A pair of amber eyes opened in the darkness. Tiger couldn't sleep. She was on the top bunk of the bed. Her long brown hair draped over the edge of the bed as she leaned over. She glanced around the room. No one was awake. "I sure hope not." Tiger whispered to herself. She quietly climbed out of bed and carefully leaped silently to the carpet below. It was around 3:00 in the morning, she thought. Tiger glanced up at the big clock on the wall. "Right on point. 3:19 am" she thought. Castle Silverstone was still sleeping. She kept around into her hiding spot behind Jason's bed. Jason was a tall, well muscled boy, with green eyes and tousled sandy hair. She was like the ninja of the eight people in the orphans wing. Crystal was Tiger's best friend and sister. With grey eyes and long dirty blond hair, and a brain filled of knowledge, she was surely going to be part of the political wing. Jason was most definitely going to be a knight. Tiger wanted to be a knight too. Jerry and Jeorge, the twins were the cooks. They loved to watch Master Harold prepare delicious meals for King Friz. Alaina kept to herself and was quite shy of new people. She seemed to be interested in cooking too. Snow was a pretty girl with long, silver-blonde hair. She had clear blue eyes and was good with fashion. Tiger thought to herself that Alaina would probably be a clothing designer for the mistress. Tiger shifted into a more comfortable position.

"Tiger! Tiger wake up!" Tiger opened her eyes to a pair of green ones. Jason was staring back at her. "You fell asleep! I could tell you where back there by the way. You forget to put your hair in a ponytail." Tiger just smiled. She looked around "Is anyone else awake?" She asked. Jason shook his head. "Nope." He replied. She breathed a sigh of relief. She sat up. "Climb under my bed, you can hide under the blankets." Jason said as he handed her some blankets. She silently crawled under the bed and curled up in a ball. "Miss Lucy will wake us up soon. I'll pretend to get some water." Jason called softly. She listened as Jason walked across the room to the water pitcher. "Come on Miss Lucy, wake us up!" Tiger thought. Almost on cue, Miss Lucy opened the door. "Oh, Jason you're already awake! Wonderful! My maids are going to fix you children up for your sorting today." Said Miss Lucy. Miss Lucy was about 50 years old. She was a short, stout woman, but if you stepped out of line, she knew how to discipline you. Tiger could hear the triangle and stick that she used to wake us up. Cling cling cling!! Tiger could hear the sounds of everyone waking up. "Tiger wake up!" Tiger could hear the sound of Miss Lucy on the other side of the room, yelling at the bed. "You were the one that I swear was the most excited about this!" Tiger tried not laugh but couldn't help it. From Miss Lucy's view, his bed was probably laughing at her. "Tiger! Get out from under of Jason's bed!" She screamed. Miss Lucy ripped the blanket out from under her. Tiger, quick as lightning shot out from under the bed at to Crystals bed. "Tiger! What were you doing?" Crystal demanded. "I was hiding!" She replied. "Ok. I've organized my maids to clean you up for your sorting today." Everyone looked excited. "Ladies, follow me. Gentlemen, stay here. The dressers will come to visit you in 10 minutes. Don't break anything." Miss Lucy added, looking at Jeorge and Jerry. The twins were infamous for causing trouble.

About an hour later, Tiger found herself in a beautiful silver and blue laced gown. This was the only time that orphan children got to dress up in fancy clothing. Crystal was wearing an identical dress, but had her hair in an elegant bun. Tiger prefered her hair down. Miss Lucy insisted that Tiger at least got it curled. "I don't look like me" Tiger thought as she looked at herself in the mirror.

Tiger was shaking inside as she stood in front of everyone in the village, and from Castle Silverstone. "Tiger. What is your decision to be?" King Friz asked loud and clear. "I would like to pick the path of a knight." Replied Tiger loudly. A surprised murmur went around the room. King Friz hesitated. "Are you sure?" He asked. "I am sure." Tiger said. "Alright then," King Friz said uncertainly. Tiger was the last one of the group to ask to be sorted. The orphans had to wait for 2 days before they got to be taken as Learners. Tiger walked back to her place in between Jason and Crystal. Crystal whispered in her ear "I hope you can have your dream." Tiger nodded that she had heard her. "Thanks" was all she could say.

