The Rangers Apprentice: Thunder Coming

A quick begining.

Halt lead the boy back to his little cottage and let him look around after he set him up in the guest room. Merec was a strong boy, already capable of things most second or third year Apprentices would be capable of doing. He was already a master of silent movement, and with some more training, Halt feared he would become better than Gillan, his old apprentice.

Every chore Halt gave him, cleaning the pots, sweeping the floors, beating the rug, chopping firewood and fetching water, Merec would complete in no time at all. Halt realized that this boy would be done all the work Halt could give him before supper, so he lead the boy out of the cottage and into the woods.

"Alright, boy," he said to his new apprentice "now I'm gonna show you the weapons you will be working with." Halt quickly pulled out the recurve bow and placed that and the quiver of two dozen arrows at his feet.
"Could I try it?" He asked Halt smiled to himself.
"If you think that's wise" said the grizzled old ranger. Merec looked at him with suspicion.
"Halt," he began. The ranger looked at him evenly.
"What now" he said with a sigh. Merec looked eagerly at the now but still held back.
"Do you think it's wise?" Merec looked a little embarrassed to be asking. Halt looked at the boy. "Are you saying you don't want to try?" He said.

Merec quickly plucked the bow from the moss and dirt where it lay. He snatched one of the razor tipped arrows form the thick leather quiver and quickly drew back with his forefinger and middle finger. He located a target and concentrated then released. Merec didn't even see where his arrow went for he became blazingly aware of a stinging pain on his forearm.
"Ouch!" He cried. Halt shook his head at the young boy and handed him a leather cuff. Merec quickly noticed that Halt wore one similar to the one Merec now held and felt very foolish indeed.
"Try again. " said Halt. Merec plucked another arrow from the quiver and placed the arrow on the string.
"Make sure it's notched on the string." Halt said, pulling out his own longbow to demonstrate. Halt chose an arrow from his own quiver and notched the arrow. Merec did likewise and started to pull back. He fired again and this time it hit smack dab in the Center of the trunk he was aiming  at. Halt looked at the boy in surprise. Merec didn't notice the expression his mentor was giving him so halt quickly wiped it from his face.

"Tighten your back muscles and try to pinch your sholder blades together. It will make it easier to draw back." He said. Merec quickly adjusted and shot again. This time, the arrow thudded into the wood a half foot left of the first arrow, because Merec was now focusing on his muscles, not his aim.

Halt replaced his bow and turned back to the weapons before him. "Alright alright, put that down, boy." Merec replaced it on the ground as half pulled out a double scabbard.
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As halt described the workings of the other ranger weapons, will was becoming familiar with the weapon he now carried at his hip. Will had gone far in the night, getting one eighth of the way to Gorlan. Now that it was morning, Will finally set down his bags under a huge tree. Will was exhausted so he simply sat down in a sunbeam and fell fast asleep.

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"HE IS MISSING!!" Cried the farmer. This man had run all the way to the castle to get this young boy who, he expected had just slacked off and was still in his comfy ward bed. When he didn't find young Will, he scampered around the castle, many others joining him to find the boy. "HE'S GONE!!" The farmer cried again. Baron Aruld ran out of his tower to see six dozen common people standing in a panic outside. Sir Rodney came running to the Barons side. "HE'S GO-"the baron cut him off.
"My friend, who is gone?" He said. The farmer was still panicking so Rodney stepped in.
"That's enough!" He cried in his booming voice. The crowd quieted. The Baron repeated his sentence. "Who is gone?" He said. The farmer gripped his shovel between strong calloused hands. "My lord, the young Will has gone missing."

Everyone in the castle was looking for Will, in the forest and all around the castle. Word had not yet reached Halt, but a sentry was on his way.
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Merec was training with his knives when a out of breath sentry sprinted up to Halt. He whispered quickly to Halt, who's normally composed face lost all colour and went slack with fear. "Are you sure?" Halt said. The sentry nodded several times. "We need to go." Said Halt and the sentry took off running again. Merec started packing up his weapons as Halt sprinted into the cabin. He came back with his bow and started running. Merec had to sprint to catch up to the small man. When they arrived at the castle, after a long sprint at full speed, a crowd was gathered, waiting for them. Merec felt the urge to duck behind massive battle horse, but unlike the stables there was none to hide him.

"Halt!" Cried a farmer from the crowd. "He's  gone!" Cried another. Halt pushed through the crowd and hustled to the barons tower with Merec on his heels.
"Stay here" said Halt. Merec's spirit fell and his shoulders slumped. Halt didn't look back, but did slam the wooden door so hard, some dust fell down to land in his cowl of his cloak. Merec sighed. Would it always be this way?
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It had been several weeks since anyone had seen young Will, but Halt wasn't ready to give up. He sent out search party's for the boy every day, twice a day. They always turned up nothing. Halt was very troubled indeed, for he had a hunch that he had drove his ex-apprentice away when he was deemed to a life as a farmer.
Halt didn't notice, but the gathering was coming near and Merec was more than ready. Merec was frustrated to say the least. This Will was taking up an awful lot of his mentors time, leaving less and less for him. Merec was very proud of the work he had been doing with his knives and bow, yet Halt never seemed to have time for him. It was just Will Will Will these days.

"Merec, you are being sent away to train with other warriors" said Halt. Merec was surprised. He knew by now about the gathering and was shocked that they wouldn't go. "But Halt! It's the gathering tomorrow!"
Halts eyes went wide as an owls.
"The gathering!" He said. Without skipping a beat, Half saddled up Abelard and started to pack everything they would need for the gathering. Merec kept into action, attaching his double knife scabbard to his hip and running to get Tug his horse saddled and ready.
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The gathering didn't go as planned. Probably the most off the rail gathering ever. By the time Merec had met up with Halts old apprentice and entered the gathering spot, everyone was packing up. Merec and Halt rushed home and Merec was sent out with Gillan and horase to celtica to help along a treaty and get troops for the up and coming war. Merec was over the moon. Finally, a real ranger job. Merec wished he could have gone on the hunt for the kalkera but the ranger Gillan had taken that shot. Merec was going to prove himself on this mission. A young man named Horase was coming with them and he was ready to prove himself. He hopped on his shaggy horse named Tug and they took off.