Rangers Apprentice: Return of the Dead

Journal Entry: Three

Weather: Cloudy with dense fog

Location: The Courier

Time: Midnight

Since the people of nearly every nation is afraid of us- thanks to Malik, it's harder to go to port for supplies in such a ship like the Courier. Grant it, she was originally built as a message ship of the new battle fleet I had designed and is smaller than the actual battle ships, she's still too large to go into a normal port.

The past few days have been rather dull. We haven't reached any trouble- yet. I only hope that-

"Lieutenant!"

At the shout, Will looked up to see one of the Second Officers hurrying in his direction. Standing up, Will put away his black leather journal and slipped the pen into a side pocket. The Officer came to a halt in front of him and took a few seconds to regain his breath.

"Sir, one of Malik's ships was spotted." Will frowned for a moment. "Go to Ethel. Tell him to change course away from the ship before they spot us. The longer we and this ship remain hidden the better." But the officer was already shaking his head. "Sir, the ship was after another one. A small fishing ship. You know what will happen if one of Malik's men gets a hold of any prisoners."

Will looked at the Officer and made a decision. "Alright." That's all he needed to say. Both Will and the Officer made their way to the main deck. Stepping lightly on the steps, Will reached the surface and was greeted by a light breeze catching the smell of sea salt. Other black forms alerted him that the rest of the crew must already be on deck. Coming up, he went to the raised platform on the deck near the rear of the ship that served as the helm. A tall, well built man was currently steering the ship. His face was lined and weathered from years of exposer to the elements of the sea. Ethel gave a small nod to his Lieutenant as Will joined him.

"What's the situation Ethel?" The older man's face turned sour with disgust. "One of Malik's ships seen to be attacking a village fishing ship. A bit far out from the coast but I guess that's normal since they need to go where the fish go."

Will nodded and a tense silence fell over the deck of the ship. Every eye was on him as he assessed the situation. Eventually he gave a slow, terse nod. "Everyone to their stations!" Shouted Ethel. A flurry of movement began and shadows blended and made the dark night come alive. Some slithered up the ropes to glide across the wood beams of the many sails. Other went bellow deck to ready large artillery while others did the same on the top deck.

Ethel looked at his superior and gestured to the steering wheel of the ship. "Would you like to take over Lieutenant?" The younger hesitated for a moment and before he could say anything Ethel put in another word. "You know that the ship always responds better with its creator." Will caved and Ethel stepped aside as Will took the helm.

"Ready the crew Ethel," Will said quietly. The bigger man walked off and quietly issued orders to a person who he deemed to be doing less than what his orders said he should do. "Location of the ship," Will called to the top of the ship. A signal flag responded with a quick series of sharp left's then right's. Turning the wooden wheel, the ship responded instantly. Now heading in the right direction, everything turned still and silent.

Ethel returned to Will's side and whispered of the surrounding. "A break in the fog ahead Lieutenant. That's where Malik's and the fishing ship is." "Any obstacles?" Ethel shook his head. "No sir. Too far from the coast for any rocks and the only reef close to us is one that we passed a few kilometers back." Will nodded, "Good."

The closer the Courier got to the edge of the fog, the thicker the tension on the deck grew. "Steady," Will called, the echo dying before it reached the rails of the deck. "Steady." He repeated. Then the ship broke the wall of pearly mist and things went into a world of speed. The sky was clear except a few dark clouds looming low and dangerous. A small boat was rocking on the rough waves of the open ocean as it was being surrounded by a slightly larger ship.

The second ship was long with a large, black square sail. A legion of oars silently and swiftly dipped in and out of the black water, hardly making a sound. It's prey already showed signs of attack as several large breaks showed in its railing and the bright orange color of flames flickered in the center of the ship.

"Ready." Twenty large weapons creaked and groaned with loud and echoing battle cries.

"Aim." Higher pitched squeaks filled the air as the weapons were moved to their still unsuspecting prey.

"Load." Rolling metal soon stopped with a dull bang as the weapons were loaded.

A brief pause filled the silence before the final order was given.

"Fire."

An explosion of fire lit the night as twenty weapons fired as one. An explosion so loud shattered the tense silence as its missiles moved to quick for the eye to see flew at their target. Malik's ship never stood a chance.

Eighteen of the twenty missiles slammed into the planks of the small ship while the other two sailed high and tore two gaping holes into the black fabric.

In swift movements, Will quickly had the ship turn about and head straight for what was left of the already sinking ship. Ethel stepped forward, "Sir, isn't this taking it to far?" Will have him a cold look and for moment he wasn't Will. He was a man who knew nothing but pain of a past life he didn't know. "The people chose their side and killed your brothers and sisters, killing the innocent. You think they deserve any less?" Ethel was taken aback for a moment, but let his moment of caring drop- replaced by a cold look. "No sir." At that, Will turned his attention back to his prey.

The crew of the sinking ship never stood a chance. The ram mounted at the front of the Courier was hidden, but now as the ship gained incredible speed, the enormous ram broke through the black waves. For a moment, the ship was suspended in air by larger-than-normal wave, but then the ram shattered through the wave and the ship dipped down, smashing into the side of the long ship.

The long ship splintered in half. The two halves went high into the air, the mast went flying from the force toward the Courier before bouncing off of the ships hardened planks and spiraling into the night. As the Courier flew by the beaten fishing ship, the crew on the ropes of the Courier quickly threw buckets of wet water on the fires; dowsing them in a few tosses.

In a quick flick of his wrists, Will had the Courier sail away from the fishing ship and the remaining wreckage of the Nightrider ship- fading into the night.

>>-------->

John Hansen, Captain of the Sea Otter, stood transfixed at the sight before him. His crew, consisting of his two son-in-laws and three grandsons, had been reeling in a good net of fish when his youngest grandson had shouted and pointed to the long, dark, rapidly approaching ship of a gang of Nightriders

Now, the fires that had been caused were doused and the long ship was nothing more than floating splinters. The moon was briefly free of the dark clouds and shone bright white. Only then did Hansen see the emblem stitched into the flag flying at the highest mast of this ship that had just saved him and his family.

A stopping bird, it's feathers and majestic wings outstretched in flight. It's beak was closed but looked sharper than a spear. It's talons were forward and open, forever frozen in reaching for its prey. The symbol of a Nightrider. But it was different. John had seen many symbols of the Nightrider- carved into trees in the woods, even in cattle slaughtered mercilessly and in the body of an old friend who had been at the wrong place, at the wrong time.

This symbol was more real, more alive. The feathers were more defined and the claws looked sharper, the beak more pointed and curved.

This was a symbol that didn't strike true fear into the heart at one look like a Nightrider symbol would. This one brought a sense of hope.

A symbol of freedom.

•MWAHAHAHAHA!!!! I DID SOMETHING NEW AND OOOHHH THE IDEAS I HAVE! Don't loose hope on me guys. I'm telling you, the plot I have set out will have you freaking out. It's going to be a long time before this book is finished- but it might be worth it. I know it's worth it for me, and I hope I write it good enough for all of you.

~SO•

P.S.- I finished this March 17 but I had no service to upload it ;-;

P.P.S- HA! I had 4G for a few seconds to upload it!