Hello again. This chapter is all about Mark but it will be about Kyle next chapter. I hope you like it.
Disclaimer: I do not own ranger's apprentice, only my characters.
Mark traipsed through the village, the snow had melted and it was actually quite warm outside. The winter sun shone down onto Mark and the rest of Redmont casting shadows across the dark green grass. Not that this increased Mark's mood. Kyle was still asleep and this put Mark in a bad mood. He kicked at a stone on the floor and watched it as it rolled and bounced along the dirt road, leaving a small trail as it rolled. There were people walking through the streets, mostly women, the men were out on the farms working. As he walked past the bakery he got the strong smell of fresh food again, but this time he didn't even look up. His stomach growled and Mark realised he hadn't eaten anything all day. He ignored it; he didn't care about his stomach. He had left early this morning so that he could be on his own and he had been out for hours. He realised that it was actually getting on to lunch time.
Mark would be lying if he told you that he wasn't nervous for his friend. He was extremely nervous even though he had been told by the doctor that Kyle would be fine. He felt so helpless that he couldn't do anything to help Kyle or Gilan. He didn't even know where Gilan was. Only Kyle knew that and they couldn't do anything to help Gilan until Kyle woke up. Mark felt angry as well. He wanted to know who had done that to his friend and he wanted to make them pay. He had never felt like this before. The last time he could recall being this emotional was months ago when his village was attacked. When his parents were killed and his house burnt down. When he nearly lost his life and when his sister was nearly killed. When that had happened he felt angry, upset and many emotions that he didn't even realise you could feel.
He kicked the stone again sending it rolling away from him. Again he kicked it and again. He didn't know where he was going but he just wanted to be alone for a while. He went to kick the stone that he had been taking his emotions out on when someone shouted his name. He stopped kicking the stone and looked up from the ground. Everything looked the same. There were still women walking about and none of them had stopped doing what they were doing. He shrugged his shoulders and went back to kicking the stone. If someone was calling him then they would come over to him Mark thought bitterly.
He heard it again. The voice was closer and he could tell it was a girl. He turned round and looked ahead of him. A short girl was walking gracefully over to him, waving as she went. Becky, Mark smiled slightly then his face went back into one of anger. Becky had brown hair which was pulled tight in a ponytail behind her head. Her dark emerald green eyes were even darker today. Her red lips formed into a smile when she saw Mark look at her. She was a little tubbier than when Mark had first seen her, but when you worked in a kitchen all day that wasn't surprising. Then again would you take a little snack if Chubb was you mentor? Mark had only been in the ward for a few months but had been hit with the ladle Chubb carried more than once. It was like Chubb's own personal sword.
"Hey, I haven't seen you in ages" Becky said with a huge smile on her face. Mark and Becky had only seen each other a few times in the past few months.
"Hi" was all Mark said and he kicked the stone on the ground again. Becky looked at him a little hurt.
"You haven't seen me in ages and all you can say is 'hi'" Becky said in annoyance. "We're friends Mark, you could at least sound a little happier to see me. If you don't want me here then just tell me and I will go." Becky's voice gradually got louder. Mark looked at her in shock. I guess I did deserve that he thought.
"Fine!" Becky stormed off back in the direction she had come. Mark watched her and sighed. He watched as she walked of back up to the castle.
"Becky" he said. She carried on walking so Mark ran after her. "Becky" he shouted quickening his pace. He caught up with her and put his arm on her shoulder.
"Becky I'm sorry" he said meaning every word. She just looked at him and Mark could have sworn that there was a tear in her eye. "I just have a lot on my mind right now ok. Of course I don't want you to go away." He saw her smile and knew that she had forgiven him.
"What's on your mind?" She asked curious to know what was wrong with Mark. Mark looked at her and walked off towards the forest motioning her to come with him. She followed him and Mark started to explain everything that had happened with Kyle. It took him ten minutes to say it all and by that time they had got to the forest and had been walking through it for about five minutes. They stopped at a tree and Mark sat underneath it. The ground was dry under the tree and blocked you from the little sun that made its way through into the forest. The clearing was quite small and the tree in the middle took up most of the space. Becky hugged him. "I'm sorry"
"For what?" said Mark, grateful for the comfort.
