AN: Here is chapter 5. We hope you platypi enjoy!
Chapter Five: Order… Somewhat
Crowley was finally able to call order. He had determined that there were nineteen injured Rangers, ten fit for duty and forty-five missing or dead. Will recoiled when he heard the statistic. Forty-five Rangers missing or dead! He could have sworn he had seen more escaping… The Rangers lowered their heads in sorrow, shadows flickering from the roaring flames.
What would they do? What could they do? With more than half their number gone and only ten of those lucky enough to escape fit for duty, what could they hope to do?
Aya ran up to Will, tears pouring down her face, both from the smoke and from her misery. While riding behind Gilan, Aya had seen her parents' burning bodies. Her parents had been some of the first victims of the blaze. She coughed violently, finally pulling herself together.
"There were," she gasped, "men in the forest! They were attacking..."
Will set her down on the ground and gave her some water from his water skin.
"Relax, it's alright. You're safe." Will said as comforting as he could.
"No!" She bellowed. "There were men!"
"Relax, quiet down now, you're delusional. I know, it's been so terrible. But you're safe now. Relax." Will tried to say.
The girl screamed, "THERE WERE MEN!" This time, she attracted the attention of several Rangers, who bustled over to tend to her minor burns. Crowley tried to ask her questions, but she kept struggling and screaming.
Halt sidled over to Will. "She's in shock, she's delusional. No one could have survived that blaze." Halt said. "Don't worry about it, Will."
Will spent the night watching the forest fire burn itself out. The night that would have been cold was warmed by the flames that ripped through the forest. He sat next to Halt in silence not sure what to say. The air was thick with smoke even though they were far away from the fire. By the time it was dawn the fire was down to embers and what used to be the forest was left as a black charred mess. Where grass used to grow there was merely grey ash and only a few skeletons of trees remained burned black against the rising sun.
The Rangers that were not injured slowly stumbled to their feet in a shocked silence when the sun started to rise and Crowley began to organize search parties. If Aya's claim was to be proven true and any other Rangers found they would have to investigate the forest, or the crumbling ashes that was left of it. Will tailed after Halt looking around for anything that might be of use. He kicked over a cooking pot that was scattered on the ground, then ran lightly to catch up to Halt.
Halt and Will tracked the hoofsteps to the campfire's remains. It was very difficult to track, as ash covered the ground like dust on an old scroll. However, Halt and Will were master trackers.
The duo found fifteen sets of knives and their respective charred skeletons, as well as a multitude of charred horse bodies. Will was close to tears; many of these people had been his friends.
After forty more minutes of searching with no results, Halt turned back. Will looked dejected, head down. They walked back along the trail to their makeshift camp. Will yelped as he banged his head on a charred overhanging branch. Halt looked over, shocked.
"Will." Halt said. "Look up." And stuck in between the branch and tree was a dagger. Not Ranger of origin, not even from Araluen. The dagger was crooked, long, and with little luster. As Halt yanked it out of the tree, he felt the blade. It was weak, pliable, and full of imperfections. Halt raised his eyebrow as he looked at Will.
"Gallica." Will said.
AN: Thanks for reading! We hope you'll leave reviews if you have any questions or comments. We hope we've left you in suspense!