Ranger's Apprentice - The Afterwards

Prologue PT 2

Maddie was usually a light sleeper. But after having arrived home only two hours after midnight, she was out cold.
Peck peck peck. Someone tapped lightly on her door.
"Maddie?" Said a warm and gentle voice. Horace opened the door and poked his head inside. He smiled at the sight of his daughter. She was on her side, curled into a ball, fast asleep.
He closed the door behind him quietly and made his way to her bed, where he sat next to her. He could hear her small, even breaths. A strand of hair strayed across her forehead. Horace tucked it behind her ear.
"Maddie, wake up." He said gently. She moaned. Horace smiled again.
"Dad?" Maddie said dazilly.
"Good morning." He replied. Maddie sat up and rubbed her eyes.
"What time is it?" She croaked.
"About noon."
Maddie's eyes shot wide open. Horace laughed.
"Why didn't you guys wake me!" She complained.
"Well, you got in late from your classes, and we figured you needed the rest." He kissed her on the forehead and rose to his feet, walking to the door.
"But now you're awake, and you've got a lot of chores! So chop chop!" He left the room.
Maddie groaned and drug herself out of bed. She dressed quickly and went into the family room, where her parents were lounging on the sofa.
"Morning, sleepy head." Her mother said. Maddie stuffed a muffin in her mouth and waved hello before walking to the door.
"Where are you going Maddie?" Horace questioned.
Maddie opened the door and said something like, "Um dun muh chores!" before swallowing the rest of her muffin and leaving the room.
She raced down the stairs and out to the stables, where she found her stall and walked in.
"Hello, Bumper!" She exclaimed. The shaggy horse nickered at the sound of her voice.
Maddie rubbed him down and fed him an apple before leaving. On her way out, she was stopped by a group of boys who looked like trouble.
"Hey!" The leader said. He had curly brown hair and a wicked smile. He might had been cute, if he were less overweight.
"I know you! You're that Princess Ranger aren't you?" His friends snickered.
"I am Maddie." She replied solidly. A part of her mind screamed in frustration as she realized she had left all her weapons at the castle.
"Yeah? Well, I think you're no where near as mocho as they made you out to be. Probably just said it to intimidate people." The boy sneered
"Are you wanting to find out?" Maddie asked calmly.
"Yeah, bring it, girl!" He laughed. The other boys cheered him on, until he fell to the ground squealing.
Let it be said, Maddie brought it where the sun did not shine.
"You're... Gonna pay... For that." The boy struggled to get back to his feet. He turned to his friends. "Get her."
Maddie would have easily taken them all if they would've came at her one at a time. As it happened, that was not the case. All five boys charged her. She caught one with her fist, but four other pairs of feet and hands pounded her. Soon she was lying on the ground, curled into a ball.
And then, they stopped.
"Hey!" Another boy's voice yelled. "Get outta here, ya little rats!" The boys backed away, snarling. Maddie refused to look up until she knew more about the new boy.
He turned out to be a good guy. Once the other boys were good and gone, he knelt beside Maddie and rolled her over. She kept her eyes closed, in case she needed to surprise him
"Hey." His voice was gentle. "Open your eyes."
Maddie didn't move.
"Come on, you're okay." He said, checking her pulse. "Look at me."
Maddie decided he posed no immediate threat, so she opened her eyes slowly.
The boy was strong. That was the first thing she noticed. He wasn't scrawny or overweight, like the other boys had been. This boy was well fit. His biceps and stomach muscles were toned.
His face was soft and gentle, which seemed a bit out of place for such a strong person. His blue eyes looked back at her, concerned. His nose was straight, and his lips were thin.
"Are you hurt anywhere?" He asked.
"Who are you?" Maddie returned.
"My name is Jason. You're Maddie, right?" Maddie nodded.
"Alright. Can you walk, Maddie?"
She stood up, but her left knee quickly sent a jolt of pain up her leg. She yelped and let her leg buckle. Luckily, Jason caught her.
"Yeah, okay. I'll help you." He stood to her left and wrapped her arm around his neck. Then he moved to wrap his own around her waist, but hesitated.
"May I?" He asked Maddie. She smiled to herself, but merely nodded to Jason. He took her waist and led her back to the castle and up the stairs, where they knocked on the front door.

I made up Jason and the boys who attacked Maddie.