Hello and welcome to Natesse's Stories! For any new readers, I just want to use this chance to give you a couple of brief notes about this story :)

1. If you want a story following Halt/Will/Horace/Cassandra, this is not that. I love those characters as much as anyone, but the inspiration for my story came from the world that John Flanagan created. My story follows OCs as they grow up in Araluen. I invented their Fief, Marlite, as well, but I think it fits in nicely :) There may be cameos along the way, but the series characters do not play major roles.

2. For the sake of this story, The Royal Ranger never happened.

3. This story is set in the future when Cassandra is an old queen, so there are several differences between this and the book series. For instance, I decided the Kingdom had advanced enough that waterclocks are in virtually every home, as are mirrors. Hunters can kill deer, which, if you've read The Tournament at Gorlan, used to be an activity only for the Royal Family. In addition, the foreign relations/etc. are not in the same state as that established in the book series.

That's all for now! If you like my story and favorite/follow/decide to keep up with t, please review as well! Updates WILL come faster depending on reviews.

Enjoy!

The two best friends stood there, unperturbed by the light foot traffic shuffling down one of Marlite Fief's side streets. It was just past midday on the Sunday before the last week of school. Popular merchants could be heard doing business a street over, Natesse's mother Keira among them. Not for the first time, Natesse considered the difficulties of single-handedly owning a tailoring shop as a widow. Despite the tragic death of her husband, and Natesse's father, in a Skandian raid five years ago, Keira's skills as a seamstress kept the family in the middle merchant class. Raids were rare ever since Cassandra became queen, in fact the whole Fief was shocked to hear one of their villages was attacked despite the Fief's coastal location. Of course, Natesse's contributions certainly helped to her family's funds. Her thoughts were interrupted as Nash leaned against the wooden work of a door with a sigh.

"Something wrong, Nash?" Natesse asked, sinking down onto stacked crates of apples. Having been best friends since the first day of school, she could tell Nash had something on his mind. Probably problems with his latest girl, she thought, amused.

"Miriam's just becoming too much," he said, reflecting her thoughts. Miriam was a 15 year old merchant girl in their school year. Long blonde hair, blue eyes, tall... all the traits of Nash's typical girl.

"Let me guess. The usual?"

"The usual." Natesse grinned at Nash's annoyed reply. "The usual" meant the time in Nash's relationships when the girl starts to want more commitment.

"That's what happens when you go for beautiful merchant girls. They all think they deserve more," Natesse said teasingly. "Especially ones like Miriam who never think for themselves." Truthfully, she often felt bad for the girls so easily dazzled and soon broken hearted over Nash. He meant well, but having lost his mother at a young age, he couldn't stand growing too close to any one person, afraid he would lose them like his mother. Natesse's companionable love was the only he tolerated. Unfortunately for him, his classic musculature, blonde, curly hair, and bright green eyes drew in a lot of admirers.

"She definitely isn't the brightest. But enough about my love life," he replied gruffly. "How are we getting you an alibi for your hunt tonight?"

"I was thinking we could tell Keira I'm visiting Packard with you." Packard was Marlite Fief's expert blacksmith. Although the apprenticeship presentations weren't until Wednesday, Nash was already visiting his top choices, smithing among them.

"Makes sense that you'd see all of the masters. After we pack your bag you can change in Old Acklard Manor again. That worked well last time."

"I thought so too. Well we better get going. And don't let me forget anything!" Natesse knew that with her classes tomorrow, she didn't have time to waste making trips back home. The hunts she went on every weekend were stressful enough, trying to keep the truth from her mother and the Fief at the same time. Nash was the only person who knew Natesse went hunting, and he readily helped her sneak away for the purpose. Now the pair set off, headed for Natesse's home above her mom's tailoring shop.

Natesse judged the sun to be three hours past noon when she crossed her threshold. The tinkling of bells over the door announced her presence.

"Mom! Nash and I are here!" Natesse called to the back room, where her mom kept fabrics and current projects. She heard Keira mumble a reply, and discovered her at work with pins in her mouth.

"Mom do you care if I go with Nash to see Smithy Packard?"

"Hullo. How are you? I'm good thanks for asking. How's your day been?" Keira replied sarcastically, avoiding giving an answer.

