Disclaimer:I do not own Ranger's Apprentice or any it's characters.

Chapter 1

Sometimes in life, you face a problem that seems impossible to do alone when you think about it. But when you actually face the problem you realize you could have done it all on your own.

Hunter Treaty, former apprentice of Gale, has just become a full-fledged Ranger. Gale was Crowley's apprentice back in the day. Gale has a salt and pepper colored beard and hair, that looked like it was cut by his own saxe knife. When Hunter lived with him during his apprenticeship he looked short and stubby without his doubled colored Ranger's cloak on.

Crowley has been the leader of the Ranger Corps for over one hundred years. He created the Corps, after he had been kidnaped by those damned Templars. He and his former apprentice Percy escaped right before they could have been executed by Assyrians. Hunter's grand-father, Will Treaty, killed the executioner to let them escape.

Hunter's been assigned to Feltgrove fief by King Duncan. He was to take the place of a Ranger who had retired after sixty years of service to the Corps. Feltgrove fief isn't as exciting as Redmont fief, but at least it had the occasional fake sorcerer that Hunter had to arrest. About half a dozen hovels were scattered around the area.

Today, a guest visited him, someone whom he knew well.

"Hunter! Over here, Hunter!" a voice yelled. Hunter turned around to see who it was. A knight in iron armor approached him with an urgent stride. He had a giant steel sword sheathed at his side and a shining shield on his back.

The knight pulled off his helmet and Hunter recognized him immediately. "Peter, how nice it is to see you!"

"Hunter, it's been three years since I've seen you hasn't it?"

Peter's usually neat hair was ragged like Hunter's. Peter towered over Hunter when he walked up to him.

"I have no idea," Hunter replied, "So why are you here?"

Peter rummaged through his side pouch, "Here, I have a letter for you from Gale."

"Let's take a look at this," Hunter said. He opened up the letter and read the letter aloud.

Dear Hunter,

Percy and I have been discussing about a problem in Silens fief. There are rumors that there is a man in the forest who comes out at night and murders people in their sleep. They call him Arctos. We sent Peter with you so he could lend you a hand on your mission. Make sure you rid this rumor of the fief and if it's not a rumor, message us immediately.

Good luck,

Gale

"Arctos?" Hunter said as he rolled up the letter.

"It means 'dark' in Latin," Peter explained. "The townspeople say they don't hear a thing in the night, not even a muffled cry. The body is only found when the sun rises over the horizon."

"We'll have to travel tomorrow at sunrise, it's already getting dark. Come on in, let's have some coffee," Hunter said.

Hunter poured Peter a fresh cup of coffee. They were seated inside Hunter's home. It was a small stone house, not very fancy, but enough to provide a decent living space. It was near the outskirts of Pacifica, one of Feltgrove's biggest towns.

"So what are we going to do about Arctos?" Peter asked curiously. "I don't know but we have to think of something." Hunter replied.

Hunter sensed how tired Peter must be from the ride here. "Let's get some rest and sleep on it. Okay?" Peter stared at his coffee, "Yeah, sure."

Hunter went to his room while Peter took the guestroom. The guest room was a relatively clean place. It wasn't as glamorous as the room he had at Redmont but it was good enough.

They woke up early that morning and had their usual cups of coffee. Then they discussed their predicament.

"I thought it overnight and thought we could ride into Silens fief and question the villagers," Peter said. "Seems simple enough," Hunter remarked.

"Okay, so we set of at noon," Peter said. Hunter thought over the idea and thought it seemed good. "Agreed."

"Let's just go check out this fief," Peter said. Hunter nodded. They saddled their horses, Tug and Kicker, and set off towards the fief. They traveled silently until they saw a farmer on the rode being beaten up by another man.

"Don't you think we should do something?" Peter asked. "I don't know he could have back-up." Hunter said. "It can't be that bad right?" Peter said. Peter approached the thief.

"Hey thief!" he looked up to see who was calling him, "let go of him, or I'll break you face."

Instantly, the thief took a bone whistle out of his pocket and blew into it. At first, Peter didn't know why he did it, but then he saw dozens of hooded figures come out of the forest next to the touched Tug with his heel and moved toward Peter.

"'It can't be that bad right?'" Hunter said mockingly at Peter.

Peter glared at him, then charged at their approachers. Peter pulled out his sword half-a-second too late. Then everything went pitch black.

4

Short Chapter! Thanks for reading and review! Thanks!