The Assignment

The Assignment

So you want to know my name? I don’t think that my name is all that important at the moment. Names never really do matter since it’s so simple just to go out and change it so how would you know you were really talking to who I said I was if that really wasn’t my name? I could just be making up this whole thing that I’m going to tell you and then you’d be left with some random story by some random person. What is your name? Well, I guess your name isn’t really all that important since it is you who is interviewing me and not me interviewing you. After all, you wouldn’t be a reporter if it was the interviewee being the interviewer to the investigator. Don’t take that offensively by the way. The whole investigator thing ya know. I call all you people that. You all come here after hearing a story from a friend of a friend of a cousin of a sister who knew a man who in turn knew a cousin of a great great great uncle who knew a.. well, you get the picture and you became interested and have to come check it out for yourself. So are you going to record this like the others who all stopped by to talk with me? You aren’t? Good. I hate the damn things. So annoying because I have to stop so they can turn the bloody tape over or put a new one in. Do you want some tea? Oh, of course you do. You’re going to be sitting here a while so you might want to make yourself at home and I’ll get you some tea. I hope you like chamomile. That’s all I have. Or I could just get you some water. You want water instead? Okay. Water for you it is. I myself have had my good share of tea but I’m not the least bit thirsty. I hope you wanted Ice in that because I got you some ice. Well now. Let’s get this story going shall we. I’m sure you just dying to hear it by now. Hmm. Now where should I start. Oh yes. It was 1467, what? Don’t look surprised just yet, just shhh and listen. I’m telling a story. It was 1467 and of course back then everything was just so old fashioned...

Chapter 1
The wind blew very calmly carrying with it the sweet smells of breads baking in the bakers ovens through the nearly empty streets of god knows where. I honestly didn’t know where it was I was exactly and I didn’t know anyone who was anyone or where I could find someone I just might know. All I remembered was that I was with my parents one moment and then standing here in the middle of some small town the next. God I hate being a teenager. Actually I had been leaned against a post, but I was standing now, but that was far beyond the point at hand. I looked about carefully and blinked my eyes. I could see extremely well and could hear far better than anyone else around. I yawned and smelled the air and felt my mouth water. God I was hungry. I walked through the dark corners of the street and looked about, the moon wasn’t up and I really wish I knew what day it was. I’d have to find out soon. I could smell roast beef and felt my mouth just water instantly and I located the store that was cooking it in the back. The man was just finishing cooking it over the fire and he got up and went to the bathroom after setting it on a platter. I could hear that no one else was around and I quickly entered through the doorway and raced over to the plate. My footsteps were light and unheard and I quickly ripped off a huge chuck of the warm meat and grabbed a loaf of bread and quickly ran out with the hot food.
The meat was hot, but not too hot that I couldn’t bear it. My stomach grumbled hungrily and I scarfed down a bite of it and caught the words of the man who had just come back from the bathroom. He was quite mad, but I was far enough away by now that he would never know who it was whom had taken the meat from him. I only took half if it. It was indeed a lot of meat but I was hungry and knew I could eat it. It of course was making a mess all over my cloths but I didn’t care, cloths could be washed. I found a spot underneath a tree and sat down and smiled. I wished my parents were here, but I had no idea where it was they were, and if they were alive, they knew I’d be still heading to where we had been heading. I looked down at the rare beef and ripped off another piece and chewed on it letting the juices flow down my throat. I swallowed the bite and ate a chuck of the warm bread. I was more a meat person than a bread person but hey, it would do for now. I sat there for about 10 minutes eating my beef and bread when I heard footsteps. I licked my lips and wiped the back of my hand across my face and looked about. I didn’t see anyone nearby, but I knew someone was there. I quickly stood up and went behind a nearby barrel. I just barely fit behind the small object and I finally located whom had been making the footsteps.
It was a young lady, she was probably slightly younger than I and she looked about my size and build, though I was a bit more muscled due to work and travels. I watched her carefully and I knew she could tell someone was watching her for she looked around searching for who might soever be watching her. She was wearing a pale yellow dress, yes it was dark out, but once again, I can see just fine in the dark, that had white lace trimming around the neck and shoulders and the dress stopped just a few inches below the knees showing off her long legs. My legs were longer. Her blonde hair was tied up in a bonnet and a few strands hung out wildly. She must have been dancing. My own dark hair didn’t need to be tied up since I had recently cut it short and it fell only to the top of my neck. Indeed it was a boy hair cut, I just didn’t like to take care of the stuff. I watched as the girl finally gave up and went back inside a tavern that was called “Bills Pub and Dance”. I dismissed her after that. I was worried about more important things than what some frilly girl was doing. I myself was probably looked upon as a young lad who had not yet grown into his whiskers yet due to my appearance. Short hair, dirty skin, pants and a baggy shirt. Yup. Just like me. I hated dresses. Couldn’t do nothing in them.
I looked about and I decided I’d start out of this place. I wasn’t tired, I normally didn’t go to sleep until about noon and then I’d be up again at about eight and then I’d be off again. I had no idea where I was going and it seemed to be that there was going to be no moon tonight. There were stars, but no moon. Hmm. How weird. I knew that there was a trail that headed south and a path that headed towards another town to the east. I could smell that someone had used that recently. I decided I’d just go south since I didn’t want a brush with people and I had somewhere I needed to be, but I knew eventually I’d run into someone, just hopefully not anytime too soon. My feet were bare, being that I never had a fond liking for shoes and I felt the cool sand between my toes as I walked south. I could tell it was south because of the position of some of the stars and by instinct. I was supposed to be heading south, I knew I’d be to the place I had to be when I get there because I just would. It’s just something I know. Instinct one would say.
The stars twinkled slightly as the wind blew and I noticed cactus’s and older trees. A few lizards and snakes now and then. Other than that I was completely alone. I love the feeling of being alone, being free. I ran then. No prissy jog or a brisk run. I ran. My long legs carried my quickly across the desert and I felt as through I was flying. I knew I could run for up to half an hour at this speed, but I knew that it didn’t matter if I wore myself out since there wasn’t anyone around I needed to get away from so I could tire myself all I wanted. Sometimes I did hate the fact I was different from everyone else. My whole family line and several other generations of people were like me, though people don’t understand. Lots of people don’t. Which is why we never tell anyone. I was getting assigned in a week. I had a week to get to where it was I was supposed to be. I hope my parents where there. If not then I’d be rather sad, since it was my assigning and all who was assigned had a family member of some sort there to celebrate with and all I had were my parents. Every young woman gets assigned when they turn 17 and every lad when he’s 16. Indeed it’s work, but it’s for the generations to come. It’s something you just have to do.
In a week I’d be assigned, on the first full moon on the month of August. It’s indeed a rare thing, but then again my mom said was I was more powerful than everyone else said I was. They said I was just like everyone else, but probably weaker, but I excelled where everyone else did not in my age class. I had the skills, they just didn’t want to admit that a girl could have received that part of the line. Oh well, I didn’t care. My breathing was deep and slow and I seemed almost to be running in slow motion. My left foot moving in front of my in an arch and slowly falling to the ground the tip of my foot falling against the cold sand and then quickly pushing forwards bringing my other leg forwards. I noticed such things. I then heard something and realized I should have been listening to my surroundings instead of thinking about the assigning. I heard the sound of the horses hooves long before they came into my view and I knew that whoever it was that was on the horse was coming at me.
I knew that the second the horse got within meters of me and caught my scent it would freak out. Most animals did. I wouldn’t blame them. I’m dangerous. When I want to be. The horse was a painted mare, probably about 4 years old and the rider was a young lad I think. I couldn’t quite tell since the wind suddenly shifted. I knew that the horse was gaining on me, but not quickly. I was far faster than the horse, but I had been running and had wore myself out. Damn my love for the run. I quickly stopped and ducked low to the ground spinning on my heels sliding with my back towards the direction I had been going my eyes locked on the person whom was about 10 yards behind me. I knew he couldn’t quite see me clearly, but I could see him fine enough. The horse had not yet smelt me yet, or it had and was used to the smell, damn horse, and they kept coming. My hand reached for my side as I stopped sliding and I knew I had a small dagger, but daggers were a last resort and I took my hand from my side and remained in my crouched position. I didn’t quite know what it was that this person was up too, but I was sure I was going to find out soon.
