Chapters A Trip To Grimsdell Forest
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Ranger's Apprentice our any part of My Little Ponies: Friendship is Magic.
Notes: The tale begins sometime after Halts Peril. Also, I don't remember all the signals between Tug and Will so I might make a couple up. Also, Also, I don't know the ins and out about survival so all I can do is try my best.
Hoof-beats broke the ever-present silence of Grimsdale as a rider and his mount made their way down one the forest's many winding paths. He was lost yet again. Every time he came this forest it seemed he got lost. Even with his near perfect memory the forest always succeeded in turning him around and around.
'If Halt hears I got lost in Grimsdell again he won't let me forget it for years to come'
Ebony ,a young border shepard, was beside the pair darting through the larger animals hooves from time to time without it missing a beat.
'I'll follow this trail for another five minutes before I whistle for Shadow. Hopefully we're close enough for her to hear'
A flick of Tug's ear and a nervous whinny brought Will's attention back to the trail. Will softly clicked once the signal for stop. Now in complete silence Will scanned the trail and surrounding forest for any signs of movement or color. Seeing nothing Will silently got off Tug and ,with his bow drawn, crept to the forest beside the path. Will came up to the next bend and slowly moved around it keeping to the forest.
Nothing. At least nothing he could see. Although there was an small side trail leading to a stone archway. Will went back to Tug and Ebony both waiting patiently for him to return. Shrugging Will mounted Tug and continued down the path. When the reached the side path Tug whinnied again. Curious now Will urged Tug down the side path.
The stone archway was made out of a type of rock Will had never seen before. At first glance it looked to be normal everyday stone but if you looked closely you could see faint traces of green flowing like ivy through the stone. Will had never seen green veins in a rock before.
Standing in front the arch Will could see it was wide and tall enough for a single rider to enter. Ebony sniffed the stone and growled hackles raised.
'Strange both Tug and Ebony feel somethings off, but what'
Will trusted the two animals more than he did any person when sensing danger, but still he was curious now, and if anything ranger's were curious. He reached his hand through and nothing happened, so he walked through it.
Nothing. walking back through Will felt a little foolish, He didn't believe in magic he was being paranoid. Still he wanted to try one last thing before moving on. He mounted Tug again and called ebony to his side. The horse, the rider, and the dog all passed through the arch.
Suddenly the shattering of rock filled the air with noise and dust. He turned to see the archway had crumbled to dust on the spot. A little nervous now Will took in his surroundings.
'Still in the forest'
His senses where screaming at him that something was different. Studying the smooth brown trunks of the trees and the almost perfect leaves he realized what was different.
The forest was just to perfect. Every tree was straight and tall without a single broken branch. The leaves where all perfect replicas of each other only varying in shades of color. He new well enough not to start panicking but he came close. This isn't Grimsdell, hell it wasn't like any forest he'd ever seen. After ten minutes or so of being close to panic Will calmed down and took stock. 'It still might be Gimsdell. Even though ever tree is near perfect it could be some strange part of the forest.'
Raising his fingers to his mouth he let out a piercing whistle. He waited for a minute before letting out another. He continued for half an hour before Tug flicked his ear in warning. Will was on alert now bow drawn arrow notched as he surveyed the area. If it'd been Shadow Tug would have let out a whinny of greeting. The bushes moved and parted.
It was a wolf but unlike any wolf he'd ever seen. It was a tangle of branches in a wolf like shape with two red pits instead of eyes.
A split-second after it appeared it was down, an arrow in the head. Others appeared and he shot off two more arrows in quick secession. The first arrow hit its mark downing a second wolf and the final arrow impeded itself in another wolfs knee putting it out of action for a while. The last two reached him as he unsheathed his saxe knife.
The first wolf lunged, Will ducked and slammed his blade into the belly of the wolf. The blade was yanked out of his hand as the wolf flew over him. The last wolf was on him. Will raised his arm to protecting his neck from the sharp teeth. The wolf bit into his arm. Will fell back with the weight of the wolf on top of him.
