Shorter chapter because I rewrote this five times and it's still meh but I'm just gonna put it up here lol.

Disclaimer: I only own my OCs and their storyline :)

It’s near dawn when I finally see Helmer in the woods, followed by (and this is a well supported guess) Picket Packslayer. From my childhood, Helmer was a figure of legend for me, with King’s Arm and all. Swords are buckled at their sides and I know they can use it. Perched on a giant oak tree that conceals me from angry hawks above and suspicious rabbits from below, I’m granted a good view of the First Warren. Already, the sky is tinted with pale pink as the sun wakes up.

The two of them talk in low voices, too low for me to hear. It annoys me a little, since it could probably inform me on something important.

The sun continues to rise, spreading some light onto the First Warren. The darkness makes me uncomfortable, like someone’s watching me, so I feel more than just relieved when I can see properly.

I wait til Helmer and Picket are a good distance away before starting to follow them again.

I climb a tree so I can see everything and possibly plan how I’m (finally) going to scare the **** out of Lord Captain Helmer. I note the silence and see the air of disrepair that hangs about the place. The grass is long, except for a small patch around the house itself. Out of the house and onto this lawn comes a wary young doe with a bow, an arrow nocked and ready.

“Turn around,” she says, her voice faintly carrying towards me. Her words are cut off as wind picks up, my hearing overtaken by rustling leaves. I groan in disappointment.

From her body language, I can easily tell she’s threatening the two of them with her bow and arrow. I can also tell she isn’t that experienced in the bow, but I decide to cut her a little slack and not internally criticize her form, no matter how much it pains me.

Helmer takes a step forward, and she fires. The arrow finds the narrow gap between Picket and Helmer, sinking itself deep into the tree I’m hiding in.

I flinch as it strikes the tree.

There’s more muffled conversation, and the doe clearly relaxes after a few words. After a few more exchanges, Helmer wraps the doe in an embrace.

There’s a short pause, some more muffled conversation (Something about someone called Airen?)

Helmer approaches the house, leaving the doe and Picket together. I raise an eyebrow. Is he playing matchmaker, or am I reading the situation wrong?

They stand there, awkwardly for a few seconds, before the doe turns to look at the tree. Her eyes narrow.

“How ‘bout you get your friend out of the tree?” the doe says, loud enough for me to hear.

Let’s just say my heart nearly stopped, because now I’m in deep trouble.

Well, this is going great. And I can’t exactly hide again, now that she’s seen me. I slowly climb down and face Picket and the doe, my arms crossed. The doe has her bow nocked again, and Picket has drawn his sword–both extremely painful weapons pointed at me.

“Who are you?”

“Ada, and you?”

“If you were spying on us, you would know,” the doe says. “Answer our questions and I’ll think before I shoot.”

“You really don’t want to do that.”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“I’m with the Cause, idiot,” I say.

“Anyone could say that,” Picket says darkly. Who’s he thinking about? The cause is littered with traitors, willing or not. It's simply part of the fight. You need to expect that.

“Anyone could say that,” I mimic under my breath. “I need to talk to Lord Captain Helmer,” I say for them to hear.

“Why?” the doe demands.

“Do you think I’d be telling you?” I say with an eye roll.

“You were the one spying on us,” Picket says. “She’s Weezie, by the way.” Weezie shoots him an irritated glance. I shrug. Knowing her name is better than just addressing her as ‘the doe’.

“I could’ve been there for hours before you arrived,” I say. “You don’t know anything about that. For all you know, I live in the tree .”

“That’s very unlikely. Why do you want to talk to Uncle Helmer?”

“My dad was friends with him,” I say. Not a lie.

Weezie doesn’t let down her guard, but Picket relaxes a little. Just a little. Their weapons are still pointed at me, though.

“Who’s your dad?” Weezie demands.

“Uh…” I hesitate for a little, then frown. “Maybe if you let me see Helmer, I’ll tell you.”

Weezie scowls. “Follow me, then, oh so mysterious stranger.”

Huh. That was easier than I thought.

I wonder for a brief moment if Faye and Liam are doing as well as I am.

Any typos/grammatical errors are unintentional. Since it kinda plays an important part in Adalyn's story, any guesses on who her dad is?

-Bea