A/N: I am so sorry this took so long. A combination of things caused me to be tardy, including the fact that I got very addicted to everything Star Trek...
YOU GUYS ROCK SO MUCH! Thank you for every person who left a review and helped me push to the 100 mark.
I would like to thank two reviewers specifically. Ranger Robin was my 100th reviewer! I desperately wish you could receive the prize of your own fanfiction of your choice, but as you are anonymous... I apologize greatly. Here is a virtual cookie instead.
Anyways, Hatakefire was my 101st reviewer! She requested I write a Sherlock fanfiction, which is taking me a long time to write, but it should be up in a little bit...
Anyways, to the chapter!
Warning: Descriptions of blood...
Disclaimer: I don't own Ranger's Apprentice.
17. Blood
Halt patted Abelard on the nose, dropping the brush into a bin and stepping outside the stable. Out of habit, he glanced around, looking for his apprentice before remembering that Will had gone off for a visit with Horace.
He sighed, realizing how dull the day would be without his apprentice to give orders to.
His thoughts were interrupted by a crashing sound coming from the forest. Halt reached down, hand clasping around his knife.
A young man catapulted through the trees and into the clearing, eyes frantically searching. When the man saw Halt, he rushed forward, hands clasping at the ranger's gray-green cloak. "Ranger Halt!" he rasped. "Come quickly! There... You have to..." The man was now gasping for breath, his face red and his hands shaking.
Halt gently, removed the trembling hands from his cloak, grasping onto the man's shoulders. "Slow down and take a breath," he said, his voice calm.
The stranger nodded, taking a few shallow breaths before continuing. "You must come quickly! There has been an accident!"
Halt raised an eyebrow. "Shouldn't you be calling a physician then?" he asked. There was a strange feeling in his gut as he realized that only one thing could have happened. And then the man confirmed his deepest fears.
"Your apprentice," the stranger said.
Halt immediately let go of the man's shoulders, straightening up. "Lead the way," he said, his voice hoarse. The calm feeling he had created dissipated as they made their way to the castle and through the streets, only coming to stop at the battle school training yard.
A figure lay on the ground, unmoving. Horace held the limp form in his lap, his hands trembling as he pressed them to the injured apprentice's chest.
Halt rushed forwards, pushing his way through the small crowd of people and crouching down next to them. He pushed Horace out of the way, taking the boy in his arms.
Halt had seen many injuries in his time as a ranger. He was used to the sight of blood and gore. But there was something about his apprentices blood, spilling out onto the ground in pools, that made his stomach turn in horror.
"Will," he said, hands shaking as he pushed his apprentice's hair back. "Son," he said, his voice cracked slightly.
Will's eyes fluttered open, resting on the man leaning above him. "Halt..." he said.
"Shhhh... Don't try to talk, son..." Halt said. "It's going to be okay..."
There was a small smile on Will's face. Halt pushed aside the nagging voice in his mind, moving his hands to find the source of all of the crimson blood.
"What happened?" Halt said, looking around.
Will's hand reached inside his cloak, reaching for a small object that was inside. At first, Halt thought he was attempting to pull a knife from his broken body. But then, Will handed him a small object.
Will leaned up, his mouth moving weakly. Halt leaned his head next to the boy just in time to hear Will say, "April Fools, Halt," before collapsing.
The object that Will had handed him was a bright red tomato. Will sat up grinning.
A/N: XD I bet I had you going for a bit there, didn't I? I couldn't resist. I hope it made sense... if you have any questions feel free to PM me or leave a review.
Next up will be 'Rainbow'. Any requests for that chapter?
Thank you for reading.. Until next time!
-Dawn