Uhhh *peeks out from behind rock*
Okay… I have so many things to say and things that are happening in life right now, but first and foremost…
I AM SO FLIPPING SORRY THAT I HAVEN'T UPDATED IN LIKE 4 MONTHS!!!
I really hate myself for not getting around to updating sooner… but I've had so many things going on and it's been really hard on me… sorrryyyy
Mum got called away to Melbourne a few months ago, and we had to move all the way from WA (for those of you who don't live in Australia or don't have a clue where those places are, basically I had to move to the other side of the country)
We had to fix up the house, sell it, pack everything, say goodbye to all my friends (there were a lot of tears involved and to RangerBlueBunny, Geckoguy, HuntianaJones, WizzoFizzo, Oofer-Llama and WanderingStar… I'm gonna miss you guys so much. T_T), not to mention have Christmas and celebrate New Years Eve, figure out who we were gonna stay with when we arrived, and fly over all in the meagre space of 2 months.
Yeah… crazy.
But good news, I got into a school over here, we have a house (for 5 months anyways), and have found a really good property we're gonna try and buy. Hopefully it'll all work out.
I'm going into yr 10 and that means big life choices coming up… so yeah. Fun.
And for those wondering how I got from 53 reviews to 200 in the space of a few days………… ummm….. my friends (*cough cough* WizzoFizzo and HuntianaJones) made a deal with me. They get my story to 200 reviews and I'm return I'd write 2 chapters in one week. That turned out veeeerrryyyy well. (Sorry guys) But in my defence, being told one morning that you're gonna move all the way across the country and leave behind all you've grown up to know and love, including friends, it's kinda hard on you…
Welp
I really didn't know what to do in this chapter… so I'm really sorry if it's a little bit rushed or just plain horrific. This was mainly written as a filler chapter, just to give you guys something to read, no matter how bad it is.
One more thing… why do you assume you're the smartest in the room…
Yeah
I watched Hamilton. And am absolutely obsessed with it. I've been listening to the entire soundtrack at least twice a day while I've been painting the temporary house… and yeah
THE FIRST PERSON WHO GUESSES WHICH HAMILTON SONG THIS QUOTE IS FROM AND LEAVES THE NAME OF THE SONG IN A REVIEW, I'LL PM YOU AND YOU GET TO CHOOSE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IN THE STORY!!!
— Imagine what gonna happen when you try to tax our whiskey… —
And if you're not the first person to guess it, don't worry. Anyone else who gets it right will get a shoutout!
Enough rambling… onto the chapter!
DISCLAIMER: No matter how many times I've wished it, I sadly don't own Ranger's Apprentice.
:(
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Chapter 9 - A Happy Reunion
"WE NEED MORE ROPES!"
"SOMEONE GRAB THE OTHER END"
"NOOO, STOP HIM!"
Chaos.
That was the only word that could describe what was happening in Redmont. Two syllables. Cha-os. Barrels and straw strewn everywhere, the once sturdy stables doors now laying on the ground in a haphazardous mess of wooden splinters. People yelling, horses neighing and the clatter of hooves on the ground filled the air.
Chaos.
"NO! HE CAN'T ESCAPE! SOMEONE STOP HIM!" someone yelled across the din, turning heads towards the grey pony thundering towards the castle drawbridge.
Ropes whistled through the air, intending to halt the pony's mad dash to freedom, but the horse dodged them with almost contemptuous ease.
The grey's hooves clattered across the cobbles, the sound changing to a dull thudding as he crossed the drawbridge. Some guards from the castle had mounted up and were now chasing the grey pony, but their steeds were no match. Despite the pony's size, his strength and stamina was greater than those of any horse in Araluen, save a few others of its upbringing. For this was a Ranger's horse.
And not any horse for that matter.
Will's horse.
The horse which was now disappearing into the thick undergrowth.
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Only when he finally lost his pursuers in the forest did Tug slow to a halt and wheel around to stare back at the castle. And while Tug would do anything to find his master and bring him back to safety, like every horse he was reluctant to leave the oats and soft hay of the stables. And the apples. Oh the sweet, juicy, crunchy apples.
He would miss those.
But not as much as he missed his master. Tug would find Will no matter what.
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The cabin looked empty. It was empty... but there were usually signs around the place that indicated that someone had recently been in there.
But there was no trampled grass.
No Abelard in the stable.
No smoke from the chimney.
No laughter.
Even the trees seemed resolute - staring down from the heights to which they towered - keeping watch over the little cabin while everyone was away.
Tug's hooves made no sound, save the muffled thuds as he trotted along the dead leaves that littered the little forest path. While a human would see the cabin as empty, Tug knew better. His heightened sense of smell and the sixth sense all Ranger horses seemed to possess made him aware of a presence. Someone he had missed for very long.
His master.
After his escape from Redmont, Tug had followed Will's scent, tracking him all the way back to Halt's cabin. The scent was a few hours old, but Tug had still managed to follow it effortlessly. He was a Ranger horse after all.
A slight rustle from a nearby tree caught Tug's attention. His ears flickered and he shuffled restlessly.
"Tug?"
