A/N: For anyone who has Assassin's Creed: III, how do you like it so far!? I'm loving it, if I do say so myself :D I'm a little skeptical about the new features, but all in all I've really enjoyed it so far. So, anyways, here's something I've being thinking for a while now. It'll be an ongoing story, so bear with me if it takes a little while for me to upload a chapter. Schoolwork is hard! The first two or three chapters will be Kimimeela in her younger years, and then things will start with her normal, everyday life. Thanks for reading, and please review!

Kanatahséhton

1760

The sun shines above the trees brightly, casting a warm glow across the forest clearing which grants me full vision from the safety of my hiding point. My muscles tremble with anticipation as I scan the lively clearing, where a herd of deer graze lazily, their ears perking at soft noises emitting from the dense woodland surrounding them. The sound of footsteps echo faintly in the distance, slowly increasing as its unknown figure approaches. As quietly as I can muster, I tiptoe farther within the recess where I'd taken refuge so that only the white of my eyes could be seen through the darkness. My heart hammers in my chest and blood pounds in my ears as the rhythmic footsteps draw nearer. The urge to escape; to sprint away into the tree line chews at the edge of the senses, but I will myself to hold my ground. Being spotted now could mean the brutal end of all my hard work, and the beginning of an unneeded rival victory.

I carefully untie the buckskin quiver slung across my back and lay it onto the rocky ground of the recess, along with my knife and slingshot. The being in my pursuit ruffles through a few ferns and bushes, although they still haven't crossed the recess, ensuring that I have no idea who I should be possibly squaring against.

All at once, the footsteps stop, leaving me in weary silence. I narrow my eyes and cautiously tiptoe toward the clearing and away from the alcove, staying close to the ground in case I happen to see my enemy before they see me. The soles of my boots grant me the silence, but just as I take my first step, a hand curls around my shoulder and laughter booms from behind me.

"Got you!" The boy says, chuckling, "I thought I'd never find you."

"Not fair, Ratohnhakéton," I snap back, wiggling from his grasp so I can stand with the others, "You can't sneak up on me like that."

"Who says?" He asks, crossing his arms and smirking with pure amusement.

"I do," I reply, huffing with anger, "I hate being 'it'."

I crawl back into the cove to gather my things, and place them into their appropriate spots with ease. Turning back to Ratohnhakéton, I note that the sun has begun to drop below the horizon, and the first signs of the constellations have begun to highlight the sky.

"Shouldn't we be getting back? My mother will be worried if I'm out past dark. I still have chores to do."

"Don't be such a pansy, Meela," Kanen'tókon mocks, who stands beside Ratohnhakéton, "Or, I guess you could go back to camp while us big kids stay here and play."

I purse my lips and sigh, looking at Ratohnhakéton for advice. Usually he would stick up for me in these sorts of situations, but he only gives me a sheepish frown and shrugs. I glance back at the direction of camp, where the first nightly fires are being lit, and regretfully move to the group standing before me.

"Okay, Meela, you're 'it'!" Ratohnhakéton exclaims, bouncing with excitement, "Count to one-hundred. And no peeking!"

I throw an arm across my eyes and begin counting immediately as the group scurries to find their hiding spots.

"Tiohton, niwahsen, enska, tewen'niawe," I finish, "Here I come!"

When I open my eyes, I nearly jump from how dark it's gotten. I hurry to find everyone, wanting nothing more than to return home and rest for the night. I spot Kanen'tókon instantly, nearly a few feet from where I first began my search. Namid, Apenimon and Anoki are also easy to find, leaving us to locate Ratohnhakéton. It seems like hours before we give up, calling out his name repeatedly but receiving no reply.

"Maybe he's gone back to camp?" Anoki suggests.

"Hen," Namid insists, shivering violently, "It's cold. Let us go back as well."

