Ranger's Apprentice I: Arising Danger

| Chapter XVI

Climbing higher and higher in the tree, I picked apples. I then threw them down into Shimmer's saddlebags, which he carried with him. Shimmer nieghed softly when he caught the apples. Then, Heidi barked once and tilted her head. As if she asked: Can I eat that?
     I grinned at Heidi and jumped out of the tree. I cleaned my hands with my shirt and then swung my legs over Shimmer's back. I turned around and lied with my back onto Shimmer's back. I crossed my arms behind my head and stared at the sky. Without clearing my throat, I spoke to Shimmer: "Shall we surprise Will for once?"
     Shimmer looked at me and touched me with his nose. I don't think you have to thank Will that way, his eyes seemed to say.
     I frowned. "But look at what he has done to me! He has helped me so much with so many things — I just feel I have to do something back."
     "If you wanna do something back, then go with me on a mission," Will suddenly said behind me.
     I fell off Shimmer's back and my knees hit the ground first. It awfully hurt, but I got up quickly and straightened my clothes. "How much of that did you hear?" I asked. I grabbed an apple and threw it at him.
     Will caught the apple and took a bite. Then he gestured me to come with him. We walked back to the cabin. We got inside and Will handed me four reports, all written by Halt and three other Rangers I didn't know. I frowned and looked at the sheets of paper. "And what use does it have in my hands? Nice handwriting, by the way," I asked.
     "Read it," Will only said.
     I frowned and looked at the letters and words. I know how to read, only the basics. This was complicated and although I knew Rangers didn't really like complicated stuff and etiquette and protocols, it was pretty hard to follow.
"Haven't had education?" Will asked with a frown in his head.
     I shook my head and quickly said: "I wanted to, Will! But when I had education, I couldn't understand a word! I tried everything but I just can't understand it! I —"
     Will placed his hands on my shoulder and made me sit down. "Let me help you." Then he pointed at a word I couldn't understand. "Know this word?"
     I shook my head. "Not really," I admitted. "It doesn't matter. While we are here trying to understand it, a mission is awaiting us. Imagine someone dying now!"
     Will grinned and said: "You'll never change. You always try so hard to help others. I'm proud of you." Then he placed his hand on my cheek and rubbed with his thumb just beneath my right eye.
     After a while, Will explained that they were wrong and that one Kalkara had appeared, moving along with the nine Wargals. And the Corps Commandant Gilan wanted Will, Halt and me to take care of them. After having talked about it, Will immediately send a message to Halt, inviting him to come over and discuss the plan.
Time flew by and Halt finally arrived at the cabin. I went to the kitchen to make some coffee and served the two older Rangers their coffee. Then I sat down and listened to Halt.
"We haven't seen these creatures for over twenty years and now they have appeared again," he began, "but luckily, we know how to tackle them."
"Just set the Kalkare on fire in the fireplace and we're done," I said.
Halt frowned and leaned back in his chair. "You look smarter than you look, boy. What else do you know?"
"I don't know," I confessed. "I never took tests and when we had to take a test, I always skipped them. What is the importance of a test anyway?"
Halt put his hand under his chin and rubbed his beard. "Anyway. The best we can do is keep shooting at them and make sure we all are higher in place than the Wargals. For example, we stand on a hill and shoot them, while they are running upwards the hill. Correct?"
Will nodded and then looked at me.
The more I thought about it, the scarier it got. I would see these creatures in no time and then Will would expect me to shoot them. I looked up and said: "What are their weaknesses?"
"They don't have one," Halt said. "Although," he added, "they can get scared off when someone keeps on fighting them. The only time I saw the Wargals running away was when a man kept fighting for his and someone else's life."
My eyes went huge. "Really?!" I asked, showing interest now.
Halt nodded. "The man kept on stabbing and hitting the Wargals. But he died after having six wounds, the first one being fatal."
     I nodded with respect. That man must have been so brave to fight these creatures. I'd surely stand and stare in shock — I'd need so much thyme against the shock. Hopefully, I would be able to at least shoot one arrow at either a Wargal or Kalkara.
     "So, when will we leave?" I asked.
     Halt's face seemed to light up, although his eyes didn't light up along. I only once met him, but from one meeting I could tell that Halt is the sunshine to our dark nights. So much for my sarcasm.
     "When?" Halt repeated. "Tomorrow at dawn."
     I sighed. "Eh. . . Can I say Charlotte farewell first?" I asked.
     Will chuckled and pushed my shoulder gently. "Where is all your courage?"
     "I never claimed I was brave or have courage," I insisted.
     Will shrugged it off. "Either way, you're gonna like the ride to the ruins of Gorlan!"
     "Weren't they on Hackam Heath?" I asked.
     Halt shook his head. "I said they had moved, not to where. I think they're trying the same thing from last time. But they better know we are stronger now. We are with four Rangers so that should the trick."
     I raised an eyebrow. "Four? Halt, are you becoming dement?"
     Halt shook his head and said: "Did I say four?"
     "Yes, you did." I was starting to worry about Halt. I glared at Will with concern and mouthed him something. This old man was ridiculous to believe we would be able to successfully accomplish this mission!
     Will smiled at me. "You'll like it!"
     Pfft. "But if I die, I will put the blame all on that old man there sitting and sipping his coffee!"