"Lyssa! Where are you girl?"

Lyssa was in the barn with the horses when she heard the cry of her foster-father in the tavern.

"Coming father" she screamed through the open barn door. "What is it now." she said under her breath. "As if I don't have enough work to do."

She finished with Lucky's right rear shoe and set his foot down on the ground. Of all the horses she liked Lucky the best. He was chestnut brown with a white triangle on his forehead, but what she loved most about him was that he was full of spirit and loved to run as much as she loved to ride. She patted him lightly on the flank and said softly "I'll see you later Lucky boy."

Lyssa ran out of the barn toward the tavern, it wasn't much as far as buildings go, but it did a pretty good business. Being located on a major road outside of the city drew a lot of weary travelers to the Black Wolf. Her foster-parents ran the place and she was in charge of most of the chores, cooking, cleaning, and taking care of all the animals and the crops. It was a rough life, but they fed her and clothed her, and the best bonus of all was she got to sleep in the barn. She loved being close to the animals best of all.

When she got to the front door of the tavern she could hear angry voices inside. She thought she recognized a few of them, and after passing through the door she knew why. The one making most of the noise was Rufus Ralston, a bully from the city who had wandered out to the tavern one night with some friends to start some trouble. They came in and had a few drinks and soon started to get rowdy. Lyssa's father, Orley, told Rufus and his gang they'd had enough liquor and to get out. When they refused he tried to throw them out, but the younger men started to beat Orley.

That was when Lyssa had come out from the kitchen and seeing what was happening, started to lay into the boys. There were three of them and they were a bit tipsy, but even had they been sober they'd have been no match for Lyssa. She had no training, but she'd always had an unnatural strength and skill when it came to fighting. No one knew who her parents were, but her foster-parents were almost certain she was from Ithyria because of her dark skin and jet black hair. She had been left on their doorstep 18 summers ago with no note or anything telling who she was or why she was left there. All they knew was when she got older they would have someone to do all the work around the place and make their lives easier.

Rufus was arguing with Orley who was behind the bar holding a large club in his hands.

"Get out now and don't come back you ruffian."Orley told the young man.

"We'll leave once we give that wench the beating she deserves" Rufus told Lyssa's father.

"If you want me, come and get me you swine!" Lyssa yelled at Rufus. She'd teach this idiot a lesson.

Rufus turned on Lyssa while his buddies kept their eyes on Orley.

"Last time we came here we were at a bit of a disadvantage, but now we are going to even the score wench." Rufus glared at Lyssa and pulled a dagger from a sheath at his belt.

Lyssa did not have a weapon, but readied herself to receive the attack.

Just as the hooligan was about ready to thrust out at Lyssa there was a cry from outside.

"Grimalkin, somebody help, it's got mother cornered."

Hubert came rushing in the door; it was he who had yelled out. He was panting, out of breath, and his face was red as a beet.

"Where is she?" Lyssa asked.

"Down in the orchard." Hubert replied. "I helped get her up in a tree as soon as I saw the beast coming, knowing she couldn't outrun it, and then charged up to the tavern."

Lyssa's foster mother was Janice, and Hubert was Orley and Janice's son. He was a few years older than Lyssa and grew up rather spoiled since Lyssa did all the work around the place.

Lyssa forgot all about Rufus, and apparently so did everyone else.

"Quick, follow me Hubert." She called to her brother.

Lyssa ran to the barn and retrieved a spear from a pile of old weapons that lay in a corner. They had been gathered from bar patrons who couldn't pay their tabs or from fights that broke out where there were casualties.

She ran as fast as she could toward the orchard.

Sure enough when she arrived, there was her mother up in a apple tree, throwing apples at a large cat like creature circling the tree below her.

Grimalkins were generally not seen near towns, but the tavern was far enough outside the city to warrant an occasional inspection by these vicious beasts. They were around three feet in height at the shoulders and could weigh anywhere between 140 and 175 pounds. They also could move very fast for their size and had keen senses, allowing them to detect threats very quickly.

This one had already spotted Lyssa running towards it and decided to go after prey that was on the ground instead of up a tree. It bounded in Lyssa's direction.

Lyssa watched the creature charge toward her and made ready to dodge to the right when the brutish thing launched itself right at her head. She managed to dodge as she'd planned, but the beasts' rear left claw raked her shoulder.

Lyssa never cried out in pain or anger. She twisted swiftly around in a crouch with the spear held across her legs, ready for a second charge.

The animal did not disappoint her. It charged head long at her and just as she suspected it would do, it leaped again right at her head.

This time she thrust the spear in the ground and held firmly as the creature came down with all its weight right on the point of the weapon.

Lyssa quickly threw herself to her left and left the animal thrashing around on the ground. It was obviously a fatal wound, but the beast still tried to drag itself after her.

"Help me Lyssa." She heard Hubert calling from the tree where their mother was trying to get down.

"Just a second, I'll be right there." She called as she bent to retrieve her spear from the dying Grimalkin. You never knew when there might be a second one around.

Lyssa went over and helped her mother down since Hubert was having some problems getting her out of the tree.

"Oh dear" her mother remarked upon seeing the gash on Lyssa's shoulder. "That is going to make your chores rather difficult."

Lyssa could not believe it, she had just saved this woman's life and all she could think about was the work that wouldn't get accomplished.

"You're welcome." Lyssa said to her foster-mother. Then she threw the spear on the ground and turned and walked away.

When she arrived back at the barn she walked through the front door only to be grabbed from both sides by two shadowy figures, and another figure loomed in front of her.

She could tell it was Rufus and his cohorts, and she was in no condition to handle all three of them.

"Now it's payback time girlie." Rufus sneered and brought his dagger up in front of him.

Suddenly the man on her left yelled out in agony and left got of her arm. Then the one on her right did the same. She had no idea what had happened, but a look of fear had etched itself on Rufus's face.

There was a laugh from behind her, just outside the barn and a girls voice said "Let's even up the odds here, shall we.