Nate Flynn

*You are right here in your story. Don't skip ahead.*
Massie Burnson, *The Wreck and Rise of Whitson Mariner*, p. 32
**WARNING: SPOILERS FOR *THE ARCHER'S CUP* ARE AHEAD; CAUTION IS ADVISED.**

**N****ate Flynn** was a soldier of Halfwind Citadel, and the leader and most skilled member of the Bracers.

## Biography

### *The Last Archer*

By the time of the Citadel Congress at Cloud Mountain, Nate Flynn had distinguished himself as the best archer at Halfwind Citadel. However, he was constantly seeking to improve in anticipation of the war against the Lords of Prey. At the behest of his mentor Clay Fletcher, he took part in the Archer's Cup, and ended up as one of the finalists along with Jo Shanks. Nate ended up winning the unusual final round, and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant.

Nate later approached Jo to congratulate him for how well he had performed in the finals, and invited him to temporarily join the Bracers on their mission to Cloud Mountain. The two later spotted Picket and Heather Longtreader, as well as Lord Captain Helmer, though Nate was ignorant of their identities. Nate later approached Jo, who drew his sword at Nate's approach, and informed him that their superiors had expressed displeasure with his choice of Jo to fill the vacancy in the Bracers. He thus encouraged Jo to do his best and not make him regret the choice.

The Bracers were later assigned sentry duty in the forest around Cloud Mountain, during which they spotted Kylen sneaking through the woods. Upon investigating, Nate and his comrades encountered a number of wolves, during which skirmish Junder was badly injured and Jo was knocked out. Nate later visited Jo in the Cloud Mountain hospital, and urged him not to blame himself for not taking a shot that he had not felt sure about. He also insisted that Jo heed Emma's orders to remain in the hospital until he had recovered and to visit with Maggie Weaver.

Nate and the Bracers fought during the Attack on Cloud Mountain, with Nate helping to save Captain Frye from a wolf. Joined by Jo, the group and numerous other soldiers from various secret citadels pursued the fleeing wolves. They ran into an ambush, during which Nate was knocked unconscious, and thus was not there to witness Jo's heroic actions in saving Heather Longtreader. He later visited Jo in the hospital again with Captain Frye.

### *The First Fowler*

When Jo is in the hospital, Emma tells him that barely losing to Nate is not a bad outcome.

After Jo is released from the hospital, he finds Nate, who greets Jo with pleasure. Nate explains to Jo that Owen's treatment towards him was because Owen was close to Junder. Jo expresses again guilt over not taking that shot. Jo then asks after Junder, whom Nate says is alive. Nate tells Owen to only set up one target, then tells Jo that he hasn't had a chance to outshoot Jo since the Archer's Cup. Nate tells Jo that he's heard a rumor of Jo holding back a wolf squad with incredible shooting. Jo, surprised as no one saw it, asks where Nate heard the rumor. Nate does not know where it originated, then inquires if it is true. Jo, head down, tells Nate he did what he could. Nate told Jo to do what he could with these targets, as he was shooting against Nate now. Jo, knowing that Nate had some doubts, hoped he would still be included in the Bracers. Nate, after testing the his bow and arrow, hits the target dead center. Jo shot next, but his arrow narrowly missed the top of the target. Someone commented that there was no shame in losing to Nate Flynn, and Studge said that Jo would be up to the standard in no time. Jo replied that he was up to the standard now, and Owen found Jo's arrow in the center circle of a farther-off target. Nate called the Bracers back to work, and welcomed Jo back into the Bracers.

After a meeting, Nate comments to Jo that it appears they are once more right in the middle of it all. Jo replies that archers belong in the center of the target. Studge asks Jo if Jo has cleaned his sword, and Jo looks around to see if Nate is hearing this. Seeing that Nate has heard, and is waiting for Jo's answer, Jo responds, wittily, that he has not, and Nate shakes his head. Jo and Studge tease each other, Jo saying he will try to die in a more convenient way next time, and Studge appeals to Nate, saying that Jo's behavior must be against some important code, and he just knows that Jo is an outlaw. Nate smirked, raised his open hands, and repeated Gort's words that Jo's joke had been as rich as rogues.

