautiously about, and headed boldly into the forest with Tanzy on her hip. It would prove to be the biggest mistake of her life.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Bob stared up at the summer blue sky searching for the familiar sound of the crying hawk. ‘Humph!’ he thought, ‘That old hawk always seems to follow us whenever my girl is with me. Funny though, I don’t ever remember seeing it before “the forest.”‘

Little five year-old Tanzywood sat astride her hearty pony singing merrily at the sunny sky. She was a bright and happy child, despite the forest incident. She always brought a smile to the faces of those she met. It was obvious she had the indomitable spirit of her mother. She embraced the world and everything in it with joy and unabashed curiosity. Her warm brown eyes sparkled with life and love of learning.

Sean, the small, robust pony trotted and nickered as merrily as Tanzy as he followed Bob in his search for peat. He was creamy white in color with large brown paint patches. There was black too in his mane and tail. He used the latter to vigorously swish away the pesky flies, an activity that amused Tanzy greatly and set her to singing again.

‘Swish, swish, swish goes the long horse tail,
As he clop, clop, clops on the open trail.
Fly little bugs, go away from me,
For I’m trotting along with my friend Tanzy!’

Tanzy giggled merrily in her sweet hobbit voice as she patted Sean, her best buddy, on the neck. Just then, she too heard the hawk cry from above. ‘Hi, Wind Dancer!’ she called heartily. “I love you! Daddy, Daddy, look at Wind Dancer! Isn’t he just the beautifulest bird you ever did see? I always feel so safe when he is up there waving at us. Don’t you think he is wonderful, Daddy? Don’t you?” She always felt somehow that she belonged to the hawk. There was a bond between them that was inexplicable. She couldn’t imagine the skies without him.

Bob turned to Tanzywood and smiled, then looked back up at the hawk. ‘If this hawk really was a protector,’ he mused, ‘ I wish it would have been around that day in the woods. I wish it would have protected my Rosie.’

Wind Dancer cried out again as he soared on the warm summer thermals he loved to ride. ‘Oh, my dear Mr. Furfoot,’ the hawk thought,’I was there in the Old Forest that day. Were I not, you would be bereft of your sweet, precious daughter as well. I am sorry I could not help Rosie, but the had gone in too far. There was nothing I could do for her or the faithful dog. But I will watch over this girl. The need is greater than you know. She has much to do yet in Middle-earth, important tasks still await her. And she is marked, Mr. Furfoot. Her presence did not go unnoticed on that day, nor has it been forgotten by those who took your wife. There are perils you can not imagine looming from the east.’

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~

The odious stench assaulted Doggers long tawny nose like a thousand stinging hornets on the attack! Never in his life had he encountered a substance that warned of danger as this did! The mere potency of the reek was unbearable to his acute canine senses. No odor from skunk, weasel, badger, or creature of any kind within his considerable experience, could hold a candle to this horrific scent. It took every ounce of noble strength within him to keep from running away.

But no matter how repulsive this new onslaught of danger was to the large shorthaired mutt, nothing was stronger than his love for his family! Doggers hated and feared this new evil with every fiber of his being. His reddish-brown hackles rose instantly. His large perky ears strained to their fullest extent. He was in stealth mode, crouching low and slinking directly towards the evil odor. He felt the malevolent danger swell. It grew and surrounded him with vicious intent.

The brawny dog perceived that the entity he was stalking, was stalking them. This danger was horrendous, and it was coming for his Rosie and the child! There! In the bushes, that shadow, yes! Doggers sprung into action with all the strength his supple body possessed. Simultaneously, he let loose with the most fearsome warning snarl of his 10-year life. The shadow moved, and he charged into the forest headlong.

Three hours later Bob and a few other of the braver hobbits found Tanzywood sitting forlornly in front of what appeared to be a small cave opening. There was a hawk sitting on a low branch between her and the cave entrance which rose into the sky as the search party approached. There Tanzy patiently sat with gentle tears streaming down her sorrowful face quietly calling, “Mommy? Doggers? Are you there? Mommy? Doggerrrs? Come back!”

Bob raced to his beloved daughter and scooped her into his arms. “Tanzy! Tanzy! Are you all right, sweetie? Where’s Mommy? Where’s Mommy and Doggers, sweetheart?” Bob asked as he held her tightly.

“Mommy, Doggers in there!” the little hobbit cried as she hugged her Daddy tightly. Tanzy looked her father in the eye, then pointed to the cave entrance. “In there, Daddy! Mommy followed Doggers in there ever so long ago. About a year I think! They went in there and now they won’t come back out! The pretty birdie made me stay here, Daddy, but I want my mommy! Please go get Mommy, Daddy. I want my mommy!” the child wept.

Bob handed Tanzy off to his cousin Earl, and charged into the cave with Ernie and Fred, Rosie’s brothers right behind. But after they had gone about twelve feet into the stinking darkness, all they found was a solid wall of rock. The cave didn’t go any deeper or have any other openings. They felt all over the cold stone surface, walls, floor, ceiling, but they could not find so much as a crack that would indicate their was any way out of this cave save the portal they had entered.

Bob was frantic. Tanzy must have been mistaken. She probably got sidetracked by the sight of the “pretty bird” and failed to see where her mother had gone. It would be very typical of this little one. She was exceptionally curious, even for a three year-old. Yes, Tanzy had to be wrong. The search party continued their quest for another four hours, until darkness started to fall. But not even the most impetuous hobbit would stay in the Old Forest after sundown! Grief-stricken, they returned to the Shire.

Several more attempts to find Rosie occurred in the following days. Long dreadful searching in the strange, dark woods. But no one ever found any evidence of Tanzy’s mom or the faithful dog that sought to protect them. Tanzy still insisted that they had gone into the cave, but Bob could not accept that. It made no sense. The tiny girl was confused, in his mind. Still, he never gave up hope that someday, maybe his dear wife and friend of a lifetime, would return.

Small though she was, Tanzy knew! They had gone into that cave. She watched them. She heard the horrible sounds. Something evil had lured them in there where they had disappeared. Tanzy knew. And so did Wind Dancer. Someday she would learn what had happened to them. She and the hawk would find out, someday.