Ghost of the Past-Ranger's Apprentice Fanfic *Working Progress*

Chapter 15

Halt returned to the Cabin alone, having left Will and Alyss to finish up what they were doing now the danger had passed. Honestly he was looking forward to seeing Ayla again, he missed the quiet days he'd been spending with her and just her company in general. He slowed Abelard to a halt when he saw the door swinging freely in the wind. The hairs on the back of his neck slowly stood up sensing that something was wrong, his fears being confirmed when heard Pauline's voice in the distance calling out to Ayla.

"Pauline" he called running towards her as fast as he could. He'd been gone eight days, how could she have gone? He'd just got her back in his life and now she was gone, knowing it couldn't have been of her own accord made him even angrier.

"Halt" she cried running towards her husband. Her beautiful features contorted with fear, the tear streaks sat prominently upon her cheeks. She threw her arms around him desperate to feel his warmth and to know that he didn't hate her.

"It's okay, we'll find her" he said as soothingly as he could as he hugged her back.

"How long has she been gone?" He asked calmly as they sat on his tattered couch. If he had any hope of finding her he had to work out how far someone could have possibly taken her. Pauline thought about it for a moment, her mind still jumbled in a state of panic. It was so out of character for her that it surprised even herself but it was because she knew how much Ayla meant to her husband.

"I put her to bed two days ago and when I came back yesterday she was gone." She put her head in her hands as she finished, "I'm so sorry Halt." She muttered tears springing to her eyes the reality of the situation hitting her.

"It's okay" he murmured placing his hand on her back as he thought about what could have happened it was then that he saw marks on the door frame. Curiously he walked to them finding them to be scratch marks, his eyes looked out to the woods where he caught a glimpse of nail marks in the support beam. His mind began to wander as he thought about who would want to take Ayla, it wasn't as if she was of any use to anyone and no one even knew who she was...his trail of thought stopped as he realised the only other people who knew her were the Bandits she lived with. He racked his brain trying to remember where their base camp in Redmont was. It hit him like a brick, Western Woods. "I know where she is." He announced whistling for Abelard. "Stay here and send Will to Western Woods when he returns if I'm not back." He called glancing to Pauline as he swung himself into Abelard's saddle.

"Be careful Halt" she called meekly. He nodded to her before nudging Abelard into a canter.