Into The World Of Ranger's Apprentice

Medieval Version of an Epic Car Chase

A/N: Hey, peeps! Sorry I took so long...school and everything-_- Also, the picture at the top is Jill. Anyway, here is the next chappie!

Disclaimer: I don't own any RA, and I am not the awesome John Flanagan!

Halt's eyes carefully scanned the girl during the night. She twisted and turned in her sleep, every so often mumbling about. He surveyed the strange material forming a baggy green top with a hood and drawstrings, wondering what it was, although you'd never tell it by his expression. Finally, the moon rose over a certain point in  the sky, and he turned to shake Will awake for his watch. The girl could wait.

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"Get up." The voice said it again. He'd been trying to wake her for a good five minutes, but Jill just moaned and rolled away. Then, another voice broke in, mumbling something inaudible. There was a pause, then heavy footsteps approached her. She could never have prepared herself for what happened next.

Cold, frigid needles shot up her spine, as a torrent of freezing water exploded above her head. It seemed to have soaked every inch of her, icy knives that cut all the way to the bone. She yelled out once, then curled into a tiny shaking ball. Shivering, not just from cold, but from anger, Jill pulled herself into a sitting position and glared hatefully up at the short, gruff ranger who dangled the empty bucket from his arm. Halt just shrugged.

"Can't say we didn't warn you," he told her, smirking. Then he turned his back and almost tauntingly, strode away. Jill couldn't just help but imagine scenarios--if she sprung up and charged him, or snuck up to him...

Naturally, it was Will who pulled her back to her senses, tugging thoughtfully of the rope that still tethered her to the tree.  She glanced curiously at him as he nimbly untied the huge knot.

"Come on, you," he called back to her over his shoulder as he dragged the now-untied end of the rope away. Jill had to scramble after him to avoid getting a face full of dirt. Will pulled her over to a small shaggy horse. Tug! Jill couldn't believe her eyes. The round barrel-shaped pony tossed his head, long brown mane flying. "We'll be riding. You go first, " Will gave her a small push toward Tug, yet Jill couldn't help but notice the mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

"Do you mind?" She snapped, shoving him back and pretending not to notice the slight widening of his eyes. Turning on her heel, she gave a discreet wink at Tug befores stepping in the stirrup and swinging herself up. Doubt nagged at the back of her mind. What if Tug hadn't accepted the passcode? Just because she said it to Will and not directly to the pony... She sat nervously in the saddle, doing her best to prepare for the inevitable bunching of his muscles before chaos reigned. But none came.

"Tug?" Will asked anxiously, wringing his hands. He turned to Halt. "Is he okay? Is he sick? What's wrong with him?" Instead of answering, Halt strode toward Jill, menacingly glowering at her from beneath his cowl. Fear and adrenaline shot through her, and almost as if by second nature, she grabbed the reins and steered Tug away. Kicking him into a gallop, away she sped through the trees. Branches whipped past her, stinging her arms, face, neck, anything that was exposed. Unaccustomed to the saddle, soon she was hurting all over. But she knew she couldn't stop.

Hoofbeats boomed behind her, and once more, adrenaline coursed through her veins. Spurring Tug forward some more, she knew it was hopeless. Already, exhaustion was creeping up on her, and the grim ranger was on her tail. She caught a glimpse of movement at the corner of her eye. Turning her head to the side, Jill gasped. Halt and Abelard were literally right behind her! Wind hissed past her, and Jill wrapped her arms around Tug to keep herself from falling off. Bouncing up, down, up, down, she ached for a rest. The ground raced past her, and the trees were blurs.

"Tug, panic!" A deep voice shouted from behind her. Uh oh. It was Halt who had given the command, and all of a sudden, Tug skidded to a stop. There was a momentary pause,  just enough time for Jill to take a breath, then chaos broke loose. Tug started rearing and kicking, and at times, all four hooves were off the ground. Clinging to the pony's neck, Jill hardly lasted a second. She was thrown wildly, and all she could see for what seemed like eternity was the world tossing and turning, trees, sky, and ground nothing but smears of color that flew away. Then she hit the ground. Hard. With a thump that could be heard for miles, she crashed into the hard dirt so fast that she even bounced once. Then it was over. Or so she thought.

Eyes staring blankly at the treetops, Jill just lay there, shocked, arms and legs splayed out in awkward positions.. She didn't move, couldn't move.  All she heard was the sharp clomp of Tug's hooves, as he was still doing his wild dance. From afar, that same deep voice said, "Tug, calm." And everything became silent.

Anxiety filled Jill as nothing happened for a few seconds. Then, suddenly, Halt's terrifyingly calm face appeared above her. For a moment, there was silence. She considered saying, 'awkward moment of silence,' like pretty much everyone at school did, then decided against it. There was no need to make the grim ranger more enraged.

"Get up." He commanded in his dangerously low, even voice. Quietly, slowly, Jill rose, keeping her eyes glued to Halt the entire time. She couldn't be sure, but it looked like there was a slight gleam of satisfaction in his eyes. Every bone in her body ached. Halt held his bow and arrow at half draw and lead her over to Abelard. Jill sighed. Why me? Soon the ranger had tied her hands together with the other end of his rope attached to his saddle. Without even an ounce of hope, Jill tested her bonds. They didn't budge.

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An hour later, Jill was practically being dragged behind the rangers. They were moving at a steady pace along an old, worn trail on their way to a Redmond. Exhaustion nearly brought her to her knees several times, and she'd seen Halt's disapproving glances backwards. Any second now, she would collapse. If they didn't stop soon...

Then, the trees cleared. The slowly sloping rise they had been on for a few minutes reached its peak. And below, a magnificent sight await them. The huge three-sided figure of the castle stood tall, and Wensley Village spread out in front of it. Finally, they had arrived. A stone dropped in Jill's stomachs as she realized that the very place she'd once fantasized about visiting would be the place her fate was decided once and for all.

A/N: So, there you have it! So sorry I took ages to upload, school work really slowed that down. On a better note, are there any Potterheads out there? I'm seeing Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them tonight, and I'm sooo excited! Also, any fellow Faniltons? I just listened to the entire soundtrack for the first time...and wow. Just wow. Please R&R, and I'll make sure I do the next part sooner!
-QA