1.

Her breath was steady. Her aim was straight. Her prey, a large bird, quivered as it blinked and looked around the tree tops. She pulled the string back until the arrow's feather stroked her chin. She sucked in a breath and prepared to let the arrow go. She shut every wood noise out and focused only on bringing dinner home.

"Catrain!"

Her name seemed to echo throughout the entirety of the forest. The bird took to the sky. It screeched a warning to any animal and flapped loudly as it escaped. She almost let the arrow fly, she was startled so badly. She hissed curses under her breath, her hunt was ruined now. Any animal within five miles had heard that yell. Catrain whistled loudly in response. Her shrill call mimicked that of a robin

She straightened and pulled her thick leather hood forward and off her head, though it reminded tied around her neck. There was some rustling, meaning that whoever was looking for her either was in a hurry or was Falk, her brother. Or both, it seemed. Falk crashed through a bunch of ferns, stopping in front of her. He dangled a rabbit in one of his hands. He ran over to her, "Look! Look! Me first catch!"

Her eight-year old youngest brother beamed up at her, apparently immune to her glare. He held up the relatively good-sized rabbit, the animal still dripping blood. She ran a hand through her dark hair tied at the back of her neck. This was the reason she'd protested when her older brother Mitri had made her take Falk with her today. She reminded herself to get Mitri back for it later. Preferably while he was occupied with his newest fancy, Isabel. Nothing was sweeter than revenge on someone in front of their beau.

She rolled her eyes, "Bullocks, Falk, I thought ya was coming to tell me the King's men was comin'. It's just a coney. Take that arrow out."

Falk did as told, pulling the arrow out and handing it to her so she could place it in her quiver. He looked back up, shaking his tawny hair from his eyes, "Oh, Catrain! I was sitting over yonder waitin' just likes yas told me too an' then this here bunny just come walkin' up slow as ya please an' I thought to meself, well's Catrain's out hunting deer, what if I got meself a bunny? An' I did, ain't he perfect?"

Catrain rolled her eyes, and wondered how he could speak so much without pausing to take a single breath. "Yes, Falk, he's a right good one. Go home an' give him to Mum. She'll be pleased." She told him, hoping that he'd go and she could head to the river, surely the deer there hadn't heard him.

Falk let out a whoop that sounded more like a bird call than a boy and took off. He effortlessly slipped towards the camp with minimal crashing of bushes. Catrain sighed, wondering how come he could remember to be quiet only after he scared all the prey away. She pulled her hood back over her head, making her sure her long hair wasn't sticking out of the back, and set for the river.

She moved slowly, hoping to maybe catch a deer along the way and not have to get home so late. She moved silently, freezing in place whenever she thought something heard her. Lord Donestan had proclaimed all villagers living in the forest outlaws and that they were to be hung immediately upon capture. She had no qualms against mistaking a rabbit for a soldier; at least it kept her alive.

Catrain had grown up in the tiny village in the tree tops of Bruhamoff Forest. There the people, called Bruhams by the Donestan's townsmen, lived by their own rules. She and her family lived in the forest, were the forest, and none of them were going to budge up and change because Donestan told them to. The blood of the outlaw Meirleach ran too deep.

She'd never feel at home in a village. The village called themselves something different than the village word of Bruham. Their sacred name came from a legendary outlaw band. A true Bruham called himself Meirleach, and one didn't achieve that status until the elders decided one had earned the outlaw name. Mitri had gained the honorary title the week before after having stopped a caravan of soldiers by himself. He was now called Ealaíneach by the rest of the Meirleach to signal he wasn't just a child. Now Catrain was the eldest child Dona of her family and she wanted to become a Meirleach so badly, she was seeing coming up with ways to in her dreams.

She froze at the small sound of a twig snapping. She crouched low beside a bush, becoming nearly invisible. She listened hard. It was silent for a few moments and Catrain thought mayhap it had just been a bird. When there was yet another small misplaced sound, this time a clattering of rocks, she frowned. She knew the strides of the person trying to sneak up on her. It wasn't Falk, but it might as well have been, ruining her hunt as they were. She straightened and cursed, "Oh sod it! Cain't I get a moment's peace?!"

There was a short, deep chuckle and a boy stepped from behind a tree and in front of her. Catrain found herself looking at a friend that lately she hadn't been able to decide how she felt about him. He was handsome, she was beginning to discover. He had a strong chiseled face, and was tall. His black hair was slightly shorter than hers though it was still long enough to be tied into place on the back of his neck. Like her, he loved the forest. He was the youngest son of one of the most respected Mierleach in the forest. He was also her closest friend. All Catrain was certain of though, was that she was glad her tan skin rarely showed a blush. Something about him now made her fumble.

He smiled, slinging his black bow over his shoulder and crossed his arms, "Well, Dia Dhuit, to you." He made the customary greeting rudely; he didn't touch his forehead as he should have. It was their secret tease.

