The Birth of a Ranger

Chapter Fifteen

Dante sat after her initiation at the training yard target's firing arrow after arrow making perfect shots almost every shot of an arrow. She had long since cleaned herself up and disposed of her cut hair strands all the while enjoying the lightness of her head. It felt like a burden had been lifted off her head.

By this point the excitement had died down and she continued firing arrows in front of her old target from the furthest mark possible from, using her new longbow she sat up all night crafting. The designs were intricate swirls and designs that anyone not of Junisho origins would think was just to make the bow pretty. She let loose another arrow and smiled when she heard the twang it made when it hit its mark, dead straight through the center of another arrow.

She didn't know what to think when her father came strolling in with a large group of people at his back. It was the first time in five years anyone not from the Rangers had entered the fort. Five years since she arrived and made the fort all the more lively. Like all the other Rangers she turned to glance at the group. There were more females in the group than males and they all looked of nobility except the one girl. A Junisho with white hair in the rags of a slave. All together there were two Junisho in the group, a human female and a Rashai.

Why such a group was together at all baffled her and she straightened her body, glaring at the group. Not that they seemed to care but they did notice the many stares on them and she wondered how they stood it, keeping their heads held high as they walked. She had huffed out a laugh in time to see them be lead into the tent but not before noticing the stirring of another Ranger, his hand going to reach for someone in the group he knew but was stopped by another male.

When they were out of sight Dante slung her bow over her and began to head for her tent to make more arrows and go out hunting. What she wouldn't tell anyone was that hunting was an excuse for her and Res to tattoo her body in the markings of her family. A reminder.

When she was comfortable enough to do so with the new faces in the fort she pulled both her hood and cowl down revealing her short hair and the rest of her perfect made face and was only annoyed when a male, a bit older than she approached her and fell into step at her side.

"Hey Dante! I heard about your initiation, congratulations. Are you about to get your first mission?"

His tone was smooth and clearly nervous all in one. She didn't make a glance up at him but could feel his eyes on her, watching her. She kept walking in silence, trying to figure out what to say to the male. She hadn't seen him much in the fort but she knew the voice well enough. He watched her every chance he had gotten and it sometimes annoyed her more than she let on.

"Hey Zundel."

It was more than most had gotten out of her, she admitted but he was family to her now so she supposed she had to give him some attention. "I haven't been given anything yet. Actually I am on my way to go hunting for a night or two." She finally turned her gaze on him and smiled. His eyes were on her, watching her. His green eyes. They were much more vibrant than her brown eyes, that was for sure. "Heading back to make more arrows. A few of mine broke when I was training." She held up the few arrows that were broken into pieces in her hand and turned to keep walking.

Dante didn't share a tent for some reason but her tent was also much smaller than the other tents at the same time. Perhaps it was because she was a female, she didn't know nor did she seem to care.

"I can help if you'd like? I know they're pretty easy to make but maybe company at least?"

It was amusing to see someone try so hard to get attention from Dante. She didn't once stop but did smirk knowing he wouldn't give up trying nor would she continue to try and stop him. She gazed up at him just in time to see a rock being hurled at him and be caught in Zundel's hand.