Maddie, Will, Willy and Jesper ran lightly through the forest, making sure they didn't leave an obvious trail. The excitement of finally being able to leave the camp made Willy giddy as he ran behind his grandfather. Since MJ had not returned, Erak refused to allow anyone out of the camp unless permitted, but he was currently meeting with suppliers with Emmy, or so Willy was told. Will jumped on the oppertunity and rounded up the other three, having Halt stay behind to cover for them if Erak returned before they did.

"Isn't this going behind the Oberjarls back?" Willy asked.

"What Erak doesn't know won't kill him." Jesper smirked. Willy bit his lip.

"How many times have you used that on mam?" Willy asked. Jesper smiled.

"Loads of times." He said simply.

"Shush. We're coming up on the camp." Will said. Jesper and Willy quieted down and followed the two rangers as they knelt down, hiding in the cover of a bushel that was near the Arridan camp.

"That a lot of Arridans." Will mumbled under his breath. The others nodded in agreement.

"How are we suppose to find MJ in that crowd without being seen?" Willy asked.

"Found him." Maddie said, spotting MJ in the distance. She pointed out to Willy where she saw his brother, limp and tied to a stake.

"He looks awful." Willy noted.

"And covered in blood." Will added dully.

"How are we suppose to get to him? He's in the centre of the camp." Maddie asked Will.

"We fetch him tonight. Jackson will be to lazy to put out sentries, He knows we wouldn't dare attack." Will said.

***

They took shifts watching while the others prepared for that night. After night fell, The soliders slowly faded into their tents. A few occasionally lingering, but they were usually drunk. Will gestured to Willy.

"You and I will go fetch him. Jesper and Maddie, keep on look out." Will said. They all nodded and Willy followed his grandfather as they eased into the camp. They ran into no trouble on the way to where MJ sat with his eyes closed. Will knelt down next to his former apprentice and cut the ropes at his wrists using his Saxe. MJ fell to the ground and let out a groan, that was muffled as Willy slapped his hand over his brothers mouth. MJ's eyes flicked open and lit up with joy as he saw his brother and grandfather.

"Help me lift him up." Willy whispered to Will. They each grabbed one of his arms and hoisted him up. MJ hissed in pain as he put even the slightest pressure on his leg. He held it up in agony and shook his head at his brother.

"It hasn't been treated well enough. We must get you back to Edvin quick, otherwise you could loose that leg." Will said. MJ went pale as he said the words and nodded. Willy and Will supported almost all of his weight as they made their way towards the tree line, which somehow meant slight comfort. MJ grimaced the whole way even though he hardly put any pressure on it. Once they reached the spot where Jesper and Maddie watched, the four of them prepared to leave, but MJ shook his head.

"I can't leave without Aarah." He said. Jesper looked at his son questioningly.

"Aarah?"

"She's a slave here. Jackson doesn't treat her well either." He said.

"I'll go get her. Which tent?" Willy said.

"That one over there." MJ said pointing out the ten he knew Aarah slept in. Willy shrugged MJ's weight off to Jesper, and lightly ran to the tent that was very small. He didn't bother knocking on the post. He pushed his way into the small tent and knelt down next to the girl. He placed a hand over her mouth to wake her in a way in which she couldn't scream.

"Come with me." He said quietly.

"Who are you?" She hissed.

"I'm MJ's brother. And we're getting you and him out of here." He said. He took her hand and helped her stand. She grabbed her brown cloak and wrapped it around her shoulders before following Willy out of her tent.

***

"Where is Gorlogs toenails are they?!?" Erak demanded from the gruff ranger. Halt folded his arms and his lips drew into a thin line.

"I already told you, they said they were headed out to get more fresh water." Halt said.

"That was six hours ago!" Emmy exclaimed. She was worried something had happened to them, or more specifically, Willy.

"Must be a lot of water." Halt stated with a straight face.

"I honestly don't believe you, Halt." Erak said. Halt held a hand over his heart and gasped in disbelief.

"I am telling the truth! If they aren't fetching water, that's like saying you weren't meeting with suppliers." Halt said triumphantly. Emmy and Erak both glared at him.

"You just admitted that you know they aren't fetching water!" Erak said. Emmy rolled her eyes and elbowed her uncle.

"And you just admitted we weren't meeting with suppliers." She said dully. Erak's face dropped and turned back into a glare.

"Well in my defends, Emmy's mother scares me!" He said clutching to his battle axe. Halt smirked and made a head gesture to where the whole camp could see the rescue party returning.

"Fetching water? That's the best excuse you could come up with?" Will scoffed as he supported MJ.

"I'm retired! I don't have to cover for you anymore."Halt said folding his arms again.

"MJ!" They could all hear Abby scream. She ran to them and Willy stopped her right before she hugged him.

"You can hug him later, Mam. If Edvin doesn't take care of his leg soon, we'll all be in trouble." Willy said. Abby nodded and ran into the cabin to prepare one of the cots. Jesper and Will followed, almost carrying MJ. Once they disappeared behind the door, Emmy hugged Willy tightly.

"Suppliers, eh?" Willy teased.

"I'd personally much rather meet with suppliers. But fetching water, Eh?" She nudged him.

"What if water was a code word for MJ?" Willy said.

"We all know it's not." Emmy turned to Aarah and smiled.

"Hello, I'm Emmy." She said holding out her hand. Aarah stared at Emmy's hand curiously.

"Aarah." She said, touching her two fingers from her brow, to mouth, then back to her brow. Emmy rose an eyebrow at the gesture.

"That's the greeting in Arrida." Her uncles voice explained.

"Oh, sorry, I'm not familiar with your culture." She said to Aarah. "So are you from the camp?" Aarah nodded.

"I was a servant. Though I was treated more like a slave. MJ promised to free me as well after my master beat me." She said casually. Erak, Willy, and Emmy all stared at her in horror, but all shrugged it off.

While the commotion outside was happening, Lynn sat up in her bed as Abby came running in and set up a cot suddenly.

"Was someone hurt?" Lynn asked. Abby nodded. She was about to say who when Will and Jesper came into the room, holding up MJ, who was ready to fall unconscious. Lynn stared in surprise as they laid her master down on the cot and Edvin went to work right away, patching up all of MJ's wounds. MJ mumbled something under his breath and Edvin leaned down to hear the young ranger whisper in his ear. He nodded and then continued to clean the blood off of MJ. MJ slowly slipped unconscious while Edvin worked.

***

Yay! MJ's back! I thought it was time for him to come home. What do you all think? Hope you liked it. Please comment and vote!

~Avis