The Birth of a Ranger

Chapter Five

By the time Yuki and Connor had gotten back to the fort she was exhausted. Azura had been escorted to Harbarad and that was the end of that. She didn't get to sit around and witness anything being said not that she cared to. She still felt sick to her stomach about what transpired days before and had lost the mood to talk once again. Yuki was young and the fact she didn't want to talk suggested her personality had faltered from what it once was.

The one good thing she could say about the fort was it was a welcome and comforting presence to say the least. She didn't feel the need to hide around them and they all treated her as family. She had the pin of an initiate, in their eyes, she was one of them. There was something so selfless about being a Ranger and Yuki felt as if she was turning a page by being one. She was ready for the training that would bring her to her knees more than once.

Her eyes went outside to the snow that had slowly started to melt marking it as spring time. She had never once seen the green grass in the lands of Avenixia because of the years and years of snowfall and buildup. Homes had been built on top of the many layers of frozen snow and she knew that when it came time for it all to melt, homes would need to be rebuilt.

Yuki had crawled into bed and pulled her blanket over her by the time Connor had come to knock on her door. It was early afternoon and the sun was shining through, another rarity in their world. Connor made his way into her hut holding a bundle of something she couldn't quite make out and three other items. In her eagerness she started to climb out of bed and sat on the edge.

"You're going to begin training soon. I've taken the liberty of gathering some items that you'll need, and some more helpful ones." She noticed Connor had his hood down and for the second time since she had met him he had a generally happy outlook on his face. He was taking on his own daughter as an apprentice and she could only assume that made him much happier than she had originally thought.

He began to unfold the bundle to reveal a brown cape with a hood and cowl. She felt her lips part in excitement and awe as she stood. It was happening! Next was a pair of leather boots and gloves that she wondered if they would even fit her given her small size. They seemed to be fit for a child but that didn't mean it was fit to her.

The last of the items was a short recurve bow that seemed new and had intricate designs of a fox decorated all over it. She was also then handed a short sword and quickly noticed the carving of a fox's head in her quiver and on the holster for her sword. She raised a brow in shock or surprise, it wasn't clear which of the two it was.

"You're our first Junisho in the Dunedain, Yuki. Familiarize yourself with these, we won't start right away, but soon." Connor was clearly excited to take her on as his apprentice and she was excited herself to begin. Never had she felt so cared for.

Hearing she was the first Junisho to join the Dunedain was a saddening thought to her however. She looked up at him, her ears laid against her head with a question on her face. "The....First?"

"Aye, you're the first Junisho to have decided to join the Rangers. Though it's rare in general for anyone to join. Even fewer for the Dunedain race. We're outnumbered now." Connor was quick to take note of her ears laying against her head and let out a mirthful laugh and patted her shoulder. It didn't make her feel any better about being the only one of her kind to become a Ranger but she was making history for them and that was one of the things that mattered. "Don't worry about disappointing me or the Dunedain. Race doesn't matter here, your skill, determination, mindset and tenacity does. You won't be held to any higher or lower standards here."

Yuki nodded slowly and looked down at the bow that sat in her hand. The carvings were beautiful and reminded her of her family's crest in some strange way. Connor's finger even traced the designs and smiled before giving an amused huff. "The carver thought you might enjoy a bit of personalization in your outfit. Go ahead and change, I'll watch the door." Connor was quick to turn to the door after that.