"So this is our main office." The room was expansive. A large map covered the large oak table and another hung on one of the walls. A few Guard members moved about, clustered around the maps or rushing through looking harassed. Horace tried to keep a track of all the different masks, but they seemed endless and all unique. A bear, lynx, boar, the night sky, water… Wolfpaw smiled "Every mask is as different as the person beneath it. They express our personalities just as well, if not better."

"How?"

"The mask is designed for the person." Wolfpaw answered, "What the mask depicts reflects on their character or abilities, how much of the face is hidden and it's colour."

"How so?"

"My mask, for example. It covers three-quarters of my face, which could imply I hide my feelings from the world or have something to hide, or could imply that I value practicality so have my eyes and mouth free, but also value my safety, so the rest is protected. The wolf could suggest I am a lone wolf and free spirit or that I am a team player who puts the pack first. The grey of the wolf could mean I am ordinary, or that I am hiding my abilities."

"Wow." Horace said, "What does your mask mean?"

"I do not know." Wolfpaw answered "You would have to ask Hayate, he made it for me. It is traditional for your mentor to make the mask you wear."

"Do you have an apprentice now?" Gilan asked curiously

"No, too much hassle. They would slow me down, what about you?"

"Nah, haven't found anyone yet."

"What are the maps for?" Will asked

"We use them to monitor patrol routes, track outlanders who enter our forests and post the sentries." Wolfpaw said "They decide all our duties here, which is why I try not to annoy them too much."

"Wolfpaw, nanas fernin! Yugos tera na." The boar-masked Guard member said sharply. The boy in the falcon mask from the day before waved at them before turning back to the map.

"What did he say?" Halt asked. Wolfpaw hesitated

"Politely? Please leave, we are busy."

"Not politely?"

"Go away, we are doing actual work in here." Wolfpaw said "That thing about not annoying them? Well I cannot when Boarskull is involved. We have never got on."

"Who's the kid?"

"His apprentice, Falconheart. Do not ask me how he can stay so cheerful with that idiot around, it is a miracle."

"And what does his mask suggest?" Halt asked

"I am not his mentor, I would not know."

"Guess."

"That he is light and free. That nothing ties him down to this earth and that he is more than competent in using ropes to get around. He is innocent and open-hearted."

"What's with those masks?" Horace asked, pointing to a wall where seven hung "Are they off duty here?"

"They are off duty... permanently." Wolfpaw said quietly "That is where we commemorate the fallen. Good people. Good friends." He seemed to notice the change in mood "Let us move on to happier topics. You wished to see our training." They moved outside into the sunlight. The wooden platform extended further than normal here and several ropes led off it, forming a sort of aerial obstical course, like a spider's web of thick ropes, with a large net at the bottom.

He caught Horace's horrified look "Give it a go." He invited "It's perfectly safe. The worst that could happen would be to break a leg." Horace looked at him again

"He's teasing Horace." Gilan said smiling "The worst I've ever seen was a broken arm."

"That's not helpful." Horace said through gritted teeth.

"Come on, do you want to see the compound or not?" Wolfpaw asked "All joking aside, I picked this because it is this easiest way to get there. There's a net and steps up is you fall off."

"Can't we just use the stairs?" Horace pleaded

"Sure. But you'd have to jump off the ropes to reach them, and frankly I'd find that more terrifying."

"Fine." Horace said sighing. He looked back to Will "You're enjoying this aren't you?"

"Nope. It'd be mean to laugh when you're scared. I'll just make fun of you later." Will said grinning

Thanks to everyone who reviewed, I'm real pleased you guys liked it. What Halt did to Gilan during his apprenticeship will remain unknown, unless you think you'd ever be able to convince a ranger to give up his secrets.