A month or so after Alloran and I had dubiously begun our courtship, Faliter announced her choice of husband in Prince Generic, Altrix-Elham-Tahil. I was a bit surprised; males like Prince Altrix usually only flirted with females like Faliter, not marry them. Not because Faliter was silly or had some other major character default but his family was much higher socially than ours was. His uncle was on the Electorate at the time. Leave it up to Faliter though to use "feminine charm" to get what she wanted. My parents were in throes of praise for her, how he would improve our standing, make an excellent husband and etc. I for once, decided to keep my concerns to myself. It did not seem a terribly sensible match; a vivacious person like Faliter with a stiff military personage, but she really did seem to love him and she could have always done worse.

I had my own love life to attend to after all, as much of a touch and go affair that was. A combination of flowery speeches on Alloran's side, cynicism or embarrassment on mine, followed by Alloran teasing me and me teasing him back. I found soon that I enjoyed his company; he was witty yet sincere, intelligent and never used a condescending voice with me. Yet, I wasn't sure if I wanted to ever take that big step with him and be bound to him for the rest of my life. I liked him, but I didn't love him yet, and I was somewhat afraid of loving him.

It was at this time of uncertainty that fate finally intervened. About two weeks or so after my sister's engagement my younger brother, Narlit, had need of a report on the new generation of fighter models for the Academy. My parents were busy with a deadline on some spaceship component; Faliter was off with her beloved, so the task of escorting him to the spaceport fell on me. I did not mind terribly, Narlit was for the most part a kind and well behaved boy, but a bit too nosy for his own good; much like Faliter. They inherited from our Mother really.

((Has Alloran flown on mnay missions?)) he asked me as we walked side by side.

((Define many please,)) I answered.

((Well I guess like, more than three.)) he defined.

((I am unsure about the exact number, but yes about that.))

((What did he do? Did he man any shredders?)) Narlit asked excitedly. Or father not being a military personage and Narlit fell of the exuberance of youth on the subject; he often gleaned encounters from other people.

((Truthfully, I do not know.)) I told him.

((Why not?))

((Because he's never told me of such things I guess))

((Why not?))

((Because we don't talk of such things,)) I said getting a little flustered.

((Why not?))

((Because its not a…we just don't!)) I cried.

((Then what do you talk about?)) Narlit asked, like warrior's only walked in the mist of military glory that he did.

((Things you'll find out about later,)) I assured him. ((Really Narlit, do you think a warrior's life revolves around his work? Also, I doubt any future princes of yours will appreciate this impertinent tendency of yours.))

Narlit pouted for a bit after that, nevertheless, he soon came around and began talking about the fighter we were about to see for melancholy was unnatural to him. We arrived soon enough and I quickly found that I had to trot to keep up with Narlit's excited pace. In fact he was so excited that he did not pay any attention to where he was going and ran directly into the side of a gruff looking warrior, actually managing to knock him over. He also fell over him since he did not even have the time to stop at all.

The warrior did not take it well, ((Why did you not watch where you were going you reckless little piece pf dung!)) he snapped.

So much for warriors being the pinnacle of an Andalite citizen, I thought to myself as a I caught up to the scene. Narlit was frozen on the ground. He was still young after all and a stranger had never yelled at him before, nor looked at him so angrily.

((What? Are you stupid or something? Or do you think you're amusing?)) he interrogated Narlit bringing his scared face right up to the now trembling child.

((Stop! Stop abusing my brother! He's only a child and it was an accident!)) I interjected coming between him and Narlit.

((Keep the brat under control then. It is unseemly for him to be running down great warriors.)) He glared levelly at me.

I glared right back. ((Great warrior? Do not make me laugh, no Prince should behave this way. You are merely a loud voiced affront to common courtesy!)) I spat at him. He was everything I hated about the opposite sex. These males who thought they were better than everyone else and were free to treat everyone inferiorly. No not everyone, not their superiors, just everyone below them.

((You would insult me and heed this injury done to me? If you were not female I would strike you to the ground!)) He snapped with a twitch of his tail.

((You think you would do you? I sincerely doubt it, that you could even now.)) I told him. Despite the tension in the air I wanted to smile, I was probably the first person who'd ever stood up to the bully, no doubt the first female. It felt good in a way, of course there was also the fact I couldn't bluff forever, Sure a few friends of mine had showed me a few tail moves, but it wasn't going to be enough to stand against a full trained warrior. I was relying more on the crowd influencing him to back down rather than strike at me.

