AN: Just a brief introduction/explanation for this story. I read Divergent and Insurgent, and I really was captivated by Tris and Four, and the world of Dauntless. (The whole rebellion, destruction thing not so much.) So I decided to try Four and Tris in another world, where they will have another story. They, and their friends, and the idea of Dauntless will survive, but in a different setting. I plan to keep them in character as much as possible, and to have some similarities to Divergent (The events/incidents may look similar at first, but they will evolve differently, and there will be different twists and turns). I have actually done a complete plan for this fic, prior to writing this chapter. I have it all outlined, and all character bios complete. So, if this story takes off, it has a finish line in sight from the start. I hope you enjoy this first chapter - it is only short, and merely sets up my new world.

Dauntless

Chapter 1

Tris Prior walked through her front door after another long day at school. She carried the mail in her hand, and dropped it on the kitchen counter as she made her way to her room.

Once in her room she changed into a pair of comfy sweats and a light t-shirt, in preparation for going for an afternoon run. She liked to run before settling down to her homework. It was only a few weeks before she was to graduate high school, so she had study to do, not homework.

As Tris ran around her neighbourhood, she went over her study notes mentally. She enjoyed the ambiance her neighbourhood provided, it was clean, with nice houses, with tidy lawns, where it was safe for children to play in their front yards.

Tris and her family lived in borough of Pennsylvania, called Faction. Their neighbourhood – Abnegation – was one of the most peaceful areas for miles. Tris had lived their all her live, and had had a happy, healthy, normal childhood.

Tris reached her home again, 5 miles later, waved at her neighbour, Susan, and headed to her front door, noticing her mother and brother's cars in the drive.

"Caleb?" Tris called out in happy surprise, looking for her brother as she entered the house.

"Tris, take your headphones out, you're too loud," her mother chastised gently, from her place in the kitchen.

"Sorry," Tris said contritely. "I'm just excited, I didn't think Caleb would be home for another few days."

"I finished my finals early," Caleb announced, descending the stairs quickly and enveloping Tris in a hug. "How you doin', little sis?"

"Looking forward to graduation," Tris replied.

Most seniors say this, and usually because they're looking forward to celebrating with friends and embracing escaping the confines of school. Others are eager to move on to college and pursue their dream career.

Tris was looking forward to graduation to end the endless drag of high school. Tris was a good student – an excellent one really. She was second in her class, participated in many extracurriculars, from track, to debate, to choir. Through all this she had made no real friends, and had found no one thing she felt really connected with, that she wanted to pursue. The more things she tried, the more things she excelled at, but she just didn't make any real connections with people. She was friendly, and people were friendly in return. She wasn't disliked, she wasn't a social outcast, she was really just there, constantly busy in one thing or another. Tris was glad to be finishing high school, even if she didn't really know what her future held for her, besides college. Probably more of the same, if high school was anything to go by.

Tris took a long drink of water at the kitchen sink, wiping perspiration off her brow.

"Darling, this was in the pile of mail you brought it," Natalie, Tris's mother said, interrupting Tris's thoughts of her future. "Looks like letter from another college or something similar."

Tris had had several offers, but had almost settled on Pennsylvania State University. She had been offered a part scholarship there, and it was close to home. Tris didn't see the point in taking up an offer for a better university, further away from home, when she had no major in mind, and no career path to pursue as of yet.

"Thanks," Tris said, taking her mail. "I'm going to study now, I'll see you in a bit for dinner."

Upstairs, Tris set her mail on her desk and went straight into her study. Whatever was in the letter didn't really hold much intrigue for Tris – her decisions for college were basically made.

That evening, the Prior family sat around the dinner table, discussing their days.

Caleb, Tris's older brother, had just completed his freshman year at The University of Pennsylvania, he was one step closer to achieving his plans of becoming a lawyer. Caleb also played football, attending college on a football scholarship.

Their father, Andrew, was a doctor, who served as a GP in their community. He was well liked and respected, and served on the school board at Tris's school. Caleb gained his love of learning from their father.

Natalie, their mother, was a sweet, gentle woman, who taught elementary school. She had long, dark brown hair, a contrast to her daughter, who had long, fair hair. They both shared a pair of round, wide greyish-blue eyes.

The Priors led a comfortable life, and on the whole, they were a happy, normal family.

Even so, Tris often felt out of place, or incomplete, their lifestyle was not enough for her. She didn't know what it was. But something was definitely lacking. College was just to be the next step in what seemed to be a never ending path of discovery. She hoped that if she kept on searching, she'd find something that really excited her, that consumed her, somewhere she fitted in, and doing something she loved.

After Tris and Caleb had cleaned up after dinner for their parents, Tris returned to her room, and the letter on her desk caught her eye.

She picked it up and opened it. She had not been intrigued by it in the slightest before, but once she had read the letter, she was definitely interested. She read it several times over.

The letter was a late scholarship offer, a generous one, for Tris to participate in a special program. It didn't specify a school, just that a scout had noticed Tris, and felt she would excel in their program, and that they would like to meet with her as soon as possible.

There was a time, date and address listed. There were no contact details provided, no way of declining or accepting the offer without attending the meeting.

Very clever, Tris thought grudgingly. One way or another, the vague yet intriguing message almost demanded the reader's presence by its careful omittance of any direct contact information.

The letter also asked that the recipient not discuss the enclosed details with anyone, until they had attended their meeting. The program was a highly exclusive and experimental, that relied on secrecy to maintain its effectiveness.

Tris marked the time and date in her cell phone calendar and set an alert. She was attending that meeting. Maybe it was the answer, maybe this program, that wanted her, knew better than she did about what she should pursue in life. A tingly sensation overcame Tris as hope filled her. Something was coming, she could feel it.

AN: Thanks for reading :) The next chapter will be longer, and really get straight into things. Please review/follow if you want me to continue. I like to write things people want to read!

Updated AN: This fic has been over for a while now, but this note is to thank everyone who has come along and who will come along, and review, either at the end, or along the way. I read every review, and they all mean so much to me! To all the guests who I can't reply to in person, thanks so much for letting me know your thoughts - you are all great :)