The horse came to a stop 10 feet from me and it flared it’s nostrils slightly and pawed the ground nervously. I knew it didn’t want to be near me, but the mare took the boys commands to stay over it’s own instinct to flee. The boy stayed on the horse and I stood up slowly. I watched every muscle on his face for any sign of aggression and found none. I remained silent and continued to watch and when his hand moved to his side suddenly I quickly had him on the ground in three steps without a moments hesitation. The horse had trotted a good distance away at by the time the lad knew what had happened to him and he looked up at me wide eyed. I could tell that he was about 18 years old, but to me he was just a boy. Foolish person.
“Hey. Would you mind letting me up now.”
I stared at him a moment and looked him over and found that he had no weapon upon his body and I quickly moved away from him and stood a good nine feet away. He stood up and brushed himself off and eyed me.
“Why’d you do that? I wasn’t going to shoot you with nothing...” He seemed to hesitate for a moment before going on. “Or hurt you for that matter..” He looked around for his horse and spotted her and whistled but she didn’t come too close. “Why were you running out here? Most boys your age are normally at home causing trouble.”
I narrowed my gaze slightly. Most boys my age? How old did he think I was? Also for that matter, I was no boy, but I might as well let him think that. I could have easily taken off at that moment and he never would have found me but I don’t know why I stayed. He seemed to be waiting for an answer of some sort but I didn’t feel like giving one at the moment. I watched him still as he finally got his horse close and the mare eyed me carefully and snorted. He calmed he down and looked at me. I decided I’d answer him, I could change my voice to a point, but it wasn’t exactly manly, but it worked.
“Just running.”
That was what I was doing and I was just going to let him keep on walking now. I turned and began to walk in the direction I was going and I heard the horse coming up behind me again. What was this? A circus? Follow the leader? My god. It seemed though that no matter how much I continued to walk he continued to follow me.
“Can I help you with something?”
I said with a slight bit of agitation in my voice, but not a whole lot. It’s not like I wanted to hint to him that I was getting angry or nothing, I was only just annoying slightly so why make it such a big deal?
“I could give you a ride back to town.”
He brought the horse up besides me and she flattened her ears slightly and swished her tail back and forth. The sand was comfy and I decided I was going to ignore him after this moment. I guess I was going to have to tell some sort of a lie to get him to get away from me. Good gravy..
“I’m not going back into town. I’m going to my aunts. Family get together and such you know...”
Okay. Now go away. God he was getting on my nerves. I could just bite him. I wanted too actually. I just had this huge hankering to just bit him right in the leg, but I refrained from doing such a sinister act and I remained calm and neutral despite the circumstances.
“Oh, and it’s about four days away. So, you can just go wherever it was you might have been heading.”
I added quickly afterwards. That ought to get him discouraged somewhat. Didn’t want to break his poor heart you know. Ya right. I just wanted him to be out of my hair.
He, however, despite my attempt, was not quite so shocked or taken aback by such a comment. He however just kept on a riding his horse right beside me walking in the desert with nothing but stars shining on our backs. He of course had a comment to what I had said, there indeed was one of those and I wasn’t at all to pleased by it. That was for sure. God I hated men.
“I’m not going to town. I’m heading to Lake Tahoe and It looks to be that we’re heading in the same direction. I could give you a ride on my horse. You might get tired if you continue to walk and such.”
Oh goodie. That was just exactly what I wanted to hear from those lips. Well, I guess I was going to be stuck with company, and it seemed to sooner or later he was going to find out that I was a girl so I might as well tell him right now and get it done and over with right. Wrong.
“I can be pretty obnoxious ya know. I don’t think Minion there likes me too much either.”
I of course didn’t realize the extent to what I had said until I had thought about it and then I just pretended as if I hadn’t noticed I had said it in hopes that he would have actually not have caught what I had said and that made my hopes rise just slightly that he wouldn’t ask any stupid questions. Or I’d have to kill him. Joking. Just joking.
“How did you know my horses name was minion?”
He seemed intrigued because his brow was raised slightly and I looked over at him with a shrug.
“I guessed. She just seemed the minion type.” I lied that was for sure. I wasn’t going to tell him I knew the horses name because I knew what it was saying, but then again you don’t need to know that either so I’m not going to tell you what a conversation we were having either. You didn’t hear that from me. Shh. Actually I was having a mighty fine conversation with the mare, knew a lot about him that he probably didn’t want anyone to know. God it was good to be me.
We walked on in silence, well silence enough except for the occasional sound from the horse and the sound of the wind blowing and the sound of sand crunching beneath my feet. I hadn’t no idea what time it was. It seemed to be that the young lad was just having a fine time keeping to himself when he broke that good silence that had been building.
“Hey, there’s a water hole not to long from here. I need to take a dip and such, you look as though you might need some water too. Let’s go for a swim.”
That right there definitely broke the ice. I knew that there had to be something that hadn’t been said that would be said sooner or later that would have broken that just ever so thick ice. Well there it was. Oh goodie. Now what in hells name was I going to do.
“I’m fine. I like being dirty, besides, it’s cold out. We’ll get sick.”
I didn’t know what else to say, and the temperature had dropped a good 10 degrees or so and it was slightly chilly, but it was perfect weather to me. I however wasn’t going to tell him that and I did want to take a bath right now, I couldn’t stand the smell of me, but I wasn’t going to dare near go any open water with another person especially when that person was a guy and I was a girl for that would just totally not work right.
“You can go right ahead though, I’ll just keep walking and I’m sure you and your horse will catch up with me eventually ya know.”
Please let him do that. I want my peace and quite back.
“Alright then. Suit yourself lad. By the way. I don’t believe I ever caught a name. I’m Areoiris, but they call me Areo for short.”
Well, now I knew his name, not that the horse hadn’t told me, she hadn’t. Animals held secrets about people from others unless they felt it was important to share such information and as of right now the mare and I had only talked about the weather and how each other had been doing. She knew of what I was, she had seen my kind before but she didn’t tell me that, I could just tell since she was open with talking to me and such. He wanted my name eh? Well then. I guess I should give him on right.
“I never gave one to be caught”
Wrong. I wasn’t going to tell him unless he asked, but that didn’t mean I was going to give him my name. I wasn’t a fool, though he had been truthful with me so far.
“Could I have your name then?”
Once again he asked the wrong question.
“You already have a fine name, I don’t think you really need my name for your own ya know.”
I think he finally got it after that remark because he smiled and seemed to understand that unless he asked the right question he wasn’t going to get the answer that he was looking for. He seemed to think for a moment and then he finally replied.
“May I please have the privilege of knowing your name.”
There we go. That was the answer I was waiting for. Actually, I could give him my name since it was a unisex name and therefore could belong to either male or female. Sometimes I loved my name.
“Tatu.”
I was tired now. I don’t know why. I yawned and realized that we had come to the water hole and I looked around for some place I could curl up in a little ball and fall asleep. As of right now I was really tired. It must have been because I ate to much. Whenever I eat to much I get tired soon afterwards and very cranky if someone wakes me up. Well he said he was going for a swim and such, and I could just as well take a nap and not have to worry about seeing him naked or something. That works.
“I’m going to sleep. Don’t bother me unless you have a death wish.”
Those were the only words I spoke to him then and I saw a small tree that was slightly alive but dying and I walked over to it and I leaned my back against it, slumped to the ground, pulled my legs to my chest, made sure I wasn’t facing the water, and I closed my eyes and fell asleep.

Chapter 2
When I opened my eyes I hadn’t the slightest idea were I was. It was dark. Okay. Now I was pissed. I wasn’t where I had originally fallen asleep and it smelled absolutely disgusting wherever I was. I finally realized why it was I couldn’t see a damned thing. It was because I had a blind fold on. Oh joy. Where the hell was that Areoiris kid. I was going to give him a mighty fine ass kicking. I was puzzled for a moment then. Why hadn’t I woken up if I had been moved? I then realized why it was I thought whatever it was I was smelling was disgusting. Whatever it was had been on the skin around my mouth and nose, it was apparent I had been knocked out while I had been sleeping. God it smelled horrible. I knew what it was though. However I wanted to know who or what had done this too me. I could hear just fine, that was good, and I listened carefully for anything. Nothing. What the hell.
