Neryssa's life had been a turbulent one, with her sister leaving suddenly and music leaving the house she called a home. At that time it seemed that all life and happiness had fled from her. There were many times Neryssa found herself in the same spot she and Nadiya had escaped to. Where music had flowed freely like the waves of the sea. Many a time the youngling had wandered the coast line on outings looking for things. She had found a few shells that when blown through created sounds. Taking these Neryssa tried making her own music. It was just never the same, nor did it help that her brothers picked on her for it.

The idea was discarded as a failure as the shells were tossed back to the sea. As pretty as they had been, Neryssa knew she would never make the music her sister had. Dark clouds hovered over Neryssa as she grew into the age most become a Prentice to a trade. But she was stumped, what else was out there?

'Come on, Festival is in town. No time to be sulking around.' that was her mother's voice, but Neryssa wasn't really in the mood.

Dark clouds and all, Neryssa followed her parents, sister and brother to the festival. She wasn't in the least bit interested, but it was time away from the house. Children ran around with bright colored bits of cloth, others pulling on the strings of kites. Neryssa could only sigh and look away, she really didn't want to be here.

"Can I just go back home?" Neryssa whined as she moped behind the group.

'Keep up, you have been in that house too long. Time for some fresh air.' was her father's answer, this only made Neryssa look away in a scowl.

"Fine." She muttered, staring off into the distance and not really where she was going.

The day didn't seem to get much better the more they wandered. Stopping at vendors to purchase trinkets, cloth and sweets. The Matori family, specially the boys who got wooden swords to play with. Dancing around the crowd to strike at each other even when their mother shouted to be careful of others. They were always boys to the end, no matter how old the got. Neryssa herself eyed the swords, but shook her head.

"Idiots" she would mutter before looking at a booth that held fans, hair accessories and other finery for ladies.

Giving an inward shrug to herself, she stepped over and looked at the fans. Some were large, others small to be easily hidden from sight, but fashionable. Picking up one of the larger fans, teal silk feeling cloth tied around the rib ends. Opening the fan, it was made of the same teal fabric with thin wooden ribs painted with strange designs. The ribs looks like anything could break them, but when folded, strong enough to smack her brothers if they bothered her... Like about now?

'That thing looks silly Nery, why you looking at that thing?' Asked Nyl as Nylo added in his two cents.

'Yea, get a sword and we can all fight each other.'

Neryssa turned on her brothers, both being a little taller then herself. They were broad at the shoulders now and able to heft things heavier then themselves. Closing the fan with a snap, the ribs lining up with the harder ends. Tilting her head up a bit she swung the fan to hit them both on side the head.

"I think this will do" she said as both boys rubbed their ears. "I'll take it." She told the vendor who stared, ready to say something about her goods being used in such a manner.

There was a satisfied look on her face as her brother glared in her direction. She was often not the funnest to be around, that's what they always said. She just didn't play the same games as they liked to play. When not helping their other sister with her inventions. When the boys dashed off in another direction, Neryssa snapped the fan back open to wave it in a way to cool herself off. Not that it was all that hot or humid here.

"This will do just fine." she muttered with a small smile.

Neryssa turned away from where her brothers had gone, walking further down the row. She looked at other things that were for sale. Stopping at a food vendor, smoked fish on a stick. Those sounded tastey about now. With her family off on their own searches, Neryssa had time to be by herself and savor the things she wanted to. Closing the fan and tucking it into her sash, the pink one she never went anywhere without, Neryssa purchased two smoked fish on a stick.

Finding a secluded spot to sit and eat, not knowing that someone was lurking in the shadows. A hand rested on her shoulder, making the young Matori just about jump out of her skin. Turning quick and leaping to her feet, Neryssa turned to see someone dressed in rather bright clothing. Though in some way it didn't seem like their style. The person was a woman, one who looked like she danced for a living, if not for a pass time.

'Horribly sorry to startle you.' The woman laughed, her voice almost sounding like bells. 'i was trying not to startle you as a beetle had landed on the back of your shirt.'

Neryssa spun around trying to see, but made things even worse, the woman laughed even more before taking hold of Neryssa's shoulders to end her movements and pull the insect off and toss it elsewhere. Flustered, Neryssa looked back at the woman.

"Thanks.. I think?" she said not knowing what really to stay. "i didn't think anyone else was here, everyone seems in that direction. Where the dancers are performing." She pointed to where crowds of people gathered to watch different dancers from different regions.

'Oh yes, I probably should be, but I have other jobs then just showing off.' The woman tells Neryssa before stepping back into what shadows there were.

"What do you mean by that?" Neryssa asked, but the woman seemed to all but vanish.

