The Unknown Tales: A Collection of Short Stories, One Shots, and More

Double Trouble

Inspired by The Ranger's Apprentice by John Flanagan

Note: This is not a fanfiction. It has merely been inspired by one of the greatest and funniest fantasy worlds ever!

**************************

"Where is he?" Jaxon exclaimed, tossing his red-gold hair back and nearly falling off the tree branch he was perched on.

"Dunno. Maybe you should go look." Ryder replied casually leaning against the trunk of the tree with his grey and green cloak wrapped around him. Jaxon wore one almost identical to Ryder's. Both boys were high up in one of the many oak trees surrounding the small hut of their teacher, Terryn. They had arrived early and were hoping to catch Terryn off guard, or at least catch him sleeping. Nothing ever seemed to surprise the old forester. Jaxon gave Ryder a look of indignation, he was a very impatient fifteen year old boy.

"Maybe I will." he said. Ryder rolled his eyes playfully. "He's probably not even in there. I'll just go in and take a peek and be right back out."

"Your funeral."

"Pfft!" Jaxon climbed down the oak snagging his cloak on several branches. He broke free with an audible snap. Ryder cringed. He was pretty sure Terryn had heard that, but nothing stirred inside the dark hut. Suddenly Jaxon's grip slipped. He fell and hit the ground spread eagle, managing to bring half the tree down with him. Ryder smacked his forehead. They were dead.

Jaxon scrambled to his feet and hid behind the tree. A little piece of his cloak peeked out from behind the trunk. He was just in time. The door opened and out stepped a short, muscular man with a black beard that was turning grey. He immediately saw the two boys and hid a grin before pretending to peer around looking for the source of the noise. Just when he felt they had suffered long enough he went back inside and silently locked the door.

Jaxon let out a huge breath of air while Ryder stealthily climbed down the huge oak and landed silently next to him. Jaxon let out a yelp of surprise when the older boy lightly tapped him on the shoulder. Ryder put a finger to his lips then pointed to Terryn's hut and winked. Jaxon crept slowly toward the door. He reached out and turned the doorknob just as he had hundreds of times before. But the handle didn't move.

Confused he tried again, rattling the door slightly. Ryder groaned and hid his eyes behind thick silver hair. He knew by now that Terryn was playing with them. Abandoning his hiding place he walked up behind Jaxon, who had braced his feet against the ground and was pulling as hard as he could on the door.

"Can't. Seem. To. Open. This. Stupid. Door!" he grunted between yanks. Ryder smirked.

"Can't open a door? That's a-door-able." he mocked playfully. Jaxon turned his head and glared.

"Shut it!"

"Aww, gotta open it first buddy."

"Gah!" Jaxon pulled harder on the door.

"Ahhh!" Both boys yelled as the door came off its hinges and fell on top of them. When the dust settled and they managed to push the heavy door off themselves they saw Terryn standing in the doorway laughing, brown eyes twinkling at the two boys sprawled on the ground. At the same time they pointed to each other and said,

"He did it!"

This made Terryn laugh even harder. Finally he stopped, wiping tears from his eyes, and looked the two boys in the eyes. Their faces were beet red. He began laughing again.

"Unbelievable!" he exclaimed, once more in control of himself. "Not only did you manage to tear my poor tree to shreds but you also broke my door!" Jaxon and Ryder hung their heads in shame. "And that's not even the worst!" He paused and looked at the boys long and hard. Jaxon shifted his weight.

"What's the worst?" he asked, unable to stand Terryn's glare any longer.

"You've failed your stealth lesson, Jaxon."

"Ryder too?" A smirk plastered the red-haired boy's face as he looked at Ryder.

"No."

The smirk fell from Jaxon's face and Ryder's lips curved into a slight smile.

"But he did fail something else."

Ryder frowned but didn't say anything. Terryn grinned.

"You both will be spending the rest of the day cleaning my cabin and repairing the door." Both boys groaned. "And, since you've shown you can come very early, I will expect you both to be here the same time every day for the rest of your training."

Jaxon and Ryder gaped. Things had most definitely not gone as planned.

"And the next time you want to try surprising someone make sure you don't discuss it where they can hear you." Terryn said raising an eyebrow. The boy's grinned shyly. Ryder playfully punched Jaxon on the shoulder when Terryn went back inside.

"What?" Jaxon demanded, brown eyes flashing angrily. Ryder shrugged.

"You look right funny when you're scared."

"Do not!"

"Do too. Come on. We've got chores to do." Ryder said hauling Jaxon to his feet.