I've been bored. After reading Ranger's Apprentice, I have grown a newfound curiosity for it. I now, am about to do my best with making RA the new hit story.

Prepare.

1


A thundering crash outside of the castle struck near. Will tossed and turned in his bed, his ears growing deaf from the splintering cracks of the lighting striking and striking over and over. He creased the folds of his sheets to his ears and did his best to muffle the obtruse sounds of the storm, only in vain.

The only thing worse than the storm, was that in all the growing days of his time in the Ward of Redmont Castle, the Choosing was coming very near, incoming three days time. He tossed and turned, knowing that he would not get chosen, for his skills were in deft lack. The only things he practiced, potent seldom, were climbing trees and playing hide-and-catch with his friends, who did their best to reassure him, mainly of these, Alyss, a pretty girl that he quite liked, Jenny, a nice girl who would sometimes cook in secrecy and serve them to Will, and Horace, a big bulky boy with the most physical strength.

A new sound awoke Will. He dully heard a slight creak of the door, but he couldn't tell if it was just the rattling of the door or someone was trying to use the privies. Either way, he wouldn't care. He sunk back into the depths and folds of his sheets, and fell asleep, unaware of the grizzled man watching him, his cloak hiding him in the shadows, a strung longbow on his right shoulder, and a quiver of two dozen arrows in his left.

Fresh sunlight poured in from a shutter next to him. He groaned, his shoulders and back aching severely. He opened his eyes and squinted, finding Alyss standing there, her perfect smile infectious and friendly.

"Wake up sleepyhead!" she said, grinning in Will's tired condition. Will looked at her and had to try hard not to try to smile back at her. He tried to hoist himself up, only to land flat on his back again in the bed. Alyss giggled. She helped Will lift his body up, and with a grunt he was sitting on the bed, facing Alyss. He groaned, his body betraying his feelings. He looked up at her.

"Next time, can you just wake me up and not open the shutters? It really disturbs how I sleep you know," he said.

Alyss' grin widened. "I would never pass up the opportunity to disturb with you,"

"And I would pass up the opportunity to wake up in distress."

"And to what may that distress be?" she asked, her face casual.

He looked at her in the eye. "The distress of waking up and seeing a pan of death to me." he said, and then after a moment of silence, they both erupted in fits of giggles.


"Will, c'mon, you know you like her and she likes you. Go for the romance dude!"

Will was still talking with Horace. He had seen Will and Alyss come out of his room, and instantly got to Will. Will was trying his best to defend himself, albeit weakly.

"Horace," Will said, struggling for words.

Horace raised an eyebrow. "That's my name."

Will rolled his eyes. "Yes I know that."

"Then why did you say it?"

"Maybe since I was trying to ask a question? Couldn't you have heard that? Couldn't you?"

Horace smiled. "And you just did. Three actually."

Will groaned. Horace just loved toying with Will, as he knew Will had no way to come back at him. He tried another desperate attempt. "Horace, as I was saying, you know I can't go for that romance that early! I don't even know if she likes me back!"

Horace patted Will's shoulder. "Dude, I know she likes you back." he said, "Trust me on it. I can just see it."

Will looked at him. "And what tells you that?"

"The big letters on her forehead spelling out W I L L maybe?"

Will's brow furrowed. "Really?"

Horace rolled his eyes. "Of course not." he said, "It could be the expressions she's giving you and those dreamy looks. Or it could just be my amazing sense of perception."

Now it was Will's turn to roll his eyes. "Undoubtedly."

Horace took his hand off Will's shoulder, which was starting to throb under the great weight. Will let loose a breath of relief. He rubbed his shoulder, which was now a dirty red in the shape of a hand.

"Let's go to breakfast. I heard Jenny made some apple pancakes." Horace said.

Will's eyes widened. "Really? Then take me there!"

Horace grinned. "I knew you would say that. I like her food too."

And they left together in the direction of the sweet and sizzling aroma of pancakes.


Chapter 1