So here it is, chapter one. I need reviews on this folks, whether you think it was such a great idea you wet yourself in excitement, or whether you think it was so bad you got depressed so much so that you went to listen to Justine Bieber. If you like ranger's apprentice go check out my other stories.

Also, please tell me if you think 'Somewhat Of A Hero' makes sense, or whether you think it should be 'A Hero Somewhat' or something of the like. I'm not TOO great with my grammar.

Disclaimer: I own nothing in this story, except for most of the events which occur and the plot line and possibly some OCs if I can be bothered with them.

Somewhat Of A Hero

I awoke to find myself on a bed in a log cabin, the man in the cloak from the inn sitting in the chair next to me.

"Ah, you're awake. That was quite a feat you accomplished back there. You're somewhat of a hero to the townsfolk," he said, cheerfully. I grinned sheepishly.

"I have a knack for that kind of thing."

"You must be a useful person to have around," he said, smiling.

"Yeah. I'm Darren Shan by the way. Who might you be?"

"Will Treaty, Ranger 50 of Redmont Fief." My attention pricked up at that. He was a ranger, he would know how I could become one.

"So what exactly is a ranger? I'm not from around here, I came to start a new life I suppose."

"Strange, you look Araluen. Well, your clothes don't. No offense."

"None taken."

After that he started telling me about how rangers are basically the kingdom's intelligence force, and the kingdom is split up into 50 fiefs, one for each ranger. They are also like the police, and special troops in a time of war. The used knives and a bow.

As he went on to explain about how they used stealth, and how they were known for being especially skilled with the bow, I found myself thinking that this would definitely be a job that a half-vampire such as myself would have an advantage in. How tough could looking after a fief and going on a few missions be compared to defeating the lord of the vampaneze? Hell, I'd even beaten destiny at his own game.

"How do I set about becoming a ranger?" He grinned.

"You would have to ask to be apprenticed to an existing ranger."

"Well, since you're the only ranger I've met; how about it? Can I become your apprentice?"

"Yes, I kind of guessed you would ask that. If you didn't, I would have asked you myself."

"What?" I was impressed by his skill of working things out. Also, I wanted to know why he would ask for me to be his apprentice.

"Well, I've been looking for a first apprentice; I didn't want someone too immature, and you showed real promise back there in the burning inn."

"Oh, ok." I was about to add that I was a half-vampire, but I decided to leave that out. I didn't know if they generally existed in this world so I didn't know how he'd take it, or if he even knew what I meant at all. "What happened to the baby?"

"My wife, Alyss, is taking care for him at the moment. Did his mother say anything before she died?"

"Yes, she said his name was Wulf, short for Wulfric, and to take him to the ward where he'd be looked after. I wondered if you could help with that? I have no idea what the ward even is, let alone where it is!"

"Yes of course, no problem. I myself was raised in the ward, and so was my wife in fact. He'll be able to make something of himself once he turns 15. The castle ward basically looks after children with no family left for them, at least there he will grow up with others his age. I'll go take him now, I needed to speak to the baron anyway. I need to inform him of what happened earlier."

"Ah, ok. What should I do?" He chucked me a longbow from the corner of the room, along with a quiver of arrows.

"See if you can work out how to use that," he chuckled, "we normally start apprentices of with smaller recurve bows but looking at you I'd say you can handle it."

I took the bow outside to the target area and set about shooting. I did well, considering I wasn't allowed to use missile-firing weapons as a vampire. However, I don't think our laws mattered so much in this world, especially considering that I'm doubting the even existence of other vampires here. There'd better not be any vampaneze either.

After a while, I got bored, so I went to speak with Will's wife. I went inside and saw her, an elegant, tall, beautiful woman, she looked quite strong and intelligent too.

"Hi," I said, "I'm your husband's new apprentice." She smiled.

"I heard about you," she said, her smile most definitely genuine, "that was quite some feat you pulled off back at the inn, you're somewhat of a hero. Most people would have either been too scared or died." My ears started turning pink.

"Yeah, well-" I said, cutting myself short. I was about to tell her that I was a vampire, but I didn't for the same reason I didn't tell Will – I wasn't sure how she'd react; whether she'd be scared or wouldn't know what they are. We talked for a while, and I spent a while just sitting, waiting for Will to get back, so the real training could commence.

Sorry that it's extremely short but it can get boring writing these filler/introductory chapters, and I have another, much more fun story to write. It's a purely Ranger's Apprentice one. The Legend of Raven. Go check it out.