A/N: Hello world of Fanfiction! How I've missed you. After a 2 year hiatus I've decided it's time to put my stories back on here, fresh from a new round of editing (done in the middle of the night so unfortunately NOT much better than what you're used to from 2 years ago). I have a few things to say before I jump into this.

1) I've greatly missed readers. I hope to see some familiar names still hanging around...and meet new ones!

2) I finally caved and read the Royal Ranger. It wasn't as big a disappointment as I anticipated. Mr. Flanagan, you've almost redeemed yourself for that blunder. Predictable plot, good flow of character development.

3) Because these were written pre-Royal Ranger (also pre-official Lost Stories), you will find some discrepancies. I hope this doesn't offend too many of you.

4) I believe in canon pairings with very few exceptions. In Ranger's Apprentice, canon reigns supreme.

5) Anyone remember 100 Themes? I'm going to start a NEW challenge with original content, spun off my Lost characters. Keep an eye out for that.

6) Want to insult me in the comments? Go for it. Criticism is meant for growth as a writer (even if it's sometimes mean). Be warned: Trolling the trolls has become a past time of mine since I was last here.

7) Want to insult others in the comments? You'll be deleted.

I will put up new chapters at least once per week (perhaps more if reviews lead me to feel generous). Remember, this is all pre-written. I'm simply editing the chapters and putting them up. They can go up super fast if a feeling of generosity overwhelms me.

Oh, and 8) I'm thinking of changing my screen name. Any suggestions?

Disclaimer: I'm not John Flanagan. He's Australian. I'm not Australian.

Will pulled Tug to a stop next to Gilan and Blaze. The horses threw their heads with excitement at seeing friends. "I see you're still alive," Gilan smiled.

"Just barely," Will laughed, "Who is your friend?"

"How'd you know I was there?" demanded a boy tucked back in the brush off trail. He nudged his horse forward to meet theirs. "I was quiet! I didn't make a sound!"

"Yes but your horse did," Gilan pointed out.

"Tug let me know someone was hiding so all I had to do was look," Will offered. Memories of his own training with Halt brought pity for the boy.

"Will, this is Jack. He's my apprentice."

"Apprentice? I didn't realize you were getting so old."

Gilan shrugged with a grin. "Keep at it. By the time Jack graduates I'll have an ally in harassing your first apprentice."

Their horses whined a greeting to yet another horse approaching and flicked their ears in the direction. The three looked up to see Halt on Abelard. Behind him they saw another horse and clearly not a Ranger's. The beast moved too gracefully for that even though the hoof beats were just as soft. The rider wore a fitted evergreen jacket with a cowled hood similar to the ones they wore.

"Is that a woman?" Will whispered with confusion to Gilan and Jack. The fitted jacket revealed curves at the hips and bust, undoubtly that of the fairer sex. Gilan scratched his head.

"Maybe he was asked to escort a fifth-year apprentice's family?"

"Stop staring. She is just a girl," Halt snorted as he joined them, "You two have your own, unless they've come to their senses."

"So do you," Gilan pointed out, using the jab to dig deeper. "Does Lady Pauline know about her?"

"I think the real question is do we want to know about someone Lady Pauline doesn't," Will grinned. Halt looked to the young woman with him.

"Do you see what I put up with?"

She just shrugged. "I'm sure you deserve it."

Gilan and Will shared a smirk. With that wit she could be a Temujai invader and they'd share a round of coffee with her. Halt gruffed, unable to return her remarks.

"This happens to be Nerilina, my niece."

"You have a niece?" Gilan asked with genuine surprise.

"I didn't know myself until three months ago. Apparently Ferris had an estranged wife."

"Call me Lina," the girl insisted, once again cutting off Halt. They each studied her in hopes of finding a physical characteristic that linked her to her so-called uncle. There were none.

"Why did you bring her to the Gathering? Are you allowed to do that?" Will asked.

Halt narrowed his eyes. "I brought her because she wasn't just sent to find and harass me the past few months and no I'm not allowed. Now onto more important questions…you two seem to have come up with a stray."

"Ebony's not a stray, she's…" Will cut himself off and looked down to his dog. Even her eyes said, "The old man wasn't talking about me."

"This is my apprentice Jack," Gilan said after an awkward silence. "Jack, that's Halt."

Jack didn't really respond. He was too busy staring at Lina. Will had to admit. Halt's niece was extremely attractive but Alyss already had his heart. Jack's young heart didn't stand a chance. Lina seemed to notice the same moment Will did.

"You can stop drooling any time you like," Lina snapped at him. Jack's face turned several shades of red. Lina nudged her horse ahead of them. "You Rangers are supposed to be subtle. You are also supposed to be excellent at hiding your tracks. I bet I could find the location of the Gathering from here you've been so careless."

Lina heeled her horse to a steady canter down the correct fork in the trail. Will and Gilan glanced to Halt. He shook his head. "Someday I should like to meet whomever trained her. I know she didn't get that aggressiveness from her father."

They followed after her. She'd gotten almost a full kilometer head of them. Halt held up his arm so the others would stay several yards behind her as they reached her trail. "Why aren't we catching up?" Jack asked loudly. Halt smiled to Gilan.

"Now you know what I put up with all those years."

Gilan shook his head. "Halt wants to see if she really can track all the way there."

She did.

By the time they let their horses catch up Lina was sitting on her horse next to the men checking for oak leaves.

Halt, Gilan, Will, and Jack showed theirs. "The girl's with me. She's been requested to meet here with Crowley," he told them. They nodded and let her pass. Halt's word was almost just as good as Crowley's these days.

The friends picked a spot to set up camp. Will kept an eye on Lina as he pitched his tent and unpacked his supplies. She had her own camping gear and arranged it faster than anyone else in the clearing, having her tent pitched and fireplace half built by the time Will got his bedroll positioned. In Gilan's defense, however, he had an apprentice that still needed some serious work on his camping skills.

"No," Will said firmly to Ebony as she weaved between his feet in eager anticipation. She understood and went to do the same to Tug. Tug put his nose down and shoved her from time to time. It was a game the two had played since the dog was just a puppy. She'd spend her time playing with Tug during the Gathering. Blaze would tolerate her, too. Abelard, however, would snort and try to scare her away. He wasn't as fond of playful energy as the other horses.

By the time Will finished and looked back, Ebony had abandoned Tug. In fact, she'd abandoned all the horses. She sat by Lina panting her tongue and wagging her tail. Lina scratched her ears gently while Ebony stole licks of her hand.

"I guess she likes you," Will told Lina.

"What's her name?"

"Ebony."

"Good name for her. I wasn't sure if being unimaginative was a common characteristic with rangers or not. I half-expected you to say something like Blackie."

Will glanced to Halt. His mentor shook his head. Will just sighed. She'd poked fun at him without meaning to. "She was named when I got her," he admitted.

Lina looked up with understanding flooding her eyes…and recognition of opportunity. "I suppose that's a good thing then."

"Come on Lina. You need to check in with Crowley," Halt instructed. She stood up. "Now you will smell like a dog for him."

"I'm sure he's used to strange smells leading this lot."

It was only after Halt's back was turned did Gilan and Will dare to grin.

"I like her," Gilan admitted.

"Me too."