In Medias Res
"Honestly? Is that really your best effort? A squirrel could have done better, and they have complete disregard for everything," Halt popped up from behind me and growled. I was trying my best to follow his trail. Normally, no one would ever be able to find Halt, but he had to give me a few simple clues.
"At least I'm trying, Halt!" I stormed off of his path and leaned against a tree, muttering angrily.
"Trying?" he questioned incredulously, and followed me. "I heard at least twelve sticks snap. Watch your footing!"
"My footing?" I repeated. "I'd swear if my word carried any weight. I didn't step on a single stick!"
Halt scoffed, and retraced my steps. "You're right," he said softly.
"Halt, I promise I didn't…" I told him, my voice rose in pitch. "Wait, what?"
"You…are…right," he pronounced each word slowly with care. We stood in silence for a few moments and I shifted my feet nervously when Halt yelled, "STOP!" I froze in place, after my initial jump. "Did you hear it?" he asked softly.
"Hear what?" I replied.
"The stick," Halt said curtly and glared at the forest floor. He gestured for me to move aside and I moved a few paces away. He impatiently frowned, and I looked at the fallen foliage. "There isn't any stick," he said softly. I looked up at him... "It's you."
I stood on the front porch to Halt's cabin, cowering as he yelled.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked loudly.
"Tell you what? There is nothing to tell," I lied, trying to sound convincing.
"Your ankles!" he erupted. I don't even think Will ever saw him this mad, much less Lilly. "Every time you move them, they sound like a bloody twig!" He continued to yell at me and paced back and forth, his hands clenching around his bow. I was afraid he was going to stick me with an arrow any moment.
"How long?" he asked quietly, suppressing further rage.
"Since forever," I replied downcast, tears welled in my eyes. Since the day in the forest, I recalled a few days from my childhood. I was able to vaguely pick up the sound. I guess I had simply blocked it out.
"Damn it all to hell!" was his sharp reply and he went inside, leaving me on the porch, drowning in my sadness.
I grew up near Castle Redmont, and lived with my parents and my four younger siblings. Although, we are accustomed to the comings and goings of the fief, we only found out three years ago that we were related to Evan and Lilly. Our meeting involved a goose, pitch, a watermelon, and one of my mother's bonnets, truly a story for another day.
Evan and I are the same age, fifteen, and Lilly is twenty-two. She was Will's apprentice until two years ago. Although Lilly was the first female Ranger, seven more have joined the corps, including me, but I am still just an honorary member, (thanks for the reminder Halt.) Will and Alyss stop by the Halt's cabin often (thankfully) and sometimes bring Connor, their young son. He is ADORABLE! He has Will's hair and Alyss' height and eyes. We are all proud of his new walking abilities, but we have to keep a constant watch on him. He has some odd attachment to certain bugs.
Connor's youth is a comfort, but I never would've known him if Lilly hadn't brought two certain cloaked strangers to dinner six months ago…
My name is Aria and this is my story.