This is my first time writing for Ranger's apprentice. I hope this works well.
Please take it easy on me if there are mistakes, I'm not an English Native but I try to be good.
Enjoy and let me know what you think.
~ Prologue ~
The crackling of the campfire filled the air with a soft, soothing melody as Will cautiously approached the camp.
His heart pounded heavily against his chest, each beat resonating with a mix of anticipation and trepidation.
He didn't want to believe it. The mere thought was enough to send shivers down his spine, a cold gust of wind cutting through the warmth of the fire.
And then, just as Will's feet brought him closer, Horace materialized before him.
His face, usually a canvas of emotions, now stood blank, devoid of any expression. The sight of his friend in such a state sent a surge of unease through Will's veins. Two slow steps were all it took for Horace to reach his friends before his strength crumbled, and he collapsed onto the ground as if the weight of the world had suddenly become too much to bear.
Trembling, his eyes fixed on the unyielding earth beneath him, Horace couldn't bring himself to meet Will's gaze.
His lips quivered, words caught in the web of his throat, struggling to find an escape.
The silence between them hung heavy, suffocating the air they breathed, as the unspoken truth lingered in the space between them.
"No!" Will's voice was but a mere whisper, carried away by the wind, but the anguish within it reverberated through every fiber of his being.
His steps quickened, driven by a desperation to uncover the truth that lay before him.
And there, as he drew closer, his eyes met the devastating reality.
His beloved mentor, Halt, lay there, lifeless and cold, his once vibrant face now a sickly shade of yellow, his eyes wide open, as if forever gazing at the vast expanse of the sky above.
Horace had lovingly covered him with his own cloak, a feeble attempt to shield him from the harshness of the weather.
The weight of grief pressed down upon Will's heart, squeezing it until each beat felt like a painful reminder of what was lost.
In an instant, Malcolm darted towards the fallen Ranger, his footsteps carrying a sense of urgency. Kneeling beside Halt, he gently placed his fingers on the man's cold neck, hoping against hope for some sign of life. But his gaze soon shifted towards the young men, his face now a portrait of somber acceptance. "I'm so sorry," Malcolm's voice trembled with sorrow, the weight of the words heavy upon his tongue. "He is gone."
Will's vision blurred, a cascade of tears streaming down his cheeks, mingling with the darkened soil beneath him.
Caught in the grip of sorrow. The world around him seemed to fade into a haze, the sounds of the forest blending into a distant hum. His body swayed with the weight of his grief, his legs threatening to give way beneath him.
And then everything went black.
A cry tore through the night, piercing the air with a primal urgency. "Will!" Horace's voice echoed. A desperate plea filled with worry and fear, as he caught his friend just in time, preventing him from crashing to the ground.
Malcolm, ever the steady presence, pulled out his canteen, its contents offering a glimmer of respite.
With utmost care, he left the late Ranger and then drew closer to Will, delicately sputtering a bit of water onto his face, a gesture meant to ground him in the realm of the living. A hand, warm and comforting, was then placed upon Will's feverish forehead, a soothing balm against the raging storm within. "He is coming down with a fever," Malcolm's voice held a tinge of concern, a plea for assistance. "Please, help me set out a tent." The gravity of the situation weighed heavily upon them, but there was no time for the luxury of grief. The task at hand demanded their attention and their resilience. And so, together, they began the arduous process of setting up a shelter.
The rain pounded relentlessly on the tent, its intensity growing with every passing moment. Inside, Malcolm sat cross-legged, his eyes fixed on the pale figure sprawled on the ground before him. The boy slept, his breaths shallow and trembling, as if escaping from a reality too painful to confront.
Malcolm's heart ached, understanding the weight of grief that consumed his young friend.
A high fever tormented Will, searing his forehead as he fought to escape his sorrow.
It was a grief he couldn't blame the boy for, not when his own mentor had been ripped away so abruptly. With a hand pressed against his scorching skin, Malcolm glanced at the young man seated to his left – Horace, his face reddened and eyes swollen with unshed tears. "Horace, please," Malcolm pleaded, his voice barely audible. "Go fetch me some water. Will needs it."
Horace lifted his head, his gaze hollow and distant. "My deepest condolences," Malcolm added softly, his words laced with empathy.
Silently, Horace rose and disappeared into the rain-soaked world outside.
In the confines of the tent, Will stirred, his eyes fluttering open. Malcolm leaned closer, a small smile gracing his face. "How are you feeling, Will?"