Tiger lay awake in bed again, playing the memories over and over again. The Silverstone Archer was at the sorting. Tiger distinctly remembered the Archer handing King Friz a piece of parchment. If anything, this piece of paper was in the gathering room. Tiger had to know what it said. Quick and quiet, she climbed down the ladder, and snuck across the room. She had found a way to open the door without any sound, which was pretty clever in her opinion. The door slowly opened, just enough for Tiger to sneak out. Tiger closed the door behind her and slowly made her way down the hall toward the middle courtyard. The gathering room was just inside the courtyard, but she would have to get past the guards. "Would I be able to climb into the window?" Tiger thought. Maybe. "Just maybe." Tiger crept around in the shadows of hay bails and water barrels. "Almost there, almost there," Tiger encouraged herself. Slowly looking behind her, she saw a rat staring back at her. Thinking fast Tiger grabbed a stick and held it in her defense. The rat squeaked and ran away. Holding back a sigh of relief, she turned around and looked up at the Silverstone main tower. King Friz liked the idea of stakes in between the slabs of stone. Thanking him silently, Tiger started climbing the stakes. She quickly clambered to the other side of the main tower. "The window is just above me," Tiger thought. "Can I open it?" Reaching the window, Tiger realized it was locked. "Always come prepared." Was what her sister was always telling her. At least this time, Tiger actually listened. Grabbing a long wire from her back pocket, Tiger lifted up the window as high as it could go. "Perfect" The wire reached inside and hooked around the small switch that locked the window. With the hook that Tiger had created, she pulled and a small click indicated that the window was open. Quietly as possible, she opened the window a swish! She was in. Tiger crouched on the ground and like a spider, zip. To the door. Tiger guessed it was locked but checked anyway. Tiger scared herself as she opened the door. Pausing to listen for anyone, she glanced behind her. "Nobody's there. Why do I feel like there is?" Tiger turned around, walking lightly in soft, leather boots. She turned the corner and went a few paces and hide behind a door. Scit, scit, scit... Someone was following her! She froze in place not even daring to breathe. A figure in a dark grey cloak was walking just like she was. Tiger leaped out infront of the figure and pushed him against the wall. Tiger was surprised that he made hardly a sound when she pushed him against the wall. "How did you follow me?" She whisper-yelled. "I knew you would come here. I saw you watching me has King Friz the piece of parchment." Tiger stepped back and let the figure step up. "You're Bear. The Archer." Tiger said, shocked. "If you had the chance to be an Archer Learner, would you take that chance?" Bear asked suddenly. Tiger looked at Bear. "But I want to be a knight!" Tiger cried. "Tiger, you're not meant to be a.." "Is it because I'm a girl?!" Tigercut off Bears sentence. Bear shook his head. "No Tiger. The reason you can't be a knight is because what I've seen tonight is nothing a knight could ever do." Tiger opened her mouth to say something but paused. "Are you sure?" She asked suspiciously. "Tiger, I am a trained Archer. I would know." Tiger thought for a moment. "Tomorrow, I think I'll talk to King Friz. But otherwise, I'll think about it Bear." Tiger replied.

Tiger thought about joining the Archers for a long time. Crystal had climbed up to her bed and asked what was wrong. "Nothing's wrong Crystal. Don't tell anyone what I'm going to tell you though." Tiger whispered. "Last night, I snuck out and went to the Gathering room where Archer Bear gave King Friz the piece of parchment. I climbed up the tower, and through the window. Archer Bear was there waiting for me. He asked me if I wanted to join the Archers. I've been thinking about it for a long time." As Tiger finished her story, Crystal thought about what she said. "You've wanted to be a knight for a long time, Tiger. But people don't know about Archers. You could practice sneaking and shooting arrows. You're already a master at sneaking. It would be so cool! You should be an Archer!" Tiger shushed her "Shh!" "Oh sorry!" Crystal whispered.

"Miss Lucy? Can I speak with King Friz?" Miss Lucy looked at Tiger surprised. "I need to ask him something." Tiger added hopefully. "Okay, Tiger. Let me finish washing these clothes and then I'll take you to his office." Miss Lucy replied, not looking at Tiger. A few moments later, Tiger was being lead to the Kings office. Miss Lucy knocked gently on the door. "Miss Lucy? Is that you?" Called the voice of King Friz. "Yes it is. I have someone who would like to talk to you." Miss Lucy replied. The doorknob turned slowly and Bear appeared in the doorway. "Come in Tiger." He welcomed. Tiger nodded goodbye to Miss Lucy. Tiger turned to King Friz and Bear. Tiger opened her mouth to started talking, she realized she hadn't been asked to. She quickly closed her mouth and glanced at Archer Bear. Tiger couldn't see his eyes, and he was still wearing his grey cloak. He nodded to her. Tiger, feeling more confident, turned to King Friz and said "I would like to be an Archer." King Friz looked at Bear in surprise. "Are you sure? This is a very sudden decision." Tiger nodded. "I'm absolutely sure." She replied confidently. King Friz narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. "I think I can make those arrangements for you, Tiger." He said. Tiger couldn't help but skipping happily in place. "Thank you, King Friz!" She was so happy. Even though she couldn't be a knight, she could be something even better. "Run along now, Tiger." Bear dismissed her. "You've got a big day tomorrow." Bear broke into a tiny smile.

According to the tradition, you had to dress as what you would be. Tiger had to dress in a dark leather tunic, grey cloak, a belt with what looked like some throwing stars or knives, and a pair of soft, grey leggings. Tiger looked at herself in her little hand mirror. This is me she thought, smiling.

King Friz was appointing Crystal a Diplomatic Learner. When he was done reciting the traditional words, Tiger was the first one to start cheering. Crystal looked both happy and embarrassed. Tiger was next. King Friz started to say the traditional words. "Tiger Lilian Woodson. Is it your choice to join the Archers?" Tiger lifted her chin proudly. "It is." "From this day until you receive your full Archer Arrow, you will be Archer Bear's Learner." King Friz motioned for Tiger to stand by Bear. Tiger watched as Crystal became Madam Pomel's Learner. Jason was Sir Jeffery's Learner. Jeorge, Jerry, and Aliana became Master Harold's Learners. And finally, Snow became Madam Alstin's Learner. The crowd broke into a series of clapping, cheering, and whistles