### *Ember Rising* / *The Archer's Cup*

**Jo Shanks**: That's incredible, Nate, because I feel the same about you all. Especially you. It was such an honor to fight alongside you. And I'll always be grateful you gave me that chance.

—*The Archer's Cup*, pg. 74

Nate was mentioned in passing by Helmer, when he described him and Jo as the only Halfwind archers who rival the archers of Harbone Citadel.

Cole muses that the winner of the Archer's Cup had not been Jo Shanks, and Jo replies that Nate won, and deserved it. After meeting Lokson, Jo inquires if Lokson has met Nate. Lokson says that he has, and that Jo is right to praise his abilities.

While stopping by a bowyer shop in search of something familiar, Jo, to his surprise, finds Nate Flynn there. Jo asks what Nate is doing at Blackstone Citadel, and goes to embrace Nate. He breaks the hug to salute, apologizing for forgetting his place. Nate smiles at Jo, saying they are friends first, and then tells Jo that Lord Blackstar and Mrs. Weaver sent the Bracers to come help Jo's force. Jo murmurs to Nate that Blackstone is all sorts of strange, and Nate agrees, then inquires if there is anything he could do for Jo, and also asks after Princess Emma. Jo tells Nate that they are well, but their stay had an eventful beginning, and he would tell Nate about it later. Nate tells Jo that the Bracers brag that Jo used to be part of them, and Jo tells Nate that he feels the same way about Nate. He tells Nate what an honor it was to fight alongside him, and Nate thanks Jo. As they walk, Jo tells Nate about what has been happening. Nate inquires if Jo thinks that Matron Wilder was Bane Graveheart, to which Jo answered that she was the most likely suspect.

Cheltham then arrives, inviting Jo to have a 'friendly' competition with him. Jo declines, and Cheltham teases Jo about missing the mark. Nate spins around, snapping at Cheltham, saying that Jo is one of the finest archer in Natalia, if not *the* finest, and has done more in the war than the next ten archers combined. He tells Cheltham that if he has a problem with Jo, then he also has a problem with Nate. Cheltham replies that Jo might be the second-best archer in the citadel, and certainly not the best in Natalia. He asks what Nate would know, and Jo introduces the two. Both seem to admire each other, and then Nate asks Cheltham to excuse them, as he and Jo have important things they need to discuss. Cheltham sends one last jibe at Jo, and Nate asked if Cheltham was always that pleasant. Jo replies that what Nate just saw was Cheltham's best behavior. Jo was thrilled to have Nate with him, and Nate caught Jo up on the news of each Bracer. Nate tells Jo that he will get back with the Bracers and then report to Jo, and Jo said that sounded fantastic, as it would be great to have Nate there, as he needed to not be distracted by Cheltham's games. Nate nods and then looks into Jo's eyes, inquiring if Jo would love to beat Cheltham. Jo says that of course he would.

Jo asks Emma, Cole, and Heyna if he can miss dinner with Lokson, as it will include Cheltham, and they tell him that he would need to produce a trusted legendary archer who wasn't a brat or a bully, to replace him. Jo tells them that he hopes they enjoy dinner without him, as he presents Nate Flynn.

Emma tells Jo that he will be representing Emma's cause when he wins the Ultimate Archer's Cup. Jo says that he would rather not, and Nate replies that he said the same thing. Emma tells Jo that he has no choice, that Jo and Nate competing will help forge a bond. She adds that mostly, though, she just wants him to shut Cheltham up. Cole says that he proposes Jo and Cheltham beat each other up, so that Nate can take the prize. Jo said that Nate didn't need any help, as he was the best archer Jo had ever seen. Nate says that the Harbone bucks might be better than them, and that even Lokson could win, and certainly Cheltham. Nate said that they both needed to be there to raise their chances, and confirms that Lokson is also shooting. Jo decides to shoot as well, wanting to beat Cheltham and Lokson. Jo, Cole, and Nate accompanied Emma and Heyna back to their rooms, and Nate went to get some of his Bracers to watch at the door.

Nate arrives with Owen and Studge, waking Cole and Jo. Nate tells them to get their gear, as Matron Wilder has escaped. According to Captain Truff's orders, Nate split his force, himself going with Lokson and sending Owen and Studge with Jo and Cole.

