As the ship docked at bearclaw, the remaining villagers stopped their search and gathered around to meet the famous Will Treaty, his master Halt, and the Princess Madelyn. The thick crowd was suddely pushed through as Abby came running through, with Jesper in tow. Will stumbled back a little at the impact of his daughter hugging him. He chuckled for a moment before she pulled back.

"Nice to see you well, Ab." He said kissing her forehead.

"Nice to see you to dad." She grinned. Will looked around before turning to Erak, who had joined the crowd.

"Alright, so where do we start?"

***

Hal was put in charge of designating jobs to each of the villages so no one was left out. He set a few men out to unload and sort the supplies that Araulen sent them from Willy's ship. Halt and Maddie were to make sure everything was going ship shape for the time being. Hal had Willy's crew on clean up duty, so his nephew led his crew off to rake up rubble and clear out the sights so they could start to rebuild the houses. Will on the other hand, went straight up to the cabin, a place that was refuge to him when he was younger as well. It took a while before he finally reached the hunting cabin. A few children still lingured around the cabin, playing in the grass and wresting with each other. Will knocked on the door and then opened it to reveal MJ, who was sitting in a chair next to Lynn, who was unconscious on a small makeshift bed for the wounded. MJ stood when his former master entered.

"How she doing?" Will asked.

"Has a little colour back to her cheeks." MJ said with a little hope.

"Good. She'll be up in no time, Mik." Will said smiling.

MJ was about to say something when a young boy ran up behind them.

"Arridans! In the village!" He said before dashing out. MJ grabbed his cloak and his bow, and the two of them weren't far behind the boy.

When they weren't far from the bottom of the hill, they could hear shouting, so they quickened their pace. MJ readied his bow as the village came into sight. An Arridan solider was kneeling in front of Willy with his arms bound, and Willy had his sword to the mans neck.

"Let me through!" Erak yelled at the crowd. They dashed to the sides to avoid Erak's battle ax as he made his way towards Willy. Willy stepped back slightly, allowing the man to see the huge burly Oberjarl. Most would shrink back at the sight, but not the Arridan. What confused most of them, was that he smiled.

"Where are the rest of your people?" Erak bellowed. MJ and Will stepped forward.

"Would you like me to handle this, Erak?" Will asked. Erak glared at him for undermining his authority, but he still nodded and stepped back. Will dropped down in the sand next to the man, so only he could hear what he had to say.

"The Skandians are already gone." The man smirked. Will eyed him curiously.

"Really? I see them standing all around me." Will said.

"You are already dead too. Arridans come in the night, kill your women and children." The man grinned. Will stared at him for a few moments.

"I won't allow that to happen. These people are protected." Will said defensively. The man grinned once again.

"Already happening. No way to stop. Arridans come out of trees, slaughter the people." he laughed. Will seemed to be going no where with him, He was tempted to just kill the man, but someone beat him too it. He saw out of the corner of his eye, Halt raise and lower his bow. He heard a familiar twang of the long bow, and a long arrow appeared in the centre of the man's chest. Will turned around and glared at Halt.

"Was that nessisary?" Will asked his former master.

"He was annoying me." Halt said dully. Will rolled his eyes and stood.

"Well, I got one thing out of him. The Arridans are still here. They've been waiting in the forest for us. They're going to pick us off, one by one." Will said. He turned to the crowd. "Watch your children carefully. No more going out after dark."

"Will, last I checked, you weren't Oberjarl." Erak said. He turned also to the crowd.

"You heard the man! No going after dark. We meet back at the cabin at six sharp!" He announced to the crowd. Will rolled his eyes in disbelief at his old friend. The crowd broke away and went back to their jobs. Maddie and Halt joined Will and MJ as the last of the crowd left.

"What do you make of it? Are we at war?" Maddie asked her former master. Will looked at each of them, landing his gaze on MJ.

"Yes. Things haven't been the same in Arrida ever since Selethen was killed in battle. Their new Wakir Jackson seemed like he would do something like this." Will said. He was suddenly cut off at the sound of wailing. They all turned towards the source. The crowd had now gathered around a little spot near the forest. They ran over there just as Willy and Hal were joining them as well. Three women were kneeling over three little bodies, that were blood stained. Willy noted his aunt Lydia crying, with tears streaming down her cheeks. She ran over to Hal.

"I can't find Evangeline. She was playing over here with her friends, but she gone now." She sobbed. Hal took her in his arms, comforting her as he gave Willy a wide eyed look. Willy shook his head slightly. He ran over to where the rangers stood.

"Mik! Evangeline is gone!" He said to his brother. MJ went pale.

"Are you sure?" He asked. Halt answered him before Willy got to it.

"Oh, he's sure." Halt said pointing to the edge of the forest, where there were footprints pressed into the soft sand. It was a party of about five, that came and left, with one new pair of foot prints following them out, a child's foot prints. Willy and MJ stared in horror.

"Our cousin has been taken by Arridans." MJ said.

***

Finally! Some action! I was excited to get all the rangers that wa love, minus Gilan, to Skandia. And now Evangeline has been taken! Hope you liked it! Comment and vote please!

~Avis