NOTE: I don't own any of the characters from Ranger's Apprentice!
Sorry this took so long…homework can be a pain.
I'm still taking any scene suggestions that someone wants. I think I have finally figured out the private messaging…not sure. I know how to receive them but still not sure how to respond. If anyone has a scene they want to see you can now send it that way.
So here we start seeing more of my OCs! I won't tell you off the bat if they are good or bad- that's for you all to figure out!
Review and Enjoy!
A Shadow and a Warrior Chapter 11
Will slipped forward through the snow. His target was a new deer without a herd nearby. It was jumpy and alert but Will knew that his aim was true. He raised two fingers slowly then signaled forward. On his left, sliding gracefully through the snow, was a red back. It moved until it had past five trees from where it started, diverging away from Will. Four fingers came up and repeated the movement. On his right, doing the same thing as the other, a black back moved forward. Then Will signaled with three fingers. Evanlyn appeared a few feet away from him on his right. Working together before had guaranteed meat for the group so Will was determined to keep doing it.
For the past several days, Will had been teaching Evanlyn the Ranger signals that he had learned from Halt. Flare and Disk, ever present, had continually watched their practice exercises. After two days, when Will signaled that an empty sack perched on a pole was the enemy, there was an explosion of movement. Next thing he and Evanlyn knew was that the sack was in the middle of a tug-a-war between Flare and Disk. The wind picked up and pulled the sack away. Disk snarled and gave chase while Flare threw back her head and howled. As the wind continued to blow the sack back and forth, the dogs gave chase, snarling and barking angrily at it. Finally Will rose and put an arrow threw it. Instantly Disk and Flare stopped. They knew that Will's arrows were sharp and deadly. Therefore, to them, the sack was now dead and could be ignored. From then on Will had included them in the signal teaching.
Will and Evanlyn paused. Their cover was no longer enough to hide them from the deer. The doe glanced around nervously then turned back to its tree. Will lifted a whole hand. Then it closed into a fist. At once Flare and Disk shot forward from either side of the deer. Teeth bared, snarling and snapping, the dogs cut off its escape routes. It balked and turned to run…right towards Will and Evanlyn. Will rose and fired an arrow. It brought down the deer, an instant killing shot. The dogs came to a halt beside their masters. Evanlyn was the backup, in case the deer managed to escape Will's arrows. She also carried the knives they needed. The two humans set to work. Disk left and returned with a long pole in his mouth. Will smiled and scratched his ears. After tying the meat to the pole, Will and Evanlyn rose with it. Together the four headed off for the cabin with Flare and Disk in the lead.
Flare suddenly paused, her ears up and swiveling. Disk, too, paused and seemed on edge. Instantly Will drew his saxe knife. Was the danger nearby? What was it? A wolf? A bear? Maybe a wildcat? Or, pray it was not, a Skandian? The two dogs looked back at him, waiting for a command. Will put a finger to his mouth: silent. Then he mouthed: where. Both dogs tilted their heads, listening for the noise only they could hear. Together, both noses pointed towards the mountains. Will relaxed a little. Not a Skandian but still a threat.
Then a scream split the air.
Will and Evanlyn raced towards the sound. Flare and Disk, after barking their displeasure at being left behind, dashed after them. Will realized that they were heading towards the mountain. Whatever the threat was it was after somebody that needed help. Flare, easily overtaking her masters, slowed and growled menacingly. Both humans slowed as well. Evanlyn lowered the meat to the snow while Disk quickly buried it. Then all four moved forward.
Before them, in a clearing, was a young woman dressed completely in black. Approaching her, teeth bared, was a huge bear! She was on her back and trying to escape the menacing creature. Her boots kicked snow into the bear's face. It roared in pain as snow got in its eyes but kept coming. Close enough to the woman, the bear lifted its paw in a death blow.
Will knew that she would not survive unless she had help. Quickly he signaled for Evanlyn to stay in the trees. Then he raced forward, an arrow resting on his bow. Flare and Disk charged quickly. They knew without a command what Will had in mind.
The arrow pierced the bear's shoulder, drawing blood and a roar of pain. Flare darted under the bear's stomach, lunging upward. Her teeth sank into its paw. Disk leaped onto the back and bit into the neck. Two more arrows struck true, one in the neck and one other front foot. With a thunderous growl, the bear reared upward. Flare was shaken lose and thrown aside. Disk, unable to hold on, slipped off into the snow. Turning, the bear sought its prey. Will had the woman by the arms and was pulling her away. The bear growled, landing back on all fours, and advanced. Will drew his saxe and slashed a deep cut on the bear's nose. Roaring, the bear blindly struck with its bleeding paw (the one that Flare bit).
"Will!" Evanlyn screamed as Will landed in the snow with a grunt.
