[Vinati Ryder]

Ryder peered into a thick sheet of hair hanging over her bright orange eyes. She flipped it back, running a careless hand through it before capturing it in a thick ebony band. She walked at at a leisurely pace, her hands tucked carefully into the pockets of her tunic. Behind her, Parker meandered closely, blinking every now and then to refresh his eyes, though he kept staring at Ryder's back. "What?" she asked him, tossing a glance backward to shoot into his soul.

"Huh?" he asked, retaliating. "Oh. Nothing." He quickly looked away, trying to take up the appearance of an elderly, wise man. He scratched the stubble on his chin before he met her gaze again. She was walking backward now. "What do you mean by nothing?" she inquired, watching him warily. He cleared his throat, taking up a bit of authority. He never did answer her. Ryder, peeved by this, turned back around and continued to walk, her hand reaching back to stroke the tip of an arrow in the quiver located on her back. She smiled slyly when Parker gulped.

He was so sure she wanted to murder him. Ah... Brothers.

They continued through the quiet.

"Francis!" Ryder's voice erupted from the silence like a gunshot. She skipped forward, landing with a gentle thump in front of a stout character with his arms knotted with muscles. A large hand flopped onto her shoulder, followed by a deep laugh. Colorful leaves from above swayed in the gentle breeze.

"You're going to help us again, huh?" he asked, glancing down at her with his icy blue eyes. Through his mane of golden hair she could see his angled nose and defined features. He looked in his mid-twenties, his stubby chin looking like it could use a shave... but he had respect. The entire hunting group followed his orders without daring to question them.

Ryder playfully rolled her eyes, slapping her own hand onto his thick shoulder. "Of course, Fran," she told him, shaking her head in a rather large motion, obviously unsurprised how he refused to change. Yes, this was the same Francis. He never altered. Ryder looked around her, drinking in the appearances of the young men, about her age, leaning up against the thick trunk of a gnarled oak. A few of them tilted their heads downward in recognition, others giving her a lopsided smile of respect. As she moved forward to speak to one of them, Francis spied her gangly brother, his eyes gleaming with a sort of disapproval.

"I see you brought Parker..." he announced for her.

Ryder turned to see Parker fidget uneasily. She then received a curious glance from Francis. "Oh, he just wanted to come along, you know, and help us," she grunted, toiling with her hair and watching Fran in a pleading manner. "He won't bother us."

"Yeah? You won't bother us, boy?" Fran addressed Parker. They were nearly the same age and yet Francis seemed so much more assertive and controlling, ready to teach him like a skilled man teaches his apprentice. Parker was far from apprentice, resembling dirt.

"No, sir. No, I won't bother you," he muttered.

"Hm?"

"No, sir," Parker said a bit louder this time.

Francis nodded his approval. "Good." He turned to Ryder, and then toward the entire group. "Then we move out," he announced, pointing forward as his ragged clothes sagged on his frame. "And quietly."

With that, they all raised their heads and sauntered into the woods.

"Keep up, boy," he added to Parker, making the whole group erupt with snickers and guffaws.