• Sylvia was in a clearing practicing with her bow. Her horse, Windsong, was chasing the occasional bug while keeping an eye on her mistress. Sylvia had the hood down on her mottled green cloak and her brown hair was pulled into a ponytail. Sylvia's blue eyes glinted as she sighted down the shaft of her arrow. Sylvia imagined the tree was one of the bandit's that had killed- no, slaughtered-her family three years ago. She smiled as she receved a twang from the string and another arrow to the would-be enemies heart. Sylvia paused mid-draw as she heard footsteps from behind.

    "You're skill with the bow has improved, Sylvia. Soon you may become a full member." said a voice that Sylvia recognized. She clenched her fist and turned around.

    "All I want is a decent life..." Sylvia paused. And revenge..... She unstrung her bow and gathered teh arrows from the bark of the tree. "Thanks for everthing Master Quickmount."

    James Quickmount bent his head of black messy hair and laughed. "I've always though it was detiny when I found you at the age of twelve trying to pickpocket me. I'll always remember how wide those innocent looking blue eyes of yours became when I caught you." He called to Jet, his own mount, and put his saddle on him.

    Sylvia averted her gaze and rubbed Windsong's nose as the horse butted her elbow. "Come or we'll be late for the Metting of the Moon." Quickmountcalled as he steered his horse to gallop in an eastern direction. Sylvia nodded then mounted her horse, avoiding the brnches of the oaks common in Drarion. The meeting of the moon. Tht's where I will become a Ranger.Sylvia thought to herself wistfully. The pair rode on until about mid afternoon. Quickmount stopped his horse. "This is where we shall make camp. You two spen the rest of the day out hunting." He stepped over to her and green eyes met blue eyes. "Here is your first mission where I give you the prize beorehand. Do not open it until you arrive back here at exactly nightfall." Quickmount quickly gave her the envelope and sllapped Winsong's rump, preventing questions from his apprentice.

    Back at camp, Quickmount was washing the stirrups of his horse as usual when he heard footsteps behind him. "Come to kill the Last Ranger?" he asked turning around. "I knew it wouldn't be long until the world forgot about us." Quickmount rubbed his hands on a towel and continued. "The future will fall in love with knights in polished armour and theives with bloody knives." he said with an unusual knowledge sparking in his eyes.

    The hooded figure stepped from behind the tree. "Look, I didn't come here to chat James. Or should I call you by your alias? Mr. Levron Byrd? Let's cut to the chase. You Rangers were getting in Ansom Vlord's way." A dagger flashed from under the cloak. "He's back." A snake was twined around teh hilt of the blade and two polished amethyst stood for droplets of poison falling from its' fangs.

    "Well Kyam? Aren't you going to kill me?" Quick mount said as he stepped forward. He saw the shade the sky was turning and knew Sylvia wouldn't be much longer. Quickmount smiled as he saw the knife plunge into his heart. His life's blood began to spill. A terrified whinny alerted him that his steed had also fallen to the assasins blade. Quickmount fell over, the fading from his eyes and body.

    "It's Mr. Loess to you." the murderer said as he stepped back into the shadows laughing. "The last has fallen."

    Sylvia was walking while Windsong carried the buck they had caught. She had come back not a minute before nightfall, just as Quickmount had asked. On the edge of camp she could smell blood. This made Sylvia curious because Quickmount would not be dumb enough to attract unwated attention. Sylvia now entered camp and fought down bile when she saw James and Jet dead. With tears in her eyes she raced over to Quickmount and checked his pulse. It was just as she feared. She pulled out the dagger and laid his hands in the customary burial position. "Windsong, we have to find the other Rangers." Sylvia said as she grabbed the horses bridle and led her away from the deaths.Sylvia looked again at the knife and anger swelled into her heart. He didn't have a scratch on him! It's as if he didn't put up a fight at all... She though. She shook her head causing Windsong to shy. "It was as if he was expecting it." Sylvia admitted to Windsong. She thought back to all he had said and done that day. With a gasp she pulled Windsong over to the side of a tree aso she could sit and rest. She took out the letter Quickmount had given her.
    "Sylvia if you are reading this, the worst has happened. However, I forsaw this and am giving you instructions. First, do not tell anyone you are a Ranger unless they have a gold dove on a peice of Jewelry. This was always the last resort for the socienty of Rangers. Second, here is your gold dove ring. In case of emergency we are allowed to give our rank to another. Your job is to keep our race alive. Even if that means going into hiding."
    Sylvia became frustrated and crupled the letter up. Before she could do anything, Windsong came and ate the letter. And so, Sylvia missed the most important part of the letter. "Sylvia. Do not let revenge overcome you. It is like the salt that infects and worsens fresh wounds."