I finally got sick of all the silence and kicked out at something and hit something and it made a really loud noise. That ought to get someones attention, and if not, then they were deafer than a deaf man. I finally heard movement and I continued listening as voices came close and I heard a door open and I recognized them both as male. They were talking about me apparently.
“This young lad was brought in by Areoiris. He’d make a good worker. It seem’s to be that he’s awake now too. I’d say he’d have to be young do to the fact he still hasn’t gotten his whiskers yet and his voice is kind of soft still, but we’ll make a man out of him.”
“Well then, untie him and bring him out here and take that blindfold off him, we don’t want to scare him.”
Alright. Areoiris was going to die. That was it. I hated men. I really did. I felt someones hands near the bindings that were around my wrists and the second they were free I threw the blind fold off and elbowed the guy in the stomach and took off out of the shed it was that I was in into an open area. There were people all around, actually, it was all men and boys really. What the hell? I knew at first glance that there were 15 to my left 12 to my right 5 in front of me and 9 behind me and there were probably more somewhere else, since it was apparent that the caravans were only stationed here for the time being. And the shed I had been in was just a smaller caravan apparently that had lost it’s wheels and they were just going to leave it behind.
“Someone grab that boy.”
I was getting sick of hearing that. I knew that I could easily kill them, but I wasn’t a killer, well in a sense I was, but I didn’t kill for pleasure, only self defense and right now I was only going to fight to disarm.
Five of them came at me, to from the left and one from each of my other sides. The man in front of me, about 6'3 had a red beard and hair and was very burly looking, I quickly took him out by grabbing his arm as her reached for me, bringing my right arm down on the elbow joint, jabbing my elbow upwards and hitting him in the face breaking his nose. He fell away in pain. Within seconds I spun and ducked bringing out my right leg tripping to two men on my left and they fell flat on their faces and I turned to find that the man who was on my right was right on top of me and I slammed into his stomach, lifted and threw him backwards over my back. He had to weight at least 180, god he was heavy, but not too heavy. I was strong. The fifth man was hesitant for a moment after seeing what happened to his other four buds and that gave me enough time to throw dirt in his face and close line him onto his back.
I turned around ready for more but no one else moved. I wasn’t breathing all to hard, I’d had a lot tougher in training and such and that right there was really nothing. Now put me against someone my own type and such then you’ll have a hell of a match right there. A fight like that could go on for days before one of us would get tired. They were all staring at me with curiosity and I finally found who it was I was looking for. Areoiris. He was standing there and I just took off after him.
My movements had been so quick that no one had time to react and I had my hands around his throat with him on his back on the ground me straddling him. I wasn’t going to choke him though, just keep my hands there with my knees on his arms keeping him from moving them.
“Well now. Let me say something. What the hell did you think you were doing? Knocking me out, while I was sleeping and bringing me to god knows were. Huh? What are you? Some kind of an idiot. I should kill you right now for such stupidity.”
He seemed rather shocked at the fact that he was still on the ground and such and that he hadn’t really had time to react to my movements.
“I didn’t think you’d mind... I didn’t want to leave you there and I wanted to get going and you said don’t wake you so I kind of knocked you out. I didn’t think you were going to be out for three days though. God, I thought you died so I brought you here.”
“And I was tied up and blindfolded? What the hell? I don’t understand you.... What? Three days? Where the hell am I? What day is it? God damn it. I’m leaving.”
I then stood up and took off at a fast run. I didn’t care any more. I need to get to where it was I had to be. I needed to be. I was off course, I could tell. Something inside me told me I needed to hurry or it was going to be too late. I could hear them all talking in the background and I was now far enough away that they were probably still wondering where they hell I had come from and how I could do such things. Still, there was something about that Areoiris person that was bugging me and I could figure out what it was.

Chapter 3
I had been running at a fast pace for about a day now and I had finally gotten back on track. I still didn’t know where it was I was going, but the desert had now turned into open fields and plains and beyond was a dense forest. It seemed to be that was where it was I had to go. I slowed my run to a walk and a stopped and place my hands on my knees and let out a breath and sighed. I looked at my dirty feet and the bright green grass that was around me. The air smelled sweet and the sky was a brilliant blue color. There was a lake not to far away and I was thirsty, hungry, and needed a bath. I hadn’t seen any people around, but then again, there really weren’t too many people around so that was a good thing. I hated large crowds. I walked on in silence. My hair was matted to my head having not been washed in a while and I ran my tongue over my teeth. I’d have to find a branch to chew on to clean my teeth.
I knew I was going to need more cloths soon, but I really didn’t have anything else so I’d have to wash these and let them dry. I walked over a hill and stood at the top for a moment enjoying the sight. There was a vast valley with horses and a few deer. The grass had a slightly glisten to it and the lake was beautiful. It sparkled like it had been kissed with diamonds and was a lovely sea green color. I headed towards it and watched as a rabbit took off from a nearby grass clump I walked by. It was a brown rabbit. With long ears and legs and a fluffy white tail. I could catch one later to eat it, but I didn’t have a fire, but then again I had no problem eating raw food.
I came to the lakes edge and stood at the grassy shoreline looking at my reflection. Good grief. I was filthy looking. No wonder people thought I looked like a boy. I removed my clothing and set them on the grass next to the water and I took a step into the cool waters and wriggled my toes against the small stones that were on the sandy bottom. I waded into the water up to my waste and then dove into the water and swam beneath the cool waters. God I loved swimming. I pulled my arms in front of my and threw them backwards kicking my legs propelling myself through the crystal clear waters. I had my eyes opened and I watched fish swimming around me and I smiled.
It was so beautiful and I twisted underneath the waters and I looked at the sandy bottom with seaweed growing along its rocks. I then surfaced for a breath and I shook my head dislodging the water, it falling with a shining effect around me. I treaded water right there as I looked around and I found a plant that I new was good for cleaning. I swam over to the edge of the lake and pulled up the roots and worked them into a lather and propped myself on a flat rock near the water and soaped myself up with it. I worked it across my arms, face neck, chest, legs, and my hair and scrubbed vigorously. I then slipped back into the water and scrubbed the soap from my body. I felt a lot better now that I was clean and I continued to swim around for a bit. I really loved swimming so much. I then remembered that I needed to wash my cloths. I swam over to them and I grabbed them and returned to the rock that had the soap roots and I scrubbed my cloths with them and rinse them and then laid them out on the rock to dry.
I then decided I was going to sunbath. I was getting pale and I was born with tan colored skin but I loved a dark tan now and then. I crawled from the water onto a large gray piece of slate and I closed my eyes and felt the warmth of the suns rays caress my nude body. I knew that all I had to do was lay in the sun for about an hour on each side and I’d have a dark tan. I tan really quickly so there really wasn’t too much work for me to do if I wanted to get tan.
I laid there thinking about a lot of things. Especially that Areoiris character. Who exactly was he? How had I not known he had moved me? He really confused me. I really didn’t know why, but he confused me. I also realized that I had finally seen him in the daylight. I remembered that he had lovely green eyes and light chestnut colored hair. He had been about six feet tall and was strong and very set in his build. He had, actually, a very nice body, when I thought about it. He had a nice strong chin, soft features. Alright. So I had a crush on him, actually it wasn’t a crush, it was a strong liking for him. I remembered how his muscles had moved beneath me when I had been sitting on top of him, wanting to choke him to death. His eyes had held no fear. His eyes had seemed so familiar almost. I then remembered where I had seen those eyes. In a dream I had once a long time ago. That was where I had seen those eyes.
I heard the sound of the horses that were not to far away. I listened to them talk amongst each other and such. I could understand what all animals were saying if I wanted to. I could just as easily not understand what it was they were saying if I wanted. If I had wanted, all I would hear would be nickers, grunts, pawing, and such things, but I liked to listen to them talk about where they have been and what they have seen.
