So, hello there. This story is a collab, created by me, nightwolf13 (I think that's her account name), and another friend. OC based, but please read. ^.^
Halt sighed through his acrimonious facade. He observed the little girl attempting to shoot an arrow at the center of the target on the tree in ardence...and missing the shot. Her persistence was so unyielding that not even her own father could help her. She was as stubborn as a mule-a dominant trait in both her parents. Finally dropping her precious bow imprudently on the ground, she scurried to gather the fallen arrows. Halt noticed the clumsily strung bowstring, her negligence to proper detail in her equipment- just another thing that he would try, and fail, to teach her. When it came to most things, Halt was stubborn. Will and Alyss Treaty were too. But stack a few rocks together, and you get a mountain - exactly what Megan Treaty was-a taciturn girl with a monolithic personality. The family dog, Ebony, watched on the sidelines. Usually, Will let her catch the arrows that flew astray from their targets, so that she would have at least something to keep her occupied, but Megan was so protective of her arrows that the little girl hadn't let Ebony even touch one, fearing the dog would break them. Today, Will was thinking of taking her to just look at the Ranger horses; she was too young to ride one before. As soon as he told her, her countenance lit up.
It's been about six years since he retired from the Ranger Corps-he still took up missions from time to time though, but life had never been any less difficult. Two years after Will and Alyss married, Megan was brought to this world. Concurrently, Princess Cassandra and Horace, Will and Alyss's two friends, had a son, Richard. Halt and his wife Pauline agreed to take care of the kids while the rest did their duty for the land. Megan and Richard grew up together as a result, along with the latter's younger brother Liam, and it was during one of their parents' journeys did Megan, at age fourteen, appropriate Halt's bow to shoot at the nearby archery practice area. Due to the heaviness of the drawback of the bow, Megan injured herself, but it proved to Halt that this little girl, with the aptitude that she had from her father, would someday be part of his former group, and most likely be the first and only female who would be part of the Ranger Corps. Soon after this incident, Halt granted her one of the lighter recurve bows, where she practiced assiduously.
Still watching the failed attempts of Megan shooting targets (although she is starting to get slightly closer to the tree than before, he noted), the retired Ranger slightly stiffened at the sound of quiet footsteps approaching the target clearing. Only a Ranger could weave through a forest that silently, and currently, at that time and place, it was Halt, and now Will, who stood next to his surrogate father, observing his daughter's attempts.
"She still lacks in concentration as well as posture for shooting, doesn't she?" Will commented quietly. "Not only that, she isn't nocking the arrow correctly."
"That's what you get for having two stones for parents," Halt retorted.
"Hey!" The younger Ranger raised his voice at the insult, alerting Megan to the intruders.
"Papa? Grandpa Halt?" Megan asked. "What brings you here?"
"What a fine Ranger I taught," said Halt sarcastically, "he yells when someone insults him, even though he's supposed to be silent."
Will glared at his former mentor. "Because you were totally silent that time that you caught me and Horace singing "Graybeard Halt", right?"
Halt's mouth shut with an audible click, as he attempted to come up with a witty retort. Of all the things Will could have learned from Halt's character, he had to learn his sarcasm and wit. Although it was sometimes useful...
Rolling her eyes, Megan interrupted the conversation, "Says the two Rangers who always tell me to be quiet."
Both immediately glared at her and she glared right back. Maybe the trait was hereditary because Megan had it too.
"You're not even an apprentice Ranger; you're not even allowed to talk back," Will finally responded.
Megan continued to stare down her two elders and was about to say,"Well I think..."
Sighing Will said, "So anyways Megan, I was going to take you to see..." but cut off as soon as he saw a green-cloaked figure running not so conspicuously toward them; it was Gilan's apprentice, Aiken.
"Will, Halt," the boy breathlessly greeted, "Crowley wants you to check on the Special Task Group; there has been trouble in Arridi and Selethen requests your and Horace's help. He says to come immediately to his office as soon as you get the message."
Will and Halt exchanged skeptical looks, but nodded at Aiken. Gathering their bows, Will and Halt turned to leave.
"Sorry Megan. I'll take you when we come back, okay?" said Will.
"Sure. Have a good trip Dad, Grandpa Halt," replied Megan.
"Since when did I become 'Grandpa' Halt..." grumbled the older Ranger as they left the clearing. "Anyways, isn't it odd to have such sudden trouble like this? Arridi's been peaceful for the last few years." he said, turning to the younger Ranger.
"I wouldn't know,"said Will. "It's probably something a whole lot bigger than one tribe in revolt- I mean, for them to call the Ranger Corps from Araluen, things must be bad..."
The voices slowly filtered out of the clearing as the two left to prepare for their upcoming mission, leaving Megan peace and quiet to shoot in peace until suppertime.
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