Suddenly, the weight was gone and he turned to see Ebony on top of the wolf biting deep into its neck and twisting her neck killing it. The wolf with an arrow in its joint had crawled off.
"Good girl" He went over bending down petting her in appreciation. Her wet tongue found his face and beginning licking. Laughing he stood up and went over to Tug checking the horse over and taking stock of his gear. He had blankets to sleep on, a Flint and Steel for fire, a few dried strips of meat left over from last nights hunt, a canteen, skinning knife, sax knife, longbow, mandolin, 20 arrows plus the 2 he recovered from the wolves, cooking utensils, some oats, and the colorful jongleur cloak.
The sun that had been directly overhead when he entered the woods was now to low to make out through the dense forest. Light was fading and he needed a shelter. Heading north Will found a stream and set up camp next to it. He gathered some firewood, he'd considered using the wolves but had decided against it in the end and had left them to deteriorate since they where after all just plants of a kind.
He got a fire going just as the last of the light faded and sat down to a meal of dried deer meat. He finished the meal and got into the blankets for the night Ebony curling up next to him. He didn't need to tether Tug as ranger horses where a far stretch from normal horses and were very loyal.
"Goodnight Tug, Goodnight Ebony"
Rangers being a solitary lot all developed close relationships with there horses and could swear there horses respond to them. Rangers often talked to their mounts. They had a unwritten agreement that all ranger horses could understand there riders.
------------------------------------------Next Morning----------------------------------------------
Will awoke that morning feeling rested being used to sleeping outdoors. The sun was barely visible as its soft light enveloped the woods. After eating some of the dried meat and packing his blankets he was ready to set out. Before leaving, he made sure to hide evidence of the campsite, he didn't want anything following him. He set out east in the direction of a village, if he were Grimsdale Woods that would be the nearest village.
As Will rode he checked and rechecked his surroundings keeping an arrow notched. He didn't know what this forest could throw at him after the wolves. He rode non-stop taking a breaks only to snack on his dwindling supply of meat. Making a note to keep an eye out for any deer or small animals to hunt.
The rest of the day passed uneventfully and Will set up camp next to a creek. Exploring the surrounding forest Will set up a trap in the hope of catching some meat as he'd eaten the last of his current supply for supper that night. Using the rope he set up a crude but effective trap. All he had to bait the trap where the oats so he put those over the hidden noose and set the trap. Returning to the camp he sat down next to the fire.
'This place is like any other forest I've been in but the creatures are completely different. I know all the trees and plants from back in Araluen but everything else is different. The days seem warmer the nights more beautiful. I wonder if any people live in this place or is it just me and the wildlife.'
He felt sad at that but he had to hope he'd find his way back to Araluen and to his friends there. Thinking about them loosened a tear from his eye slowing tracing his way down Wills face.
'I will find my way home again no matter what, that is my chief priority.' That night he slept fitfully plagued by thoughts of being lost forever in this place.
Will awoke feeling as if he hadn't slept at all. The fire had burned down to cinders during the night. The first order of business was to check the trap for any animals. As he approached the trap he could here scrabbling of an animal. Slowing down and creeping up he found that his efforts the previous night had been rewarded. A fox had been snared in the loop and was now dangling from the nearby tree.
As Will crept up he slowed and stopped as another creature appeared from out of a bush opposite Will. At first it looked like a chicken and Will notched his bow hoping to take back even more food. However that notion was blown away as the creature revealed the rest of its body. It was one of the oddest things Will had ever seen. It had the head of a chicken and the body of a serpent. It slid towards the struggling fox oblivious to the ranger past it. Will watched as the chicken-serpant rose up and looked the fox in the eyes.
Will almost yelled out in surprise as the body of the fox slowly turned grey and still. Once the fox was completely encased the chicken-serpent opened its mouth revealing rows of glistening teeth. It bit into the stone encasing the fox easily piercing the stone. A noisy sucking filled the morning air as the creature greedily sucked in nutrients through its hollow teeth.