After getting enough sun on my front half I turned over and laid on my stomach with my arms stretched out beside me. I wriggled my toes and I then stretched my hands in front of my and ran my fingers along the blades of grass and a plucked one of the long green shafts and I looked at it. It was about 6 inches long and I twirled it between my thumb and middle and pointer finger on my right hand slowly. I watched it bend all over the place as I twirled it back and forth. I did that for a period of time and then let it go in the wind and I place my arms at my sides again and closed my eyes.
I wondered what I would be assigned too at that moment. Hunter, Guardian-Protector, Assassin, Traveler, Trader, Trapper, Healer, Teller... There were so many things I could be assigned to. However there was one assignment that you could be given that bonded you to a person. Normally that never happened to anyone for such a thing was rare and normally such a rank was given to only those who would be protecting one of the royal line. Those on the royal line were sometimes were just so annoying. I met a girl who was from the royal line once. Almost killed her. God she had pissed me off. Don’t remember exactly what it was she had called me exactly but it made me mad and I almost killed her for it. Of course I didn’t get in trouble since she had deserved it and if she deserved it then there was no wrong in punishing her for it. Had I killed her, I would have been killed myself, so I hadn’t.
I finished sunbathing and I rolled over on my back and sat up and looked across the lake to the other side where there were some deer. I felt my stomach grumble and I rubbed my tummy slightly and I decided I would go hunting, but since I didn’t have a fire to cook anything with I’d have to do something I only did in training. I’d have to change.
I closed my eyes and focused carefully on what it was I had to change into. It was my wolf form. It was a brown wolf, the color of my hair, but the pelt was beautifully mixed with the different shades or dark, light, amber, chestnut, maple, and other such browns giving my wolf form a very beautiful look. I had one of the loveliest wolf forms my mother and the other woman had said and it was true. No one could match my wolf form.
I felt my body changing then. I could feel my bones shaping, changing, my organs moving around, my face growing longer. Finally after about 10 seconds I was finished and I stood there, on all fours, in my wolf form.
I flicked my harks slightly and let my tongue hang from my mouth for a moment and I watched the deer on the other side of the lake carefully. My long tassel swayed back and forth slowly as I watched the small group moved idly along and I moved to the left around the lake so that I would be downwind from them. I then broke out into a slow trot and I moved through the tall grasses into the wheat field that they had moved into. I could smell where it was they were and I was going after a young doe who had no family ties around the rest of the others. She was about a year old, she would do just fine for lunch.
The wind was still with me and I pin pointed the doe I was going after. She was standing about five feet from me and I crouched low to the ground inching my way forwards slowly. My large paws fell upon the ground in precise steps, each one quite and sure footed. My harks caught every sound from that doe. Every time she breathed, chewed, moved. I could hear it all. I could see her muscles moving beneath her light tan pelt and she had lovely amber colored eyes. Her little tail moved slightly as she bent her head to grab a bite of grass and that was when I struck.
I moved quickly, my movements sure and precise. I lunged for her outstretched neck and I had it in my jaws quickly. I could feel the warmth of her body, the fur of her skin as I closed my jaws tightly around the underside of her neck cutting deep into the veins and important arteries. She would die in moments. She didn’t give up much of a struggle and she was on the ground the second I bit down into her neck. Her legs twitched slightly as she gasped for breath but there was nothing that she could do. The other deer had fled at the moment I had attacked but I hadn’t noticed, I really hadn’t cared. I felt the last of her life flow from her body and I then tore into the warm mass and I began to eat happily. I was proud of myself. I had made my first, none training kill and I actually go to eat this all on my own.
I decided I was going to drag her down to the rock were my cloths were so I could keep an eye on them too and I stopped eating and grabbed her around the neck and began to drag her. She wasn’t too heavy, about 120 pounds or so. I weighed about 115, which was light for a wolf, but I was strong and very fast so that made up for my low weight. I dragged her across the grass, a trail of blood following behind us as it fled from her body staining the ground with it’s glistening wetness. I finally got her to the rock and I sat down and began to eat once more.
After about 15 minutes I had picked her clean and was chewing on one of the bones when I heard something. I lifted my head and licked the blood from my maw and I looked about. I didn’t see anything and I stood up and walked over to the water and took a long drink from it and plunged my head beneath the water and shook cleaning the mess from my face. I then lifted my face and shook my body dislodging the water and I looked around once more. I really wanted to know where it was that noise had come from and I shifted from my wolf form back to my human form and put my cloths back on. I then looked around to see if anyone else was nearby but didn’t see anyone.
I traveled on towards the woods and I passed close to where the horses were and I could hear them talking about things and then something that they said caught my attention. They were talking about how a group of travelers who smelled of wolf traveled through here not to long ago and that actually several groups. So I had been right. Animals knew of what we were. They knew of the wolf folk. That was what I was. Part of the Wolf folk. There were several different species here on this planet. The Wolf folk, the Mer folk, the Bear Folk and so on and so forth. There were many. Just as there were just normal humans. The humans didn’t know that we existed really, and the few that did were killed.
I moved on at a slightly faster pace glad to know that I was in the right area and I entered the woods and was marveled at the beauty of it. There were red woods, birch, white oak, red oak, maple, chestnut, pine, fir, blue spruce, cherry blossom, apple, and all other kinds of trees. The leaves of the trees gave the area a dark look since scarce light peered through the branches, but it gave it a greenish look and it was rather bright being that there was so many trees.
Moss covered the ground like a blanket and mushrooms of all kinds along with flowers and ferns covered the ground as well. It was beautiful. Only those who were part of the elders and were to be assigned and those who had already been assigned could go to such things. So this was the first time I had ever gone to one. I knew that folk from all over the planet were going to be here. I also knew that if I didn’t show up that I would be tracked down and killed because that meant something was wrong with me and they couldn’t deal with imperfects. It would ruin the species.
I moved gracefully through the woods, I loved the woods, it was where I had grown up as a child. I knew everything there was to know about the woods. I knew their secrets and I listened to the stories they held. They were so lovely. So beautiful. I blinked my eyes as I thought I saw movement and I realized what it was I had saw. I had seen a wolf up ahead. It was probably a scout. Scouts normally roamed around the perimeter of the assigning accepting those who were to be there and turning away those who were not. The wolf had stopped its movements and stood still as stone as I came forwards. I stopped an inch from the black beast and he sniffed my hand and nodded his head.
“You can go forth Tatu. We are glad to have you among us this year. Good luck.”
I nodded my head back in acknowledgment, greeting, and thanks and continued on my way. That had been Brutus, you can tell who is who by the way they smell. You can tell someone’s name by their scent, but there have been ways to mask your smell so you don’t know ones name, but I never learned that secret. They said that only those of the royal line knew such things.
I walked on and noticed that the trees seemed to get closer and closer together, almost as if they were caging me in and in continued walking as if I hadn’t noticed. I then noticed that they were now thinning and that I was probably a good couple of miles into the woods and I noticed that there was about a half mile circle that was nothing but grass about 10 feet in front of me and many others were gathered there.
I walked out of the trees into the clearing and looked about at those who were around me. Some of them were dressed in furs and other such things, which was common among traders and trappers. Some were dressed in fine designs, labeling them as royals. I of course was dressed in a matter of just pants and a shirt and therefore stood out, but once I was assigned I would be given a set of clothing and other things to go with that assignment.
Some stood and stared at me and I knew that they knew I was one of the ones to be assigned and some smiled, some laughed, some sneered, and others just didn’t care. I caught site of the girl I had almost killed when I was little and she made sure to keep away from me. She was with her guardian. Most royals had a guardian-protector and normally it was someone of the opposite sex or the same sex, but in most cases it was the opposite sex since most guardians and protectors became soul mates to those they guarded and protected. The guardians job wasn’t quite as hard as the protectint. The Protecting part involved killing those who were to hurt or harm them and make sure that they didn’t do it again while the guardian part was more of a guiding them. Most royals didn’t have a guardian-protector since such an assignment was rare for there were few who were blessed with such a gift. It all depended in what the bones and spirits said. Most of the royals assignments were those of teller, entertainer, trader, hunter, or something along those lines. They rarely got something that was of little use.
