A/N: Thank you to the reviews! I love hearing what everyone thinks about my writing. It makes me incredibly happy.
This chapter is dedicated to the wonderful SeekerMaxia, who gave me this idea. I hope I do it justice.
Disclaimer: I don't own Ranger's Apprentice. That is why I write fanfiction.
8. Innocence
The sun had just risen, sending pools of golden light through the window. Birds twittered outside and a cool breeze was blowing, making the spring air feel fresh and crisp.
Will was pouring himself a mug of coffee when there came a pounding at his cabin door. For the hundredth time that week, Will wished that Halt were there to help him. He set down his coffee mug and ran to answer the insistent nocks.
A girl and a boy stood at the threshold. Will frowned, seeing the dirt on their faces and cloths. "Are you Ranger Will Treaty?" the girl asked, her voice trembling.
Will nodded slowly, too shocked to say anything. He hadn't been expecting any children to come visit him once he was a ranger. What was he supposed to do? Send them away?
"You have to help us!" the girl said. "Papa… he was taken by some men… please… he's the only one we have left!"
A pang of sympathy shot through Will's heart and he nodded, opening the door wider to let them in. "Let me gather my supplies first. Tell me everything."
The girl nodded, holding the young boy closer to her side when the entered the small cabin. "Papa… he owed some money to a man… but he couldn't pay it off… the men came to collect the money and Papa… he made us go hide in the barn.. They beat him and then dragged him off!" The girl was nearly in tears now.
"It's going to be okay," Will said, kneeling down next to the girl. "What are your names and how old are you?"
"I'm Mary… I'm eight… and this is Nathan… he is six…"
Will nodded. "Well, come on Mary and Nate. Lead me to your house…"
The little girl rushed out the door, leading the way through the woods and to a field. In the center of the field sat a small brick cottage with a grass roof. Beside the cottage was a small, red barn.
"I need you two to wait inside while I go search for your father…" he said, leading the girl and the boy up the steps into the cottage.
Once they were safely inside the house, Will looked closely at the scene, noticing the trail of blood leading away from the house.
He followed the trial into the trees, pausing occasionally to listen for the sounds of anyone ahead. The blood trail began to look fresher. Will went slower through the trees until he came upon a man.
The man was tall, with dark hair and large muscles. He was dragging a figure through the dust. Will brought up his bow to shoot, reaching for an arrow, but as he moved, the man turned.
He quickly released the arrow, hitting the man in the chest and killing him instantly. Then he turned his attention to the children's father, who hadn't moved from the spot
Will knelt down next to the body. Crimson blood pooled into the dust. He rolled the man over, startled to see that he was still breathing. He quickly ripped a piece of his cloak off and pressed it to the gash in the man's stomach.
"You'll be okay," Will said, his voice shaking.
The man laughed, wincing and shutting his eyes against the pain. "No I wont… I know a fatal wound when I feel it…" The man coughed, sending blood spurting onto Will's front. He ignored it, pressing harder on the wound.
"Take... care... of my... children..." he gasped out. He let out one last shuddering breath and then lay still. Will stood, picking up the body of the man. It only took him twenty minutes to exit the forest and reach the farm. He put the body of the man in the barn, covering him up with his cloak.
Will reached out to open the door of the cottage. He saw his hands, bloodied up to the elbows. Will swallowed, swaying. Hands trembling, he threw open the door and stepped inside.
Mary and Nathan were sitting on the floor in the living room, holding onto each other for dear life. When they saw the door swing open, they both jumped up. Will stumbled into the room, his face grim and his eyes dull.
"Will!" Mary called, letting go of her younger brother and rushing forward. "Are you hurt? You're covered in blood!"
Will nodded. "I… I'm fine…" he said. "But I have some bad news…"
Silence filled the cabin. Will knelt down beside the two children, looking deep into their eyes. Mary… Nate… Your father is dead…"
He saw the light go out of both of their eyes as they realized what he had said. He saw their hearts breaking, their innocence and their childhood leaving them forever. A look of ageless pain came over both of their expressions.
Nate buried his face into his sister's shirt, his small arms wrapping around her torso. "Papa's dead?" he asked weakly.
His own eyes filled with tears as Mary began to sob. "No!" she said. "No!"
"I'm sorry," he said, his arms wrapping around them. "I'm so sorry."
Will held them for what seemed like forever. He finally stood up, sitting the children down on the couch before going to the kitchen to wash the blood from his hands.
He closed his eyes as he saw the water in the bucket turning red. He could hear the children crying in the other room, making his heart break and his eyes fill with tears again. He swallowed and walked back to the children.
They had lost the innocence of childhood that day. Will knew how that felt and he vowed that he would be there to help them through the pain.
A/N: So I reread all of my other chapters and realized how rushed they all sounded (including this one). I think for the next one, I am going to try and slow down.. If you have any tips on how to improve please leave a review. Is there a part I could have described better?
Next up will be Drive. Does anyone have any suggestions?
P.S.- If you like Harry Potter, you should go and read my Harry Potter one shot. XD
Thank you for reading!