A/N: Whoo Hoo! First Ranger's Apprentice Story! Disclaimer: I do not own The Ranger's Apprentice or relating characters...
That aside, I hope you enjoy my story and don't kill me because of what I wrote...
Will crouched behind shrubs, watching. Women sat outside cone-shaped tents weaving and braiding. Another dark woman with a woven bowl joined the first woman. She was smashing something dark purple with a stone. Children ran to the women and tried to steal some of the dark mash and the women clicked their tongues at the children, but smiled. These strange, dark people were obviously very good at hunting, Will had noted, because of the intricate snares that he had followed up until this point.
Not dangerously close, not too far, he lay crouched in the dense bushes that were new to him. Not knowing much about these strange people and not knowing their habitat had thrown Will off a bit. So he lay silent, unmoving, watching, taking in their every move. Though his ranger's training had made it possible for him crouch for hours without hurting, but after just one he began to get uncomfortable. He slowly shifted his weight and wished he hadn't drunk water prior to the wait. Will had learned from other's mistakes and knew that the slightest movements could give away a position, so he laid low.
He had been sent into these parts of the country across the sea because of a disturbance. Will, being one of the best rangers of Araluen as well as a fair negotiator (Being married to a courier, after all) was sent to check up on it before it could explode into a disastrous uproar. He hadn't yet showed himself. In fact, he hadn't even arrived until then. The journey had been tough. He first had to cross the ocean and that alone had taken a week. Then there was the mountains to cross and new land to follow. The Araluen maps were crude outlines; nothing more than a sketch of what was thought to be what the land looked like. Will, a fast, and still young ranger, had come with some difficulty.
As he watched nothing majorly dramatic happened, due to whom he was watching, he figured. The uncomfortable feeling built more and more in his abdomen, a discomfort that is not eased by shifting position. Finally, he slunk back into the shadows to relieve himself. Taking this as an opportunity for a new looking spot he scampered up the back of a tree and settled on a sturdy branch a ways up. Hidden among the needles he watched the whole village.
Much of the same thing was going on everywhere. Children played, women sewed and cooked and some interestingly clad men were working some wood, Will couldn't tell what into, though.
As he watched his earlobe began to tingle, sensing someone near. He kept perfectly still and tried looking out of the corner of his eye. Suddenly an arrow slammed into the tree next to his leg. Another one followed, hitting right next to the still-tingling ear. The message was clear. They had seen him. No point in being concealed now, Will looked down at the men. One of them said something, probably in their native language. Will shrugged and shook his head, indicating that he didn't understand. A younger man, maybe Will's age, stepped forward. "Foreigner?" he asked. His common tongue was not good, but it was better than the first option.
"Yes," Will said slowly, "I come from Araluen. Across the sea. I mean peace."
The boy frowned but relayed the message in the native language. The old man frowned and gestured for Will to come down. And Will saw that he should come down right away. When both feet touched the ground two men grabbed his arms and led him to their village. They paraded him right through the middle. Children stopped their playing and pointed. Women hushed and looked up form their sewing. The men carving the wood glared after Will.
They led him to a big log cabin. Inside there was old man sitting cross-legged on a mat in front of a fire. The first man talked to him, glancing over at Will occasionally and once pointing to the boy who understood Will. Then the older man turned to Will and began to speak. "Welcome to our village," the boy interpreted, "I am Takoda, leader of the Shiriki tribe. My Galician is not good. Have Moki for talking. We do not often get foreigners. Why have you come?"
"Sir. I am Ranger Will Treaty. I come from Araluen, across the sea. We heard there was trouble in these parts. I came to see what is happening and offer assistance." He spoke slowly and clearly, hoping the man would understand. He did.
"Trouble, yes," he said on his own, "Try and help, you may, if you wish. Offer you a bed, I would, but village not trusting you yet. You foreigner. We have trouble with foreigner many in past."
"Then what may I do to win their trust?"
"We know Araluen and like. Good people. Help us in time of need. We tell village you will help." He turned to the first man. They talked in the Shiriki language, then Takoda turned back to Will. "Tocho gathers people. We introduce…?"
"Will Treaty," he answered.
"Will Treaty," Takoda said back slowly, "We introduce Will Treaty. Good person, Will Treaty. Help us out. Right?"
"Yea sir." Then Tocho was back, ready for them to make the announcement.
'This almost sounds too easy,' Will thought inwardly.
"Shiriki people," The boy, now known as Moki, translated for Will, "In these dark times comes a ray of sunshine. This ray has been given to us by an Araluen. Will Treaty," Will was shoved out next to him, "Has offered to help us rid us of the Temujai!" Cheers rang out.
'Wait. What?' Will thought, but it did not show.
"Temujai taking over neighboring villages. Our people are frightened. No threat yet, but we see what they do to other innocent tribes. Bad things. Kill. Take men and women slaves. We are preparing, but still scared."
Will paced back and forth. He should have assessed before jumping into helping, but he knew it was too late now. "I'd like to get backup from Araluen. Could we send a messenger tomorrow morning, first thing?" He asked.
