Hey peoples! I'm very excited about my new story! Message me for some ideas, although I know where a lot of this is going. By the way, Yeremey is a Russian name :) It's pronounced the same way as 'Jeremey', but with a Y instead. In case you haven't noticed, I'm Russian (Belarussian) and I like Russian name :D. So yeah, READ AND REVIEW PLEASE! And check out my other story 'Identities Crossed', if you don't know it already. Just search the term 'Avina'. It'll come up. Btws, does anyone know why this story and my other one won't come up when I search it? :(

Mz. Padfoot14: Imagine MY excitement! People commented on my new story! I'm very glad I caught your attention. I definitely want this story to be different than my other one. Thanks a lot!

Luvergirlof books: Different as in different from my other story if you've read it, or different from the other Ranger stories that you've read? I hope that it's not in a bad way haha! Thanks a bunch, and me too!

22 years ago

Yeremey sighed contentedly as he lazily gazed at the clouds. He was lying on his back comfortably in the forest. Originally, he had gone in there to find a certain plant but spotting a perfect area that was more sunny than the rest, he decided that a little tanning wouldn't hurt. His eyes wandered the sky and he smiled as he spotted a cloud that looked like a hawk. Yeremey had always loved birds and birds loved him. Even now, there was a little finch that was inching its way towards him. With another sigh, he realized that he couldn't waste any more time. Sonera had to go run some errands later in the day, as she had reminded him the day before. With reluctance, he got up and slung his satchel on his back and proceeded to look for the purple plant. Any person that would have seen his maniacal grin would assume that he was possessed and in a sense, he was. He could not wait for this to go down.

His grey eyes lit up as he spotted the plant that he was looking for. It was growing in clumps next to an aged tree. He approached it and eyed it for a moment, judging how much he would need to pull his prank off. He shrugged and grabbed a handful. It should be enough. He stuffed it into his satchel and ran all the way home. Since he had used this route many times, he knew exactly how to get back without letting a.) anyone in and b.) anybody out. Only a person that knew this trail extensively (like him) would be able to get back. Yeremey's house came into view but he veered sharply to avoid it. His mother would throw a nasty fit if she realized what he was planning to do. She and his father alike hated it when he pranked them and his friends. But it was his way of showing them that he loved them. In a weird, comical way.

Soon, he reached the marketplace of Redmont. He casually avoided people until he saw Sonera's unmistakable reddish brown hair. He called out her name and she turned to his voice. A smile was placed on her face as she realized who it was. He grinned as he made his way towards her. She was wearing a long light green gown, compliments of being the sister of a diplomat. Sonera herself was hoping to be a diplomat, just as her sister and mother before her. Her mother had been a Courier, and one of the best. Histera, Sonera's sister, was Redmont's best diplomat. Sonera hoped to surpass both of them.

"Yeremey! How lovely it is to see you on this beautiful spring morning,"

It seemed that Sonera was in a very good mood this morning. He hid a grin as he thought about what was going to happen.

"It is, isn't it?" he replied cheerfully and ran a hand through his black hair. "And how have you been Lady Sonera?"

She blushed, much to his content. "Oh stop it, Yeremey. But I've been just fine. Mother and I baked a few apple tarts this morning. You must come by later to try them."

His mouth watered as he thought of the apple pastries that Miss Jenny made. She was Master Chubb's former apprentice and she had all but surpassed him. She was quite a nice lady. He liked her very much. She gave him a raspberry pastry for free once when he was a child. Now that he was fourteen, he had to pay though. A minor cost for her delicious cooking.

"I would love to. Perhaps you'll be the next Jenny, eh?"

Her laugh rang out. "None could be like Miss Jenny. She is a one of a kind. But," she smirked at him, her green eyes laughing. "at least mine are free."

He nodded expertly. Definitely better. He raised an eyebrow with a smile. "Shall we?" he held out an arm for her. She giggled and she looped her arm through his. Avoiding people while having another person on your arm is not as easy as it sounds like. Suddenly, he stopped.

"How about we go to a restaurant?" he asked, "Nothing fancy, but. You know."

She nodded thoughtfully. "That doesn't seem like a bad idea. But I have no money on me. We still have to go back to my mother's."

With his free arm, Yeremey waved aside her comment. "No worries, my dear."

"Yeremey, you're not paying for my food. You know I hate it when you do that."

"Ah, well the gentleman always pays for the lady, no matter how rich or poor he is."

She rolled her eyes. He was bringing up the poor card. Yeremey was not living in poverty. It was just that Sonera was somewhat more in the higher class because of her mother and sister. She sighed but allowed herself to be led to a cozy looking place.

"The King's Crown," she read the name aloud and chuckled, "A mighty name. Would the King approve though?"

He shrugged with his laugh. "Let's see, shall we?"