"Hullo Lady Faron. How's business? Oh I'm sure it's going wonderfully with your talents," Nash put in. He tried to stay in good graces with Natesse's mom, laying it on thick when he knew there was potential for trouble like tonight.

"Thank you for your concern Nash! If only my own daughter were so moved. Hopefully it's not an age thing because Kaelyn's already twelve, can you believe it?" Kaelyn, Natesse's younger sister, looked just like her mom. Both were tall and elegant, with blonde hair and brown eyes. Natesse was the only one who took after her father; her dark, wavy brown hair flowed to just beneath her breasts. Her dark blue eyes glowed with an adventurous light. She had a beauty all her own, one she often resented.

"Mom you know how important it is to get there early. I still have to go get ready! Besides you can tell Kae all about your day when she gets home from wherever she is."

"I know, I know. Does this mean you're missing supper?" Natesse nodded vigorously with her impatience. "Alright. I'll pack you a meal, you go do whatever it is you need to. The King knows I could use a quiet house to work on Sir Kinsey's surcoat. He checks every stitch, twice!"

Natesse smiled at her mom's complaint. But she didn't need to be told twice. After a quick nod of gratitude, Natesse and Nash both bound past the clutters of colorful materials and up the stairs to the rooms above the shop. Once at the top, Natesse turned left into her bedroom she shared with Kae. One bed in each corner, two dressers, two end tables, two wardrobes. Kae's bed was littered with different articles of clothing, tried on and tossed aside. Her whole half of the room told about its owner; drawings with friends, colorful garments, school supplies. All representative of her hectic, outgoing life. Natesse's half, however, lacked much in the way of personalization. Despite several adventure stories stacked neatly on her nightstand, her only decoration was a recent sketch of Nash and her at the market a few weeks ago. The lack of displayed objects spoke volumes about Natesse's private nature.

"I'll get my clothes together." Natesse, whose mother was unaware of the frequent hunts she went on, hid her bow behind a loose board in Old Acklard Manor. Before her dad died when she was ten, he had used his bow to teach her how to shoot. Her father was a soldier in Araluen's archery force, and he believed it valuable to teach Natesse a form of defending herself. Ever since he died, she had worked with the same bow, her father's recurve bow, until she was a near expert shot.

For now, she turned to her wardrobe. She was wearing a simple off white dress with blue stylings and some brown, light tread leather boots. The boots were ideal for hunting, but she'd need to change her dress. She kept it on for now, meanwhile removing the false back of her wardrobe to reach her hunting clothes. She turned back to Nash who handed her the large drawstring bag she kept in her dresser. The bag had two compartments - one small compartment and one large waterproof one. It had been a fairly expensive purchase, but the oil skin waterproof side was ideal for transported fresh kills in and out of the gates. When the pair entered the kitchen, she saw Keira had a small bag of dried beef strips, bread, and a canteen of water.

"Do you really need that huge bag to visit Packard?" Her mother inquired.

"Yes. I was going to... Uh-" Natesse struggled for a valid excuse.

"She's selling her school books while we're out," Nash lied smoothly. He spoke with such conviction, Keira saw no need to question it. It also explained the money Natesse would later be returning with.

"Alright. Well you two better get going. Don't be too long!" Keira sternly instructed. Natesse needed no further permission. With a quick goodbye, she spun her heel and darted out of the shop.

Half an hour later, Nash stood outside of Old Acklard Manor. The house had been abandoned for a decade now; rumor had it the couple living there up and left on a boat for Hibernia one day. Whatever the story, the house was now empty and hadn't been filled. Now a figure strode out of the back door, sending dust particles into the air. The figure moved like Natesse and spoke like her, but no one would put the two together at a glance.

Leaving her dress hidden behind some wood planks, she now donned dull brown leggings under a men's brownish green tunic that fell to her mid-thigh. Over the tunic she wore a dark gray cloak, her hair braided and hidden beneath the cowl. Her face was darkened with dirt to mask some of the feminine qualities. Her bow and quiver were slung over her shoulder, and her hunting knife was attached at her belt. She no longer looked like a girl. Any passerby would assume she was a young man, perhaps visiting the castle from one of the adjacent farms. And that was exactly the idea.

"Just remember," Nash said as they headed for the castle entrance, "you're visiting your aunt and uncle who are farmers. And make sure-"

"Make sure they don't see me go to the woods because it draws attention. I know, I know, Nash. I've done this a thousand times," Natesse replied tiredly. Now that they were at the perimeter, the two stopped and faced each other.

