Julia was worried, it had been almost two hours and Pipper still had not returned. The forest was quiet, like nature was holding it’s breath. Julia had sat and watched and listened for any movement. Suddenly Pipper was back. He appeared from the shadows as if by magic. “How do you do that?” Julia whispered. “You shouldn't startle me like that. I almost screamed…” Pipper looked and her and smiled. “I was always good at that, but I got better and better at it. It is an essential skill for an assassin.”