The blow was nowhere near crippling but it did knocked the air from his lungs. The bear, seeing him as the weakest target, turned on him. Will tried to push himself to his feet but the snow slipped under him. Now the bear was terrifyingly close. His saxe had been thrown away by the blow. Then Disk appeared between the bear and his master. Even the bear had to back off at the loud bark that erupted from his throat. Then Flare appeared, teeth slinking into the bear's left ear. Rearing, the bear attempted to throw her off but to no avail. Disk lunged, teeth biting deep into the throat. The bear shook its head vigorously. Then a stone slammed into its nose, breaking bone.
Evanlyn appeared at Will's side, helping him up. The dogs leaped aside as her second rock took the bear in the forehead. Will, who had managed to hold his bow, fired two rapid arrows. Each sliced through flesh. With a growl, the bear backed off. However, Will knew that it was far from over. He stepped between the bear and Evanlyn. The dogs prowled around the angered animal, challenging it to try and threaten their masters. Paws landing firmly, the bear lowered its head…
It prepared to charge…
Will's bow raised, arrow at the ready…
It came at them with a thunderous roar…
A shout rang out, followed by a person leaping between the bear and the Ranger apprentice. His massive spear landed in the ground. The tip tore through the bear's skin, piercing the heart. With a growl, the bear reared on last time. Both paws rose as the animal prepared to strike down its killer. Then Will's arrow tore through the eye and into the brain. As it landed, the ground shook and almost knocked Will off his feet. Only Evanlyn managed to keep him standing.
Slowly Will turned to face the man who brought the spear. He was standing next to the woman, whispering to her. The woman, her blond hair shining in the sun and blue eyes sparkling, smiled to something the man said. The man himself was tall, a good head and shoulder taller than Horace even. His black hair was powdered with snow. A black cloth was bound around his face and his hood was up, hiding any noticeable features beyond a large nose and his eyes. Those eyes reminded Will of a snake's, brilliant green to the point of mesmerizing yet hard and uncompromising. Powerful muscles rippled under his black cloak and clothing. With a start, Will realized that man and woman wore similar clothing, which was simple yet elegant.
Realizing that Will and Evanlyn were still there, the man turned to look at them. Will met those green eyes. He saw that the man was analyzing him, studying him. The man seemed impressed but it was gone so quickly that Will later wondered if he saw it at all. Then the eyes darted over to Evanlyn then to the dogs, who had now joined their masters' side. Flare and Disk lowered their heads and flattened their ears as the eyes came to them. Slowly a rumbling growl came from their throats.
"Still," Will whispered.
At once the growling stopped. However, both dogs were on high alert. A touch of humor appeared in the man's eyes. Turning he signaled with his left hand, which contained two rings that Will could not see very well. Stepping from the trees came six more people. All were dressed in black like the first two. From that distance Will could not tell gender or noticeable characteristics. Then the man turned completely back to them.
He stepped forward and said through the black cloth, "I must thank you for coming to the aid of my companion." Slowly his right hand extended outward.
"It is no matter," Will replied calmly. He took the man's hand. Instantly he noticed the calm, overwhelming strength that the man possessed. The green eyes told him that the man could sense Will's own strength, both in body and in character.
The man spoke again, the voice so smooth that it was almost a purr, "I value the lives of my people highly. Believe me when I say it matters a lot. Not many people who live here would do such a dangerous thing for a stranger."
"An unjust and selfish act," Will growled, wishing his voice did not seem so high-pitched compared to his man. "We should be looking after one another. After all, we share the same threats and survive the same weather."
A smile seemed to appear under that cloth but the purring voice gave away no sign humor or pleasure, "Well said, young one. We might just be able to get along as neighbors…and friends."
Will almost winced as the hand tightened. However, he kept his body still and eyes locked with the man's gaze. He was not going to back down to anyone, whether friend or foe. Evanlyn and the others watched the proceedings. The man released Will's hand and nodded to Evanlyn. Then with a flourish he bowed to Will. Will bowed in return, understanding that this was a sign of equality. The man straightened, turned, and walked away with the girl. Will and Evanlyn headed back they had come. Flare and Disk uncovered the meat.
Turning after picking up one end of the pole, Will looked after the men and woman. His eyes narrowed. Could he trust them? Were they friends or a possible threat? Would they stay friends until they repaid any perceived debt? Biting his lip, Will felt a worm of fear in his stomach. Stories of men and women shrouded in black who ruled the mountains had constantly been in his ears while a slave. Will thought this to be a myth, until now, until he saw a lone metal feather hanging from a chain around the man's neck…
The symbol of the Hunters.
Hope you all liked this chapter. Again, sorry this took so long. I am always open to critic and ideas. Post any scenes suggestions in the comments or send to me in Private Messaging (now that I know how to receive!).
Feel free to ask questions (don't I always answer!?). The next chapter will be up this weekend…if schoolwork goes according to plan. See you soon!
