Okay… So I know that most of you hate me for not updating. My life has been insane and everything just seems to pile up. I probably wouldn't have updated at all but recent interest in my story has re-inspired me to continue. I'm technically supposed to be writing an essay for English, but I decided this is more important. ;)

Quick note to anyone who is wondering, one of Wrena's abilities as a Half-Breed is being able to speak and understand her "animal half" species. This is why she can speak to the wolves like normal and such. Since she hasn't been around humans and wolves at the same time yet she hasn't consciously noticed that she isn't speaking a "human" language.

"Italics" = thoughts
"Quotes"=normal speaking
Bold=Wolf talk

Chapter 9
What The Heck?!

(Will's POV)

"How the heck am I supposed to explain this to Halt!? I didn't even catch the hunter! This is gonna be soooo bad…" Will was having a mental panic attack at the thought of his strict mentor's reaction to his current… predicament. "What am I supposed to say? Hi Halt, I was following your instructions and found a girl with wolf ears caught in a bear trap and decided to bring her home. Surprise! Yeah, that'll go over reaaaal well."

Will sighed and looked down at the unconscious girl in his lap. Her skin was well tanned, speaking of her time spent outdoors. Her hair was seriously tangled and matted with dirt and such, but the spaces he could see were a pale blonde, no, it seemed more white. Will quickly glanced at her ankle to see the quick wrap he had put around the wound, trap and all, to slow the bleeding until he could get her back to Halt. The wound had bled through, but it had slowed considerably, hopefully it would be enough.

Will was brought out of his examination by Tug who let out a happy whinny and slowed from his fast yet steady trot. Even as Will looked up the cottage came into view and Abelard gave a welcoming call.

"Guess it's too late to make up an excuse, I just hope she'll be okay." Will thought as he easily slipped off Tug before gently pulling the girl into his arms and hurrying up to the cottage. He had just gotten up the first step before the door opened to reveal the very man will had been thinking of.

-(General POV)

"Took you long enough, for a ranger this should have been a simple task yet you are out half the-"Halt's usual criticizing was frozen as his eyes landed on the bloodied girl in Will's arms. "Inside, quick." He said briskly rushing to grab his medicine pouch and equipment.

Will quickly laid her down on the table which Halt had cleared with a sweep of his arm. "What the bloody hell, never mind, get water boiling, now." Halt ordered reaching down to remove the girl's clothes and reveal the full damage.

He had barely pulled back her vest when a flash of black darted out and latched onto his hand. "What the hell!" He shouted yanking his hand back with the pup's teeth still embedded in it. Will, upon hearing the shout rushed over and saw the same creature that had attacked him before, though now he recognized it as a small wolf pup.

"Don't hurt it; it just wants to protect her." Will quickly said, trying to prevent Halt from killing the poor thing.

"Hurt it, it's trying to chew my finger off!" Halt growled only to be proven wrong as the pup released his finger to nuzzle up along the girl. "Whatever, but if it bites me again I'll have a new pair of mittens." The gruff ranger harrumphed, going back to work.

The next half hour passed in a blur of bandages, blood, and panic. The blood loss had been severe, and they had to be careful of every move, but soon the trap was off, her leg and other miscellaneous injuries were cleaned and bandaged, and she was wrapped up snugly in some of Will's old clothes and tucked into his bed. (Halt had said that since he had brought her, he could lose his bed.)

Now Halt and Will sat nursing cups of coffee, with honey of course, by the fire. Will was confused by the silence, expecting Halt to be demanding answers and interrogating him, yet there they were, sitting in awkward silence. Finally Will could take it no longer.

"Well?" He asked staring expectantly at his mentor who had a far-off look to his eyes as he stared into the fire.

Halt slowly turned to him, his eyes more serious than usual, which was saying something. "Well what?"

"Aren't you going to question me, something?" Will asked nervously, feeling uncomfortable with how Halt had shut down his emotions.

"I can figure out what happened, and you made the correct choice. What my question is is why now. They haven't been seen in years, so how could one have appeared now?" By the end it was clear Halt was no longer speaking to Will, and his eyes had gotten that far off look once more.

"Who hasn't been seen?" Will asked, breaking Halt out of his thoughts.

Halt looked down at Will and sighed. "You would have been too young to remember it. This is a long story so listen well; I don't intend to tell it twice." After receiving a quick nod in return, he sighed once more and began.

"There is a tale passed down in the rangers of a race of creatures that existed long ago, before the kings of Araluen, in a time when creatures and humans roamed the land together. Some of the humans fell in love with the creatures and gave birth to Half Breeds. These creatures were different from any other creatures alive. They had bodies of mixed parts from their parents. Some were beautiful and others horrifying. When the humans heard about these monsters they became afraid and started hunting them. However, once the kingdoms were created, and the Ranger Corps, there was an investigation. We found that the creatures weren't harmful and tried to protect them.

The king of that time pretended to agree but allowed the hunting to go on illegally. We rangers promised to protect these creatures. However, this hunting killed almost all of them out, and they were too afraid to come out of hiding. The last seen Half Breed was 20 years ago, and he came to the rangers for protection. However, a group of people learned of his existence, and after we had relocated him to a "safe" location killed him. Since then none have been seen and they were believed to have gone extinct."

As Halt finished the story he rubbed his brow ridge and took a long gulp of coffee like a drowning man air. "We failed then…" Halt's eyes held pain and anger, but he closed them for a moment before looking down at Will once more.

"Do you understand Will; we mustn't let anyone else learn of her existence, she must be protected." Halt's eyes held a new fire that spoke of his conviction and Will nodded earnestly.

"I don't understand why people harm those they don't understand. It's so foolish." Will said with anger and confusion.

"Nor do I, now it is time for bed. Make sure you keep an ear out through the night in case she needs any help." Halt ordered stretching before walking to his own room and closing the door with a squeak.

Will quietly slipped into his room and sat in the chair they had placed next to the bed earlier. A few minutes later and his head was on the bed while he lightly snored. The last thought running through his head was "I won't let anyone hurt her again."