However to my surprise he only laughed at me. ((Female you are quite audacious, however you are only making a fool of yourself you could not land one blow on me.))

I think my pride snapped about then, his smug expression, the knowing expression of the other warriors of the crowd, I knew I should just gather Narlit and walk away. But I couldn't stand the thought of the shame and humiliation. I could not stand the thought of him winning; that arrogant dunce, and their laughter ringing in my ears. Its exactly the reason I'm not a "good" female, I'm too proud I would not be subjected.

So against all common sense I hit swung my tail and hit him right between the eyes with the flat of my tail. He staggered back, obviously surprised beyond all measure, and how good it felt to see that. However the next second a felt a sharp pain from my cheek, he had struck me back. Then the next second after that, someone had me around the waist, pulling me away. People surrounded him as well, imploring him to stop.

((You fool that's Warrior Alloran's chosen female!))

((What if the Prince finds out!))

((Let me go!)) I snapped at the male who was pulling me away, someone I didn't know.

((And just what do you plan on accomplishing?)) he asked me with an arch expression.

((Cutting off his head!)) I replied.

((You really should have been born a male.)) He told me but did not let me go. I could have fought him but I didn't, part of me knew this was for the best. Narlit followed in a daze and after we had moved around behind a fighter the interloper let me go.

((Who are you?)) I demanded of him.

((Feyorn-Ishill-Torret, and you are Jahar -Theril-Elrhol)) he answered.

((How did you know that?)) I asked very much surprised.

((I am Alloran-Semitur-Corass's shorm.)) He smiled, ((and he has told me much about you. He was not joking when he said you had a temper.)) He frowned then, ((and I think you better get some medical attention for that wound,)) he indicated my cheek.

I raised my hand to my cheek and touched it gingerly. My fingers came away bloody. ((I will attend to it at home,)) I informed him. I finally actually looked at him closely, he was of medium size, well built, and was tolerable to look at. ((You say you are Alloran's shorm?)) I asked him.

((Yes, I fear we were not introduced earlier because I have been off on duty.))

((Are you a warrior?)) Narlit asked, apparently just being yelled at by one didn't take away any of his like for them.

((Yes)) Feyorn answered him before turning back to me.

((How did you know me?)) I asked him.

He smiled, ((Well Alloran showed me a holo of you, he really thinks a lot of you.))

I looked away and blinked, oh great, he was showing me off to his friends, and I wasn't sure whether to be faltered or outraged. ((Well not after this,)) I acquiesced.

((I do not think so, rather I think it is Warrior Kaplan who should be worried.)) Feyorn assured me.

I looked at him, ((I do not understand, it is my affair.))

((Heh, you and Alloran are courting are you not? Believe me he's going to think it his affair too.))

I knew he was right, and arguing about it with him was going to do little good. ((I must say good-bye then, and must ask you please do not inform Alloran of this before I do.))

Feyorn inclined his head, ((I will, however word of this will fly fast.))

I sighed, ((I know. It was nice to meet you Feyorn-Ishill-Terrot.))

((As to you, Jahar-Theril-Elrhol.)) He answered with a small bow in the traditional way before I took my leave of him.

((What will you tell Mother and Father?)) Narlit asked me as we began walking home.

((We will tell them about the wound that I run into a branch, and that the fighters were not their yet.)) I said, though I knew the lie would only support me for so long.

Narlit was silent for a few minutes after that, dragging his hooves a bit on the ground. ((Thank you,)) he then told me shyly, ((for standing up for me.))

((Just promise me you will never grow up to be that way,)) I told him with a small smile.

((I will grow up to be a great prince who protects the people, not boss people around,)) he assured me in such a serious voice I wanted to laugh There was a storm brewing over my head despite the day being clear above my head. Yet I felt that by standing up to Kaplan and by my brother's gratefulness I had done good. The wave would break soon that I had created but under the gorgeous golden and crimson sky with Narlit by my side in all of his innocent beauty, I could pretend everything was right.

Insert long apology here You know how life is, what with computers breaking down…and other stuff…so I beg you to join me again in my literary adventure!

Psst...That means review people.