Note: I don't own any of the characters from Ranger's Apprentice!
2nd Note: This is supposed to be a short fanfiction. There will be only three more chapters after this. However, if people like it enough, I might continue it on with through another fanfiction (under a different name because it won't be about the same thing).
Please review!
Deadly Choice Chapter 3
Will raced hard through the Gorlan ruins. The jumble of rocks and broken walls made the going terribly slow. Every now and again he would look back. Sometimes the Kalkara would be there and sometimes it would not. However, the Kalkara's constant screams continued to follow him, spurring him onward.
It's really, really mad! Will thought as he desperately sought a way over a broken wall.
Another scream caused him to avoid safety. He scrambled up the wall as quickly as possible. He bang his knees and knuckles rocks, his nails were quickly chipped, and he slipped three times. With a grunt, he dropped over the top and knelt there, panting. He looked around slowly.
Based on the angles of the walls that were still standing, he realized that was in an old hallway. The "hall" that he was in was obviously the main one for it was wider than any others. Before him was another hall that was perpendicular to the main. It was much narrower and had more of its walls destroyed, resulting in an obstacle course to the extreme. Beyond was an open space.
A former bedroom or office! Will thought excitedly.
He figured that if he went that way, he could get away through the open space. The Kalkara, now blind, would have to move so much more slowly through the maze of fallen rock. He rose and started his plan. The going was rough and difficult. Even with his small and agile body, Will was having a hard time navigating the obstacles in his path. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, he found himself in the open space.
His heart sank. It was not as open as he had thought before. Four walls towered above him. The stone worn smooth by the hands of man and nature would make climbing them difficult, to say the least. Will shrugged. He had do it. There was no other option other than turn back. The Kalkara had gone silent so Will had no idea how far away it was. He walked along the wall to his left, seeking a way up. Spotting a path, Will started his climb.
About a third of the way up, Will found a stone platform to rest on. He figured that it had once held the top of a large bookcase. Sitting there, he breathed deep, trying to calm his racing heart.
A scream filled the air.
Looking back the way he had come, Will spotted the Kalkara. Using its sense of smell and hearing, the Kalkara had finally found him. Despite being blind, the Kalkara began navigating the ruined hallway with ease.
It knows the ruins! It must have examined them with its partner! Will's thoughts screamed.
In a matter of minutes the Kalkara entered the old room. It began tilting its head from left to right then back again. It was listening for him. Will sat still, not even daring to breath. Trapped! He was trapped with this monster!
Well, I guess running is no longer an option, he thought weakly.
The Kalkara, not hearing him, began to stalk around the room. Now it was using smell. Will bunched his muscles slowly. Again he found himself in this situation: one shot. The Kalkara stalked underneath him, its growling becoming louder as it picked up his scent. Luckily the sound masked Will's movements. The Kalkara only knew when it was too late.
Will landed squarely on the Kalkara's shoulders. His saxe bit deep; Will's weight driving it through the armored hair into the shoulder. The Kalkara screamed in pain. However, the hair had forced the saxe away from the pivotal artery that Will was aiming for. It twisted under him, throwing him off. Will just managed to keep his hold on the knife, pulling it after him. With a gasp, Will hit the ground, the air knocked from his lungs. Instantly the Kalkara lunged at him. Will, however, recovered quickly and dodged the claws.
Back on his feet, Will sheathed his blade. In the same movement, he shrugged his bow into his hand. Within seconds, the arrow was nocked and fired. A second one flew right behind it. In this battle state, Will was completely focused on his enemy. The first arrow hit the Kalkara in the chest, forcing it backwards. Will's second arrow ripped through the matted hair where Will had stabbed the Kalkara, exposing more of its body to attack.
The Kalkara charge him. It did not know that Will only had a recurve bow, not the powerful longbow that it had seen take down its partner. Will dodged right, ducking under the blow. Quickly he turned and fired a third arrow. This one stabbed into the Kalkara's back, being forced through enough to poke the skin but no more. Will then had to backpedal in order to escape the slashing claws. He grabbed a corner of his cloak and hurled it into the Kalkara's face. Not knowing what it was, the monster lurched backward. Will leaped and put all his weight into the monster's chest. It hit the ground with a scream that set Will's ears ringing.
Rolling away, Will sought his exit. Then he spotted a thin crack in a wall, just big enough that he could squeeze through. Instantly Will headed for it. The towering walls should keep the Kalkara at bay long enough for him to escape. He reached it and began tearing at the vines around it.
The scream made him turn. He yelped and jumped left, just managing to avoid the Kalkara. The monster slammed into the stone. Bones cracked and scream of pain followed. The Kalkara's charge had all its speed behind it. Its paws hit stone instead of flesh and its body followed too quickly. Forced in an awkward position, the bones had snapped. New pain followed as Will fired two more arrows, one digging into its back while the other deepened the wound on its shoulder. Spinning around, the Kalkara slashed out. Will dodged and ducked, desperate to avoid the claws. This time, however, his luck ran out. The Kalkara feinted a blow its right, broken paw but it was the left paw that made the attack. Will dodged the feint, realized it, and tried to dodge the real blow…
The Kalkara's claws ripped into his left side.
Will screamed, unable to hold it back. The pain was immense, blinding him to everything. He would have stayed like that if the Kalkara had not screamed its pleasure. Will just managed to roll away from the blow to his throat. Leaping to his feet, Will charged back to the crack. Tossing his bow through, Will shoved himself after it. Kalkara screeched angrily as it realized it could not follow.
With a gasp, Will allowed himself to roll down the incline. Reaching the bottom, he reached for his side. The cuts were not shallow, but were not deep either. Blood poured from the wound. Will took his saxe to his cloak, cutting a wide strip to cover the three openings. With that done, Will grabbed his bow and shambled onward. He could hear the Kalkara struggling to scramble over the walls. But that was the last thing on his mind…
The first was the face of his mentor: Halt.