I paced the porch and with every cracking step I took, a memory flooded my mind- me, Halt, Will, I and in every one I saw Halt flinching. Halt flinching. I opened the screen door and charged inside, letting it bang shut behind me.
"You knew!" I shrieked and Connor darted behind Alyss. Halt stood at the wash-bin, his back facing me as he stared out the window drinking coffee. I took a step toward him and I saw Will flinch. "You knew, too!" I said to Will and he looked at the worn table. My breath came in ragged gasps and the words barely passed my lips. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"We didn't know," Will said, meeting my eyes.
"Liar!" I hissed.
Halt turned, and corrected Will. "We didn't know for sure," he said. "We suspected, but never knew."
"I don't believe you," I said, and we looked each other in the eye.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked, and I glanced away, and looked back almost as quickly.
"I didn't know," I whispered.
"You're a terrible liar, Aria," Halt replied, still trying to meet my eyes.
"What was I supposed to say? 'Dearest Halt, you see, I don't think I can be a Ranger because my ankles crack every time I walk, but please don't send me back because I'm completely useless.'" My voice cracked to match my feet, as I turned toward the door. The Ranger cloak I had around my shoulders, fell to the floor as I undid the clasp. "Thanks, but no," I breathed and left the cabin in as much of a hurry as when I came in.
The end.
Right?
No! What kind of "loyal" readers are you? Do you want it to be the end? As much as the idea saddens me, if you don't want to read this then don't. You'll just be missing out on the biggest chapter of inter-occupational cooperation Araluen has ever seen. But hey, if you don't want to then don't trouble yourselves, besides, you have yet to meet Patrick.
I sat in one of the oak trees and almost fell out-when Will climbed up next to me- out of sheer surprise. I bit my lip to conceal a shriek forming in my throat, and my arms wheeled backwards.
"Whoa!" he said and grabbed my shoulder. "We don't want that happening again." I nodded and glanced at him. He was looking through the leaves and into the setting sun. The light filtered through the foliage, showing that the leaves were just beginning to turn. Will stared for a moment more then looked away blinking multiple times before turning to me and saying, "I have a story for you." I put on my "ok-I'll-humor-you" face and Will looked away again.
"Once upon a time, in a kingdom just like this one, there was a boy, and a master. The boy was young, inexperienced, and impulsive. The master knew all these things, but still decided to train the boy, who he knew had talent, was dedicated, and a hard worker. One day though, the boy was taken to a far off kingdom. So you know what the master did?"
"He went after the boy."
"Wrong. He got himself exiled, and then went after the boy. The master believed he would find the boy, and with help he did. The master was eventually accepted again, and the boy with him. Then the boy was presented with the highest honor and opportunity, and an offer to accept it."
"Did he?" I asked, Will was a good story teller.
"No. The boy stayed with the master, and the master with the boy.
"And they lived happily ever after?"
"I don't know, their story isn't over yet."
"Oh," I said and stared off into the sun.
"Let me tell you another story," Will said, and I nodded, not bother to look at him again. "Once upon a time in a kingdom just like this one, there was a master and a girl. The girl reminded the master of himself when he was young, but she had a mean streak. She was alone and hurt- the kind that goes so deep that the master could do nothing to stop the pain. The girl and the master fought, though there were periods of cheerfulness.
"Then one day, there was a journey that they both had to take-across the land and over the sea."
"Sounds far," I said and Will smiled.
"Very far. The girl came across many hardships, but she overcame them, and the master inside was very proud, but the master was very skilled at mentoring and he didn't tell her for a very long while. He was tough and always expected the best from her no matter what, following the example of his mentor before him.
"Then one day the girl was accepted with others of the master's kind. She didn't need the approval from her master. She knew she was strong and in that sense the pain was gone."
"And did they live happily ever after?" I asked and Will smiled.
"I don't know, the story isn't over yet," he said, and I frowned.
"Can't you tell a story that has an ending?" I asked, but he only smiled in reply.
"You tell one," he said shortly and I paused a moment, thinking before saying, "Once upon a time, in a kingdom just like this one..."
"Of course."
