Ranger's Apprentice One-Shots

Reversal Sick Day

Hey guys! This is my first time writing One-Shots so it won't be perfect. I will be taking requests. Note: I will not write anything about the Royal Ranger though. Sorry. Anyway, in this story Halt gets sick instead of Will, like so many have written before, hence the "reversal". So what would happen if Halt was sick and unable to help much when Will gets into danger?
  I would like to thank WillfulRanger for helping me with some of the plot. You should check her Rangers fanfic out, I enjoyed it. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this first story of my One-Shots. :)

🏹🏹🏹🏹

Thonk

Will gauged and released another arrow behind the trail of the previous; hitting just above it. He then lowered his recurve and looked at his handiwork.

Arrows were protruding out of a well-used target in a tight circle on the red of the bullseye and he was satisfied at what he saw. Will looked over at his mentor who was leaning against a tree. If Will didn't know he was there, he would have swept his gaze right over him.

Halt nodded slightly. "Well done, but you need to be faster in your withdrawal from your quiver to your string. And remember to look at your target and not at your bow when you are nocking it, that way you already know exactly where your target is and are able to shoot without adjusting your aim much." Will nodded and Halt added. "You're done for the day and I think I'll head in." Halt turned and walked back to the cabin.

Will frowned as he watched his mentor head back. Halt seemed slower than usual and talked less than he normally did, which was saying a lot. It started that morning when Halt was sitting at the table, drinking coffee, and pouring over the daily reports. He seemed uncomfortable, tired, and stiff and was trying to hide it. He also wasn't eating much throughout the day and when Will asked if he was alright, he just grunted a non-committal response. Even now as Halt headed back to the cabin it was earlier than usual.

Will shrugged as he walked over to the targets and started to pull out the arrows from the wood. Halt would be fine, he would tell Will if it was something to be worried about and Halt was always getting on Will for not telling someone if he wasn't feeling good... Right?

As Will trudged back to the cabin porch, he noticed that the sky was cloudy and the wind had a biting chill to it. Will remembered it was getting closer to the winter season and knew in Skandia and other countries the snow would already be starting to fall. It was also the time where it was not uncommon for people to come down with a mild cold. Maybe Halt just had a cold that he didn't think it was necessary to worry Will about.

Will opened the squeaky door to the cabin and placed his recurve against the wall near the door, then unslung his quiver from his shoulder; placing it on a hook near the door along with his cloak and set the used arrows down on a small table for sharpening later. He expected the sweet aroma of coffee to swirl around the room that Halt would've made by now. He was met with a lonely candle on the table, brightening the room for Will to see that Halt was not there. It was one thing for Halt not to be in the room, but it was another for him not to have made coffee. That alone told Will that something was wrong.

"Halt?" Called out the boy. No answer.
Will walked out of the room and toward Halt's bedroom. He knocked softly. "Halt, you in there?"

Will heard a small shift of movement like someone was turning over in a lying position. "I'm here, Will. You need somethin'?" Halt's voice sounded slightly hoarse.

"No, I was just wondering if you were feeling alright. You didn't critique my archery as you normally do." He let in a teasing voice at the last sentence, hoping for a sarcastic reply that Halt would usually follow up with. Halt didn't say anything. "Can I come in, Halt?" When he again got no reply he slowly opened the door and stepped through. Will didn't go into Halt's room much, hardly at all in fact, but it was still the same as when he first saw it. It was plain and practical, much like his own, but barer. It had only the essentials, a long chest against the opposite wall from Will, a small table with a dagger sitting on top, wooden hooks protrude from the wall with an extra cloak and quiver hanging from them, a bed against the far corner with a longbow standing at the end of it, and a small, wide boarded window with a closed curtain to the left of the bed.