author's note: a story of the bravery and empathy people share.

To all my fellow Australians

fighting the fires raging across

Australia. Thank you to the CFA and it's

volunteers,we value your work more

than you know. Stay strong

Australia.

-Alice.S.C

Chapter 1

Alice knocked an arrow to her bow, aimed, and fired, within the space of a heartbeat. She watched the arrow fly into her target, Right in the center of the one hundred and fifty meter target.

'Fifty meters to go' She said. Storm raised his head, looking at her.

What was that?

'Nothing Storm' Alice replied. 'Nothing at all.'

Storm rested his head once more.

If you say so.

Alice smiled.

'Ranger!' Someone called. Alice slipped the arrow that had been knocked to her bow into her quiver, turning. It was the messenger.

'Razial?' She asked. 'Whatever is the matter?'

Razial walked up to her. 'Baron Tyler requests your presences as soon as possible, Ranger.'

Alice nodded. 'I'll get onto that now. Thank you'

Razial nodded, then turned around, walked up to and swung astride his horse, and rode off. Alice sighed.

'Just another day on the job, eh Storm?'

Storm looked up at the sound of his masters voice. He barked pleasantly. Sure is.

Alice whistled gently for Blackie, and soon enough, the black-coated assassin battle horse strode up.

Before he even stopped, Alice swung up into the saddle. She missed Annabelle, she really did. But Mother Nature isn't always nice. She mused at the word "Mother".

'Some mother she is.'

She looked at Storm, who still lay on the ground, ears pricked, head tilted, awaiting further orders.

'Are you coming or what?' Alice asked. Storm got up, stretched, then positioned himself a meter in front of his master and her mount. He usually did, he liked knowing what was in front of them, and what danger might be beholden to Alice.

'D'ya think we should bring Arctos?' Alice asked. Arctos was the little Kelpie pup that Alice had found whimpering and alone, lost in the forest. He looked like he'd once had a collar, but there was no sign of it, so Alice took him in.

Blackie whinnied, tossing his head. Not old enough. He's only about one year old.

'And he still finds anything he can wrap his teeth around as food' Alice added. 'Yeah, your right boy, we'll leave him. If he hasn't woken up, he's probably keen on staying.'

And with that, with a click of her tongue, She drove Blackie into a steady lope. Blackie had similar training to a Ranger horse, Bob had seen to that at first sight of him.

As she rode, she drew rein on Blackie slightly so he was guided into a trot. Homemade barricades of household items were set up in front of farm houses.

That's odd, Alice thought. Then she sniggered. This is like the mission report from when The Outsiders were around, Alice thought, I wonder if Crowley needs any help with paper work again, Halt's reports are quite entertaining.

Blackie tossed his head, neighing. So it seems.

She was still surprised that the horse was able to read her thoughts, but she shrugged. It wasn't hurting anyone. Then, she picked up the scent of something.

She leaned forward, and spoke to Storm. 'D'ya smell that?'

The wolf yapped. Sure do.

'You know what to do' Alice said. The wolf shot off, Blackie following. Alice held on tight to the reins.

Storm stopped at the border of the trees. Alice swung down from the saddle, peering through the trees. A ash coated farm stood before her, the barn nothing more than burnt wood on the ground. There were two people talking outside the farm house. Two men. 'Should've brought Arctos' Alice muttered. Blackie nudged her.

But cha didn't.

'Whatever, you' Alice said. 'Let's go have a talk with the boys, shall we?'

Blackie snorted derisively. You're not a big talker when it comes to boys.

'Very funny' Alice said sardonically. Blackie whinnied, shaking his mane.

Your welcome.

Taking hold of Blackie's lead rein, she looked at Storm. 'Follow.'

The wolf yapped in agreeance. Alice stepped out of the trees.

'Ranger!' The first man called, relieved. 'We were just debating whether we should see you or not.'

'Lucky I was 'round 'en, eh?' Alice said, approaching. 'I've been asked to see Baron Tyler, so I don't have much time. What's going on here?'

'Bandits lit the barn on fire' Said the second man. He was a smoker, by the looks of him. 'Swooped in, lit the barn, and left as quickly as they came.'

Alice frowned. 'Did you get a look at what they wore?'

'The smoker shook his head. But the first man continued. He looked like the strong, silent type. Certainly strong.

'They wore chain mail surcoats over a white long sleeve and grey pants' He reported. 'They also had swords at their waist.'

'Did you catch an insignia?' Alice asked, starting to get a sick feeling in her stomach.

'Yes' He replied. How he described it sickened Alice. It was her stepfathers logo. But he was dead. How could they be around? Maybe they appointed a new general.

Alice chewed her lip thoughtfully. 'I'll see what I can do. I just need your names.'

'Aaron' The man declared. 'And he's Stephen.'

Alice nodded. 'Thank you.'

And with that, Alice swung astride Blackie, and without any obvious urging, turned him to the way she'd came, the way the road was, and urged him into a steady lope into the trees.

'Did she have a wolf?' Aaron asked Stephen. Stephen nodded.

'So it appeared.'

Alice rode Blackie at a fast trot down the road. She was slightly behind schedule, but that was okay. She hadn't been appointed a time to see Tyler, just as soon as possible.

It didn't take too much longer to get to the village. She rode through at a walk, as felt appropriate.

She swung off at the castle.

'Ranger Alisaria Callihan' Alice said, showing the guards her silver oak leaf that hung at her neck. 'I have an appointment with his lordship.'

The guards nodded, and let her through. She put Blackie in the stables, and headed across the courtyard to the main keep. As she climbed up the tower, she took the steps two at a time, as she felt she was late, for some reason. Slowing as she reached Tyler's it, she opened the anteroom door.

She nodded as the secretary as he realized her presence. 'Is Baron Tyler available?' Alice asked. 'Razial sent for me.'

The secretary nodded. 'He certainly is.'

The secretary got up and opened the door for her, and she went through gracefully. She nodded her thanks to the secretary, before he closed the door behind her.

Tyler was asleep.

Again.

Alice cleared her throat, Tyler waking with a jolt.

'You needed to see me, my lord?' Alice asked smoothly.

'Yes I did' Tyler replied. 'Did you notice the changes on the way here?'

'As a matter of fact I did, my lord' Alice replied in the same, calm tone. 'I saw one place had been burnt. What's the trouble?'

'Bandits passed through here last night' Tyler disclosed.

Alice frowned. 'Last night, my lord?'

Tyler nodded.

'That's odd' She clarified. She'd seen the fact that they were her stepfather's mercenaries. 'I'll talk to Ranger Crowley about it, my lord.'

And with that, Alice gave the Baron a polite curtsy, and left.