01 - camp:
Making camp was one of the important skills that not just rangers but all warriors needed to survive, so Will mentally kicked himself when he broke his right arm in a fight with bandits in seacliff. Too far from his cabin and too in pain to ride anyway, he decided to set up for the night in a small clearing at the edge of the forest, just hidden from view enough as to not attract attention. His arm was in a makeshift sling from two pieces of his undershirt reinforced by bandages and the splint he had made which was currently wrapped around his forearm. Looking back, he didn't really remember how it was exactly he broke his arm, all he knew was that in the heat of the raging battle, someone had hit him with the handle of their dagger but he had ignored the sharp pain to increase his chances of getting out of there alive. Now he walked over to Tug flipping the flap of his saddle bag back and bringing the equipment he needed out, setting it on the ground before rummaging inside for pots and pans. He hopefully looked up at the sky and nearly cried with dismay when he spotted the dark storm cloud making its way towards him. Will grumbled under his breath, setting up a tent one-handed was not how he wanted to spend his afternoon. First he gathered twigs and larger sticks for a fire before making his way to a nearby stream to fill up his canteen and get some water for coffee, because no matter the weather, Will was not going coffee-less. Setting the coffee to boil before the storm rolled in, he glared at the dismantled tent on the ground, cursing whichever higher force that decided he needed to be in this predicament.
Will wasn't a religious man. after all the cults and various 'religious' groups he had fought over his lifetime he was certain that was the last thing he needed but still as he was fumbling with the tent, his left hand not coordinating as well as he wanted it to, he sent a silent prayer up to fate because although he had seen his fair share of gods and goddesses, fate was something that the famous Will Treaty did believe in.
As though his prayers had been answered the sound of hoofbeats echoed from the dirt road nearby. Will scrambled form under the various components of the tent to stand by the road, relief flooding through him as a lone rider rounded the bend. The relief turned to confusion as he recognised the rider dressed in a green and grey mottled cloak, shaggy black hair and beard visible from where Will stood waving frantically at him.
Halt frowned as he saw a familiar mop of brown curly hair and the person attached to it, waving desperately with his left arm. What worried him more is that as he approached Will he noticed the other arm was wrapped in a makeshift sling. "What did you get yourself into?" he mumbled. He dismounted Abelard smoothly and moved to Will, who was holding his arm grimacing as the waving jolted his arm. "What did you do?" He ran his hand up the injured arm prodding at various different places.
"Oh it hurts you know?" Will complained and walked away gesturing for Halt to follow him, they walked a while until they came to a small clearing and the older of the two had to double take at the site of it. The fire was small and the stones were haphazardly clustered around it, there was a tent, if you could even call it that. It looked more like a melted puddle of plastic and poles then the actual makings of a tent.
"If this was your idea of a camp, I'm seriously thinking of sending you back to your apprenticeship."
"You try to make camp with no right arm." Halt shrugged and walked over to the mess of a tent while Will bent down to try and light a fire. Half an hour later two tents were set up and there was rabbit stew boiling over the fire, Halt gestured for Will to sit by him.
"Let's have a look at that arm." He unwrapped the bandage carefully, only with the tenderness and care when he looked after someone he loved. The arm was definitely broken but nothing he couldn't fix, he'd have to set it though. "Here bite on this," he said and passed him a sock from his satchel, Will rolled his eyes but put it in his mouth none the less. He positioned his hands in the correct place, "3,2" he snapped the arm back into place without getting to one, it was an old trick but still caught his former apprentice off guard as a muffled cry shattered the silence and tears of pain brimmed his warm brown eyes. He brought the arm to his chest reflexively and spat out the sock, blinking when the tears spilled over and rolled down his cheeks slowly. He shot Halt an accusing look. He gently released his grip on his arm when the older ranger tugged gently at it. Halt began to wrap it slowly and wrapped it in a makeshift sling when he was finished. Wills eyes still glistened slightly and he looked questionally at him as he rubbed his arm absentmindedly. Will shuffled closer and lent forward, embracing Halt in a hug, he hugged back.
"I missed you," he mumbled and drew back. "But that was a dirty trick,"
"I missed you too." He smiled and went to pour them both some stew, relishing in the warm feeling spreading through him. The feeling he got when he got to spend time with one of the people who made his life worth living, the people he loved the most.