Well that was even the more frustration. Appear to just remove a beetle from the back of her shirt, then vanish again. Rubbing her ear fins, the Matori stalked towards the direction the woman had vanished. Well, she would have before an arrow slipped past her nose and sunk into a tree. The angle had been just where she had been sitting. Shock made her freeze before two bodies tumbled from the shadows. One looked like an older man, dressed in black clothing to hide in the shadows. The other the very woman she had been talking to.

'Well, that was a close one, I should say.' the woman grunted as she straddled the man she pinned now to the ground, wrestling to disarm him and keep herself safe. 'Still been seated there, you might not be here now.'

"Was he aiming at me?" Neryssa asked looking at the man, his hood falling back to show that he was Oban. Someone she certainly didn't know, having never left Matori. Though she had tried many times in her past.

'Don't think so, more so me. Ain't that right?' the woman snapped as the Oban fought to untangle his crossbow from one of her daggers.

'Would have had you too, if you hadn't moved away from the girl.' the oban snapped, his voice husky with age. 'revenged for taking down half my crew.'

The woman laughed, Neryssa backing away slightly. The Oban struggled even more before throwing the woman off. Swinging to his feet, he darted around to grab at Neryssa, the commotion attracting attention from those around. Lovely, she liked being the center of attention, but never in this manner. Growling lowly to herself, the man holding her around the shoulders, her hands balling into fists. This was about as bad as her brothers grabbing a hold of her.

"Will you kindly get your hands off me?" Neryssa growled, but got little response from the Oban, besides his grip growing tighter. "I won't say it again."

The Oban shorted, shifting his grip to grasp her around the waist. That was the last straw, not even Nylo and Nyl grabbed her like that. Pulled the fan she just brought, she clapped the metal housing of the fan against his ear. This made the Oban yelp and release the Matori, staring at her as he rubbed the side of his head.

'Cheeky little thing aren't you?' he spat, forgetting his real target for a moment.

That moment wasn't put off too long before the woman in dancers garb tackled him down again, the impact making him lose grip on the crossbow. One that he hadn't even thought to arm with another bolt. This time, from the shock of being struck by the young Matori and now spawled on his back. Hands above his head, much to say he didn't favor the dagger at his throat either.

'Imagine that, taken down by a kid. Getting soft aren't we?' the woman laughed as the Oban grunted.

'Got a kid of my own. Though you should know that, you've stalked my family long enough.' he grumbled loudly.

'And a shame that is. Now get out of here before you make more of a scene.' She said getting off the Oban and turning away. 'Thank you for your assistance. I will get him again when no one is looking' She whispered the last bit, making it look more like a show then actual fighting.

With the crowds leaving, some grumbling that it was over so soon. Neryssa's parents had been standing near the back, came forward to embrace her as she nearly fell to the ground. The things that happened on outings, she didn't know if she wanted to leave home again. Well the more pressing question was, could something like that happen to Nadiya? Pulling away from her parents, Neryssa looked at the dancer, if you wanted to call her that.

"What is your name?" Neryssa asked, "And what was all that?"

'Names Marydin.' came the answer, 'That was just a sniper thinking he could take an assassin at her own game. Took down the rest of his crew who thought they could do the same.'

Neryssa could see that Marydin was trying to play it all off, but there seemed to be more that wasn't being said. But this Assassin thing seemed a little interesting, just she wasn't sure how it actually worked. While when she was a Youngling, her heart was set on a profession of dancing. Now, after what has happened, Neryssa found herself walking down another path. While Dancing was her passion, she wanted a means of protection those she loved. More so when she headed out to find Nadiya and whatever adventures she might go on in the near future.

"This might be out of the blue, but can you teach me how to use a dagger? How to become what you are?" Neryssa asked, while her parents watch, a mix of shock and horror on her mother's face.

'It'll be hard work and once you start there's no going back.' Marydin warned, not too taken back by the request. 'You have to be really sure about this.'

Neryssa looked back at her parents, as if they could give her a yes or no answer to what she was thinking. Taking a breath she looked back towards the Assassin, Marydin. "I won't be backing out. I have too much to lose if I did." was her answer, this seemed to please Marydin as she clapped Neryssa on the shoulder.

'Then we start in a few days, I want to finish this job. Then I will return and we shall begin. And don't worry about find me, little Matori. I will find you.' with that Marydin turned to walk away. 'I look forward to our lessons, Neryssa.' she said over her shoulder and vanished into the shadows.

Thrown a little off kilter of Merydin knowing her name. But she supposed she could have heard it from her brothers or even her parents earlier in the day. Shaking her head Neryssa turned away. It was a new path to walk, surely to be rocky, but she was going to make it work. One way, or another!

"Come on, lets go find those brothers of mine. Before they get into more trouble." Neryssa said wanting to put what happened to the back of her mind and try and enjoy the rest of the festival.