Ranger's Apprentice: Tales Untold

A Dive In The Stream

A/N: Okay, I know it's been a few days since I've posted, and I'm sorry. The RA character reaction is still ongoing, I've just been busy with school work and writing my original series, and I've also started Driver's Ed, too. But I'll try to post as often as I can, and in the meantime, here's another snippet from A Ranger's Life (name of Gilan's apprenticeship series).

IT HAD BEEN hours since the Ranger had been traveling. Gilan eyed the little horse he'd been riding with envy; he was sure by the end of his day his feet would fall off.

"Does he ever rest?" he muttered to himself, and then froze as a small crack reached his ears. Slowly looking down, his heart jumped in his throat as he saw the little twig snapped in two. He spared a quick glance up, and relief rushed through him as the Ranger made no movement. He didn't hear it, he thought with euphoria. Perhaps the sound hadn't been as loud as he'd thought.

It seemed around an hour later when the clip clop of the hoofs stopped, and the Ranger spoke softly to his companion, the Hibernian burr obvious even from Gilan's distance. Now if I could hear what he's saying, he thought, glancing around. He'd made sure to watch his footing more carefully, but he supposed one could never be too careful.

A large stream ran down their path, and the shaggy gray horse drank gratefully from it. The Ranger searched through his pack, and withdrew a pack of dried food. Gilan cursed himself for forgetting food. He didn't know when he'd approach the other man, but he knew it had to be soon.

He leaned closer to the ground, watching as the Ranger swept his piercing gaze around the area. He had been short; almost shorter than Gilan himself, but there was no denying the strength and authority. Gilan had seen that when he'd helped the Ranger find the path along Hackham Heath.

The Ranger turned around and sat as he ate. Gilan swallowed and wiped his hands on his pants as the sweat began to form. It's not that hard. All I have to do is ask him if I can be a Ranger.

But as he started forward, he instinctively remained low to the ground; he didn't just want to ask. He wanted to surprise the Ranger, so he could see that Gilan was qualified to become one. If he could surprise a Ranger with plenty of experience, then surely he'd be able to become one.

As he moved forward with no audible sound, his confidence grew. He'd held the Rangers in such awe at being able to move unseen, and their uncanny instinct. How would they react now if they saw him, a mere boy, managing to surprise the legendary Ranger Halt?

The thought had just crossed his mind when something clamped on to the collar of his shirt, and then the sky and the foliage blurred together as his feet left the ground. He grunted as a rock poked into his back, and then jerked upward as the cold water seeped into his clothes. But as he flailed, his foot slipped on a rock and he landed back in the stream.

"Next time, be a little quieter," said a low voice with the familiar Hibernian burr. Gilan groaned and shivered as he stood, slower this time, his clothes hanging down his thin frame as water dripped down from the cloth.

"Halt!" he exclaimed, his mouth going dry. "I..." He paused, not knowing where to start. "How did you know I was there?"

The Ranger raised an eyebrow. "You stepped on multiple sticks. And leaves. I'm not so deaf that I can't hear when someone's sneaking up on me."

Gilan opened his mouth, and then closed it, irked with himself. He'd been so certain he could have made it, and yet somehow, this Ranger had managed to hear him where others wouldn't have.

"Get out of the stream, boy," the Ranger said, and he looked up nervously. "I don't want to have to take care of you because you got a cold."

He hesitated, and then made his way through the water, scowling as the liquid sloshed in his boots and ran down his face. "There wasn't some other way you could have done that?"

"I suppose I could have shot at you. That might have gotten your attention." Gilan shook his head, his eyes widening, and the Ranger nodded. "That's what I thought. Now get out."

He sighed and trudged out of the stream, pausing as he stood before the Ranger. He hadn't thought this far ahead as to what he would do, but then the consequences began to filter through.

His father would be furious. His mother, perhaps even more so, and the thought did little to settle the unease inside him. He'd snuck out, without any word, and had just tried to sneak up on a Ranger.

All in all, things didn't seem to be working out for him that day.