I hadn’t yet seen my parents and I wondered if they were here at all. I really wanted my mom to be the one to be the one to read the bones because sometimes those who know what their children like can somehow tell that to the spirits and argue about a rank, but it seemed to be that she wasn’t there and besides, that was rare that a rank was argued. I was pretty much alone in this fast area of people and I looked around carefully for anyone I might know. This was pretty much boring. However, my boredom wasn’t left unnoticed.
“Hello Tatu. We’ve been waiting for you. You excited for the assigning in 3 days?”
It was Tanu. I met him a few times when I was 12 and he was an alright lad. He was being assigned as well. He stood about 5'11 tall with short black hair, blue eyes, and a light complection. He was a good kid. Him and I had fun together.
“Finally, someone I know. How have you been Tanu? I’m excited. Have you seen my parents around? I lost them somewhere....”
“I’m glad your doing good. I’m doing fine myself. Actually they are here. You didn’t really lose them, it happened to me too. It’s part of the assignment.”
Well I felt stupid. God, here I was thinking I had been lost somewhere when it was indeed just part of the whole thing. Well that was just fine and dandy.
“I would have been here sooner but I got tied up in a few things.”
I said not to happy. I would have been here two days ago, but no. Areoiris had to take me with him to who knows where thinking I was a boy. My god. I of course wasn’t going to Tanu that for he really didn’t need to know all that fun stuff. I watched Tanu as he looked around and then pointed towards the east side of the field.
“Your parents are over there Tatu. I’ll talk with you later alright.”
With that he left and I looked to where he had been pointing and sure enough there was my parents. They were talking with a group of people I didn’t know and I decided I would head over there. I was happy to know that they were alright and I made my way over to them with a smile on my face. They seemed to be in deep conversation so I stayed a distance away to be polite and I waited for them to finish.
As I waited and looked up at the sky and watched the birds flying over head. There was a golden eagle perched on one of the branches of a maple tree and I watched it was it groomed its golden feathers carefully. It was a lovely bird. A very magnificent predator of the sky. It held grace, beauty, danger, agility, brains. The eagles were the masters of the skies. I was so in tune to that eagle that I hadn’t noticed that the parents were done talking and my mom tapped my on the shoulder and I turned around quickly and let her know how I was feeling about the whole thing.
“You scared my half to death you know. I had no idea where you and father had disappeared too, but I didn’t let that stop me from coming here. I knew that if I was going to see you again and that you guys were probably okay and were doing the same, to head here and we would meet up again. How have you guys been?”
She smiled her bright blue eyes shining and hugged me, her blonde hair falling about my shoulders as she embraced me happily.
“Tatu. I knew you’d say something like that. Just like your father, high spirited. Right David?”
My mother was a happy woman, very kind and very serious in what she does. She’s a hunter, a very skilled one, along with my father. My father was a strong hunter, very good at tracking down herds and such things. He’s a good man and my mom and my dad are very happy together. My father is about 6'4 tall and has short, mixed brown hair and warm, brown-green eyes in which I had inherited along with the hair coloring. In his wolf form though he was one solid brown color, don’t know why for you normally took the color of your hair, but I was the only one with such a unique wolf coat pattern, and I loved it. My mother was a blonde white color as a wolf, a very lovely shade If I did say so myself and she looked lovely.
“That’s right Mary. She’s just like her old man. Right Tatu.”
He picked me up in a big bear hug and I made one of those ugh noises, like when you can’t breath, and he laughed and put me back on my feet ruffling up my hair.
“Dad. I just brushed it ”
I of course lied and he knew it. But it was a joke and he just ruffled it up even more. I then decided I was going to take another nap, this time I was actually going to have a fur to sleep on. I went over to my pack, the one in which my parents had taken with them after they left me, and I pulled out the fur and ran my hand over the lovely pelt. It was a snow leopard pelt and it was the largest of its kind and very soft. I then curled up in it and fell asleep.

Chapter 4
The next three days seemed to pass by slowly since there really wasn’t much to do, but I was really excited on the third day and eight others, nine including me, awaited patiently for the assigning to begin. I had changed my cloths into a pair of nice shorts and a tank top, having shaved my legs and arm pits the day before at a stream with a sharp rock and soap root. I had my hair pulled back behind my ears, two small silver hoops hanging from each of my ear. I had gotten them pierced the day after I arrived as a trade for two rabbits I had caught. I liked my ears pierced and I thought it would look cool in wolf form as well. I had seen people in their wolf form with pierced ears and it looked awesome. All nine of us stood there quietly, barely moving, barely breathing for that matter, and we watched in silence as it began. I was the last in line so I was really nervous.
First to be assigned was Krista and they called her forth. She was about 5'3 tall, rather short, but she was good at the harp and scouting, she also had light brown eyes and brown-red hair that fell to her elbows, which was tied back in a braid. The elders called her forth and began.
“Krista Marleen Hoult, born of Marty and Mortimer Hoult. You are here by called forth by the elders of the Wolf Clan to be given your assigning. We have talked with the spirits and read the bones. Are you ready for what lies ahead for you?”
She seemed really nervous and she seemed hesitant to answer at first, almost as if she didn’t have a voice and she finally replied.
“Yes. I would be honored to know what lies ahead for me.”
She had a nice voice, she was a good singer too, perhaps she would be an entertainer. It would suit her.
“Krista Marleen Hoult, as you go back to you family tonight you are no longer a child, but an Entertainer and a young woman, please come forth and collect your garments, scroll, and items.”
I could see the smile in her eyes and she walked forth and received her things and went back to her spot.
The next one to go was Tanu Yolu Grant and he was given the assignment of Trapper. It suited him. After him went Cassie Unk Tenra, who was given the assignment of teller. She was good with stories and she loved telling adventures and such things. Then came Brent Hall Bug who received trapper, Yanni Hellen Polar with trader, Edward Joe Hope with Carver, Uniq Marie Indie with Hunter, and then Karl Earl Joseph with Hunter. Now it was my turn. They seemed to wait forever to say my name.
“Tatu Astoria Fallen, born of Mary Lean Fallen and David Raven Winter, you are hereby called forth by the elders of the Clan to be told of you assignment and what lies ahead for you in the future. We have talked a great deal with the spirits and consulted the bones more than once for we were indeed interested in the particular outcome of your reading. Are you ready to know what it is you are to be assigned?”
The old man with the gray beard and silver eyes awaited patiently for my answer and I was rather shocked by their words. They never used both full names for the parents as far as I was told in an assigning and I swallowed and answered.
“Yes. I am ready and honored to know what my future is to be.”
It seemed almost forever for the answer to come. It seemed to me that time was in slow motion and that I was never going to know my assigning.
“Tatu Astoria Fallen. Tonight you become a young woman of the clan and you also hold a great responsibility at hand as well. You shall not be returning to your family after the assigning is over. Your assignment is to be the Protector and Guardian over the royal prince Areoiris Rueiros Yodeca who is a skilled warrior of the clan. Will you please come forth and collect your garments, scroll, and items.”
A gasp went through the crowd and I stood shocked for a moment. What? It couldn’t be that man I had met in the desert. No way. I then knew that if I was assigned to that person that he would be here and sure enough he was there with my items. He had almost appeared out of no where. I finally found my legs and I stepped forwards and I collected my things and I stood before him and he looked down at my quite shocked in the eyes, but at the same time he was smiling in his eyes. I really didn’t know what I was supposed to do and I just nodded my head to him and I went back to my spot in line after getting my stuff and I stood there dumb struck. I could hear people murmuring, whispering, and other such things but I wasn’t listening. I could feel my heart racing in my chest and I was confused. If he was such a skilled warrior how had I been able to take him out so quickly? Was that why I was to be assigned to him? How had I not known who he was when I met him? Was I dreaming?
“The elders of the clan have finished the assigning and we are pleased with the results at hand and we all wish to see you again next year. Now we feast and celebrate and then tomorrow afternoon we head out. Now those who were assigned, change into your garments and join in with the festivities.”
Everyone had apparently moved away to change and I looked down at the fur package in my hand that held my garments within. I also had another package that was wrapped several times which probably held weapons. I then looked over to see Areoiris staring at me and I then turned around and went to go get changed. I passed by several people, actually everyone I passed by said things to me. Most of them were “wow your lucky”, or “do you think you can handle it?”, or other such things. Some were not directed towards me but they talked about me.
