"They're preparing for another strike." Will pointed out to Willy as they crouched down in the underbrush near the Arridan campsite. Off in the distance, the men were strapping on armour and polishing their swords. This was a new platoon, so none of them had faced the horrors of the Skandians.

"Let's head back to camp and prepare Horaces troops." Will said. Willy followed his grandfather as they slipped away from the camp. When they reached the refugee camp, people were mulling around while Hoarces soldiers wandered about, looking for something to do.

"Prepare your men, Hoarce. The second platoon is headed our way." Will announced to his best friend.  Horace nodded and left to pass on the message.

"What's going on?" Lynn asked as she limped out of the cabin with the assistance of Emmy.

"Another strike is coming." Willy told them. "Jackson won't be with them this time." Emmy's eyes lit up and she grinned at the two others.

"What is it?" Willy asked warily.

"What if while the platoon is here, we sneak off and into the Arridan camp? We can attack from behind." She said.

"That won't work." Aarah said as she exited the cabin, joining the three of them. "You'll still have two platoons to fight in the camp. Even if you get into the camp, you won't have enough men to defend yourselves." She points out.

"Well what if we create a diversion and draw them out? If we can get in and kill Jackson, this whole brouhaha might end." Willy said.

"How will you create a diversion big enough to draw away two platoons from the camp?" Lynn asked smartly.

"A fire, obviously." He scoffed. Emmy rose an eyebrow.

"You plan on lighting the rest of Hallasholms remaining forest on fire? You do realize how idiotic that sounds, right?" Emmy smirked. Willy glared at her.

"Well do you have a better plan?"

"Yes, I do actually."

***

"No, no, no. Absolutely not." Halt said as the four youth explained their plan of diversion.

"Why not? We'll have Maddie with us! We'll be fine!" Willy pleaded.

"Can you imagine your mother going along with this madness? You plan on literally running through enemy camp, attempting to draw them out. There is no tact at all laced with this plan." Halt tried to reason with them.

"I see no problem with it." Maddie said boredly. She had her back pressed to a tree as she listened to them, picking at her teeth with her throwing knife.

"Maddie, you haven't been a ranger long. You wouldn't know." Halt scoffed. She glared at him, pushing away from the tree and standing next to Willy.

"Excuse me. I am a full fleged ranger. I have plenty of experience to know how to storm a camp." She said in disbelief.

"You're father won't like this either." Halt said. She smirked at him.

"My father approves." She said smartly, folding her arms. Halt was beginning to look desperate for a reason for them not to go.

"Your mother will kill you." He said turning to Willy.

"If there's something my father taught me, it's that what my mother doesn't know won't hurt her."

"You're unbelievable." Halt mumbled, scratching his peppered beard. "Fine! But if you all get caught, it's you're own fault. Don't say I didn't warn you."

***

   They all headed back into the cabin after speaking with Halt. Maddie accompanied them back, and she sat down on the edge of MJ's bed.

"Does your father really approve?" Lynn asked her.

"Of course not! He doesn't need to know. What he doesn't know won't hurt him." She smirked, quoting Willy from sleep few minutes earlier.

"Anyway, MJ and Lynn are staying here. Sorry, but you'll only slow us down." Willy said. MJ and his apprentice looked disappointed but saw his logic.

"I'll stay behind and look after them. I can make sure no one finds out you're missing as well." Aarah offered.

"No, Aarah, we'll need as much help as we can get. You'll come with us. Tristan has offered to make sure we aren't caught since he has been assigned to help with Horaces army, and can't leave." Willy said. Lynn, Aarah, Emmy, and MJ all shared a look, one that Maddie and Willy couldn't comprehend.

"No, Willy, let Aarah stay back. She has had enough trauma with the enemy camp for a life time." MJ said carefully. Willy rose an eyebrow, glancing at Aarah, who had discreetly placed a hand over her pregnant belly. There was no way for her to fight and keep her baby safe.

"Are you sure, Aarah? We sure could use the help." Willy said. Aarah nodded.

"I'm sorry, Willy. It's just to painful." She said sadly. Willy nodded as well.

"No problem. I'm the one who should apologize, I forgot about your past." He shifted uncomfortably. An awkward lull hung over the cabin until Emmy broke it by standing up and clapping her hands together.

"Well then! Let's get out of here before Halt spreads the word!"

***

Okay, I know this is crap, and I'm a horrible person for making you all wait so long! Please forgive me! It's been extremely hectic the past two months, and I haven't had anytime to really write. And on top of that I had the worst writers block. This is simply a filler chapter, since I figured you all have waited long enough for something. I don't know how long it's been, and frankly I'm scared to even ask. Anyway, please comment and vote on my crap! Love you all!

~Avis