Slowly, Will propped himself up, his gaze searching the tent as if seeking an elusive answer. "I'm okay. But where is Halt? He needs your help to counteract the poison."
Malcolm's heart sank, his body trembling with the weight of their collective despair.
"I... I don't know what to say, Will." His voice faltered, tears welling up in his eyes.
"You have to hurry, or else... he might not make it. I can't bear to lose him." Continued Will.
Overwhelmed and at a loss for words, Malcolm pulled Will into a tight, comforting embrace.
In the aftermath of tragedy, rain poured mercilessly from the darkened sky, mirroring the anguish in Will's heart.
Malcolm's voice, laden with both concern and determination, sliced through the desolation. "Please Will, he would have never wanted you to succumb to despair. You can overcome this, you have your friends to count on." Despite Malcolm's comforting words, tears streamed down Will's face, his expression void of belief.
Horace had revealed to him that Will held himself responsible for the devastating loss.
In that fateful moment of hesitation, Halt had been struck by the venomous poison that claimed his life.
The weight of guilt settled heavily upon Will's shoulders. "But he promised me..." Will's voice trembled with anguish, barely above a whimper. "He promised he would try to stay alive until I get there with you."
Malcolm's gentle touch cupped the sick boy's cheeks, attempting to bring solace to his tormented soul. "You did your best, please do not take it so hard."
Will's body convulsed, a jolt of shock coursing through him. And then, with a surge of raw emotion, he bolted out of the tent and into the tempestuous storm.
The grave of Halt, his beloved mentor, stood a few feet away under the shade of a tree, a silent witness to his inconsolable grief. Abelard is still there. remaining by his companion's side. The horse was silent, his head resting on the ground but he wasn't asleep.
Will ran until his legs gave way, collapsing upon the sodden ground, his face buried in the wet earth that had claimed Halt. "How dare you," Will screamed, his voice reverberating through the relentless downpour. "How dare you leave me." Fury and anguish intermingled as Will's fist collided with the cold gravestone, his palm crimson with the force of his blows. "How could you go and leave me all alone...please come back," his voice wavered, the plea carrying with it a depth of desperation. "I need you, please come back."
Malcolm, unable to bear witness to such raw pain, knelt beside Will, his hand gently patting the boy's trembling shoulder. "It's going to be okay."
"No, it's not okay!" Will's cry echoed through the storm. "He risked his life so much for me, and now he's gone. It's all my fault. How could he think I could live without him?"
Malcolm's breath hitched, his own emotions threatening to spill forth. He enveloped the broken boy in his embrace, offering what little comfort he could. "Please, that's enough."
"I didn't even get to say goodbye," he cried, his voice choked with anguish. Each word escaped his lips like shards of glass, cutting deep into the air, carrying the weight of all the unsaid words and unfulfilled promises that now lay heavy on his heart. He yearned for a chance to turn back time, to be close to him one last time, to let him know just how deeply he cherished him like the father he never had. But fate, it seemed, had cruelly robbed him of that chance, and it was all his fault.
Anger erupted within Will, a fiery torrent that surged through his veins, threatening to consume him whole. With a forceful shove, he pushed Malcolm away, his eyes ablaze with an intensity that could scorch the very air around them.
"That Genovesan!" he seethed, his voice a venomous hiss. "He will never escape me. Even if he sought refuge at the edge of the world, I will hunt him down."
"No, wait…"Malcolm, his voice filled with concern and desperation, tried to interject, but Will's fury drowned out any attempt at reason.
"He killed Halt," Will spat, each word infused with a chilling resolve that sent shivers down Malcolm's spine. "I will never forgive this, not even if my very heart begged for mercy." The memory of Halt's lifeless body flashed before his mind's eye, igniting a flame of vengeance that threatened to consume his every thought.
Without another word, the young Ranger raced back to his tent, his purpose clear and unwavering. The once peaceful abode now brimmed with a sense of urgency as he fervently gathered his arsenal of weapons. Each blade, each arrow held a promise – a promise to avenge the life stolen so brutally.
The storm lessened slightly as Will emerged from his tent, his silhouette shrouded in darkness. "Come along Tug," He called out his horse.
His steps were swift and determined, the ground quaking beneath his resolve.
The night air crackled with anticipation as if sensing the tempest brewing within the boy's heart. As he ventured deeper into the forest with Tug following behind, a mélange of emotions coursed through Will's veins. Anguish mingled with an unwavering determination, forming an indomitable cocktail that fueled his every step.
That would be all, for now. I hope I will be confident enough to write longer chapters in the future.