Going back in time from Dogs of the Rings…

The Supreme Council of Wizards decides. It’s time to bring on the confrontation with evil. We can start by making the hobbitses start carrying their own weight. For the first time ever. We’re going to need gold, frankincense, and magic.

Bilbo lived in the Shire.

In a hobbit house.

Which is when Gandalf the Grey shows up.

The idea is an adventure. With a bunch of dwarves.

Got to get to where the gold is. Guarded by a dragon. Named Smaug.

Bilbo was all for it. Where, when, and how high he asked.

The dwarves provided Bilbo with his own war steed. “This is all going to be so great,” Bilbo said.

Name of Happy.

On the way out of the Shire, though, the dwarves and Bilbo encountered an obstruction.

“We are the mothers of the Shire. We beg you not to venture into the cruel cruel outside world of Middle Earth.”

“Hmmmm,” thought Bilbo. And sat down to think about it. Then, with hobbits-esque logic, he said, “Gotta go. Big guy said so.”

Whereupon the image of the Mothers of the Shire transformed.

“We are the wolves of the high spirit. We are warning you to save you. Ignore us at your peril.”