"For what happened to Kyle and for what I said earlier on" Becky said looking into Mark's eyes. She felt safe with Mark and she realised now that she wanted more than to be just friends with him.
"Oh. So how is it with master Chubb" Mark said getting up feeling slightly awkward. Becky saw that he felt awkward and got up moving slightly further away from him.
"It has been great, I've learnt a lot of things with him. It's a very interesting craft, I would love to be as great as him one day or as great as Jenny." She saw Mark's questioning look and added, "She owns the restaurant in the village." Mark nodded his head as he realised who she was talking about. "Master Chubb said that I could be a great chef one day if I put my mind to it and stopped talking with others whilst I'm cooking."
"That's great I am sure you will be a fine chef. The best in the land" Mark said smiling. He loved seeing Becky again and she had taken his mind of Kyle.
"I don't think so, have you not tried their cooking, I tried Jenny's once, it was amazing. And what about you, you must have learnt lots as a ranger?" She said.
"Well I have learnt a bit, it has been great fun"
"I'm pretty sure you learnt more than just a bit" she said mocking Mark's tone. Mark smiled at her swallowing the embarrassment.
"Ok so I have learnt more than just a bit" he said smiling as he thought about what he had learnt and the fun he had had. He sat back down under the tree and let Becky sit next to him. They sat in silence for a while as they thought about the past months. Mark looked at Becky and saw that she was looking at him. He looked at her and they both smiled. Mark felt his heart pump faster and he could feel his hands getting sweaty. Becky looked away and got up.
"I erm, I should erm really be getting back to the kitchens. Chubb doesn't like us being late back on our breaks" she said brushing herself off.
"Of course" Mark said feeling the awkwardness between them. "Erm would you like me to walk you back" he asked already knowing what she would say.
"No, no. I erm I will find the way" she said as she hurried off out the forest. Mark went to chase after her but stopped himself. He kicked at the ground in frustration. Now he had ruined their friendship as well. He stormed out of the forest limping slightly as pain started to creep into the foot he had used to kick the ground. He felt his anger rising inside him as he made his way to the small cabin. Like always there was smoke spiralling up from the chimney and there was a man in brown sitting out on the veranda. He heard Tug and Bolt neigh a greeting to him as he got closer to the cabin. Will looked up at him. He was sitting at a table with piles of paper around him and like always a cup of milky coffee next to him.
He stormed past Will and into the kitchen where he saw Alyss teaching Arianna to cook. Again Arianna didn't seem interested and was staring out the window at the forest. She ran over to Mark when she realised who had come in. She hugged him tightly and grabbed his hand. She then pulled him over to the kitchen and looked at her mum pleadingly. There were lots of things out on the work top. There were carrots, potatoes and a lot of other vegetables off to the left. In front of him was a knife to cut them and in front of Alyss was a chunk of meat. Chicken he realised as Alyss cut through it. She looked at him and smiled.
"Hello Mark" she said. "Arianna I don't think Mark really wants to be cooking" Alyss told Arianna. Arianna turned her head to Mark and looked at him. Alyss was right he didn't want to be cooking, he just wanted to relax.
"But can he if he wants to?" Arianna asked her mother. Alyss nodded and then Arianna turned to Mark. Mark sighed and nodded his head.
"Alright" he said as Alyss handed him a knife to start cutting up the vegetables that were in a pile. "You're helping me though missy" he told Arianna who was nodding with a huge smile on her face. Mark held back the laughter that wanted to burst from him. Arianna really didn't like cooking. He gave her some of the vegetables and told her to start cleaning them which she did without a fuss. Ten minutes later Mark washed his hands as Alyss placed the chicken on the fire to cook. He just sat down when he heard a groan from his room. He looked around to see if anyone else had heard it but saw that Alyss was busy dealing with Arianna again. He limped over to his room and opened the door. Kyle was lying on the bed the way he had been earlier on except he had his eyes open.
So Kyle lived. What did you think of this chapter? I really want to start a kind of relationship with Mark and Becky. I have to say romance is my weak spot so tell me if you think it was ok or if it was terrible. Hopefully it isn't. So Kyle is up and awake and you will be finding out what happened to him and Gilan in the next chapter. Also there will definitely be some action in it as well. Like always please review, favourite and follow. Also if you have any ideas for later on in the story let me know. I would give you credit for the idea.