Scorpion Mountain
Fandom: The Brotherband Chronicles
Author: Ahsoka1248
Rating: T
Genres: Adventure, Friendship, Romance
A/N: In this story Cassandra is 17.
Cassandra turned the atlatl over in her hands, pursing her lips as she examined Lydia's curious weapon.
"May I?"
Lydia nodded, pulling a blunt dart from her quiver. Cassandra loaded the dart into the atlatl, and aimed. She launched, the dart knocking a bird out of a tree.
"Nice shot, Cassie," Lydia praised, "you're a fast learner."
Cassandra smiled.
"Thanks, Lydia."
Lydia smiled.
"Can I try your sling?"
"Sure."
Cassandra handed Lydia her sling. As Lydia loaded the weapon and took aim, Cassandra watched her. Cassandra valued Lydia's friendship, and they had something in common both in that they both hunted, and that they were around the same age, which was probably why they got along so well. However, the young Araluen crown princess couldn't help but wonder if subconsciously she wanted to be more than a friend to the Limmatian teenager. Lydia's shot knocked another bird from the tree. Lydia handed Cassandra back her sling, and Cassandra gave Lydia her atlatl. Lydia loaded her atlatl.
"Cassandra, get down," she ordered as she took aim.
Something in the younger girl's tone made Cassandra automatically obey. A dart sliced through the air where Cassandra had been standing. There was a thud as a body dropped to the ground. At the same time, there was a cry of pain. Cassandra loaded her sling as the would-be-assassin clambered painfully to his feet. Lydia shot again, the sharp dart burying itself deep in the assassin's shoulder. Cassandra launched from her sling, and the rock grazed the assassin's head, knocking him out cold.
"We've got a would-be-assassin over here," Lydia called.
The Herons came running up, weapons readied in case there were more. An arrow appeared on Gilan's bowstring as he ran up behind the Herons. Gilan's bow fired three times. The second and third arrows pinned a man to a tree by his cloak before the first arrow slammed into the tree next to his head. A fourth arrow appeared on the Ranger's bowstring. Thorn spun, shield intercepting a throwing axe. The old sea-wolf sprang at the throwing axeman, club-hand flashing. The club struck the man in the side, knocking him to the ground. Stig's axe came across in a wide arching slash that sliced across an assassin's chest.