I smirked before continuing, "There was a bird- a song bird in fact, dull and colored like dirt. The sparrow sang often and all the birds loved to hear the sparrow's song, but none knew who was singing. They praised the canary and the canary with his beautiful feathers accepted the praise eagerly. It wasn't very long until the sparrow found out.
"So what happened?" Will asked and I glanced at him, he was looking intently at me. I glanced away.
"The sparrow did nothing."
"Nothing?" he asked and I nodded. "Why?"
"The sparrow didn't care. All the sparrow wanted to do was sing. Recognition wasn't important to the sparrow," I paused a moment to think and Will jumped all over me- figuratively of course. "Is that the end? And you say my stories are bad."
"Shush!" I replied shortly glaring at him. "I'm thinking." He smiled. "And I never said your stories were bad," I added. "They just didn't have a proper ending."
The sun cast a shadow over Will's face and I couldn't see him smile. Looking back to the sun, I continued. "One day, while the sparrow was singing and the canary was flying about flaunting his feathers, a hawk flew overhead. The sparrow's song reached the hawk's ears. There was no thought of beauty, only dinner." I stopped when Will chuckled.
"Might we name this hawk Horace?" he asked.
I ignored him and started again. "The hawk saw the bright colored canary flying about, then WHAM! The canary became dinner."
"Serves him right. And then the sparrow lived happily ever after?"
"Nope." I said shortly and Will looked at me with an eyebrow raised. "Days later," I continued, "The sparrow was hit, with a rock by a boy and his sling. The sparrow was dead." Will's jaw dropped. "The forest was silent for many days, but soon there was a soft chirping, a caw here and there, and whistling and the quick rush of leaves made up a symphony of sound. And by this testament, the sparrow was never forgotten."
We were both silent, I stared at the disappearing sun, and Will looked intently at me, before looking away. I shivered and tried to conceal a yawn. And I jumped when I felt a warm fabric draped around my shoulders. Without looking, I knew it was my cloak.
"Aria, my girl, you will be remembered," Will whispered into my ear, and left the tree just as the sun disappeared.
I wasn't ready to go back, I wasn't sure if I ever would be. So I walked...and walked...and walked some more, unprepared to sleep in a tree or on the ground. I walked away my sleep, and didn't care where I ended up. Therefore, I was surprised, when a horse's paddock came into view-and then a cabin, and lastly a stable. The grounds were worn, and I turned away to observe the sun's position. As soon as I turned back, I shrieked in surprise to find myself face to face with a horse. Only the wooden fence beams divided us, and it wasn't enough. I backed up quickly, and seemed to run into a brick wall. There was an oomph! from the wall and then a laugh.
"Hahaha! Right you are Ranger! Always right, you are.." the man said, and I turned to find myself staring up at a slightly lemon shaped, and scraggly old man.
"Uh-uh-ummm.." I stuttered, and backed away from him- I backed into the horse. Turning around slowly, I came face to face with the horse, who happily snorted in my face. I wasn't going to know that though again, so I shriek, and backed up to the point where I fell on my butt.
"Aw! He likes you, girly! Go say hi to 'em." The man said, and I stared at him and the horse wide-eyed.
"If I didn't know better, I'd say you were a bit surprised." I heard a sardonic voice say, and I turned to see Halt across the clearing.
"Uh-uh-ummmm," I stuttered, and the old guy, reached under my arms and pulled me to my feet. I gasped, and moved away from him quickly, now in the center of him, Halt and the horse.
"Is she 'urs?" the man asked, and I glanced at Halt.
"Sadly, yes," he said meeting my eyes, and nodded to me almost imperceptibly.
"Wat'r we waitin' fur? Let's go meet your horse!" The man passed in front of me and Halt gestured for me to follow him.
"Go on," Halt said. "There's no one better to teach you how to ride than old Bob."
"Ride?" I asked, still aghast at the situation.
"Yes. On a horse."
"No. Nononononono. No way." Halt rose an eyebrow.
"You will ride a horse. Rangers ride horses. All Rangers have a horse," he said, eyes narrowed, and as intimidated as I was, I stood firm.
