"No! Come back!" a young maiden's shout echoed along the craggy hillside upon the foothills of a great snowy mountain range. A flock of sheep were grazing peacefully about the hillside, and a maiden was standing at the edge of the flock and caught a straying sheep with the hook of her staff. The shepherdess after bringing back the straying sheep, slumped down upon a rock nearby. She tossed her long blond hair behind her shoulders, and sat still, keeping an eye upon the sheep.

A black dog lay down a few feet away from her, keeping an eye upon the sheep, as it wagged it's tale calmly. A wind blew down from the mountain, bringing with it a cold shiver to the lonely girl. Winter was coming fast, it was already September, and before halfway through that month, the many lakes in Adrin would be frozen over. A gentle fog crept over the hillside, as was common in Adrin, and she could not see very far around herself.

Her thoughts drifted away in the fog, flying high above the tall mountains around her. She, a poor shepherdess and a serf of the great land owning Baron, Sir Andrus of North-Tynendell, had little hope to ever own her own home or leave the service of such a mighty lord. Not that she had great dreams, nay, it was better at that time for a young peasant girl to be under the protecting guard of Sir Andrus. He was a just man, and she was lucky to be under his service, compared to the other great land owning barons of that country who were known for their cruelty and unjustness to their serfs. She just wished she were out of her brother's power, her brother was the one whom she had to fear, no lord or baron could inflict pain upon her as well as her brother.

She stood up off of the stone and walked to a small tree standing at the edge of the craggy hill before the hill dropped about fifty feet below. Latisha leaned against it, letting the cool wind blow against her cheeks and fair hair. She smiled, trying to ignore the fact that she would have to go home to her brother in less than an hour and bring back the flocks to the small village of serfs, bringing each lamb to it's rightful owner until the next morning when she would fetch them together again and lead them out into the wild hills around the village.

Latisha enjoyed being alone in the great wild hills of North-Tynendell, a region of the country Adrin. Many was the day she slept in the small trees, or lay in the short grasses that grew all around. She watched a family of rabbits, and after many hours of watching and patient waiting on her part, she discovered their cozy nest in a bramble bush. That had been the early spring, now the family of gray rabbits had grown up, strong and sturdy. But she had tamed the two young rabbits, and now, as she sat down by the tree, next to the bramble patch, she waited quietly until two gray male rabbits hopped forth and nibbled the late dying grass in their small twitching mouths. Latisha gently reached over and petted the larger of the two rabbits, who took a special liking to her more so then the other one.

For a few quiet moments Latisha talked softly to the rabbit, stroking between it's two ears that stuck strait up on top of it's head. The sudden barking of Gythen her black dog made her jump to her feet forgetting her daydreams. See soon saw the object of the dog's barking, a young man stood a few yards away. By one look, Latisha reconzed him as one of the villagers whom she had seen occasionally, but never actually spoken too. He turned towards her and seemed to see her standing there for the first time, for he looked slightly surprised. He gave a friendly smile, and made as if to say something, but Gythen at that instant lunged forward towards him, catching him off guard. The dog leapt snarling upon the young man, knocking him completely to the ground.

"No! Come back, Gythen!" Latisha cried in sudden horror, running up to the attacking dog, trying to pull him away from the stranger. After a minute or two, the girl managed to pull the dog off of the boy, who stood quickly to his feet, emerging from the attack with only a few scratches to show of the encounter. He grinned rather sheepishly and made a boyish nod of the head to show his recognition of a young girl.

"I'm sorry, miss," he said in a rather boyish tone as his face grew slightly red.

Latisha smiled shyly. "It was my dog, I'm sorry -," she cut off short as she looked about herself, her face draining color. The sheep had been desterbed by the barking dog, and by now had scattered in every direction. Latisha looked about helplessly, wanting to sink into the ground rather than face her brother and the villagers when they found out the sheep were missing and it was already late in the afternoon, there was hardly any chance she could get them all round up before dark. She could have burst into tears there and then, had  not the boy been there.

He must have seen her expression and known instantly why for he said in a good natured tone, "They couldn't have gotten far, come, let's find them."

Latisha looked up in surprise and doubt. "I -- I can find them," she murmured shyly. "I'm sure you have other things to do."

"Don't be senseless, you know you can't possibly find them before dark," he smiled. "It was my fault anyway."

Latisha looked down, not used to conversing with anybody except her brother, and that could hardly be considered conversing. The whole thing, speaking to a stranger, was new to her, and not altogether comfortable.

He saw her uneasiness and so spoke accordingly. "My name is Hadrian. Come along, let's find the stray flock," here he gave an encouraging nod accompanied by a boyish grin.

"I am Latisha," Latisha said softly, following close behind Hadrian as they set out to find the sheep.

He nodded, "So what do you like to do when you're not trying to find the sheep?" he asked as they continued on their way, trying to strike a conversation.

Latisha was silent for a moment, then replied, "I sit and talk to my friends," she said softly. "Mostly the wild animals. I know many of them, and they are my constant companions."

Hadrian slowed his pace slightly, paused as if he were going to say something, but decided against it. "Do you know any of the village girls about your age?" he asked instead.

Latisha shook her head, "Nay," she whispered. "My brother --," she stopped herself. "I don't get around to the village very often, I'm content to stay by myself with all the wild animals about me." she finished, trying to cover up her falter.

The two were silent for a few moments, and the conversation came and went as the two found all the stray sheep. Once the sheep were rounded up, the sun was begging to set in the sky.

"Thank you," Latisha smiled shyly at Hadrian.

"It was the least I could do," he smiled. "I'll see you by and by like as not, though hopefully I won't terrify your sheep again," he grinned.

"I hope not," she grinned back for the first time, as they parted upon their separate ways.

~The Authoress