"See you in a few hours," Natesse said simply. She wasn't one for goodbyes, and she felt one here, now, would only set a bad precedent.

"Stay safe. I'll wait for you to drop by." Nash felt the need to remind her to act on caution. Natesse was often impulsive, not always weighing the consequences before acting. With a quick embrace, the two separated, heading in opposite directions.

Once through the Castle's sentries and down near the farm houses, Natesse slipped into the shadows and walked stealthily towards the tree lines. Any sentry watching her, and there were none as she made sure to check, would have thought she simply melted away into the dusk. Part of her actions were to draw undue attention, but part of it was instinct. She was naturally drawn to moving inconspicuously. Now she used the tall grass between the houses and the trees to weave her way, in a half crouch, remaining unseen and unheard.

Despite the possibility of being seen, she quickly reached the tree line with no such problems. The woods were beautiful at this time of year; lush with greenery, tinted yellow by the sun passing through a leafy canopy. There was a wide stream a kilometer or so to the East, but Natesse turned left, heading North, following a fairly worn animal trail. She reached back and grabbed her bow before nocking an arrow. Now she was ready to hunt.

Hunting made Natesse feel free. It was the one thing she felt at home doing. She could sneak around the forest, blending into the trees, following the subtle signs left behind by animals. Just now she was tracking a small herd of deer. Three total, and one was rather large. The footprints told her as much.

She knew she was good, but she didn't know how skilled she actually was. Not many hunters ever reached the level of instinct Natesse already had in her fifteen years. With the uncertain lighting caused by the sunset, Natesse unknowingly matched her movements to the patterns of the forest. The shifting lights and pockets of shade marked their own path, one Natesse found easy to follow. Ever since she had started these solitary hunts when she was ten, she would study the animals. She watched how they could disappear from view for seconds at a time. She taught herself to mimic their movements, and later the movements of the woods. She learned to quickly move from cover to cover. Natesse knew that if her prey saw her and she froze, they would still flee nine out of ten times. Animals were naturally jumpy and easily scared. If she was seen, she boded better to continue on to her cover than to freeze.

Next came unheard movement, a tedious but necessary skill. She had to learn to walk with a light tread and avoid stepping on twigs and dead leaves. Now, five years later, stealth was second nature. In less than an hour, she had caught up to the deer.

Her predictions were right; there were three deer. Two does and one so large it was probably a buck, all grazing calmly. She assessed the situation carefully. She would have to expose herself to take a shot. She knew she could easily get one, but she wondered if she shouldn't go for two. It would mean more money when she sold it to the butcher, but it also meant more butchering, more weight to carry, and more time. The sun was sinking fast.

One's good, she told herself. Nash's dad will pay well. The money should last for the week at least. With a plan of action, she took a few deep breaths, and stepped out of the trees.

The buck sensed movement, and looked up to see the outline of a figure thirty meters away. He felt danger, and prepared himself to run. He barely had time to take a step before an arrow pierced his heart. Natesse, acting on her years of practice, had drawn, sighted, and shot in the span of two seconds. Now she rushed her prey, drawing a knife and making sure the animal didn't have to suffer any. The shot was good, though, and he was dead by the time she reached him.

Making quick work of gutting him, she now faced a dilemma. This wasn't the first time she had shot a deer, and she knew she could either butcher him herself and sell the meet to the butcher, or drag the carcass to the butcher and sell the whole animal. The second option would give her more money, but as late as it was, she'd never get my the guards without a conversation. Plus, she was deep in the woods and the deer was very heavy. The only other time she had carried a deer in was during the work day. It was a small doe she shot near the main hunting trail, and one more person bringing in a kill was nothing interesting. Late night on a Sunday, however, was a different story. She decided it better to butcher the animal herself, and set to work.

One hour later, Natesse packed up the meat in her bag. There was still some left, and her butchering wasn't stellar, but she knew she had to get going and cut her losses. It was now well after dark, but she wasn't scared. She had been out later before. Her mother might worry, though, and she deciding to move faster and less cautiously, no longer needing to stay hidden from animals. She felt confident no one was watching her.

This time, however, she was wrong. In fact, she had been watched since the hours before when she had first entered the woods. Now her unseen observer slipped away, satisfied by all he had seen.