The whisper was so soft, so filled with emotion and disbelief - shock even - that Tug could barely recognise his master's voice. But when he caught sight of the rumpled brown hair, auburn eyes and the smile tugging at Will's lips, he neighed in delight.
Despite his still healing wounds, Will practically leaped down from the tree and threw his arms around Tug's neck while whispering words too faint to make out. Tears soaked Tug's mane, but the little horse didn't mind in the least. He was too busy nuzzling his master. Taking in his bloodless scent. The weird smell of bandages and medicine. But ultimately, the scent that was undeniably... Will.
"I've missed you so much Tug. I begged Halt to let me go outside to see you, but he wouldn't let me"
I missed you too. But Halt had a reason for not letting you go out. You probably would have collapsed or something and I'd have to save you AGAIN.
"Hey. I managed to sneak out AND make it all the way here with any problems. I could have snuck out to you easy peasy"
Not without getting caught you wouldn't have. I heard you as soon as you stepped foot outside the keep. Well... fell outside the keep.
"You try abseiling with broken ribs"
I'll pass thanks. I'll leave all the stupid reckless things to you.
Will didn't reply, instead hugging Tug tighter and stroking his velvety nose fondly.
And while Tug didn't say anything in response, we can see his thoughts, and this is what he was thinking… (AN. I really am losing my touch with writing… this move really has messed me up, I don't even want to know why I started to write like a narrator… : )
Never again will I let anyone hurt you. I WILL protect you. I promise…
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Will trudged through the forest, Tug wandering behind him. It was now two days since he had made his... daring escape from Castle Redmont. He had raced through the forest for around an hour until he arrived at the small, cozy cabin that he used to share with Halt; not that it was going to be like that after his accident. Halt probably wouldn't want to train him any further after the attack. His mentor doubtlessly thought that Will was too weak and not good enough to be a Ranger anymore. That's why he'd left you behind and gone on to Celtica alone.
The thought stung Will like a wasp. the stinging pain drilling deeper into his already broken heart. A small voice reasoned with him, arguing that Halt wouldn't abandon him - not after everything they had been through. But then why would he have been left behind? Maybe he really was too weak... not good enough... to be a Ranger.
Don't say that! You're one of the best Ranger Apprentices I've even seen! And trust me... I've seen quite a few. Tug snorted, disgusted that Will was even thinking things like that. Clearly Halt's departure had shaken him more than he let show.
"Really?" The disbelief laid heavy in Will's voice. Tug definitely needed to tell his master otherwise. This was not his Will.
Of course. Did you really think that you were the first apprentice to try and ride me??? Many have tried, and all have failed, except the boy - the young man - I see in front of me.
Will, you stayed on me longer than anyone ever had.
You didn't complain when Halt made you do all the household chores.
You didn't stop practicing until you got it right.
You didn't back down in front of the boar during the hunt, even when it was charging straight at you.
You didn't run in fear when you saw the Kalkara.
And let's not start on who saved Rodney's, the Baron's AND Halt's lives.
YOU did all of that.
YOU!
So don't even think that you're not good enough to be a Ranger's Apprentice.
Got it?
Will didn't know what to say to that. What could one say to that, except a whispered "thank you Tug. For everything" and hug the grey's neck again.
(AN: wow... who would've thought that Tug could give inspirational speeches? Is there nothing this horse can do??? Well... I guess he can't fly... Or CaN He???)
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Meanwhile in Celtica…
"Shhhh Horace... you'll wake him up."
"Well I'm not the one whose shouting"
"I'm not shouting you- Blaze! Stop it!"
Voices floated around Gilan as he slowly woke up. Was he dead? No. The voices he could hear were DEFINITELY NOT angel voices.
They didn't sound... heaven-like. Too rough... not soft or sweet enough. The voices reminded Gilan of something. Was he supposed to be somewhere? Maybe he was late for dinner with Jenny... (AN. Yes, I ship Jenny and Gilan) or was that Halt talking above him?
Maybe he had slept in again and Halt was about to dump a bucket of icy water onto him again.
Gilan tried to sit up or stop the 'water' that Halt was going to throw on him, but only managed to thrash feebly.
The voices above him increased in volume. Were they trying to comfort him?
Gilan couldn't care any less. Why couldn't he move his arm? And why was it hard to breathe? And why was there PAIN?!
His shoulder throbbed and burned at every slight movement, and his ribs felt like they were grating against each other with every shallow breath he took.
He couldn't be dead. There was too much pain and discomfort for that. Then where was he?
Delving into the inky folds of his mind, Gilan searched for some scrap of information, a slight memory of what had transpired before, anything that would help him remember why he was laying on the ground in pain.
Minutes passed, and just as Gilan was about to give up an image flitted across his mind. A massive rock hurtling towards him.
The landslide. Of course. Now he remembered…
Gilan awoke with a gasp.
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Sooo that's it for this chapter!
Hope you guys liked it, and once again I'm so sorry for the super late update. :(
I'll try to do better from now on, but I've never gone to a different school before so maybe I'll have so much homework that I can't even update for a while and I'm rambling again so I'll stop now.
Also, I wrote this chapter on my phone, so if it looks any different then that's because I didn't use Google Docs on my Chromebook like usual...
KEEP CALM AND TRUST THE CLOAK!
- potato out