I went into my tent that I had set up the other morning and I opened the package with my garment and it was in several pieces. There were four bands made of silver and sapphire that would go around my wrists and ankles. Once on my skin they would not come off for the ends would seal shut leaving them bound to me. The top was interesting. It went around my breasts much like a bra, for that was what it looked like and it strapped around my back and my neck. In between the breasts was a silver arrow like shape that was on the top of the fabric much like a v shape that stretched above my breasts and ended at the straps and it held a sapphire gem as well. The fabric was made of soft doe skin and yet it was sturdy enough that it would not tear, not even with a knife and it was really warm. The straps started out in the same light tan fabric and then turned into silver till it reached my neck were it was once again doeskin so that it would not chafe my neck. The strap that went from my breasts around my back was solid doe skin with a single clasp in the back that was made of silver so that the garment could be removed. I took of my top and put it on and it fit perfectly, though I felt completely naked almost.
The bottom was even more interesting. It was much like a skirt almost, but not quite. First to put on was something that was much like underwear with a very thin line that went around your hips connecting in the back. It was the same fabric as the top and it had a silver u hook shape design on the top of the underwear near my privates in which the two thin straps were attached at the hooks before wrapping around to connect with the doeskin in the back. You could wear the outfit like this apparently, and I probably would on a really really hot day, but it was too revealing to me, though it showed off my nice body, I didn’t want that much open to the world. I then picked up the skirt, it was short, came to the middle of my thighs and had slits up to about an inch from the top of the skirt allowing me to have quick and easy movements. I then noticed that there was also a cape as well that I could put on that was made of a darker brown skin, probably elk, and it clasped with a silver buckle that held a sapphire gem on it as well. God that was a lot of sapphires. The outfit was indeed very lovely and it was very enchanting if I did say so myself.
I put the wrist bands on which were circular for the most part. Around the wrist the metal was a solid circle and then it went up about four inches on the top of my hand with a large sapphire right above the top of my hand with six different lengthed white silver shards surrounding it. Underneath the wrist was just an inch wide band of silver nothing fancy there. The ankle bands looked almost the exact same except that the sapphire was at the top of the six inches and was about three inches long and an inch wide with two pieces of white silver on either side and then one small piece on the bottom.
I opened the other package and there was a thin belt that held two daggers, one would rest on each hip, a claw, which is a band of silver that goes around the knuckles with four sharpened ends sticking out about five inches. I knew that other weapons could be used, but those three things were most effective. The claw could be worn at all times because the sharpened tips rested perfectly along with you fingers and the only time they were deadly was when you were in a defensive position for you muscles would trigger the effect for it to respond. That too would connect itself to my body, not being able to remove it unless I wanted to. I put it on my right hand and I felt it bond to my skin quickly. It didn’t hurt and it wasn’t uncomfortable either.
I folded the cap and put it back in the garment bag and I then put on the belt that held the two daggers and I looked at the daggers. They were both made of the same material. They had a silver handle that was etched in sapphires and a few emeralds and the handle was about four inches long and the blades themselves were about 6 inches long and from about 3 centimeters to 2 inches wide depending on where you were looking at the blade.
I knew that everyone had gone to their own tents and changed, I knew that there were few others here that were assigned proguardian, as it was sometimes called instead of using both names, and I knew that the outfits would be similar, but not even close to being the same. Each proguardian had their own outfit design, fabric, weapon, and other such things. The daggers and claw each had, but each was of a different design. I pulled a brush from my pack and I brushed my hair straight and looked at myself in a mirror made of crystal rock. I looked really pretty I thought and I didn’t gloat or anything. I wasn’t a mean person like that. After I was finished I then sighed and I stepped out of my tent and realized that torches had been lit and music was being played and food being served. It was dusk time now and it was time for celebration. However I was not alone when I stepped outside my tent.
“Hello Tatu.”
The seductive voice was that of Areoiris’ and I turned to look at him. He was dressed in a pair of elk leggings that had a silver band around the waist and was marked with sapphires and emeralds. Suits my outfit no? He had one band around his left wrist, much similar to mine but it was a solid circle and held a single large sapphire and white silver shards surrounding it. He had a silver chain on that held a bright green emerald at the end that was adorn in crystal swirls and shined beautifully. He held something in his hand as well and held it out to me and opened it. In his hand was a necklace that matched the one around his neck to perfection but on a smaller chain.
“Put this on. I was to give this to my protector and well here you go.”
I looked at it and then I looked at him and then I looked at it again and I picked it up and put it on. It was lovely and I looked at him again with a stern face.
“I could have killed you ya know. It is apparent that you knew who I was or that you really were that blind and I can’t believe that you would do such a thing. Well actually I do believe such a thing since all royals are all the same.”
I wasn’t the least bit sensitive either, but my voice wasn’t raised. It was just normal and I just stated the obvious. He didn’t seem the least bit surprised and I honestly didn’t think he was going to answer me.
“I knew who you were, and I honestly didn’t know that you were going to take me out like that. I knew that you were skilled, I had watched you training before, just as I’d watched millions of people train before, but I didn’t think you would have ever been able to catch me off guard. And that whole boy thing. I just decided that since you didn’t correct me and that you seemed to want to pass as a lad I just let it be. Also, the whole bringing you to that place, it was just a small test I did. Those people don’t remember a thing anymore anyways. You did some pretty good damage to them might I add.”
I rolled my eyes and looked at him as if to say “Are you done yet?” and I placed my hands on my hips and I waited for him to get the picture. He was indeed taller than me but I could out match him in a moment and he knew it and I was hungry and I wanted to go eat.
“Shall we go eat?”
I knew that no one would start eating until all the royals got their pick of the food first and then everyone else got to just dig in.
“Yes. I’m starving.”
Good then, I’m glad he was starving. We walked side by side towards the feasting area and I listened to the sound of the music and I could smell the sweet smells of wine, breads, meats, and other things and I could feel my mouth water. I hadn’t really eaten since I had killed that doe and I was famished. I could feel people looking at me and I saw my mom and dad and I smiled and they smiled back. I could tell they were happy for now they would have a slightly higher status since I was picked as a proguardian. I was happy for them. They were sitting with the rest of the hunters and actually normally they sat by those with they same assigned rank but it really didn’t matter. Everyone normally sat where ever really but it was pretty much section out since most friends were made in their assigned areas. I was going to be sitting with the warriors it seemed or the royals. I guess it all depended.
Areoiris took a seat next to the warriors, who happened to be right next to the royals so it seemed that he sat with both. I took a seat beside him and everyone else that hadn’t yet been seated sat down and the feasting began. Actually they just had to wait for everyone to sit down and then you just dig in. I was really lying about the whole the royals ate first, but they had to wait for everyone to be seated first. Everyone had the same foods in front of them. Ducks, pigs, pigeons, roast beef, deer, fish, breads, herbs, and other such things. We all dug in and I grabbed a huge chuck of roast duck and some bread and I put it before me and began to tear into it. Others around me grabbed for the pig and the deer but I loved duck and roast beef the best. I grabbed some roast beef and I took a sip of the drink in front of me and made a bitter face at first. It was wine. I really didn’t like it too much, but that was all they really had to drink so I guess I was going to have to drink it.
The feasting went on like that for about half an hour and the music and stopped at that time since the entertainers had to eat too and I finished my fourth cup of wine by the time dinner had finished. I was feeling light headed, but good and the music was starting up again. I washed my hands in the water bowls nearby and I washed my face as well and then dried my hands and face and it was apparently time for dance because Areoiris grabbed my hand, pulled me to my feet and placed his hand upon my hip and began to swing me away into the crowd of dancers. I felt as though the world was spinning around me. And no wonder, we were dancing in circles. And we danced around happily and merry. I then realized how truly handsome he was. His warm bare chest close to my body, my head resting upon the part near his shoulder. I was happy.
