Author's note: The second chapter of kitten trials. Constructive criticism is welcome. I hope you enjoy. :)

Thanks to Marleycatblack, Bordercolliejet, Elvishkiwi's favourite sister and danceawaygirl for their reviews! I really appreciate it.

Disclaimer: I own nothing in this story, not even the kitten (she's Halt's). I write purely because I love writing and I get nothing but my own enjoyment (and hopefully that of others) from it.

Chapter four: In which Will saves the Secret from mortal peril

Halt sat down at the table, coffee in hand, and raised an eyebrow at Will. The apprentice was supposedly drawing a map, but one of his hands was under the table and the Ranger suspected that Luna was lying on his lap. Will sensed his mentor's gaze and looked up, smiling guiltily at Halt's expression.

"It's not my fault," he protested. "She just climbed up my leg and fell asleep. It's not as if I told her to."

"Oh, of course not." Halt replied. "But you're trying to concentrate on an important task, so hand her over."

"Aren't you supposed to be doing paperwork as well, Halt?" Will asked. The Ranger produced a sheaf of parchments and slapped them onto the table.

"I am doing paperwork," he said. "Pass her here."

Will reluctantly lifted Luna off his lap, put her on the table and watched as Halt drummed his fingers on the wood. The kitten trotted over to inspect the movement and ran straight into the mug of coffee. It wobbled dangerously and tipped, spilling it contents all over the table and all over Halt's parchment. Will snatched his map up in time to only have one corner ruined by the liquid, but the paperwork was doomed.

Halt's nose twitched. The apprentice noticed apprehensively that his left hand was resting on the hilt of his throwing knife. "Will," Halt said, carefully calm. "Please take her outside for a while before I lose control and murder something."

Will didn't think he had ever moved so fast in his life. He grabbed Luna and dashed for the door, kicking it open and sprinting into the treeline. He ran for several hundred metres before deeming that it was safe to stop. He sank down behind the trunk of a large mossy pine and cradled the kitten in his arms.

"Let's...leave him for a while, shall we?" he asked. Luna mewed plaintively. "It wasn't your fault," Will reassured her. "It was Halt's fault. He should have left you sleeping on my knee, isn't that right?" She began to purr and rubbed her head against his chest. The apprentice Ranger smiled and closed his eyes, leaning his head on the tree trunk and listening to the peaceful sounds of the forest.

"Halt should thank you, actually," he commented after a moment. "He hates paperwork, and you just saved him from a long, boring afternoon."

I have some other writing planned for the whole of June, so updates will probably be slow/nonexistent until July. :P I'll see if I can write one more chapter before then, but I make no promises.