Halt woke to the sound of drumming hooves. That was to be expected, he was at a ranch after all. Groaning softly as he got up from were he slept, he noticed that Daniels blanket were piled in a heap and no where to be seen.

Odd, he thought, I normally have to drag him out of bed. Now standing, Halt clipped his cloak on as he looked around the small place for his apprentice. Frowning since he was nowhere to be found, Halt went outside to see Abelard and Rain groomed, tacked, ready to go. Since they don't have to be tied into place like regular horses, they were grazing on the lush green grass around them.

Walking over to Abelard, Halt scratched the horse behind his ears while Abelard gently butted his shoulder. Looking over to Rain he noticed that Daniel wasn't by her side either. "You wouldn't happen to know were my apprentice went do you?" he asked his horse.

Abelard did the best a horse could do at raising an eyebrow, What is it with you and loosing your apprentices all the time? Halt glared at him, "Will's been gone for almost over 15 years and he still has people answering questions with questions," he sighed, "Just tell me where he is." I'm a horse, how should I know?

"If yer lookin' for yer apprentice Ranger Halt, ye should come here and see 'im for yer self," called Young Bob from the side of the stable. Giving a quick pat on Abelard neck, Halt left the two horses and made his way to the side of the stable. When he rounded the corner, the sight that met his eye's was enough to make him suck in a quick breath of shock to silent for anyone to here. A grey horse was trotting around a secluded paddock with a young boy with unsuppressed energy astride him as they made their way to the three older men. Memories of the first time he had seen something like this flooded his mind against his will, but to shocked to fight them back. It was Tug riding around the paddock almost like his old self with his master on his back.

Only Tug was now scarred and had white around his muzzle, and it wasn't Will riding him, but Daniel who had blonde hair. And Will was dead.

Trotting up to them, Daniel stopped Tug only a few paces away from him and dismounted, looking at his teacher expectantly. "Morning Halt, are we leaving?" Halt nodded, "I want to be back at the cabin before night giving you time to cook dinner." Daniel made a pained face before his face lit up. "Is it okay if I take care of Tug first before we go?" Halt nodded as he stroked Tugs muzzle. "Be quick about it." he murmured.

"I will, common Tug," he called as he gently tugged on Tugs reigns and led him to the small barn. Halt watched him go and felt a prickling sensation at his eyes. He's so much like his father that it hurts to be around him sometimes. A ghost of a smile touched his lips, Will would be proud.

If only he knew.

•So not a long chapter here, but hey it's an update am I right? Of course I am so don't answer that. Anyway the next chapter is when things start to get serious...

I hope your ready 😈

~SO•