((The Story you are about to read is based on The Ranger's Apprentice Book 1. Enjoy! I do not own Ranger's Apprentice!! Ranger's Apprentice and all its materials used in this story including the characters and some excerpts from the first book, Ranger's Apprentice Book 1: The Ruins of Gorlan, are exclusively entitled to John Flanagan (c) I'm just borrowing these pieces for effect))

Halt took up the book that Will had left on the floor after he had thrown it against the wall and stalked out of the cabin. He read the title, then reread it to make sure he wasn't missing anything. No, it still read those words. Incredible, he thought, as he settled into his favorite seat and turned to the first page.

"TRY TO EAT SOMETHING WILL. TOMORROW'S A BIG DAY,

after all."

Jenny, blond, pretty and cheerful, gestured toward Will's barely touched plate and smiled encouragingly at him. Will made an attempt to return the smile, but it was a dismal failure. He picked at the plate before him, ----- ((p.5, Ranger's Apprentice Book 1: The Ruins of Gorlan (c) John Flanagan, 2005))

Halt stared at the page, shut the book, and flipped it over.

HE HAD ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A WARRIOR. The Rangers, with their dark cloaks and shadowy ways, have always made him nervous. The villagers believe the Rangers practice magic that makes them invisible to ordinary people. And now fifteen-year-old Will, always small for his age, has been chosen as a Ranger's Apprentice. What he doesn't yet realize is that the Rangers are the protectors of the kingdom. Highly trained in the skills of battle and surveillance, they fight the battles before the battles reach the people. And as Will is about to learn, there is a large battle brewing. The exiled Morgarath, Lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night, is gathering his forces for an attack on the kingdom. This time, he will not be denied. . . . . ((this is from the back cover of the book. It's copyrighted for John Flanagan, I don't own it, I'm just borrowing it))

Halt gaped and almost threw it onto the floor. The book fell out of his grasp and landed on the floor with a soft thud. Will walked back in that moment, firewood in hand, but dropped it as soon as he saw Halt staring at the book.

"Creepy, huh? I saw it out on the front step and brought it in. I started to read it, but it just freaked me out too much." Will said. Halt glanced up at him.

"How could this John Flanagan have known everything we have done??" Halt asked Will.

"Don't look at me, Halt! I haven't seen anything!" Will shrugged.

"Will! Pull the curtains and shut the door." Will did so grudgingly. Halt pulled out his bow and stood against the far wall, peeking out of the covered window. "Quiet. Draw your bow, but slowly. Guard that window over there."

Will carefully did so, kicking the book out of his way as he went to the window.

"Don't touch the book!" Halt commanded.

"Stupid book." Will said, stepping over it and drawing his bow.

"Shh," Halt whispered.

"Halt?" Will asked.

"So many questions." Halt muttered to himself. "Yes, Will?"

"Are we being watched?"

Halt tried to keep his nerve about him as he put the curtain back into its rightful place.

"I don't know, Will. I just don't know."

"The book knows where we've been, Halt. It can read my thoughts, and yours!"

Halt sighed, trying to act like the whole thing was no big deal. "It's not the book, Will. It's this John Flanagan. He somehow has found out everything about us, even with us not knowing. We're going to need to find him, and put a stop to this. Everyone we know is in serious danger from Morgarath and his mysterious agent, Mr. John Flanagan."