Meeting The Lost (A Ranger's Apprentice Fanfiction)

An Old Friend

Will and Alyss were at his cabin. They were watching Halt going slowly through Will's things, finding the pebble he had always known as 'Stellatite'. Halt wasn't crying, but he was going to. His eyes were shining with tears, and he kept biting his lip. He blinked the tears away, but new ones took their place. Will didn't want to see Halt cry. It would be upsetting. Weird too.

Will and Alyss left the cabin, Will's own eyes tearing up.

***

He sat at on a large rock outside his cabin, Alyss beside him. Soon Halt came out and mounted Abelard, riding away into the woods. Will saw Sable, his dog, running after him. He knew that after he had died, Lady Pauline and Halt had taken the dog to their quarters in the castle. It was hard for them to keep her in the small space, but it was Will's dog. He heard Sable barking again, but there was another dog with her. Then he saw rustling in a bush near him. Alyss put her hand instinctively on the handle of her dagger. So did Will.

Sable, he thought.

He looked up in time to see black and white shapes hurtling towards him.

It wasn't Sable.

Ebony and Shadow leaped on top of him, followed by Ebony's siblings. Will went toppling to the ground. All five Border Collies were currently on top of the surprised Ranger, licking his face and gently biting his fingertips. Alyss, momentarily surprised, was laughing. Will couldn't get up, the weight of five full grown dogs a bit too much for him. Then three of the dogs got off, and he was left with Ebony and Shadow on top. He laughed and hugged them both tight. He looked up to see the other three dogs were with Alyss, and were trying to lick her face. The afterlife just kept getting better and better. He stood, and Ebony leapt up into his arms. Will was strong, but the sudden weight sent him back to the ground. Alyss was laughing again.

Will was laughing too.

Dedication: SilverOakleaf
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