A/N: OMG GUYS. I am so sorry for the wait on this chapter...

So this chapter uses a character from book 12, The Royal Ranger. But she doesn't have an important role in the chapter. It also makes a reference to an important event that shaped book 12... Please READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

This was recommended by a reviewer. They gave me a quote from a character death in Harry Potter... and I just had to use the idea... Thank you so much for the suggestion! XD

Warning: Character death. Sad stuff. Minor spoilers for book 12, The Royal Ranger.

Disclaimer: i don't own Ranger's Apprentice. Or Harry Potter...

34. Stars

Will crouched down in the snow, the white powder melting, water seeping into his cotton breaches and soaking through his gray-green cloak. He could feel Maddie's eyes on the back of his head, but he didn't turn to talk to her, eyes fixated on the horse next to his legs.

Tug lay in the snow, his head resting in Will's lap. Crimson was leaking out into his fur, staining the crisp snow a bloody red. Will stroked the horse's fine coat, feeling something wet trickle down his own face and drip onto Tug's face.

He brought a hand up to brush the tears away.

"You... you saved my life," he mumbled, fingers trailing down the horse's velvety nose.

Will and Maddie had been riding back from the gathering when the bandits had surrounded them. Will had only become aware of their presence when it was too late, when they had surrounded the two ranger's from all sides.

There had been at least a dozen of the attackers, each one wielding a sword.

The only reason they were still alive was Tug. The little horse had charged through the circle like a wild boar, taking down several men and leading them to safety. But one of the bandits had managed to catch the little horse with his sword, sending spurts of crimson blood into the snow.

Will tensed with the memory of it. Tug tried to lift his head and look into his master's eyes, but the ranger gently pushed him down, making the little horse stay still.

"Don't move," he mumbled.

Tug just blinked up at Will, snuffling the ranger's cloak pocket that was near his face. Warm breath puffed over Will's fingers as he shuffled in his pocket.

"I was saving this for later..." he managed to say past the lump forming in his throat. "But... you can have it now..."

He pulled the sugar cube out of his pocket, fingers fumbling with it for a moment. Tug snuffled up the sugar and then lay still, his warm brown eyes closing and his breath coming in small, shallow gasps.

"It will all be alright in a minute..." Will mumbled, pressing a kiss to his friend's soft ears. "You will be okay..."

The trees seemed to close tighter around him, the thick branches covering the darkening sky.

"You were... are a good friend," Will began, smiling through his tears when he saw the horse's ears swivel towards him, listening to every word.

"You have always been there for me, when no one else was... Please... don't leave me now... I can't... I can't bear to loose you this soon... after Alyss..." He was stumbling over his words, his tongue feeling numb and his mouth unable to form the correct syllables.

Tug's eyes fluttered open and the horse gave one last shuddering breath before lying still. His eyes stared up into the sky, the glassy orbs reflecting light from the stars they could not see.

STARS

Years later, when Will retired to the castle and his cabin in the woods went to someone else, if you walked deep enough in the woods, you could find a small white headstone, surrounded by light yellow flowers.

Here lies Tug

Forever in our hearts.

A/N: So the quote from Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows was "And then with a little shudder (he) became quite still, and his eyes were nothing more than great, glassy orbs sprinkled with light from the stars they could not see."

I don't own it! I just wanted to use it XDDD. I hope this chapter didn't make you too sad! XD

Next chapter will be 'Hold My Hand'. What do you guys want to see? Which two characters do you want to see hold hands? XD

-Dawn