"Yes. Moki knows way. Knows shortcut too. Still young, fast, will do good," Takoda replied.
"Then may I have something to write a message on?" Takoda pointed to Moki, who ran off instantly. "Thank you," Will said, "Now, do you know how many they have?"
Takoda nodded. "Two hundred. Not many injured. No opposition. But we are a hunting village. Strong. Just not strong enough."
Will nodded. "How many men do you have?"
"Fifty warriors and hunters. Thirty woodsmen, strong, train easily if time. Twenty Boys who play with slingshots. Could be useful."
"How old are the boys?" Will asked. He wasn't sure how old their adult cutoff was.
"Most over twelve under eighteen," Takoda replied. Will wrote everything down, addressing the letter to Horace, Halt and the battle master. Then made a rubbing of his Oak leaf, as a seal. Then he put the letter away and, after a farewell to Takoda along with thanks, he went off to bed.
Will awoke in the morning to the sound of battle cries. He jumped out of bed as a young boy ran in. "Will!" he said with a heavy accent, "The Temujai attack us!" He said it with much difficulty and butchery, but Will got the point. Frustrated, he threw on his cloak and grabbed his weapons that were already beside him.
He ran out of the tent to see a small party of Temujai fighting all of the sleepy Shiriki men. Will knew this was just a small party, but even a small number of Temujai could do a lot of damage. They focused attacks on skilled military leaders, so as to weaken the group they were fighting. That way they were easier to pick out.
Will pulled out his longbow and found a good clear spot. Then, one by one, he began weeding out the Temujai. One after one they fell, wondering where the arrow had come from. But Will knew the confusion would only last so long. One of them would see where the arrows were coming from and attack there first. It happened before Will had anticipated and that's when things went wrong. As he was focusing in on a particularly influential Temujai, a rock flying from a confiscated sling slammed into his thumb. He dropped his longbow at the initial pain. It skittered away. In a split second, Will had pushed the pain aside for the moment to retrieve his prized weapon. But as he dove for it, a Great Shiriki War Horse ('Not so great to me, now are you?' Will thought afterward) ran by, trampling it. Will, still on the ground, picked up the broken pieces of his old friend. But there was no time for reminiscing. Shiriki were putting up a good fight, but were still losing. He pulled out the backup, his saxe knife, and ran in. Not knowing how to start, he stayed back. Out in the midst of battle, he saw the chief, Takoda and everything around him. He was fighting one Temujai with his fire-tempered staff. Though it was tough, Will knew, but it couldn't hold up forever against the Temujai's sword. It was already starting to crack. He was also getting pushed towards a big boulder, his back to it. Will sprinted through the battle to him just as his staff broke. Takoda fell against the rock, holding a hand above his face. The Temujai raised his sword. But it never fell. He never even saw it coming, the saxe knife to the lung. And he had no time to register before he face planted into the ground. Will kicked the Temujai's sword to Takoda. "Stronger than your staff."
"More effective too, I'd imagine." Takoda replied.
Will sensed someone else behind him. He turned to face another Temujai. Will was not accustomed to close combat, and was a little confused at first. Next to him Takoda rose up, sword in hand and attacked. He used the sword in much of the same way as the staff. It was effective, in that he knocked both his and his opponent's weapons out of their hands, sending them flying away. And seeing no point in getting them, the Temujai reached for his boot. Will saw the dagger coming before it was even out. He shoved Takoda as gracefully as possible, which turned out not so graceful. Instead of Takoda's torso, it was Will's arm that got cut. Just a scratch, really, but it still hurt. Seeing this new threat, the Temujai attacked. His dagger against Will's saxe knife. Seems unfair, until you factor in the Temujai's years and years of close combat training against Will's distance. Not used to sword fighting, Will let himself get backed against the rock, just as he had seen Takoda do the minute before. He didn't notice until he started to trip on the smaller rocks, and by then it was too late. The Temujai, maybe by luck or by the way Will was holding his knife that it was how he knew of Will's thumb. He swung the butt of his knife directly into Will's injured thumb. Will cried out and dropped the knife as his thumb cracked. The Temujai swung the knife back around, stabbing Will in the gut. He gasped, frozen. The Temujai kicked him hard in the chest, sending the paralyzed Will crashing into the rock. As he hit his head and blacked out the Temujai stepped over him towards the Shiriki leader.
(Translation)
"Tocho. Thank you for saving me."
"It is my duty Takoda."
"The boy. Look. Is he dead?"
Will wasn't sure if they were speaking another language or if it was the headache blocking his ears. A hand was placed on his pulse. "It's just an ear infection. Just let it cool." He slurred.
"What did he say?" Asked Tocho in his language.
"Don't mind the spiders. They can ride a horse." Then Will threw up and blacked out again.
"Something about an infection that cools and spiders on horses…? Come now. Get a healer to him. He must live; otherwise we may be in trouble, with the Temujai and Araluen. And send to Moki. Tell him Will Treaty is gravely injured, may not live. He must tell the Araluen who the message is to be delivered to. Then send him on his way. We don't have much time until the Temujai are back."