'Interesting this creature first encases its meal in stone before sucking them dry. It reminded Will of a spider that would encase its victim in a cocoon before eating them or storing them for later.'
As interesting as it was to watch the growling in Will's midsection needed to be satiated. Will eased the bow back to full draw, something many grown men would struggle to do, holding his breathe he sighted and fired. The creature didn't even have time to squawk as its lifeless boy hit the forest floor.
Will released his breathe in a quite exhalation. Will slowly crept up to the prone figure. He wouldn't have been to surprised if it'd get up and attack. Will shook his head at his own paranoia. Still, after what this forest had shown him he thought it wise to be cautious. Reaching the downed creature he pulled the arrow from its limp form. He then took apart the rope trap leaving the fox on the ground.Throwing the slain beast over his shoulder and taking the rope he returned to camp.
Deciding to risk cooking the strange creature he gathered some dead limbs and twigs. Creating a small tepee he smashed the flint and steal together creating a small spark he caught in a small nest of moss he'd made. He slowly blew on the moss until it smoked and caught fire. Placing it in the center of the tepee he kept blowing until he got nice flame eating away at the wood.
He took the creature over to the creek and started gutting it. He had gutted both chicken and snake before. The creature had the same components just in different places. He couldn't find how the eyes would caused petrification. They seemed just like any other animals. With the creature cleaned and gutted he raised it on a stick above the fire and slowing turned it, watching as it cooked. When the meat was ready he took it down. He decided to leave off eating the meat unless it was unavoidable as he didn't know what it might do to him. Packing the roasted meat he got up on Tug and set off east again.
During the ride Will came across a few nuts and berries. Stop each time he found some to collect as many as he could. He stopped for lunch and snacked on a fare number of them for his meal. By nightfall he had a good number of nuts and berries in his packs. Setting up camp near some berry bushes he also made the same trap as before but used a few berries and nuts to bait the trap.
While riding he had come to the conclusion the meat was most likely good to eat as it was made up of two edible creatures. Taking the meat out he bit off a chunk and chewed. Overall it tasted like he'd expect any chicken to taste like. That night he went to sleep feeling well-fed and satisfied with the days proceedings.
The morning light flooded the campsite waking Will from his slumbers. After stretching he grabbed his bow set off to see if he'd caught anything during the night. This time he approaching even more slowly then the last. He really didn't have a clue as what to expect but wanted to be as prepared as possible. He'd placed the trap on the opposite side of a small clearing so he could see anything caught in the trap from the other side. As he gazed across the clearing the first thing he noticed was the rabbit caught in the trap struggling to get out.
Seeing movement in the bushes near the tree Will stopped and sighted wondering what predator might appear this time. A small winged equine was the last thing he was prepared for. He almost loosed the arrow in surprise. Watching the yellow-coated pegasus, for that's what it had to be, fly up to the branch the bunny was dangling from and tug on the rope. He noticed it seemed to be in a state of distress as it tugged on the rope trying to free the bunny. Pegasus or no pegasus he wasn't going to let it take his breakfast. He aimed and sighted carefully he released the string and the arrow flew through the morning air.
Authors Note: My first major cliff-hanger . It really is kind of fun. Don't worry I won't make a habit of it.
The arrow flew true hitting its mark with a solid thunk. The pink maned pegasus toppled over and scrabbled away into the bushes. Will let out a sigh of relief. He wasn't sure if the equine would run or attack and had been hoping for the later. He started to make his way to the bunny but stopped when the bushes erupted.
The pegasus flew out and stared around angrily speaking with a raised voice. The pegasus seemed to be scolding the still unseen archer before it turned around and untied the rope with its teeth. Taking the bunny it flew off towards the east. Will sat there contemplating what had just happened. He'd fired an arrow scaring off the strange pony. Then it came back and reprimanded him. Then it'd processed to somehow untie the rope and proceeded to fly off on wings far to small. He wasn't sure what surprised him more, the equine speaking in a foreign language or scolding him.
