Moren and Arelle trudged through the dark forest. Moren had a dead wolf's corpse slung over his shoulder, and in his hand he carried a bow. Arelle trudged beside him, carrying a thick staff in her right hand. When Moren first began teaching Arelle magic, and Arelle had to live out in the wilderness with him, he had insisted that he would do the hunting and she would do the cooking, as he thought that's what females were supposed to do. But she wouldn't have it. She told him she would help him with the hunting, and he could help her with the cooking. They had quite a hassle about it, until finally Moren gave up, and in exasperation cried, "Fine, fine! Let the fiery maiden have her way! Let her help with the hunting!" Arelle smiled in triumphant. That had settled that.

Now Arelle and Moren were coming home from a hunting trip. Despite Arelle's constant attempt to do everything for herself, Moren kept trying to treat her like a delicate maiden. He brought her flowers, played his lyre for her, sang for her, and he even built a sort of tent-type one-roomed house for her, so she wouldn't have to sleep in the trees like he had always done before she arrived. Truly, she loved the attention, but acted as though she was mad at him for treating her as if she was so delicate.

But even so, Moren had to admit she was really quite tough. In fact, she was the one who had just killed the wolf. Moren had smelled the wolf a ways off, and they had snuck up on it. Moren was in a tree with his bow, and Arelle was on the ground below and a little away from him. Moren shot the wolf with an arrow, but the wolf was only hurt, and in it's rage saw Arelle standing in the bushes and immediately charged her. Arelle stood her ground, and as soon as the wolf was within distance, she whammed him across the skull with her staff. Moren was surprised when he came down to make sure he was dead. He said she had actually cracked his skull, she hit him with so much force. And then of course he cracked a few jokes about how that's what you get for messing with "the Fiery Maiden", to Arelle's exasperation. She then had picked the dead wolf up to carry it back, but he took it from her, saying ladies shouldn't have to carry dead corpses, at which she have him a half-glare and walked on.

Once they were back at the tent, Arelle went to gather plants and nuts for them to eat with the meat while Moren cleaned the wolf. Already she had learned from Moren all kinds of edible roots, plants, and nuts. Of course, besides that, she had also learned how to use both a staff and a bow, and was learning even more as far as magic went. She had now decided to be a Cleric, and Moren promised that as soon as she had complete control of the magic she already had, he would train her in the ways of the Cleric. Moren was always nice to her, but he could be a tough teacher, too. Yet he always seemed to be incredibly cheerful, encouraging, and optimistic, which made everything easier.

When Arelle came back with the food, she saw Moren, who had apparently already finished cleaning the wolf, standing outside the tent. He seemed to be smelling the air and looking down the hill their tent was on, into the shadows. He bade Arelle to come to him, and she did.

"Arelle, I smell something odd in the wind. I think it may be a stranger. I see you have your bow with you, let me get my sword from the tent." He said, as he went back into the tent. She looked down the hill and tried sniffing the air as Moren always did. She didn't see or smell anything peculiar, but she knew better then to doubt Moren. While she waited for him, she quietly stomped out the small fire outside the tent. Without the little light the fire gave off, the tent was almost completely covered in shadows from the trees over-head. He soon returned with sword in hand.

"Is it elf or orc, Moren?" she asked.

"Not orc I'm sure. No, not orc. But it has a strange smell. Still, I think it's elf. I smell blood, too. Blood and many other unpleasant things." He said, frowning. They both hid in the shadows. Arelle had her bow cocked and ready to fire. For many minutes they stood their, breathing quietly, as they watched and listened. Finally, Arelle saw something coming up the hill. It was too hard to see what it was though, at first. Eventually as he came out, Arelle saw that it was a man, clothed in black and red. As he came even closer, she saw that not all the red on him was actually clothing, he was bleeding badly. He wore a bright scarlet red scarf around his neck. He seemed to be hobbling slightly, as well. When he was about fifteen feet away from them, he suddenly jerked up, as if he had seen them.

"Well, well now. I didn't realize I wasn't alone." Moren stepped forward slightly.

"From your appearance, I'm guessing you're of some sort of outlaw." Moren said.

"Why yes, I am. And who might ye be, young fellow? It's awful dangerous in this forest alone."

"That is none of your concern. I suggest you leave at once. Turn around and go back the way you came from."

"Now, now, let's not be too hasty, me lad. I seem to be in rather a bad shape at the moment, and being the kind heart I see that you are, perchance you could take pity upon a rogue like me and give me a little food and bandages?"

Moren paused, considering the prospect. As he was doing so, Arelle stepped forward so that the rogue could see her and lowered her bow.

"Moren, of course we can help him." She looked at the rogue, and then at Moren. Moren looked at Arelle and whispered to her quietly,

"Arelle, the man's a rogue, he might kill us in our sleep! If I am not mistaken, I think he might be one of the Cutthroat clan!" At the word "Cutthroat" Arelle silently gasped. At that moment, the man took a step forward. Arelle's bow quickly flew back into place as she cocked it once again with the arrow.

"Woah there, lass! I mean ye no harm!" He said, raising his hands in surrendering posture.

"Who are you? Are you a Cutthroat?" She asked, her bow still tense,

"Well now, I suppose I can tell you. My name's Aka. Aka the Scarlet Cutthroat." At this Arelle gasp and began to quiver. Moren looked at her with confused concern.

"Get out." She said. Both of the men looked at her with confused looks.

"Is my name so famous that you should know who I be?"

"Get out, get out, Akinen the disgraceful!!" Arelle yelled at him, she was sweating now and shaking uncontrollably, the string on her bow was tense. Both of the men looked at her confused, but now Aka also looked angry. Aka stepped forward a step.

"And how might ye know my real name, lass?" He said in a deep, threatening voice.

"Away with you, I never want to see you again! Away, Akinen Mah'Alimah!!!" She yelled at him. At this Moren gasped. Mah'Alimah was Arelle's last name! Did this mean they were related? At this, Aka stepped forward, squinting his eyes at Arelle, as if to get a good look at her.

"I know I have never seen ye before, yet ye look strangely familiar. Who are ye?"

She paused, glaring at him. "I am Arelle Mah'Alimah, second daughter of Aekash and Arellia Mah'Alimah." He looked at her surprised for a moment, then suddenly grinned.

"Well, I'll be!" He exclaimed. Moren was desperately trying to figure out was going on when Aka said, "I see my brother now has himself a beautiful daughter."