A/N: Hey everyone! I am so sorry for the delay! There really is no excuse for the tardiness. Let me just say that Nano kept me really busy and then the holidays came up... and then SHerlock season three came out (If you don't watch Sherlock, you need to! It is the best TV show of all time XD).

This chapter is dedicated to whentheresawill for sending me a PM to tell me to get a move on. XD

Warning: Idk... it's a little bit dark... but not much

Disclaimer: I don't own Ranger's Apprentice. If I did, there would be a thirteenth book in the making right now. And a movie. XD

32. NIght

A cool breeze blew in through the half open window, brushing his face with its soft fingers. The room was dark, the only light from the half moon outside, pale pools of liquid silver splashed across the hardwood floors.

Will sat up with a sigh, pulling his blanket around his shoulders. He couldn't sleep.

It had been like this for a few weeks now, the long restless nights, full of nightmares and sleeplessness. Ever since he had gotten back from Skandia, really.

He let out a heavy sigh, swinging his legs over the side of the bed and standing up. He didn't know where he was going, only that he couldn't stay there, staring at the ceiling, dark images flashing through his mind and making him feel ill.

He slipped his boots on and pulled his cloak over his shoulders, swinging his bedroom door open to reveal the pitch black hallway beyond. His eyes took a moment to adjust, and he slowly stepped out of his room.

Halt's door was shut, Will slinking past it to the front door. He rested his hand on the knob for a moment, feeling the cold metal bite at his fingers.

The door scraped open, the hinges creaking and making him wince. Will held his breath, listening for any indication his mentor had heard him. After several moments, once he was convinced Halt was still asleep, WIll stepped into the cold night air.

He shut the door, taking a deep breath, his lungs burning from the cold. Stepping off the porch and crunching through the frost, he made his way to the stable.

Tug was standing in his stall with his head down, his eyes closed, a blanket draped over his sides. Will opened the door of the stall and stepped inside, watching as the little horse's ears swiveled towards him.

"Hey, Tug," Will whispered softly, placing a hand on his warm neck with a smile. "Sorry to wake you up like that."

Tug opened one eye, giving him an almost questioning look. What are you doing here?

"I couldn't sleep," Will said to the horse as he stroked the soft fur under his hands, running his fingers through Tug's coarse mane.

Tug tossed his head. How come?

"I can't stop thinking... thinking about what happened in Skandia," Will said softly. "I mean..." He swallowed thickly.

Tug felt his friend's distress and head-butted him lightly, shoving his nose into Will's chest and making him laugh.

"Thanks, Tug," he said, the smile already dropping off his face. "It's just... I can't get it out of my head..."

Do you want to talk about it?

"Yes," Will said. "No.. I don't know... I can't remember much of what happened. I can remember being cold... I can remember wanting something, needing something so bad it physically hurt..." Will's voice broke a little. "I can remember working until my hands bled, I can remember the punishments we got when we didn't work fast enough..."

There was silence, the only sound from the wind howling outside, making an eerie moaning sound.

"I can't tell Halt any of this..." Will said.

How come? The horse made a snorting noise, looking at Will.

"I... I don't want him to see me as weak... I know, it's irrational... but I don't want him to see me as some baby. I'm an adult now. I should be able to handle silly problems like this," Will went on.

You should still tell him.

"It isn't that simple," Will responded softly, still stroking the horse.

Well then, tell me.

Will smiled and then began to talk, everything pouring out of him. He spoke for a long time, telling his little horse the details of his time in Skandia, things he had never spoken aloud to anyone else before. It was several hours before he stopped talking. There was nothing left for him to say.

"Thank you for listening," he whispered into Tug's ear, patting the horse one last time.

Will stepped out of the stable, letting the door slide shut behind him. When the door shut, a figure stepped out of the shadows, looking at the little horse.

"Thank you, Tug," Halt said to the horse, patting him on the nose before heading back to the cabin himself.

A/N: Thank you all for reading! I am almost to 10,000 viewers, making this my most read story! You guys rock!

The next chapter is Expectations. As usual, I take requests!

Live long and prosper!

-Dawn