"Catrain Stonefist, the way ya complain 'bout noise, ya'd think ya'd holler a little less loud." He teased.

Catrain rolled her eyes at her friend. "Dia Dhuit," she replied, not touching her forehead either, grinning widely. He grinned back as she teased, "Rowan Ironshield, ya know better than to sneak on me."

He laughed and leaned his back against a tree. His eyes sparked with mischievousness, "Catrain, I don't think no ones could sneak on ya. Ya got ears like a hound."

"Is that a compliment, Ironshield?" she taunted. Rowan's enormous father was notorious for not having an ounce of humor. His sons seemed to make up for that by having the largest sense of humor. The village hardly ever had a day go by that they didn't do something disastrous.

Rowan's dark green eyes flashed as he teased, "Catrain, only a girl like ya would think being a hound a complimen'."

Catrain stuck her tongue out and changed the subject, "What'd ya catch today?"

Rowan straightened, and proudly said, "Got a deer, a big buck."

Catrain rolled her eyes and cursed, "Well sod, Falk got himself a rabbit an' scared all the prey. I was headin' to the river. Could'a used a hunting buddy."

Rowan smiled her favorite smile, the broadest, simply most joyful grin. She had a hard time saying anything when he did that. "I gots an arrow to spare." He exclaimed.

She smiled. Rowan always had an arrow to spare when it came to hunting. Ever since the first time Catrain and he had gone hunting together, the two of them had a running contest. It was a harsh competition. Catrain was the better shooter and caller, but Rowan excelled at tracking and traps. That deer meant he had one point on her. She'd been winning for a week and she didn't want to lose that winning streak. She grinned, pulling her leather hood farther down over her face and challenged, "Follow meh, if ya can."

She was silently yards ahead by the time he'd understood. She heard him utter one soft curse before becoming nearly as silent as her. His long legs caught up with her easily. He crouched down to reach her level, resting one dirty hand on her back. She tried not to stiffen, her mind wondering if he even noticed that he was doing it. Or if he noticed how she'd nearly gone limp when she realized how warm his hand was. Why hadn't she noticed that before?

Silently cursing herself, she pointed out what she thought to be a deer trail to Rowan. He nodded and signed to her in the Meirleach way, where certain hand movements signaled words. He signed, After ya.

She rolled her eyes and started down the trail. Rowan followed, careful to place his boots in her tracks, anyone following would see his large tracks and think it was only him. Both were careful to make no noise, Catrain even concentrated on not breathing loudly.

The trail they were following was dangerously close to the Donestan's castle. They would have to be extremely wary of the new patrols and the incoming traffic on this side of the forest. For some unfathomable reason, people were flocking to Donestan's new village. Catrain cursed them for the hunger she'd felt in the past week. Most of the outlaws had abandoned this trail, in favor of hunting towards the river and cliffs. But Rowan and Catrain had always been daring.

"Catrain," Rowan warned, his voice low and gravelly as he whispered. He was letting her know that she was heading towards the busy way. She nodded to show she understood, but looked back at him and signed, We'll be careful. We've got ya eyes an' me ears.

Rowan sighed but nodded, motioning for her to hurry up. The trail gradually stopped at one of the main roads in Bruhamoff. Only people in a hurry to Donestan's castle and ones rich enough to afford guards traveled this length. Catrain knew villagers called this Outlaw Way, and for good reason.

Rowan checked both ways, looked at Catrain to double-check and make sure she hadn't heard anything. When she nodded, he slid past her, careful not to bowl her over. He sprinted across the road and slipped into the trees, seamlessly disappearing. However, Catrain's well-trained eyes spotted him after a moment of searching. When he settled down to watch the road for her, Catrain inched forward. Just as she was about to follow him, she heard the heavy clop of hooves. Instinctively, she backed up a few paces, keeping Rowan in her view as she hunkered down by some weeds.

Rowan's dark green eyes widened as he looked down the lane and saw what she'd heard, a carriage. He hurriedly relayed to her the details. It's big, black, an' got's a perty crest. The driver's drunk.

He signed the last piece of information with a mischievous, crinkly-eyed grin. Catrain knew the context of his next signal because of that smile. It meant he had an idea, and one that would probably get them in trouble. He looked at Catrain and signed, It'd be an easy hit.

Catrain rolled her eyes at his predictability. However, she was just as crazy as him to get that Meirleach title. She closed her eyes and listened. The drunk driver was signing a bawdy tune, and the horse had a rock in one of its front hooves. Because of the soft hobble in the third step of each hoof beat that she heard, she felt it was probably the left one. She focused a little more, holding her breath to hear clearer. There was a woman in the car, also humming or talking to herself. Catrain wasn't sure which. Rowan was right, no guards, and no protection. Proper Mierleach would take this carriage without hesitation.

When she opened her eyes, she caught Rowan's green eyes and grinned. He swung into motion, swiftly turning and climbing up a tree on the edge of the road. He shimmied to a position well above the road, and waited for the carriage to pass under him. Catrain also prepared herself, pulling an arrow from her quiver. As she strung it, she sent a silent prayer to God, Please work.

