Hellion

One

Pain. Every joint hurting. Eyes parted slowly. They only opened enough to look around. Nothing moving. There wasn't even a breeze. A deep breath held. There was nothing near that sounded remotely human.

Silence.

Once more the eyes closed. Not to sleep, but to extend out other senses. Animal sounds. Insects crawling. The scent of earth and trees.

Silence still. Darkness surrounding.

Sitting up abruptly and looking around. There were no lights coming from Inverness that were substantial. What year was it?

Matte black leather made no sound. Even the footfalls were silent. Weapons. Provisions. Coins. And a few other things in two small packs that attached to either thigh.

Craigh na Dun was in sight and Alexandria MacKenzie used it as her compass to know which way to go. Even in the dark, her footfalls were sure and strong. These paths were known. They were home. Surefooted, she ran through the trees without a misstep.

Once the sun started to rise, Alex took to the treetops to hide. There were more people moving about than normal. Why?

Watching closely. The clothing and the way the people looked in general fit with the time period she sought. Had it worked? Was she really home?

It took seven nights for Alexandria to go from Craigh na Dun to Leoch. She ran at nightfall and kept running until the sun was ready to break the horizon. During the daylight hours she dozed in the treetops and watched the surroundings.

She was just on the outskirts from where the watchmen would be at Leoch. Hoping she wouldn't be shot; Alexandria started her approach.

"HALT!"

She stopped. Hands went up and she clasped them together in a sign of friendship above her head.

"State yer name and yer reason ta be here." The sentry growled in Gaelic.

Breathing a sigh of relief, she knew the voice. "It's Alexandria MacKenzie, Kennet." It was Rupert's baby brother, who wasn't such a baby any longer.

"Alex MacKenzie is dead." Fury was with the words now.

Hearing the sounds of muskets moving and probably aimed at her, Alex rolled her eyes. "Come down and see fer ye ownself then Kennet. Because how else would I ken yer name ya dunderheid."

There was now a flurry of movement and the sound of men crashing through grass and branches. Hands grabbed her roughly and she didn't resist. The torch was brought closer and there was a gasp.

"Fecking hell. Someone best warn Dougal."

"Warn Dougal?" Alex snorted. "Greetings to ye too Rupert."

There was a rumble of excitement that followed Alex. Pulling a leaf from her wild hair, she walked into the Great Hall of Leoch.

Unfortunately, given the late hour, Dougal was too drunk to understand fully what was going on around him. Yet, he wasn't too drunk that he was unable to be dallying with one of the serving wenches, a chubby girl named Bradana.

Like the parting of the sea, people moved out of the way for Alexandria to walk past. Her steps sure and silent, the noise of others faded like a ripple. Dougal and Hamish were seated at the main table.

"Auntie Lexie?!" Hamish exclaimed. The young man stood up quickly, knocking over his chair. He raced over to his auntie as if he was a lad still. He hugged her tightly to him. No longer the child he once was, he stood eye to eye with her.