Sparks Flying - A Ranger's Apprentice Story

Chapter Twenty-Three

Maddie saw Gilan in the distance. Sensing her excitement, Bumper broke into a canter for the last stretch between them, before sliding to a stop next to a nonplussed Gilan and Blaze.

"We found them!" Maddie said excitedly. "They followed the trail all the way out, and Bumper and I ran into them! Halt sent me to find you and bring you back. He wants to camp where the trail hits the river, and then we can continue following it in the morning."

Gilan let out a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness," he said. "Congratulations, Maddie, on a plan well thought out."

That stopped Maddie for a moment, and she blushed. "Thanks, Gil," she said. "I'd almost forgotten it was my idea. But you, Halt, and Will did all the work."

They turned the horses in the direction of the camp. "Don't say that, Maddie," Gilan said. "You worked hard as well, and you deserve the recognition. Not many people your age would be able to do what you just did - formulate a well-thought-out plan and then act on it, without regard to the physical and mental exertion and exhaustion you would face."

Maddie felt her hot cheeks, and didn't say anything. Beside her, Gilan smiled.

It wasn't long before they reached the little campsite. Halt and Will had already gotten the campfire going, and Will had disappeared into the trees to hunt. Tug and Abelard were grazing a little ways out. On her way to find Gilan, Maddie had passed the two horses and sent them back to find their masters.

In an uncharacteristically emotional display, Halt hurried over to Gilan and gave him a quick, tight hug, patting him on the back a few times.

"It seems like the relief really is getting to everyone," Gilan remarked, with a light smile.

It was Halt who noticed Maddie swaying on her feet from exhaustion, and he ordered her to her bedroll to rest until the food was ready. Maddie put up a bit of fuss, just for show because she had to maintain her reputation among the apprentices, but quickly capitulated. She was snoring in a few minutes.

"How was she today?" Halt asked Gilan in a low voice.

Gilan gave Maddie's sleeping form a long look. "She was great," he said. "Honestly, I'm quite impressed. I could tell she was really struggling from being exhausted, but she kept going, and she didn't complain at all."

"Good," Halt said. "I think this apprenticeship thing is perfect for her."

Just then, Will arrived, a brace of rabbits in tow. He handed them to Halt, who began to skin them, and glanced at Maddie, curled in her sleeping bag. His face took on a soft expression.

"How'd she hold up today?" he asked Gilan in a low voice. 

"Pretty well," Gilan answered. "She's strong."

Will nodded once. "Good," he said. "I'm worried about her. I don't want to work her too hard, and I know she's worried about Alyss too."

Gilan put a hand on Will's shoulder. "We all are," he said. "And we'll find her. You'll see."

"Partly thanks to Maddie and her planning skills," Halt added. "The rabbits are in the stew. It should be ready in an hour or so. I'll keep watch until then, if either of you want to rest."

Silence fell over the little campsite, and the sky darkened steadily as the sun slipped below the horizon. Maddie shivered in her sleep, and Will draped an extra blanket over her before curling up in his own sleeping bag nearby. Gilan sat quietly, staring into the fire, while Halt sat a little way off, keeping a steady watch for any threats or enemies.

A little while later, the delectable aromas of rabbit stew and brewing coffee found their ways past Maddie's nose, and she sat up, rubbing her eyes. It was full dark, and the stars had begun to come out. The firelight reflected off the river and the edge of the forest, giving the area a warm, comforting glow.

She got up and walked over to the fire, her hair still messy from sleep, and accepted the bowl of stew Halt handed her. She sat down next to Gilan to dig in.

He ruffled her hair. "Sleeping Beauty awakes," he remarked.

Maddie ignored him and continued eating. The stew was delicious, and Maddie was starving.

A few minutes later, Will joined them. The four ate in silence, quickly emptying the pot of stew. Will, Halt, and Gilan also finished off the coffee. Maddie stuck to ice-cold water from the river.

Maddie and Gilan cleaned the cooking utensils in the river, since Will had gone hunting and Halt had cooked. When they were finished, the four Ranger gathered around the fire to discuss strategy.

"So tomorrow, we follow the trail," Will said.

"We'll have to mark it as we go, so reinforcements can follow us even after the tracks have been washed away," Halt said. "We did that all day today, and I left a note at the cabin detailing how we took the horses around the long way."

Gilan nodded. "Smart," he says.

"I know," Halt replied snarkily.

That pretty much ended their tactics meeting, as there was nothing really left to discuss and Maddie was nodding off again, leaning against Will. 

"Let Maddie sleep," Halt said. "The three of us can divide up the watch. She's not used to being this tired."

The other two Rangers nodded agreement. Will, Halt, and Maddie headed off toward their bedrolls, Will half-guiding and half-carrying his exhausted apprentice, and Gilan settled in for the first watch.