The beat changed and I realized it was competitive dancing between individuals. The first to go were five of the hunters and they danced around swaying to the beat and moving idly around as if they were floating and I stood there watching them and it was mesmerizing. Suddenly, I guess I had dozed off, I was pushed forwards and I realized that the proguardians were dancing now. I quickly caught into the beat and I moved in long steps that brought me in small and large circles and I moved my body fluidly, my arms moving about my form. The music was much liked that of a gypsy dance and I knew the art of gypsy dancing fluently. I had lived with a band of gypsy’s for a year, whom had been of the tiger clan and I learned a few things from them. I moved like a flame dancing in the wind, my movements sure and steady. And I knew that some of the others were getting rather frustrated when they tried to mimic a particular move I had made. I then moved out of the dance and the next group of dancers went in.
The wine was definitely having an effect on me now and I stumbled slightly as I walked through the crowd and I was caught in the strong arms of Areoiris and he laughed at me.
“It seems to be that my proguardian has had to much of her fist bit of wine.”
I looked up at him and laughed. He seemed so happy that it was funny, plus I didn’t believe his remark.
“No.. Not me.. Nope....”
I was laughing again and he shook his head and walked with me over to a tree that had his fur beneath is and he set me down on it and he sat down beside me. He leaned me against his chest and he wrapped his arms around me and I closed my eyes. I was tired and I felt warm and safe. I could hear him whispering something, but I could tell what it was, my mind was all groggy and it was late now. I then felt myself finally drift away into slumber land.

Chapter 5
I opened my eyes to find Areoiris looking at me with a warm smile. I of course was shocked and jerked away and sat up to find myself in his tent apparently, since it wasn’t mine and I quickly groaned and laid back down. My head hurt and I placed my hand on my head and groaned again.
“I told you that you had too much wine.”
He was teasing me. I didn’t like that. I turned my back to him and looked towards the wall and I felt him inch close to me and he put his arm around me.
“Come one Tatu. I was only joking. But you do look cute when your mad.”
He was just having a fine and dandy time with this wasn’t he. He took his arm from around me and I felt him sit up and begin to look around for something. I then watched as he came in front of me and handed me a small body of some clear liquid that smelled like flowers.
“Drink some of this. It will help with your headache.”
I took it and I took a drink of it and grimaced at the taste at first but then it tasted sweet and I handed it back to him. Whatever had been tired in me before was now awake due to that drink and I rolled onto my back and looked at the roof of the tent. I realized that the skin was that of a rather large creature and I wondered what it was.
“Cave bear. I found it near my home one day and I tracked it down and killed it.”
Well, that solved my question. My head was still pounding, but it seemed that the drink was working, whatever it was, and I sat up and he squatted down in front of me and smiled. He had a knack for smiling it seemed. I ran my hand through my hair and I yawned. I wondered what time it was and my head wasn’t killing me anymore so I moved aside the furs and I stood up and he stood up with me and I looked up at him.
“It’s about time you woke up. I thought you were dead. Your one sound sleeper, well it was more or less the wine, but you were out. Let me tell you. I could have dropped you off a cliff and you probably wouldn’t have woken up.”
Another joke. Goody. I shook my head and moved him aside and left the tent into a bright line of sun shine. I quickly shielded my eyes and let them adjust to the bright light that had just been shone into their depths and I looked around then and noticed that others were just getting up as well. At least I wasn’t the only one who had gotten drunk. At least I wasn’t dumb enough to share my bed with anyone. It seemed to be that Tanu and followed a young woman back to her tent and I watched him leave fixing his garments and such things. I shook my head and turned around to find Areoiris standing there. He had been watching me watch Tanu it seemed for he made another comment.
“I could have had a little fun with you ya know. But I didn’t think it very proper you know. With you being passed out drunk and all. But it was pretty tempting.”
I smacked his shoulder in fake anger and I shook my head at him.
“Had you done such a thing I would have killed you. Had I died afterwards I wouldn’t have cared. My vengeance would have been done.”
I then headed towards my tent and decided I might as well pack it up and all my belongings. I waved at several people I knew on the way to my tent and I entered my tent to find a long wrapped object lying there along with two other wrapped objects. I packed all my belongings first and I tied the cap around my neck and felt the soft fabric settle against my shoulders and it felt comfortable. I then packed my other belongings into my duffle and I tied it shut and then sat down and looked at the three wrapped objects. I opened the long one first, I knew my parents had left them, they smelled of them, and I was shocked to see what I saw. It was a spear that was about 6 feet long with a large foot long blade made of silver at the end. It looked much like that of a rhinos horn and it set perfectly on top of the long pole. It seemed as though the stick was made into the silver. Right below the blade it was wrapped for about 5 inches in black leather and two long eagle feathers hung from them. At the other end of the spear was a sharpened steel point that was about an inch long and both ends could be used as a weapon I realized. It was indeed beautiful. I loved it.
I set it down and folded the skin and the strings and placed them in my pack and then turned to the other two wrapped items. I opened the longer one first and marveled at what it was. It was a bow quiver full of arrows. The designs upon the case was exquisite and I traced my hand along the swirls and designs carefully. I then opened the other one to have a long bow that was made of maple. I looked at the designs upon the wood and I admired them. They were that of a wolf in hunt and it was beautifully drawn. I smiled and I placed the bow in the quiver with the arrows and I placed the quiver on my back and I folded the skins and placed them in my pack and I picked up the spear and exited the tent. I then set to work on taking down the skins for the tent. It only took about 5 minutes and I folded the leather and put it into its pack and I tied my three packs together and put them across my shoulder and picked up my spear and found where it was my parents were.
“Mom, dad. Thank you so much for the gifts. I love them.”
I hugged both of them and I smiled at them. I was going to miss them, but just because I wasn’t going home with them didn’t mean I could visit them or they couldn’t visit me. Everyone had a right to see their family so all was still good.
“We are both glad that you loved them sweetheart. We were shocked at the outcome of the assigning, but it made us proud to know you got such a rank. You make sure you come visit us or we’ll come visit you occasionally. You’ll do great my dear.”
I gave my parents a kiss on the cheek and I gave them both a hug and walked back towards Areoiris’ tent. I placed my stuff against the tree near it and I put my cloak, spear, and quiver down beside them as well. I then looked around and noticed that lots of people were packing up. I looked about the vast area and I noticed Tanu with the girl he had apparently spent the night with and I waved at him and he waved back at me. He looked happy. That was good.
I decided I’d go for a walk and look at some of the traders things and other such things and maybe I could trade for a few things. I knew there were several places in which there were traders and I found them easily. I looked about at the different assortments that were there and I decided I didn’t need anything. There were lots of cool and crafty looking things but none of them I found interesting.
My day wasn’t going to go without boredom though, It seemed to be that some people liked to make proguardians prove that they are worthy of being a proguardian. Normally it’s a proguardian who’s been a proguardian for a couple of years and they normally pick out the fresh fish, as they like to call them, and get them to dual. Sometimes it gets bloody, but no one ever dies. If that were to happen, then there would be dire consequences. Well, it seemed to be that was going to happen today, to me, it seemed.
I noticed her coming across the field at a slow pace, almost as if she were hunting me, and I figured something was up. I was smart to have kept my belt and claw on for it seemed I was going to need it. Normally in such spars once they began you couldn’t stop to go retrieve a weapon to defend yourself, so a proguardian must always be prepared. I however had no idea was going to be challenged, but I had a feeling that something was right about the picture. Five other guardians followed behind her, two of them male, three female. Each of them held a smirk to their faces and I knew they hadn’t had a proguardian in their midst for a while. I knew there were indeed older proguardians around, but it was normally those who were in their twenties and younger that decided to gang on the younger “fresh fish”.
The woman walking towards me was dressed in a tank top type garment that was adorn with porcupine quills that were colored a vibrant red color and the designs upon the fabric were lovely. She had an upper arm band made of gold with silver accents and her bottoms were that of a long skirt that fell to her knees with a slit that ended an inch from the top. The fabric was white in coloring and the skirt was decorated in red quills as well. Her belt had two daggers that were the same length as mine, all daggers and claws were the same size, but each had it’s own design to it. The daggers were copper with bone handles that were dyed that same deep red color as the quills and her claw was copper and had a slightly edged design to it. Her hair was the color of hot fire and her eyes were a vibrant green. Her hair was tied back in a long braid and I watched her carefully.