They walk before me, but I continue to peek around the bushes and tall grass for Ratohnhakéton, hoping one of my quick glances will rest upon him. We travel in silence, enjoying the lulling chirps of the bugs throughout the forest. As we near camp, Kanen'tókon says, "The nightly fires are brighter from out here."

I turn to see for myself. The fires do seem bigger, partly because the flames are nearly licking the top of the wall securing the camp…

"No…" I murmur, my pace quickening, "Those aren't the nightly fires, come on!"

We all sprint to the camp gate and take in the sight. The whole camp has been engulfed in flames. We separate to find our families. I dash to my home, but the whole structure has collapsed, leaving in its place only a few still scorching pieces of wood.

"Mother!" I call desperately, running through the pathways while attempting to avoid the various patches of fire, "Ista!"

"Kimimeela!" I hear, and waves of relief flood over me as I spot my mother. She gathers me into her arms, where I could stay forever, but she hurriedly leads me to the entrance of the camp and begins to herd me outside, where the rest of the village people have gathered.

"Wait," I intervene, cutting from my mother's embrace, "Where is Ratohnhakéton?"

"He's probably around somewhere, Meela," Mother says, and tries to grab my hand again but I've already run back into the village, my head whipping around to find my friend. It's like hide and seek all over.

"Ratohnhakéton!" I yell, hoping the sound of my voice will carry over the crackling of the fires.

Someone is screaming my name, probably mother, but I ignore her and venture farther into the camp towards Ratohnhakéton and his mother's home. I cough into my arm as a gust of smoke pushes against me, nearly knocking me off of my feet. After dodging the flames and embers, I reach their home. A plank has blocked access to the front door, so I bolt to the back and find my target; Ratohnhakéton. He's leaning over the pile of planks that had prevented me in the front of the wigwam, his tiny arms trying to pry the boards from their twisted assortment.

"Ratohnhakéton," I shout, but he doesn't hesitate from his actions, "Ratohnhakéton, we have to go, now!"

"… You must be strong, Ratohnhakéton, you must be brave." A woman's voice says from within, and I just then realize that his mother, Zio, is trapped underneath the planks. I gasp and jump forward to help free her, but someone grabs me from behind and lifts me into the air.

"No!" I scream, kicking against the man who tries to haul Ratohnhakéton onto his shoulder as well, but Ratohnhakéton bites at his hand and continues to pull at the planks pinning his mother to the ground.

"Stop it, stop it!" He demands to his mother, tears streaming down his cheeks. They dry from the heat before they reach his chin.

"You will think yourself alone, but know that I will be at your side. Always and forever," Zio rasps, her neck straining to speak clearly. "I love you."

Before Ratohnhakéton can reply, another man runs into the home and snatches him up and together, we are both escorted outside of the village. Ratohnhakéton fights against the man, but his strength outweighs him drastically.

"No, stop!" Ratohnhakéton insists, choking on his words, "Let me go, let me save her!"

Their wigwam, once standing tall and strong, collapses. Ratohnhakéton screams with agony, his cries mingling with the saddened, devastated wails of the village people. I hug my mother's leg tightly and sob; sob for the people now gone, sob for Zio and Ratohnhakéton, sob for my father who'd died just two years earlier.

The man sets Ratohnhakéton onto his feet and his moves to my side. I take his hand in mine, trying to comfort him. He grits his teeth and shakes, his hand squeezing mine hard enough to break bones. The anger in his eyes frightens me, and I not only sob for the weakened souls affected by this distaster, but for the people who caused this; who caused Zio's death.

"Anioniha tewaten'ron

Kahnawake ietsi'tewe

Tsethiiatken se'ra'na niha

Ne iethinoronhkwa

Kak are'no'wa tsi tekanato'ken

E'tho tiotirharenion

Kak are'non'wa tsi tekanato'ken

E'tho tiotirharenion"

"Friends, let's go back to Kahnawake

We will go home to see our loved ones

They will be out for a walk

Up and down the land

Waiting for our return"

A/N: Thanks for reading!