Yeremey had no real intention of eating. He was going to slip the purple plant into her food. It would probably work better with a soup or something. He would have to order some for himself. Realizing that the place was full on the inside (not that it looked popular. It was a remarkably tiny space) they sat outside and looked over the food. They did have soup, and they both ordered it. With his plan nearing the culmination, he mildly commented that Sonera's hair looked a bit wind-blown. She blushed a bright red before hurrying inside the restaurant to find a bathroom. Yeremey quickly pulled off his satchel and dug into it for the pale flowers. He scowled slightly as he realized how many useless things were in there. When had his mother given him this bread? It was as a hard as a rock! Ignoring the rest of the items in the bag, he looked around for any witnesses before tearing the plant up and stirring it into her soup. He sighed in relief as she came back just as he finished.

"Oh you haven't started eating, yet?" she sat down. "Well go ahead now!"

He slowly raised his spoon and tasted his own soup. His eyebrow slightly raised in surprise. The soup actually tasted rather good. He would have to come here more often. He stared at Sonera as she ate (drank?) her soup as well. He knew that the plant wouldn't have immediate effects. Probably, things would happen in maybe a couple of minutes. He almost began to quiver in anticipation. This was his best prank yet!

You see, what this particular plant was supposed to do was give somebody a... gas problem. A big gas problem. He smiled as he thought about how much she would berate him about this in the future. Soon, they both finished and they waved off any other food. Sonera had informed him that the apple tarts that she and her mother had made were quite large, enough for two people to share. He dropped the amount of coins on the table and they began to walk away when Sonera suddenly held her stomach. Yeremey tried his best to conceal his grin. Which all then turned to horror when she threw up in the street. He noticed that blood was running from her mouth. She began to breathe heavily and many people stopped on the street to help the young girl as Yeremey held her by the waist and continuously asked her if she was okay.

His head spun as she began to breathe harder and she threw up again. What was happening? This wasn't supposed to happen! Thanks to Yeremey's terrible luck, Baron Arald just so happened to be walking on the street at that particular moment. But much to Sonera's luck, a healer happened to be there just as well. The man ran over and sat her down in a chair as people surrounded her. He shooed them away to give her some room to breathe. He quickly told the Baron about needed something to which the Baron ordered some guards nearby to find for the doctor. Yeremey just stood in shock. What had he done? Had he given her too much? He was certain that it as the right plant! He pushed his way through the crowd to see his best friend.

"How is she? Will she be okay?" he asked the healer in an urgent voice.

He responded to the boy in a low tone, "It all depends if those guards come back on time."

His blood chilled and he ran down the street to find where they had gone. He dodged bystanders and took a right to the healer's house. Tom was his name, Yeremey believed. He ran inside to find the guards looking around and muttering anxiously about not being able to find "chamomile". Yeremey cursed.

"Are you three blundering idiots? The chamomile is right in front of your eyes, you bats!" they turned to him, surprised, as he snatched the daisy-like flowers off of the shelf. He ran out of the house with the guards on his heels. Once again, he dodged people left and right. He was hoping that the guards weren't trying to arrest him for badmouthing them. They'd get over it. He spotted the crowd and sped up and pushed through them.

"Move, move! Tom! Will this be enough?" Yeremey all but shoved the delicate flowers in the healer's face. Tom's eyes brightened.

"Yes, lad. That appears to be enough, but I need some boiled water! Quickly now!"

"You heard the man!" Yeremey bellowed. He pointed to the chef that had run out of The King's Crown. "You there! Chef! Get some hot water!"

Sensing the dangerous situation, he ran back inside and they patiently waited. Well, everybody waited while Yeremey alternated from bombarding Tom with questions to pleading to Sonera for forgiveness. She was unconscious though and he could only hold her hand and pray for the best. It took five agonizingly slow minutes of waiting before the chef appeared carrying a bowl with his cloth sheathed hands. The crowd stepped back in fear of jostling him and sending the hot water flying. He gave it to Tom who gestured for the chamomile. Yeremey handed it over and watched as the healer ripped up the simple plant and let it float on the water. He softly asked for a spoon to which the chef produced out of his pocket. Tom stirred it for a few moments, turning the water a brownish color.

Yeremey saw him take a spoonful and he helped the healer by gently holding up Sonera's head to give her the medicine. After some time of forcing her to drink the liquid, her face noticeably gained color and the sweat on her forehead began to dry. The crowd sighed in relief that they young girl was getting better. Soon, a few went back to their business while others decided to watch until the end. She had not woken up but she had definitely begun to look better. Yeremey hung his head in guilt and anger. He had never meant to take it that far, but it did. She could've been hurt much worse and it was his fault. He gently stroked Sonera's hand and he noticed out of the corner of his eye that the Baron was speaking with Tom. The aged healer was nodding confidently and Yeremey sighed. This was his fault and he knew it. He would admit it. He had to tell the Baron. And Sonera.