He shook himself out of his stupor. It didn't matter, now he had a confirmed direction since the pony could apparently communicate it must have a colony or village of some kind. After collecting the rope he made his way back to his camp.
Packing the rest of the gear up he set out after the yellow pegasus. There where no tracks to follow so he had to hope her flight path stayed constant. He eventually came upon a path in the woods. One way leading east and the other west. Will headed down the eastward trail. Suddenly, there where no more trees ahead. Will stumbled and hurried back into the forest. The trees just ended on one side there where trees and on the other there where none. It was strange to say the least.
Will surveyed the area under the cover of the forest. A little further down the path he saw the most earthy home he'd ever seen. Watching the house he saw many creatures coming and going as they pleased. Entering and exiting through windows all manner of creatures went on their way, many seemed to have built their homes near or even in the house. Will had never seen such an abundance of creatures all in one spot.
As he watched the front door opened and out came the pegasus from before. She sang while she flew around tending and checking in on the animals. Looking down the road he could see the beginning of the most colorful village he'd ever seen. The coloring resembled what you might find in a human village but seemed more vibrant and alive with color.
Trotting through the streets where equines going about the day in the same way a prospering human village would. He'd stumbled upon an entirely new civilization. The archway must have taken him very far away indeed. He debated how to proceed, he had shot at the yellow one she hadn't seen him but she would recognize the arrow. He should avoid if at all possible.
There was an apple farm near the village, but farmers in his experience tend to be more prone to aggression towards strangers. He might be able to steal a few apples if he got hungry. That left the town itself. Just walking into town full of unknown equines probably wasn't the best idea. His best bet would be to wait till dark, enter the town, and look for anything to help him learn about this land and the equines deposition. With a goal in mind he set up his base of operations near enough to the edge of the forest to see anyone coming, but far enough to avoid detection to a casual observer. Someone would have to look hard indeed to find a ranger and his camp.
The night came soon enough and Will crept out of Everfree cloaked in shadows. Sparing a glance towards the sky he marveled at the beauty of the night. The stars gleams like gems in the sky. It would be a perfect night to go undetected. Will entered the town slinking from shadow to shadow. The ranger very much in his element going about the town silent and unseen. He started his search in the from the town square slowing moving in an outward spiral. Some of the buildings he stopped and stared at for a while, he'd never seen such 'interesting' buildings. There was a bakery shaped out of various sweets and baked goods. Another was oval in shape and had structure vaguely like a circus tent with a smaller tent on top.
Eventually he came across a house in a tree with a sign saying public library on it. This was his best bet if he was going to learn anything useful in his midnight walk. There were no lights on in the house. He tried to the door expecting it to be locked, it wasn't. Slipping through the door he found himself in the hollowed out center of the tree. There were shelves and shelves of books. 'perfect this is just what I needed, hopefully they write in the same language as me.'
He was in luck, they did write in the same language. Several books stood out to him and he began collecting a few. "Equestria and Its Neighbors", "Beasts of Everfree", and "A Brief History of Equestria". He reached for the next book, pulled it out and read the cover "Daring Do and The Temple of Huitzilopochtli".
Suddenly lights came on upstairs and a voice yelled "Rainbow Dash I've got you now. Sneaking books away in night cause you think its uncool to be seen checking out a book"
Quickly Will dropped the book, gathered up the three he managed to collect and ran for the door all manner of stealth gone. As he reached the door he heard a voice behind him. "What in Celestia's name... your not Dash, hey wait get back here."
Clearing the door Will to cover in a nearby alley slowing down and muffling his movements. Quietly he crept out of town. He wouldn't be able to go back for awhile, but he got what he came for. Making it back to camp he was greeted by an excited Ebony who pounced and began licking him.
"Hey girl I missed you too, sorry I had to leave you here."
A wicker from Tug told him that he too had missed Will as well. There would be no fire tonight as that would be a dead give away to the now alerted town. The books would have to wait till dawn in order to be read with any legibility. Will fell asleep wondering what exactly he would find out about this equestrian race.
