The Ranger's Apprentice - A New Story ON HOLD

Chapter 7-Revenge is a Pain

Two months had passed since Anna started her training. Anna sulked on the edge of a cliff while Will was away, getting information from villagers. She had finished all of her chores and could not go anywhere or do anything. Anna sighed. Will still did not think that he had gained her trust well enough to start training with weapons, even though she thought she trusted him much more than when they first met. She tore up a weed that poked up from the rocks next to her. She stood up and went over to Ping.

"Sorry you have not gone anywhere in a while. I see if we can go somewhere soon," she said, feeding him the weed she just pulled up. She patted his nose and left. Kicking a rock as she went back to the cabin. She looked toward the town. Maybe Ping might get to go out sooner then she thought.

Anna patted Ping as she looked around the town for some sign of Will, or something interesting at least. Why Will would want to stay in a fief where so little happened was beyond her. She glanced toward the castle and thought of Redmont. Despite all of her years of torment there, she missed it. At least things happened there, she thought. Anna had no idea where to look for him. He would most likely be in the castle, but she did not have the guts to go in there alone. She had not yet met the Baron for SeaCliff, and would like Will to introduce her to him. She continued to search through town, trying to think of anywhere he might be.

Anna only searched for five minutes when she decided to head back to the cabin. If Will came back and saw that she was not there, it would prove to him that she did not trust him. She pushed Ping into a quick walk and made her way out of the town. That was one thing that she liked about Will's cabin. It was away from everyone.

"Miss! Miss!" a man called from behind her. She turned, unsure if he was addressing her. A man headed her way. She walked Ping over to him.

"Do you need something?" She asked the man. He gasped as he caught his breath, as though he had been running for a long while.

"My friend and I need your help! I noticed the Ranger cloak and I thought that you could be of help. My friend has been cornered by some animal and has no way to get out. I managed to get out by climbing trees. Please help," he gasped. Anna did not know what to do. She wanted to help the man but she had no way to fight off this animal, much less help the cornered man. 

"I have no way to fight off the-" she started.

"But you have horse," he said in a hurry, "please."

"Okay I will help, but only to escort your friend away," Anna agreed. If Will found out about this, he might literally kill her, if she wasn't dead by the animal first. She followed the man in the opposite direction of where she was heading in the first place.

"Here?" Anna asked suspiciously. It was an abandoned, large, stone cabin. The door was gone, so an animal could have gotten in, but no sound came from the cabin.

"Oh no," the man next to her cried. She looked at Ping for signs of danger as she walked closer to the cabin. Ping did not seem to sense anything so she continued. 

"You there?" said the man. He came closer to the cabin too. She scanned the area, like Will taught her and tried to find clues. Anna walked Ping around the cabin. When the young Ranger got to the front of the cabin, the first man was gone. Ping picked up his head, ears twitching. Anna noticed. Ping turned his head then stepped forward suddenly, jerking Anna forward. Ping neighed as Anna picked her head up. As she turned to face the thing frightening Ping, she felt something grab her. She screamed as she was pulled off of Ping and muffled by a man. He pulled her away from Ping as another tried grabbing her horse. She struggled and kicked trying to get free. Having no idea how to defend herself, she bit at the man's hand. That resulted in a smack in the face. He had pulled her into the cabin as she saw Ping run off into the distance. The other man ran toward the cabin in a hurry, then fell over and yelled. In his leg, Anna saw an arrow sticking out. Outside the broken door, Anna saw Will on Tug with bow in hand. The man constricting Anna moved his arm to her throat trying to constrict her breathing. It gave her a slight chance.

"Will!" She screamed, then was abrubtly cut off by having her throat closed. She saw Will jump off of Tug and run to the cabin. The pressure on Anna's throat grew as she struggled to breath. Will entered the cabin, bow ready.

"Stop, or I will stab her!" said the man behind Anna. Anna had no idea that he had pulled out a knife. Will chuckled softly.

"Really?" He said in a slightly annoyed yet humored tone, then shot the man's foot, causing him to let go of Anna, but in result, the handle of the knife was brought to the back of her head, giving her a sharp pain before blacking out.