I'm sorry that I haven't updated this in a long time. School has been keeping me busy. Added to that was the fact that I actually got to read the fourth Eragon book (it was really good). Please tell me what you think of this chapter and I'll try and have the next one up soon!

Disclaimer: I don't own The Ranger's Apprentice Series.


Tug was standing in the snow, waiting for Will and Halt to finish up whatever they were doing. In Tug's opinion, they should have been heading straight for their home so that they could enjoy the comfort that warmth brought with it.

Will, Halt, Abelard, and he had been out tracking. Tug supposed that Halt was trying to develop Will's skills. At the moment, Halt was asking Will a question, but Tug could tell that his friend wasn't paying attention. Halt's voice became angry all of sudden and he said, "Could we possibly continue with our tracking, or did you have something more important to do?"

Tug felt Will jump slightly in surprise before having Tug start walking once again. Together, they rode forward to where Halt had been pointing. Just as he knew Will was doing, Tug examined the ground in front of him. In the saddle, Will stood to get a better view at what was on the ground.

Tug knew instantly that the tracks belonged to some rabbits, a creature that he found very annoying. As soon as he thought about the rabbits, he heard Will say to Halt, "Rabbit."

In reply, Halt simply said, "Rabbit?"

Tug sighed to himself. Will needed to pay more attention. It was obvious that that the tracks belonged to more than one rabbit. Tug listened as Will corrected himself. Tug and Abelard continued to carry their riders through the snow, both listening to the conversation their friends were having.

The group had traveled about a kilometer when Will suddenly cried out, "Look!" Tug was surprised by his friend's outburst. Turning his head slightly, Tug saw that Will had discovered another set of tracks, ones that Tug was not happy to see at all. In the snow were the tracks of a wild boar. Tug listened carefully to the sounds going on around him. He was happy that he didn't notice anything unusual going on, meaning that the wild boar was nowhere near them. Looking over at Abelard, he saw that his fellow horse had come to the same conclusion.

He did, however, notice that there was something unusual going on in the undergrowth on the other side of the track. He lifted his ears, attempting to figure out what was there. Glancing over at Will, he saw that his friend had also noticed the strange movement in the undergrowth. He watched as Will drew an arrow and placed it on the string of his bow.

Tug heard Halt speaking to Will in a voice that carried to the undergrowth. Tug had to laugh to himself when an old man came running out of the bushes. He was disheveled and frightened-looking. He let out a sound of amusement when the old man caught his foot and went sprawling on the ground. He stopped his laugh when he saw the look Abelard was giving him. His friend did not approve of him laughing at the old man.

The man, who appeared to be some sort of farmer, approached the group. He held up his hands, showing them that he was unarmed and not dangerous. Tug couldn't wait to hear why the man had been hiding in the undergrowth.