A/N: I apologize for the lateness, but here it is! Thank you all for the reviews and for reading this lil fic.
We had sent a scout to see what the targets were up to. It took a while for anyone to volunteer for this job, but after a short speech from Bryan and the peer pressure of a few apprentices, an apprentice who went by the name of Logan finally stepped forward. He was a good runner, he said, so he could probably out distance the bulky targets under the cover of the trees.
He was soon on his way and in a half of an hour he had returned and reported to us that the targets were back at the far side of the field and seemed stationary for their part. This was good news to us, and we soon set about putting my plan to action.
It was hard work, and sadly for me the planner didn't get a break from the labour. But that was alright, I suppose, it was not as though I were a general or anything. And as rangers we were all equals and worked together as such. Camaraderie's swell and all, but my back was aching before noon time that day.
I wiped the sweat out of my eyes and I looked about the forest, taking a brief break, when Bryan walked up to me. "Great weather we're having!" He beamed at me. I looked about at the fog that surrounded us. Any normal person, I'm sure, wouldn't have had such a cheery outlook on a foggy day, but this was weather that we need. We were too frightened to work at night and the grey blanket of mist that enveloped us gave us the protection we needed from unwelcome eyes.
"Aye," I agreed. "If this luck continues this might actually work!"
"Oh it will," Bryan nodded, "It has to! Or we're all dead men!" I eyed him curiously as I considered how his last sentence carried over the same cheeriness he felt for the fog.
I took one more look at the apprentices around me and nodded to Bryan, "It's time." Without delay the signals began to be relayed throughout what remained of the corps. Ten volunteers made swift progress into the field where the targets waited, the rest staid behind in the trees some up above and some on the ground. We all had our bows at ready, and we all hoped that we were too.
The small troop of apprentices were now approaching the targets carefully, all zig-zagging with saxe knives drawn, and all prepared to make a mad dash for cover. A line of rangers to my right drew and sited waiting for Bryan. "Now!" He shouted.
The apprentices on foot struck first, each doing their best to get a good jab in with their knives before they ran back. It was enough. A mighty roar swelled up from where the targets stood and they too began to charge towards the trees. Bryan now gave his second signal and the archers at ready fired. It was not enough to stop the monsters, and that was not our intention. The arrows simply slowed them down and angered them even more.
The runners finally made it back with the targets not far behind. Do not question me how the targets move so fast, perhaps they were on wheels or simply flying over the ground powered by pure, unadulterated, ranger-eating evil. My eyes narrowed in anxious readiness, it was time for this all to end.
The targets finally reached the trees, their hideousness bespeckled with the shifting shadows of the leaves above them. One more shout from me, and it would be over for them... I hoped.
"RELEASE!" I screamed. And in due order and with satisfying quickness a series of long logs came swinging down from the branches above. It was the targets' downfall that they always attacked in one straight line, it made swift and easy work of destroying them.
In short succession they all toppled, battered by the powerful force that struck them. They were not moving now, they all remained prostrate and still on what I would assume were their backs. We all nervously approached now, each with our bows at ready surrounding the felled creatures. I came up to them in the middle of my group. I kicked the closest target to me with my foot, and a great groaning came up from inside it and the target began to move.
"Stay still if you know what's good for ya!" I shouted, not even sure of what I would do if the target would continue moving. The reply that greeted me was not something I, or anyone for that matter, expected.
"Damn boy! Give me a moment to get out of this contraption before you stick me like a pin cushion!" I gaped in shock and confusion as all the targets around us seemed to open up like boxes and men began to climb out of them.
The famous ranger, Halt, stared down at me (I am actually of equal height with him, but he has that presence). "Now then lad, are you going to put your bow down or are you really going to shoot me?"
We all stood in numb aw and dropped our arrows as we began to recognize the men around us. All of them we knew. All were our masters and other senior members of the corps. Crowley walked up to Halt from behind and surveyed all the apprentices with pride. "Now who is the bright one who put this all together?" He waved his hand around the now calmed battle ground. Bryan stepped forward next to me, but before Crowley could say anything Bryan shoved me forward nearly causing my to crash in our captain.
"Ah," he smiled at me, "Colin is it?" I nodded my head. "You planned this whole attack?" I nodded again. His smile broadened and he turned away from me for a moment. "Garth! Will! Come over here will you?" He turned back to me as they approached. "Will here planned this test to see how well you apprentices can handle tactics. And as I understand it, you have only been an apprentice for a few short months." He looked at Garth for confirmation, my master nodded trying to hold back his smile. "Will," he turned to the younger ranger, "What think you of Colin here? Do you think he qualifies to continue on?"
I bit my lip in anticipation, I didn't want to go back to battle school. Will surveyed me closely, looking me over with his head tilted to the side before he nodded curtly and turned back to Crowley. "Yes, yes I think he does have what it takes." He looked back at me and winked.
"Well, now that that's settled," Crowley turned to address the rest of the corps, "I do believe our lads have done a fine job this evening, don't you?" Cheering sounded off. "Enough with this funny business then, let's celebrate!"
Before I knew it I was left standing alone, a solitary island in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the gathering. Men rushed past me, and I'm sure some tried to talk to me, but I stood there still wondering what it was that just happened to me. I still wasn't even sure if it was all real.
A heavy hand landed on my should and I woke from my thoughts with a start. "A fine job you did today, Colin!" Garth beamed down on me and handed me a bronze oak leaf. And it was then that I knew that I wasn't dreaming, and that what happened to me was the start of something grand. I was a ranger now, and there was no doubt about it.
Many thanks to Eryn Grace O'Malley! She held a special batch of rabid plot bunnies at ready to release if I should fail to update by the end of the week. That's what friends do. Friends don't let friends get away with updating late without being nibbled on a bit.