| Halt's Ranger Apprentices | This is War | Volume 2 |

CHAPTER ELEVEN

It all came naturally as Annabelle's worn fingers released the string and the white feathered arrow spiralled through the air and hit the tree that was exactly not where she aimed. Annabelle frowned at the result of months of no practise. Gilan's eyes were fixated Annabelle as he noticed everthing that was wrong with Annabelle's tactics.

"She's putting too much anger into the shots instead of putting thought into her aim." He spoke quietly to Horace who accompanied him in building a fire for the night. The group was spread out across a ten metre diameter clearing.

Gilan and Horace took charge in setting camp with their supplies they had left on their horses.

Alex had the chore of feeding and watering the three horses, Kicker, Blaze and Beauty, reunited once again.

Logan volunteered in taking watch for the first three hours of the disapearing daylight, after he barely spoke two words to Annabelle, since her secret was exposed.

Devon, sat by the log Horace and Gilan were at, so they could keep a close eye on him, despite Belle's dispute. And, his glorious uncle stood at a tree. With ropes tightly holding him against it. With a rope running inside his mouth to keep his mouth shut.

And then there was Will, his unconcious body was set next to Gilan and Horace, with mumble escaping out of his mouth every now and then.

"Just let it go, Gilan." Horace shook his head at his new friend's obsession of keeping an eye on Annabelle.

"I am not taking my eye off of her until we get her to her father back at the camp." Horace shook his head, a smile playing on his lips. Gilan gave Horace a side-long look. "What?" Horace kept his eyes down putting the sticks in a neat tripod construction for the fire, before saying,

"I wish I had someone like you to grow up with." Horace said, looking up eventually, letting his face grow exposed to a sad look, struggling to keep a smile plastered on his face. Gilan felt himself grow a feeling of gratitude, as he watched Horace's facial expression toil with keeping it from a deep sadness. "She's lucky to have you." Horace's next words quavered slightly, making him try and cover it up with ckearing his throat.

Gilan felt felt sorrow swallow him up, realising how lucky he was to have a father. Annabelle wasn't as lucky as him, but she got to grow up with Halt and himself along with a town who adored her. And now, a country that worshipped her. And Horace and Will, they started from the very bottom, and are still struggling, as orphans. "You have me now." Gilan said patting Horace on the back.

It was silence that filled the air, before Gilan looked back up at Annabelle again. "And anyway, if you ask her, Annabelle would disagree on you, about her being lucky to have me." Gilan said in an attempt to start a joke, "I don't think she's ever going to forgive me for taking her back to her father." Horace nodded, cracking a smile.

"But what are you going to do about the construction? The war is only days away, what if we don't make it back to campus in time to warn the King?" Gilan sighed, the same exact question racing through his own mind.

"We'll figure it out. We always do." Gilan said, but truth be told, he had no belief in the words that he just said. And, although he wouldn't admit it to anyone but himself, he was terrified what fate had in store for Araluen.

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Annabelle returned to the camp where a fire had started, the aroma of coffee filling her nostrils, arousing her senses, the long for one consuming her.

Alex, Gilan, Horace and Devon had gathered around the fire, in an awkward silence, the cups that Gilan had packed in his saddle bags shared around. Annabelle set Gilan's long bow to the side, along with his quiver. "I think you should stick to your recurve for now." Gilan said, to start conversation, Annabelle looked up at Gilan, the memory of what happened hours ago, lighting her face on fire.