Ranger Apprentice One-Shots

Almost lost

Dedicated to@_Starfall1_ This story happens  as our favorite rangers are returning from helping a neighboring fife in an altercation. There has been a lot of rain over the last week, and many bridges are washed out or unsteady..

 Rain dripped with annoying repetition from the leaves above them as the rangers squelched their way down the road toward home. Will found himself focusing on the patter again for the hundredth time, and sighed. Alongside him, the taller ranger turned his head slightly, a smile dispelling the grim looks.

 "You can't tell me, that you've finally become tired of all this everlasting rain at last?"

 "I like rain. But everything has its limits, Gilan." His cloak was completely soaked, and if they had to spend one more night out here... Halt grunted from the other side of Will. At first, the young ranger thought it was in answer to his comment, but then he heard the sound-faint, whispering. A river.

 Gilan groaned. "Who would like to wager me, that we find the bridge is washed out, and the only way to cross is farther downstream than we really want to go? Honestly, I never saw so many rivers and streams to cross in my life!"

 Will couldn't help grinning at the outburst. Things had been pretty rough, if Gilan was complaining. But he hoped too, that it wasn't out. They left the trees suddenly, and saw the swollen stream before them. 

 Debris floated in her waters, twisting and sinking as it continued past, but there was a bridge. Maybe not for long, but it was still there...Will eyed the water mark, dangerously close to the platform, with unease.

 "Well, do we cross here, Halt?" As one they turned toward the senior ranger, who scowled at them.

"Sure, throw the decision on me." His eyes flicked over the wooden crossing and he frowned. "We'll check to make sure it's safe for the horses first." They dismounted and gathered close. There was a thrumming noise farther down the river that Will hadn't noticed at first, and he turned his head toward it. "Is that a waterfall?"

 Halt nodded. "A decent sized one." Leading the way, the older ranger cautiously walked out onto the bridge, testing it as he went. Will lagged behind, his thoughts still on the waterfall downriver as he  too, tested planking. The beams seemed solid enough; out here in the middle, one could feel the slight motion however. Beside him, Gilan frowned. "I'm not sure I like this, Halt."

 "I don't either, but it's our best bet, and it will do. But we had better not wait around." He turned and headed back, passing Will who stopped to lean against the railing. "Will, I don't think-Will!"

Gilan finished the last part in a shout as the rotten beams gave with a snap, and the young ranger toppled over the edge. Snatching desperatly at Will, Gilan was pulled off balance and murky water closed over his head. Surfacing, he heard Halt's shout of alarm, and Will's coughing as he worked the water from his lungs. "Stay with me, and watch out for limbs or logs!" Gilan felt the current pulling at them, sucking them farther away from their mentor but he wasn't done yet.

 "We can do this, Will, come on!" They began using the currents twists to their advantage, working closer to the bank. Something flashed in the corner of his eye, and Gilan looked up in time to see a thick log swirling their direction. He back peddled quickly, shouting "Will, watch it!"

 The words were barely out of his mouth when the log hurtled straight into the younger ranger, giving a solid clip to his head. Submerged by the blow, agonizing seconds passed before Gilan could spot him again, a space farther than before. His heart sank as the boy's eyes remained shut; unconcious. As Will began to sink again, Gilan swam hard with everything in him to the spot where a dark cloak billowed. Grasping the cloth, he dragged the young boy up and held him with one arm while fighting to stay afloat with the other.