Disclaimer: I do not own Ranger's Apprentice or any of its characters
Gilan was hiding in a bush on the outskirts of the Gathering Grounds when he heard a faint noise to his left. He carefully turned his head and smiled as he saw Will hiding behind a nearby tree. He was fairly easy to see without his Ranger cloak. Gilan waved and Will smiled back at him. Gilan saw Crowley seem to appear from a bush by Will. He waved again and Crowley motioned him over. Gilan cautiously made his way over to the two others and crouched down behind the bush with Crowley. Will looked at the Gathering Grounds before he slid in beside Gilan.
"Boy are we glad to see you," Crowley whispered to Gilan. Gilan smiled. Crowley turned towards Will. "I told you we would find him over here." Will glared at the commandant.
"I see you don't have your cloak Will, I take it that you came back to get it?" Gilan whispered to Will but Will had turned away and was peering through a hole in the bush.
"You have to see this," Will said. Crowley and Gilan gathered around him to look through the bush.
A groan came from Crowley as he saw how Halt had arranged the backpacks. His plan was immediately ruined unless Gilan could get that close without being seen which he doubted was even possible if Halt was watching. The next surprise was when Halt picked up his bow and aimed it off to his right. The three hidden Rangers shifted their gaze and almost gasped as Halt released the arrow at the two apprentices who were trying to get close. The apprentices fell to the ground but seemed to be alive. Gilan was the first to pull back from the bush. He sat thinking for a minute or so before Will and Crowley also pulled back from the bush.
"What do we do now?" Will whispered to Crowley.
"Why are you asking me?" Crowley whispered back.
"Well you are the commandant." Gilan pointed out.
"So what? It's your old mentor out there drinking coffee and I'd be willing to bet that he knows we're suffering and he's enjoying it!" Crowley was getting agitated, Halt was rubbing it in that they didn't have coffee by doing what he was doing and Crowley knew that Halt was waiting for somebody to go for the packs.
"How about his tent?" Will whispered excitedly. The two Rangers looked at him with blank expressions. "I saw that he didn't take it down, he must have some supplies in there." Understanding dawned in their eyes.
"But we'd have to move along the tree line in the shadows with no cloak for at least twenty meters," Crowley said.
"You're the one with the cloak," Gilan said to Crowley.
Before Crowley could reply, the trio heard a cry and went back to their positions by the bush. From where they were they could partially see two figures squirming by the side of Halt's tent. Gilan sighed. "There goes that plan." Crowley turned to the younger man with an excited look.
"It's not the end; Halt's going to get them. This is your chance; you're the best at hidden movement and there are shadows leading all the way up to the packs." Gilan grinned.
"Be right back." Gilan stood cautiously and maneuvered out from the tree line. He glanced towards the tent and was glad that Halt was occupied with the other Rangers.
Will and Crowley watched as Gilan ran towards the packs, swaying to blend in with the shadows and flickering light of the big fire. They smiled as Gilan reached the packs unnoticed by Halt and the apprentices, the grins turned into confusion as Gilan started headed towards three packs a few meters from the fire. Gilan picked up the packs and started back, he had just gotten cover when Halt turned to make his way back to the fire. Crowley and Will waited for Gilan to resume his position in their small circle. Gilan looked at them and smiled, handing them each a pack with their name attached to it.
"There you go; I have to admit that I was a little worried that I would be seen." Gilan leaned towards the bush to look at Halt and see his reaction to the missing packs.
"Gee Gilan, what do you suppose Halt put in these things, they're really heavy," Will said while hoisting his into his lap.
"I noticed that but I was a little too busy running to think too deeply about it," Gilan said absently. "Umm… Crowley?" Gilan sounded worried.
"What's up Gil?" Crowley said. He leaned over to the bush also. He had heard the concern in Gilan's voice and didn't like it too much.
"Halt's smiling," Gilan said with a little disbelief mixed with the concern.
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