"I will not ride a horse." Okay, so after the day before, I realized I wasn't a good place to bargain. The fact I was even here was a stroke of luck, and I could only take it as a good omen, that Halt said the word "Ranger" multiple times, but I would not ride a horse. You could threaten to kill me but I wouldn't ride one.
Can you blame me? One the same day not only was I bucked off a horse, I also came face to face to death. And you know what death looked like? Evan's horse. You remember Lilly's Journey and Evan's horse, Asad? The super big one? Yeah, that's death.
"You will ride this horse," Halt growled, and moved forward toward me menacingly.
I backed away, resulting to begging, "Please, Halt! I'll do anything!"
"Anything?" He asked, but I was too slow to notice the smile forming on his lips.
"Yes! Anything!" I begged.
Old Bob walked over, and interrupted us. "Ranger? Should you put that girl down?" I was desperately grasping the top fence rail, and Halt was pulling my feet, trying to drag me into the paddock. Halt and I glanced over at Old Bob.
"No," Halt said shortly, and Old Bob shrugged, and turned to walk away. "Wait, Bob," Halt said, and he turned around. "Can you give me a hand here?" Old Bob looked once at me, and at Halt, then back to me. I gave him a pleading look.
"Sure," Old Bob simply, and walked toward the fence where my hands were.
"Please, no," I muttered, my eyes welling up.
"Sorry girly. I gotta do what there Ranger tells me." He glanced at me. "Why don't you wanna ride horses?" He asked, leaning on the fence oblivious to my struggling.
"Simple..." I groaned."In one day I was almost trampled, and then later, a horse threw me when I tried to board it.
"You mean 'mount' a horse," Ol' Bob corrected.
"Yeah, yeah," I replied, and grunted, while Halt yanked harder. Remember, I'm basically horizontal to the ground, three feet up, my hands grabbing the fence post and Halt pulling my feet.
"Horses are real nice," he said. " You've just gotta know 'ow to treat 'em right." My feelings of disbelief must have been evident on my face, because he winked at me, and grabbed my wrists, prying me from the fence.
"Are you sure it won't bite me?" I turned and asked Halt as he guarded the gate entrance. He rolled his eyes and I moved toward the horse that stood in front of me. The horse itself was rather beautiful, all brown and red together, a shade of auburn that matched my hair. Cream spots covered it's back, but I will never forget the gleam in his eye; there was a steely glint that intimidated me.
Scaredy cat, he said and I scowled.
"Am not!" I replied loudly in a defensive yet whiny tone. I missed the smile Halt and Old Bob shared behind my back. I was hooked, and they knew it.
"Do you want to ride him?" Halt asked.
I frowned and glared that them both. "No way!"
"Scaredy cat, the horse said again.
"Nu-huh!"
Prove it!
"Fine!" I growled, and moved to throw my foot in the stirrup.
"Girly..." Old Bob warned.
I mounted and Halt smiled.
Dang.
The day got progressively better from there, and thank goodness it did because I wouldn't have been able to handle it if it didn't.
The horse's name was Omega, and I found it appropriate considering the fact I almost met my end...again. I learned how to clean, repair and use Omega's tack, how to properly mount the horse, as well as how to pay attention to his superior abilities and by the end of the day, I was exhausted.
Oh, and I found out where Halt went those first two days. As it turns out, he was here, dropping off his own horse, Abelard, so by the end of the day, we were both riding our horses back to the cabin, me on Omega, and Halt on Abelard.
I'm faster than you, Omega said to Abelard, but the little horse snorted in disbelief.
Prove it, Abelard whinnied back, and Halt turned to look at me.
"It seems there is some unhealthy competition brewing, maybe I ought to crush it," he said, with a haughty air.
My eyes widened, and I swallowed nervously. He didn't bother to glance at me before spurring Abelard ahead, and without waiting for my command, Omega followed eagerly.
Before me, the forest blurred, and one tree turned into another, until Halt pulled Abelard to a stop. I followed Halt's lead, and searched for the reason as to why we halted suddenly. (Haha Halt, halted... You know I'm cool.)
There was thick black smoke weaving its way through the trees. Halt's eyes narrowed, and we rode swiftly in the direction of the cabin.
