I do not own any of these characters they are all John Flanagan's genius inventions. Enjoy!
Will dismounted Tug and calmly approached the clearing on foot. To the unpractised eye this manoeuvre would have appeared almost careless but Halt knew better.
From his position on a stump to Will's left, he sat unmoving. He had left Abelard several meters away hidden by foliage, giving him the silent signal before departing. By some unknown instinct Will sensed him though.
Without bothering to turn and face him Will called out, "Hello Halt! Just resting your weary body are you? You must be awfully tired the way you're puffing, I could hear you a mile away."
Halt scowled at his apprentice, knowing perfectly well that his breathing had been nearly nonexistent. There was no point telling Will that though, after all the boy had still managed to notice him even if it wasn't his breathing that had given him away.
Not wanting to be outdone Halt called out into the tree's beside him, "Crowley you old bumbler trying to sneak on us are you? You know I could sense you anywhere!"
"Apparently not Halt, since that's Horace and anyone could sense him two miles away!" Will told Halt, trying hard not to laugh at him as Horace entered to clearing looking slightly confused.
"You guys have no idea how hard it was to find this place! Crowley's directions were useless! Why are you laughing Will?" asked Horace.
"I will have you all know those directions were perfectly good," stated Crowley defensively before stepping out from behind a bush. Halt nearly fell off his stump seat and Will tried his best to quickly hide his shocked face behind the Ranger's hood he was wearing. "The idea of a secret hideout is that it's hard to find for your information Horace."
Horace guiltily trying to change the topic asked Crowley, "Where did you spring from surely you didn't get here when Halt arrived?"
"No," seeing Halt relax he continued "I got here long before he did. I sat three meters behind him for half an hour nearly bored to death. Good thing you came along Will otherwise I might have sat there forever. I am horrified by the thought that I sound like Horace though, it's unbelievable and I am going to pretend I never heard that," muttering angrily under his breath he continued. "To think, me sounding anything like that giant bear with two left feet." In return Horace ignored the final comment.
The next hour was spent setting up camp in the carefully hidden clearing. None of then talking much, instead they enjoyed the calm, relaxed silence that was rarely allowed with their jobs. Crowley was unsettled though and the reason for this meeting haunted his thoughts until he could bare it no more. Crowley asked everyone to meet him at the fire in five minutes when the sun first started to set below the horizon.
Once everyone had arrived at the glowing fire they sat there in silence basking in it's warmth. Will could feel the tension coming from Crowley but he knew better than to try an rush him into speaking so he told himself to wait. Horace on the other hand had not developed the patience of the other rangers and after five minutes of swatting the mosquitoes away from him he couldn't wait any longer.
"That's it I can't stand it any longer will someone please tell me why we are here?" proclaimed Horace. Hearing this Will secretly breathed a sigh of relief glad that he didn't have to ask the question himself. His relief didn't last very long once he heard Crowley's grave voice.
Every head turned to face him as Crowley spoke, "I didn't want to believe it but I have seen proof…"
"Proof of what Crowley?" Halt inquired.
"The Scandians are raiding again and they are attacking more than ever."
I know what you are thinking, the Scandian's don't raid anymore because of the treaty but yet here they are. I am hoping to continue the story but it depends on how popular this one is so if you like it please review :) Thanks for reading!