So You Want to be a Ranger 2

The man who spoke turned around, and Lycosia was caught by the brilliant blue of his eyes.

"I said...you want to be a Ranger?"

Boldly Lycosia stared him in the eyes, "I am already a Ranger. I need to be a better Ranger."

"Impertinent. What do you know of being a Ranger?"

"I know of the history of the animals and the land of Amylore. I have studied how the the lands are changing outside the wall...and inside."

The tall man narrowed his eyes.

"So you know."

"I know of the rumors. I have not seen the horrors for myself, but I am dedicated to eradicating them."

The man grasped her shoulder firmly. Lycosia was surprised that the stalker lay down silently, even indolently.

"Then here is your chance Lycosia. Oh, don't look startled. I know every ranger in this kingdom. Now, I want you to go to the Fort on the road. Before you leave I will teach you several spells. On your way to the Fort I want you to use your bow and these spells, to clear the road...of these."

From a bag tied to a tree, the man pulled a tiny light brown scorpion, holding it carefully by the tail. Lycosia looked confused.

"You wish me to kill scorpions? All of them?"

Orwell looked at her and smiled. "Oh don't worry. There aren't that many, and this one is just a baby. You won't have to find them...They'll find you." he dropped the scorpion on the ground and Lycosia had to blink her eyes as it literally vanished in front of her eyes.

"Where..where did it go?"

"Here..look you can see its trail in the sand."

Orwell pointed out the trail, which was a light depression in the sand leading to a small hump a few feet away.

"They travel just beneath the surface, but don't worry, they surface all too quickly. When you can rid the road of all of them, then you will be a Ranger."

Lycosia swallowed heavily, wondering what she was about to get into. The spells were easy. Who had time to learn complicated spells while trying to shoot something?

"Don't forget to ask your friend to get out there first Lycosia. He's fast and agile. He can draw enemies away from you so you will not have any problem getting a sight on them."

Orwell had turned back to his vigil on the hilltop as Lycosia turned away. The stalker followed, huffing softly. When she had left Orwell peeked back at the retreating tail of the animal.

"I would love to know how she did it old friend. How did she get YOU to agree to accompany her?"

There was a very creepy silence through the rocky pass to the Fort. Lycosia was very nervous. She picked up a stone and tossed it into the path. The ground in front of her shivered and she saw the form of not a small scorpion, but an eight foot long monster with four claws lash its way through the ground and stare at her. It's gaze was baleful. Her arms fell numb, her throat dried up and she backed away. Only the large form of the stalker behind her stopped her movement. He growled.

"I'm not going in there! That's not a challenge that's SUICIDE!"

In response, the stalker snarled and dodged forward, slapping the monster before darting away. Now the air filled with sounds of clacking and clicking. Lycosia fumbled trying to get an arrow on the string of her bow. A yelp from the stalker as his tender tail was nipped by a claw sent her into action. An arrow lodged in the scorpions eye and it flung itself back and forth in agony. Another arrow sent it to the ground.

Lycosia breathed a huge sigh of relief, but the air had not stilled. The clacking had not stopped.

Dozens of pairs of eyes now stared at her, and more shook the dust from their shelled backsides...lots more.