"What in the.." he muttered, and then I saw it. The cabin in flames. The smoke was the only thing that ensured the cabin was remaining, or else the fire wouldn't have had a source. The heat was intense, and Omega shied away from the heat.
"Will and Alyss?!" I yelled over the crackling, and Halt nodded. "They left late last night. They should be fine," he called back.
A spark jumped, and I saw it fall to the pile of leaves, dead due to the fall of autumn.
"Halt!" I yelled. His eyes widened, and he saw the pile catch.
"Ride to the town, and the castle," he replied. "We're going to need a lot of help to save this forest."
Omega must've sensed my urgency, for he ran like no other horse before him.
"Fire in the woods!" I bellowed and pointed to the smoke rising from the rising from the trees to all the people in the center of the village. Without waiting for any response, I galloped through the crossing streets, and over the bridge to the hill where the castle sat.
Redmont has huge gates before you can approach the castle itself, and here is where I ran into some trouble.
"What do you mean you won't let me in?!" I yelled at the guard, from atop Omega, but the guard wasn't threatened.
"Where is your leaf?" he asked, frowning. "Ranger wear their identification leaves. A cloak isn't enough."
"Are you kidding?" I asked seriously.
"No," he replied, and my jaw dropped while my blood pressure rised.
"ARE- YOU- BLIND?" I yelled spacing the words out and he leveled his spear, decided he had put up with this nuisance long enough. Omega backed up a pace, and I stood in the sturrips. "I just need to talk to the Baron." I reasoned hastily. "Oh and one other thing. THE FOREST IS ON FIRE!"
The guard glanced from me nervously to the woods, and sure enough smoke was rising from them the way a lantern does when lit.
"St-stay here," he stuttered and signaled to the other guards who opened the gates.
"First day on the job," I muttered to Omega who snorted in agreement. Within moments a whole regiment of soldiers were filing out the gate, and instead of swords and spears, they each carried a bucket, a shovel and a bag of sand.
I would be lying when I tell you that fire isn't wonderful, but I wouldn't be if I told that its near damn the hardest thing to put out in a forest of dead leaves. I don't even know how we put out, or even how I would go about explaining it. So I guess I'll start at the beginning.
Fire spreads quickly and large fires cannot be put out with buckets of water. They need to be smothered. So by the time we arrived, I led the horses or the men in the regemin, far away from the spreading flames, catching a glimpse of the smoldering ruins of the cabin. I tied the horses off and rode Omega back to the fire. I saw Halt with the rest of the men. Many men from the village, and all from the regimen the Baron sent, were digging a trench, and throwing sand and dirt onto the flames.
The ones who were digging were drenched in sweat, and though night was falling, the light given off still made it seem like midday. Every once in a while the breeze blew the smoke into our faces, but the work continued. I grabbed a shovel and helped alongside them, while a few switched jobs, from digging to water carrying.
As I said earlier, buckets of water don't put out the fire, though it can prevent it from spreading. Water was thrown onto leaves not yet burned, an Halt was directing the different crews. He glanced at me once, and returned to digging the trench.
The fire had spread from the cabin to the stable and to the half of the small clearing and 5 ft in every direction. Halt was taking a break. Even he knew the that no matter how urgent something is, anything can be accomplished with pacing. This, I would learn in time.
A wrinkle of pain lined his already worn face. I say a wrinkle simply because he wasn't one for showing any sense of outward emotion... at all. "How much longer?" I asked and he gave me a noncommittal shrug.
"Who knows? We'll never be able to put it out ourselves. All we need to do is simply contain it." Halt nodded once more at the efforts and walked back to the trench with his shovel.
I saw everything before it happened. Remember that tree I was firing at? The dead one? Well, as it turns out, dead trees burn extremely well, and once the trunk can no longer support the limbs, they fall, break, and ignite.
I was running, and thinking back on it, I don't even remember why. I just knew I had to. Halt was my destination, and he just happened to be walking under the tree at the time the main limb was breaking. Even the best Rangers cannot defeat Mother Nature.
I threw myself at my mentor, and crashed into him. Together we managed to fall safely out of harms way. The dead branch fell just a foot from my own.
I glanced at Halt and I'd say the look on his face was sincere- a thank you. I didn't need to respond, he'd already saved me.