During the Ultimate Archer's Cup, after Jo does some incredible shooting, Nate comes over, telling Jo that was quite a shot. Jo replies that he thought it was his turn to get in Cheltham's head. Studge says that someone needs to beat Cheltham, and Nate puts in that it would be good for Cheltham and maybe the war effort too. Nate muses that Cheltham is getting in everyone's head, as even they are discussing him. Owen asks how they are supposed to compete with these mind games, to which Nate replies that if Owen is competing in Cheltham's mind games, Cheltham has already beaten him.

Nate gets through to the last round, alongside Cheltham (who cheated) and Jo. Jo is not surprised that Nate makes it. Later, Jo feels that he is unstoppable, and can even outshoot Nate that day. However, having figured out who Bane Graveheart is and that he has limited time to stop him, Jo misses the final round and it is between Nate and Cheltham. During the celebration, Nate tells Cole that the perimeter is clear, and the Bracers are holding all the danger spots. Cole tells Nate that he has done well, and Nate hurries off. Nate hadn't made it far when someone spotted him, and many rabbits gathered around him, shouting his name and that he is the greatest archer in all Natalia.

### *Ember's End*

**Nate Flynn**: I know. And we'll knock 'em back again.

—*Ember's End*, pg. 313

The Bracers come to assist in the Battle for First Warren, as Highwallers. Nate teases Studge, and then Jo joins in, rendering Studge speechless. Nate congratulated Jo on the major military victory of shutting Studge up. Nate then ends the fun, telling the archers to gather around. He tells them what they are going to do, and then asks if there are any questions. Studge raises his hand, and Nate sends them to their stations 'since there are no questions'.

Nate expresses his displeasure at Farns's ineffective messaging skills.

During the Battle for First Warren, Jo sees impressive shots from far away killing wolves. He was certain that Nate, and probably Owen and Studge, were on the far wall.

Jo comes up to the wall top with the Pilgrim, asking who is in charge. He hears Nate's voice saying that he is. Jo finds Nate being tended to by medics, one side of his face burned and bleeding, one eye seriously injured, and his arm and shirt badly torn. Nate asks Jo what the word is, and Jo says that the enemy is coming again. Tears in his eyes, Nate replies that he knows, and that they will knock the enemy back again. Jo tells Nate that Nate must go below, and asks where Owen and Studge are. Nate says that he does not know where Owen and Studge are, but that Nate isn't going anywhere until the war is over or Nate is dead, and that this is what Nate has trained for. Nate tells Jo not to dare tell him to leave his post. The Pilgrim hands Nate his bow, telling Nate to aim at their eyes. Nate inquired who the Pilgrim was, and he said that he was just an old archer. The Pilgrim helped Nate to a place where he could lean on the wall, He instructed Nate to take his shot when it came.

Jo fell off a rooftop, and then was up against two Preylords alone. He had an arrow but no bow, and shut his eyes, but opened them again when he heard a cry. Meeker, Owen, and Nate were leading the Highwallers into the impossible fight. Recovering a bow, Jo ended both birds with an incredible shot.

## Personality and traits

Despite his great abilities, Nate struggled with perfectionism, constantly striving to improve upon his performance. His tendency to internalize his feelings of frustration at one point nearly caused him to depart Halfwind Citadel. Nate's greatest desire is to win the war for rabbitkind in Natalia, and he poured all his energies into preparation for that conflict. As a result, he disdained competitions like the Archer's Cup, which he saw as a pointless distraction.

Despite this attitude, Nate was humble enough to accept the counsel of older rabbits like Clay Fletcher. He also disdained the idea of rivalry between soldiers fighting on the same side, as shown in his relationship with Jo Shanks. Indeed, Nate strove to help Jo overcome his faults and feelings of self-pity and failure. Nate also seems to have lacked the vindictive attitude of many other Halfwind soldiers towards the Longtreader family, or at least did not display the fervor of dislike that his comrades did.

During the Siege of First Warren, Nate suffered grievous injuries to one side of his face and the arm on the same side. This included the loss of an eye. Nevertheless, Nate refused to retire from the battle.

## Trivia

* The name "Nate" is of Hebrew origin and means "he gave."
	+ Additionally, the surname "Flynn" is of Irish origin and means "son of Flann."

## References

1. ↑ [1]
2. ↑ [2]