Hey everybody!!! I wrote really fast in an hour long writing frenzy to bring you this!! The second chapter of this fanfiction!! Now enjoy and don't forget to R&R!!!!

        I finally opened my eyes when I regained feeling in my limbs and heard birds chirping, but suddenly closed them again. I had a pounding headache that made the rest of my body feel heavy like lead. As my eyes adjusted to the light, I saw blurry figures standing over me and heard meaningless chatter. I must be in a hospital I thought but as soon as I had that thought I discarded it because I didn’t seem to be in a bed, or even on a mattress for that matter. I wonder how I got here, I can’t remember…then suddenly memories came flooding back: the book, the wind, Sophie. Sophie! I shot straight up and instantly regretted it as my head’s pounding became more insistent.

            “Ugh.” I managed to say as I struggled to get up and find Sophie.

            “She’s awake!” I heard a young voice shout, breaking in excitement, and then felt pressure on my chest as someone pushed me back down.

            “Lie down, you need rest” I heard a gruff voice say. But, I was not to be deterred. “Sophie,” I managed weakly.

            “Your friend is safe, a little shaken up but safe nonetheless” The voice said soothingly, but I had to see for myself. In an attempt to see if she was maybe in the same room as I was I opened my eyes and gasped at what I saw. Three faces swum into my vision and at first I was overwhelmed by the prospect of it.

            “Will, Halt, Gilan!” I gasped eventually after several seconds of stunned silence.

            As usual, Will was the first to ask the obvious question, “How do you know who we are?” I looked at him and saw those same brown eyes wide in shock again that I remembered seeing when I saw that first flash of light. I again went to rise only to be stopped by Halt’s hand.

            “You need rest.” He repeated firmly, “You’re injured.” Halt then gestured to my head. As I felt it, I realized there were bandages and winced as I touched them.

            “Ow.” I said, but quickly forgot my injury as I looked back over the three of them, in their molted cloaks and with the ever present coffee cup in each ones hand.

             Just then Sophie ran into the tent, “I heard you guys talking is Ab- ABBEY!” She shouted the last part and I winced at how loud she had said my name. My head was still pretty sensitive. Sophie noticed and immediately apologized.

            “Sorry ‘bout that.” She said grinning, and then glanced back over her shoulder at the three rangers watching the proceedings with interest, before turning her gaze back to me.

            “Isn’t it amazing?!” She said, quieter this time, “I told them what happened, well Halt and Gilan that is, and they said we could come with them as they can’t just leave us here, and they have to keep tracking down the Kalkara! They said our archery skills could come in handy if we got into a fight and because you’re injured…” Sophie spoke so rapidly, I doubt the rangers understood a word she said, heck even I had a bit of trouble deciphering her words. Then, once again, she flashed that maniac grin back at me.

            “They do seem a bit doubtful of our story but I proved it well enough, I should think. Look.” Then she opened her mouth and pointed to her braces, which had bands of rainbow color on them, not to mention the wires going across her mouth. I smiled at the thought of the rangers even comprehending why there would be pieces of metal in someone’s mouth. They probably thought it was some kind of torture device, not something to be cheerful about as Sophie had undoubtedly been when showing off her braces.

             “Well that is one way to prove it,” I said grinning. Then I thought for a second, “Wait why doesn’t Will know too?”

            She shrugged, “I think Halt said something along the lines of “never wanting to have to repeat 2 sides of a story to him without getting buried under an avalanche of questions”.”

            I smiled at that, it was just like Halt to not want to deal with Will’s endless questions twice. Then another thought occurred to me and I voiced it to the rangers standing behind Sophie that looked like they were about to leave, “Halt, I’ve been thinking-“

            “Always a dangerous pastime.” He replied. I shook my head; I probably should have seen that coming.

            “Whatever. Anyways, how long have I been out? Where did you find us? How did I get hurt in the first place?” I was wondering that if they had found us any time before the gathering ground we would be taken to one of the neighboring fiefs.

            “Now you’re starting to sound like Will,” Halt growled.

            I raised my hands palms out in a gesture of innocence, “I just got transported to a make-believe land, hundreds of years in the past, where I’m meeting the three people I’ve always wanted to meet with all my heart for years. You should be glad there are only three questions.”

            He nodded his head in acknowledgement, “Fine, four hours, a day after we left the gathering grounds, and you fell 10 meters in front of us on the path we were traveling and you hit your head on a log.

            At first I was nonplussed for two reasons. One, because Halt had just answered all my questions. And two, because I was trying to make sense of what he had said. Then as I finally comprehended what Halt had said I nodded.

            “How long till we move out?” I questioned. I knew we couldn’t sit here for days waiting for my head to heal. They were tracking the Kalkara and they needed to move out now.

            “We’ll make camp here for the rest of the day so you can recover your strength and move out tomorrow,” Halt replied. I nodded thoughtfully, it sounded like a good idea. Letting the wound heal now would prevent any further unnecessary stops later on. Then another thought occurred to me. I knew everything that was going to happen to these people, from Will getting captured by Skandians at the bridge, to stopping Arisaka in later years from taking the throne. The only problem is that if one thing happened differently then, for all I know everything else could spiral out of control.

            “Did you happen to find a book with us when we landed?” I asked casually, not wanting to let them know how much we knew, unless Sophie had already told them.

            “No. Why? Is it something you really need? Should there have been a book? Was it stolen?” Will asked in rapid fire. Now I understood why Halt got annoyed sometimes with Will’s endless questions.

            “Do you ever manage to ask just one question at a time? Or does it always have to be multiple choice with you?” I questioned cheekily. Will looked nonplussed for a second.

            “Do I do that? Are you sure?” He asked, and I started laughing.

            “Never change Will, never change,” I managed while smiling at him. He looked confused for a second but eventually smiled a little ruefully back at me. I heard Halt cough behind me,

            “When you two are quite done, Will you should go practice your archery and knife throwing, and you Abbey,” He then pointed his finger at me, “should get some rest. We have a long day of riding ahead of us and if you impede your healing time tomorrow’s going to be one hell of a ride.” I heard Will draw breath, about to protest but Halt stopped him by holding up his hand.

            “She needs her rest. She will tell you the story tomorrow over breakfast,” He explained gruffly. Will nodded glumly and gave me a small smile before heading out to the archery range.

            “I’ll be leaving you to get some rest.” Halt said. I smiled at him before settling down under the blanket,

            “Thanks Halt.” I said sleepily. He hesitated a second before nodding gruffly and heading out. My brain took a moment to process everything before I drifted into a deep sleep. Ranger’s Apprentice, how ‘bout that I thought drowsily.

        This time I should be updating in a week because school is starting up in a couple of days. Keep on sneaking (its really unseen movement) and I will see you all later. BYE!!!!!!!!!!!!!