I looked down at my right hand at the silver encasement around my knuckles and the long blades that were at my fingers sides. I moved my fingers slightly watching the blades move with them and I knew that I could use them as a weapon as they were, with about two inches of the blade sticking out past my fingers, or I could tense my hand and make them stand erect and use them as a weapon when I punch. Each blade moved differently if you wanted it to or you could make them move together. I loved it. I pretended that I hadn’t noticed the woman and I continued on doing what I had been doing, but it seemed that others had noticed the change in atmosphere and all eyes were this way. I really hadn’t expected it to start so suddenly, but I had been expecting something so my guard had been up.
I heard the sound of the air becoming distilled and I spun bringing up my hand my claw catching hers right before it landed on my shoulder and I brought my right hand up dagger drawn and she blocked it with her own dagger and we spun away from each other the sound of metal clashing in the air. This would probably go one until first blood was spilt or until one of us gave up, but I sure as hell wasn’t going to give up and no rules had been stated so it marked it as a free for all. That meant that I might be fighting more than one at a time, that is if they decided to join to bring me down as a unit, but they’d have a hell of a wolf to take down, that was for sure. I circled her slowly, my motions slowly and steady. I watched her muscles carefully and I could smell the adrenaline that came from her and the other five who were standing around. I had lowered my claw now and stood with my dagger at my side, my arm moving slowly as I awaited for a moment to strike, a moment for her to become distracted and it seemed she wanted to get this done and over with.
It was apparent that she hadn’t expected me to block her first attack and it seemed to me that she was rather flushed at the fact that she couldn’t get me on the first hit. It seemed to be she had been used to such easiness, but she hadn’t met me so she was up for a hell of a fight. By now everyone else was crowded around us in a large circle, giving us a 15 foot circle to move around, and the other five made a star shaped circle at the edges, just in case one of them wanted to join in at any moment.
Her attack was quick and she hadn’t thought it through for she lunged at my left leg, for she assumed that I was going to move to the left, but I had decided to shift my weight before I moved right and she had taken it as a sign I was going to switch directions and she had lunged while I continued to go right. I moved my leg out of the way and brought the butt of the dagger into her back shoving her forwards into the dirt and I backed away from her to give her room to get up.
I made sure I was a good distance away from the other five as I moved around watching her stand up. You could tell her pride was bruised because of the look in her eyes. God this was interesting. I knew she’d get a hit on me eventually for everyone made mistakes. I wasn’t going to cut her unless she made a real effort to hurt me in any way. Then her skin would fly.
I watched as she turned to face me and she came towards me and I came at her this time. I watched her and it seemed we were going to be playing a little game of chicken. Let’s see who was going to move first. However, it seemed to be that neither of us was going to move and I sped up and ducked bringing my shoulder and head into her stomach and I brought my left leg forward bringing it behind her right leg and I pulled my leg towards me and brought her to her back. My dagger was back in its sheath and my claw was still at rest and we wrestled on the ground, turning each other over and over and she brought out her claw and swiped at my face and I turned my face the edges of the blade just catching my check tearing the skin slightly. That got the tables to turn.
I brought up my left hand and grabbed her throat and that got her attention. She grabbed my wrist in her hands as she kept all her attention on that hand and I brought my claw into her thigh and she rolled off the top of me and I realized her neck, I hadn’t had her in the tightest choke hold, just a slightly tight squeeze. I moved towards her and I knew she was in pain. The small scratches across my face had drawn blood, but not too much, but I had indeed drawn a good deal on her leg. It was bleeding pretty good, but it was no more than a few centimeters deep and about two inches wide, so there really was no harm done.
She kicked out at me with her leg catching the back of my knee and I fell to my knees and she lunged at me along with another one of the proguardians. I had gone to my back however in moments and had her stomach at my feet and flung her over my body onto the ground and I rolled to the right and was on my feet in a moment in a crouched position and I spun low to the ground bringing my leg around behind him as he charged me and he fell flat on his back.
I stood up then and looked at the woman who was still on her back, and seemed to be in a bit of pain and I then looked over to the young lad who had apparently gotten the breath knocked out of him and I regained a neutral stance. I walked over to the woman on the ground and I kept a good distance away from her claw and feet and I held my hand out to her in an offer of help. It would mark this as me winning if she accepted my help or we could keep on fighting. I had my clawed hand offered to her but she would not be cut unless I had the intentions of harming her which I did not so it wasn’t going to cut her in any way.
She stared at me as if debating on my help and admitting defeat or striking me. I could hear the boy getting up and going back to his spot, not that I could call him a boy, he was about 22, but still he had acted to quickly to be called a man I thought. She then lifted her hand and took mine with a smile and I knew that she had decided to end it. The fight really hadn’t been that long. About 10 minutes at the most I would gander.
I helped her up and we walked over to the rest of the proguardians who were now back into their little group and people had begun to file away, going back to what it was they had been doing for it was done now. I walked her to her group and they took her from me. She turned around and smiled at me.
“You fought well, for a newbie. We shall meet again, be sure of that, but under different circumstances I am sure. It was a pleasure fighting you.”
With that the group turned and left. I brought my hand to my face and found that it was still bleeding slightly and I wiped my hand across the cut and decided I was going to have to wash the blood off. I headed towards a small stream that was in the woods and I exited the clearing and walked over to the calm brook. The stream wasn’t no more than about 10 feet from the clearing, so it wasn’t too far of a walk. I knelt beside the water and I washed my hands clean first, along with hand claw and I then took a hand full of water and splashed it on my face washing the blood from my face. The cut stung slightly, but it had stopped bleeding now and I wiped the water from my face with the back of my arm.
I then cupped another thing of water and drank it before standing up. Of course when I turned around Areoiris was standing right there, like usual. I had actually heard him coming up behind me this time, though I hadn’t mentioned it to myself.
“You did well Tatu. You could tell she was shocked that you had blocked her first move. Your definitely a very fine proguardian if I do say so myself. Which I have.”
I looked at him and smiled. He was a charmer alright. Yup. That was him. Big, strong, charming, and full of jokes. Yup. He had definitely run away with my heart. I was glad that I had been assigned proguardian of Areoiris. He had definitely gotten off to a wrong start with me, but people change. The loser.
“I just did what I was supposed to do. There really wasn’t anything more to it than that my beloved.”
He placed his hand on my cheek and he turned my face slightly to the side as he looked at the left side of my face. There were four small parallel marks that remained from the small spar and he kissed them lightly. He then turned my face and kissed me on the lips. It was a sweet kiss and it was soft and gentle too. He pulled away from me then looked at me.
I had never been kissed before or really had any affections for anyone at anytime in my entire life and that was indeed something. My cheeks were probably flushed slightly but I didn’t notice until one of his smart remarks.
“Are you blushing? Or did it suddenly get hot in here and I didn’t notice?”
I gave him a sour look and gave him a shove on the shoulders and walked past him and he spun around and grabbed my shoulder causing me to stop and he spun me towards him. He looked at me expecting an answer and I looked at him with a stern face and raised a brow at him before replying.
“I’ve never.... kissed anyone before.. Or really anything of that matter. I never really had any affections for anyone. Ever.”
That was all there was to be said. I really had nothing else to say about the matter and I really didn’t want to have anything else to say about the matter for it was rather embarrassing since almost all other girls had at least some sort of a crush on someone when they were little, or had a boyfriend. However, I wasn’t one of those girls. I hadn’t really ever thought about it. My life was too busy to think about love so therefore I never looked. Technically I was an adult now and it was rather embarrassing on my part that I had never kissed, cuddled, or shared a bed with anyone in my whole life as of yet so I really didn’t want to talk about for few knew about it and that was how I would like it to stay.
He seemed to get the picture and he, as it looked to me, looked kind of upset of saying that one joke and looked at the ground for a moment.
“Oh. I’m sorry about the remark, the earlier one. I didn’t know that. Well, this is indeed going to be an interesting relationship between you and I then.”
The last part of his words held a bit of amusement to it and it made me smile and I shook my head and laughed.
“I’d say it is going to be quite the risky venture on your part.”
Apparently he liked my comment because he laughed and kissed me again and ruffled up my hair, which I really didn’t mind all to much, but I still didn’t like the fact that he had ruffled up my hair. No one messed up my hair and got away with it. Well not on my watch at least anyways.