It had been a mouth and Saya was starting to show her personality more and more. She was finally putting her input in discussions between Will, Halt, and Alyss, but she was still isolated around others. She was excelling at all her prospects of being a Ranger except the fact she was still was poor cook even after a month of teaching and practicing it. Not that, she wasn't trying, but she was just wasn't good at it. Alyss had always joked that if she ever had a husband, he needed to know how to cook. They had all always laughed at that fact.

Halt had been focusing on teaching her battle strategy and field medicine, when Alyss and Will needed time alone, which didn't bother Saya at all at least she got to know Halt, and wasn't afraid him, now. Halt was impressed with her already familiarity with field medicine and her easy logic with battle strategy. He also, without Will, Alyss, Pauline, or anyone else's permission, taught her how to throw people into moats, even people bigger and stronger than her. Do not ask how they practiced.

Alyss had been tutoring her on Araluen and she was getting more confident in her speech every day. She had finally got her ranger cloak and bronze oakleaf, which she smiled all that day.

As the mouth past quickly, the day of the Gathering was here. Will had explained to Saya that the Gathering was where all the Rangers would be able to gather at one place and to be able to catch up with each other, as well as having some fun. They had spent the morning getting their supplies together and their horses ready, Halt and Will said good-bye to their wives and Saya waved bye to them as they left.

They had been traveling about a day when they decided to camp for the night. Will explained to Saya what their mission for her, at the Gathering, was and she smiled. She was going to enjoy this.

Halt and Will had put their stuff down at the grounds and where pitching the tents when Crowley came up.

"Will, where your apprentice?"

"I told her about what us Rangers do to see who has the best unseen movement, so she is hiding right now trying to catch Gilan."

"Gilan? She is going to have to be really good to catch him. She might as well try to catch me."

"We'll tell her to do that if she sees ya."

"If that kid can catch me, Halt, I won't drink coffee for 24 hours."

"You're on."

Crowley turned and left to his hiding spot. Will looked over at Halt and they both smiled.

As the sun began to set and everyone seemed to be there, they all had a greeting by Crowley, and as he was speaking Will couldn't stop smiling. Gilan, who was sitting next to Will, was suspicious of this. In front of everyone, Crowley looked at Will and said,

"Will, where is your apprentice?"

Will and Halt both looked at Crowley.

"I don't know, Crowley could you tell me?"

"What?"

Just then Crowley felt the touch of a metal blade behind the back of his neck. Everyone was silent as they saw a young, short girl with a long black braid, in a ranger's cloak, holding a knife to Crowley's neck.

He put his hands up in surrender, and looked at Halt. "I guess that 24 hours starts now?"

"Yes it does." Halt replied with a smirk on his face.

Crowley turned around to face his attacker, and was humidified by what he saw. Will stood up and put a hand on her shoulder, as she sheathed her knife.

"Crowley this is Saya Kage. Saya this is Crowley the chief of the Ranger Corps."

Crowley put a hand out to hers. "You're good kid, I underestimated you."

Saya nodded and shook hands with him. The other Rangers at the Gathering were still speechless about what this girl did.

Saya sat down in-between Halt and Will, and Gilan introduced himself. They had all spent hours catching up. When everyone started drinking coffee, Crowley excused himself, and made a small fire by his tent. Halt had thought it would be funny if they gave him decaf coffee, so Halt made a pot. Saya hadn't drank any of hers yet, so she felt the need to give it to him. So when the decaf coffee was ready, Halt got a mug and poured it. He handed it to Saya and winked. She took it and walked away from the large fire to Crowley's small fire pit. On the way there she switched the mugs. Crowley looked up at her as she handed him the mug.

"Halt said that you might want a cup." Saya said. "But I will have to warn you its decaf." She winked. He took the cup and held it in his hands. "Truce."

"Sure thing kid, but on one condition," she nodded, and he continued. "When I have a sceme like that in mind for Halt, you have to agree to be a part of it."

"As long as it doesn't get me killed."

They both nodded, as if saying a silent agreement. She walked toward the big fire sipping the decaf coffee, it wasn't far from what regular tasted like. She hid a smile as Crowley gave the performance that he didn't know it was "decaf" and was "surprised". It worked because everyone started laughing their heads off.

The night was concluded and Saya settled in her tent that Halt and Will had pitched for her since she was able to catch Crowley. She slept knowing she had gotten her job done. And made a new friend.

The next day she was sent to train with the one year apprentices, she was embarrassed to say she was nervous; she hadn't had a typical conversation with people her age since…she could remember. As she walked toward the meeting place, Will pulled her aside.

"You have nothing to be worried about you got great aim and good speech."

Saya nodded and Will patted her on the back as she left toward the meeting place with her bow in hand. She saw that there were five other first-year apprentices. The Ranger, Meralon, had set up 10 targets for each of them to shoot at. When he heard she was Will's apprentice, he knew from last night anyway, he had decided to make her life a nightmare in the training. He told her that if she shot all ten targets perfectly without missing then she could go back to camp. But if I didn't I had to stay there and practice 'til she did. He had also told her to call him sir, but she ignored that, because of Will saying, "Never call a Ranger sir." Just then Will, Halt, Gilan, and Crowley walk up from a distance and watched. Crowley knew Meralon would single her out because of her master, but he wanted to see how she would react to this.

She picked up her bow and locked an arrow into it. Then she began to hit each target in a matter of seconds, it had seemed like she was done in a blink of an eye. Each target was hit perfectly. She looked back at Meralon who was shocked and then to her master. She smirked. Will walked down to her and patted her on the shoulder.

"Good job." Will said.

A smile appeared on her face as she looked at him.

Will looked at Meralon, who was stunned. "She's good isn't she?" He looked at her and told her to head back to camp and she did. Then he turned his attention back to Meralon. "You can hold a grudge against me, but don't hold against her." Will then walked away to catch up with his apprentice.