Halt was knocked down to the ground by a Wargal. The monster was descending down upon him. For the first time Halt actually saw his life flash before his eyes and he had no idea what to do. He was frozen in place until a man, about Halt's own age, came yielding a spear. The man wacked and prodded at the circle of Wargals surrounding him. Halt thought there was no escape for the man but the Wargals seemed... sacred. That was something he didn't think Wargal's were capable of. Fear?
After a few more moments each of the beasts backed away leaving the man there on the ground wounded. He seemed weak and unsure of his ability to stand. After seeming to come to a decision the man collapsed to the floor. Halt, finally coming out of his position on the ground, leapt up to pull the man off the battle field. Halt was dragging the man to the medical tent.
When the men got to the tent they were greeted by the head medical doctor. "Ahh! The new Ranger. What can I do you for?" The doctor said in greeting.
"He needs help." Halt said curtly. This was the only way he could hide the fear he had for the man. This man had saved him. Halt could do nothing to ever repay him of that debt.
The doctor lifted the man onto the table and looked him over. When he looked up to meet Halt's eyes he was troubled. "I will patch up his wounds but I don't think he will make it through the night." He said solemnly. Halt was devastated. If the doctor said he didn't think he would make it than the man probably wouldn't. Halt nodded quickly and left. There was no way to say thank you for everything that man did. Halt didn't even know his name.
Halt stood shocked as the memories came flooding back to him. How could he have missed the similarities between this young boy and his father. They had the same hair and gray eyes. Both short but with the posture even the tallest men would cower to. Yes, the two were related. "Funny." Halt said, "That just happens to be my name."
Will was shocked. This was the Ranger his father saved? He couldn't believe it. His father would be ecstatic. Daniel had thought Halt dead, but now here he is in the flesh. Deep in his thoughts Will didn't realize Halt had turned to leave. Before Halt could disappear from sight Will screamed "Halt!"
Halt turned around wondering what the boy wanted when he noticed the spark of hope in the young boy's eyes. "What?" He replied.
"Do you want to come see my dad?"
Halt paused before answering. "I would very much like that Will."
"Good," Will smiled "I wasn't going to let you leave without seeing him."
Halt laughed a little at the thought of the scrawny boy in front of him trying to fight him. Will started walking toward his home, chores forgotten. Halt dutifully followed after him, getting the feeling this wouldn't be the last time he would follow Will. "Daniel!" Will screamed "Get you butt out here!"
A man the spitting image of Will, only a tad older, hopped out of the home. He started to run towards Will but was stopped in his tracks by the man standing next to him. The Ranger that had saved his life. So, instead of running to Will, Daniel ran up to Halt and gave him a big bear hug. Halt didn't have time to react before Daniel pulled away with a tear running down his face.
Halt didn't cry. He never did. But he did do something out of character for him. "Thank you." He said. Those two words, although unknown to Daniel, meant more than all the hugs and money in the world. Because when Halt said thank you, he meant it with all his heart.