She stood up and let the arrow fly through the horse's traces. The arrow snapped the old leather, freeing the horse and grounding the carriage. The bay mare froze in shock. Catrain dashed towards the old mare to catch her. She tied the halter back to the front of the carriage in a tight knot, and cooed at the mare. Once the mare calmed and snorted, bending her head down to chew contently on the grass, Catrain smiled. Now, the victims could get away after they were through.

The driver had almost fallen when the carriage had suddenly stopped. He was hanging half-on the seat and half-off. He yelled, but Rowan dropped from the tree and caught the man on the top of his head with his fist and silenced him. Rowan caught him as he fell forward off the seat.

The lady inside gasped. Rowan checked to make sure his hood was down, the motion reminding Catrain to do the same. She grabbed the large hunting knife from her boot and headed towards the door. Only now, did Rowan look at her. He whispered, "Do they 'ave coins?"

Catrain froze and her eyes widened. She didn't know. Her first real Mierleach act and she wasn't even sure if she was going to get what she was looking for. She shrugged. Rowan smirked and flung open the door to the coach.

Catrain nearly gasped with the young girl. She looked to be Catrain's age. Catrain had guessed the carriage have a rich lord, indignant and angry, or at least a terrified pope. Rowan paused too, taking a step back in surprise. She knew he'd been expecting the same thing as her, definitely not a young girl scared-stiff.

The girl inside was clothed in a bright green dress of shiny smooth material Catrain had never seen before. She was pale, making her dark eyes even darker and her deep auburn hair a flame. She was very pretty. However, was she really old enough to be traveling alone? Why down Outlaws Way?

Catrain looked over at Rowan for guidance, but frowned when she saw his face. It was partially hidden underneath the hood, but she knew she didn't like the way his chin had relaxed. He looked almost stunned. His grip on his knife was lax too. He only ever got that look when certain girls he'd had fancies for in the village did something to gain his attention.

Did he think she was beautiful?

Growling, she took a step forward and gruffed, "Coins?"

She deliberately kept her voice low and angled the knife more menacingly at her. The girl jumped and scooted backwards, muttering, "In the chest, on the top."

The girl's eyes were wide as she watched the knife. "Please, take it all. Just do not kill me." She pleaded, looking at the both of them with fear. Rowan and Catrain exchanged glances. Rowan looked as unsure as Catrain felt. He shrugged and signed, Might as well; we'd look even dafter if we didn't.

Catrain had to agree with that, since she felt like duff. She nodded, keeping her eyes on the girl in front of her as Rowan climbed back onto the top of the carriage. Her golden-brown hair was coiled high on her head. Catrain marveled at the smoothness of her hair. Catrain kept her hair tightly braided, but as soon as she ran her fingers through it, it inevitably fluffed up to resemble a bush.

The girl straightened and managed to look down her nose at Catrain. Catrain bristled and straightened the falling knife. The girl noticed it, but she seemed intent on ignoring it and more intent on watching Catrain. Her brown eyes glared with a scolding intensity Catrain was used to seeing from her ma.

"Wot?" Catrain growled, fed up with the staring. The girl jumped but glared again, "I was trying to decipher your age, boy. You cannot be more than fourteen."

Catrain fought her grin. She was thought she was a boy and fourteen too? Maybe Catrain was a better actor than she thought. She frowned and growled, "I ain't no boy, I'm a man now. Belt up."

The girl's eyes narrowed at Catrain's harsh words, and she was about to open her mouth for another question when Rowan jumped in between them. He handed Catrain a large bag of coins, and she held it against her chest. Rowan turned back to the girl and grinned, "'Ave a nice day."

With that, he closed the door. Catrain turned and took off, heading towards the river. Rowan followed her, they moved silently. Catrain somehow managed not to clink the coins or curse herself aloud. She carefully picked their way along the trail, staying as silent as possible. When they reached the river, Catrain flopped down on the sandy shoreline. She looked over at Rowan and cursed, "Bullocks! I never in me entire life felt so daft!"

Rowan sighed, running a hand through his hair as he turned to sit beside her, "Yeahs. Da always made it sound easier."

Catrain huffed, "Mayhap it would'a been, if she won't been me age!"

Rowan laughed and leaned against her "She was perty rich."

Catrain looked at the bag in her lap, "Yeahs, she was. But, how 'bout we don't tell no one 'bout this, aye?"

Rowan wrapped his arm around her shoulder. Catrain tried not to tense, and wondered what he was doing. His breath was hot in her ear, sending shivers down her spine. She swore she could feel him grinning. She blinked, wondering just what his lips would taste like. Then she frowned and wondered where that thought had originated from, not her mind. But Catrain couldn't help the silly smile creeping over her face as he said, "Aye, I'd rather not."

Three seconds later, she was fighting to get out of a headlock.