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lilianaart · 10 days ago

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This rangers apprentice au and headcanons and story clips, were all inspired by this post. Go check it out and support the creator, @your-shining-light

## The Treaty Family

### Less of a fully written out fic and instead a bunch of headcanons!

Setting out the plates for the table. Alyss’s second oldest son, Reggie was talking at the top of his lungs about his day. “So I followed the fat goose. And the stupid bird had stolen the turnip! I couldnt let that slide. I had to get it back-“

Alyss sighed, “Reggie, does this have anything to do with why you came home with a black eye and missing a tooth?”

Her ten year old son stuck his chin proudly in the air as he balanced cups on his way to the table to set them out, “I got the turnip! It might have been bruised, and. A bit smaller than it had been before. But I caught the thief and returned the stolen property.”

Taking a deep breathe through her nose to steady herself through her sons antics, Alyss replied dryly, “Yes. I’m sure Ms. Deliahs rabbit was delighted you returned its dinner.”

Reggie nodded proudly, completely missing the sarcastic tone.

Alyss pulled him to the side before he could go outside and tell his dad and sister that dinner was ready, “Reginald. I know you were trying to do the right thing, and I’m proud of you for that. But please choose your battle wisely. Ms. Deliah has no shortage of rabbit food. And that Goose could have really hurt you.” She winced internally as her son displayed a chipped tooth while smiling at her earnestly. “Well, it could have hurt you even more. You are very strong and smart, but throwing yourself into pointless heroics is not always the solution.” Her voice shifted from earnest concern to a teasing jab, “Your dad is not an example you want to follow.”

Reginald smirked, “Yeah! You always tell me about stories about him doing stupid things because it’s ‘heroic sacrifice’ and ‘necessary’ but he’s actually just being an idiot.”

Alyss nodded, “exactly. You don’t want to be as much of a goof as your dad now do you?”

Reginald smirked, “I like that dad’s goofy. But maybe I could become goofy with less head injuries.”

Alyss burst out laughing, caught off guard by the clever jab at her husband. Reginald was already out the door shouting at Will and Samantha to come inside for food.

Sam bursts in through the door. “Oh my word! I’m so hungry!” She groans, plopping into her seat and thudding her head against the table.

With a smirk, Will entered the cabin after her. “Yes. Well training for five hours straight will do that to you.” He grinned, “you wouldn’t believe the kind of drills Halt would put me through-“ he cut off hiding a knowing smile as both his kids groaned loudly.

Reggie yelled way louder than necessary, “Everyone has heard you stories about grandpa!”

Leaning back from the shouting child, Will grinned, “Maybe so. But you obviously haven’t learned much about the silence drills. I’m fairly certain half of Araluen heard you.”

Her cheek pressed against the tabletop, Samantha turned her head to face Will, “Good thing too. The whole country should know how useless of an apprentice you were.”

Raising an eyebrow, Wills eyes sparked mischievously. “Well, since you obviously can do them so much better. We will be up at dawn tomorrow so you can show me how the silence drills are done.”

Sam rolled her eyes, “You’re so old dad.”

Alyss covered her mouth to hide her laugh as Will threw his hands up in the air in exasperation. “Why am I old? I just suggested we do training tomorrow and suddenly I’m being put in a nursing home?”

Raising an eyebrow at her father, an expression that Alyss had secretly spent weeks teaching her kids to do properly so they could use against their father grandfather whenever the two men earned it. Sam’s voice drawled loud and clear across the cabin. An exaggerated mimicry of Will, “Back in my day when I was an apprentice, we had to walk up hill to school both ways! There wasnt no fancy thing called, Coffee sweetener, we drank it cold and black the way god intended it.” She finished it off with a nod as emphasis.

Will stared at her for a full three seconds then burst out laughing. “You’ve been spending too much time around your uncle Gilan.”

Sam smirked, “He is my mentor. What do you expect?”

Rolling his eyes, Will sat in the chair next to her. Giving her a playful shrug, he winked, “I expect you to respect your elders more.”

Sam snorted, “Yeah right. Respecting elders is for people like grandpa. The man is nearly 80 and can still defeat every soldier in redmont at the same time.”

Nodding sagely, Will had to agree, “Halts an unstoppable force no matter his age. I tell you. The man’s a cryptid. He was forged in the fires of coffee and sarcasm. They say he walked out of the forge his permanent scowl already etched upon his face.”

Alyss’s eyes sparkled with mischief, “is that how it happened? I thought he just appeared from the shadows one day. Fleeing from the realms of angst and emotional constipation. Only to find the curse of his home had already latched onto him.”

Will had been taking a sip of his coffee and snorted, choking on the coffee. He began coughing to get it out of his throat. Sam watched him cough for a moment longer before wacking him on the back of the head.

Miraculously it helped him get the liquid out. He got up to clean up the mess, “What was the attack for?”

Sam stared at him, on a very deadpan voice she said, “Mom told me ages ago men hit each other really hard when they are coughing to help them.”

Smothering a laugh, Alyss finally pulled the pot off the stove. “I meant on the back! Not the head!”

Sam blinked at her for a moment then shrugged, “it worked didnt it?”

Will finished cleaning up the spill, “You’re lucky she didn’t mistake the instructions further and just go for a clean right hook.”

Sam stabbed a green bean with her fork, she replied coolly “I considered it.”

The laughter around the table lasted long into the night. Reflecting, Will never thought his life would turn to this. He didn’t mind much. Being the butt of his kids jokes was worth every second he spent with them.

When she grows up and gets apprentices by Gilan. Gilan comes home to see all the chores done as he had told Sam to do. But she also had dark tattoos all up and down her arms. She gave him a bored stare. You were taking too long. I decided to get a tattoo. The tendril designs twisting up her arms added an eerie contrast to her.

Gilan of course was terrified to show his face at the treaty’s house after that. For good reason. Alyss absolutely let Gilan have it. While he was shrinking back from being scolded mercilessly for half an hour straight. Sam watched from the side with a bored expression and slurping a juice box. Will is standing next to her also watching Alysss wrath rain down on Gilan for letting her daughter get tattoos. Will looks over at Sam. “He did not approve it. Did he?”

Sam shook her head. “He had no idea until it was already done,”

Will nods, “you’re just gonna let Alyss keep scolding him?”

Sam shrugged, “better him than me.”

(Yes I know Alyss is like the calm diplomatic presence. I also headcanon though that as a mother. When her maternal protective instincts kick in. Diplomacy is punted out the window and lethal fury is replacing it.)

Reginald has the brown hair of his dad. Kinda messy with loose curls that are almost more wavy than curly. Unlike his sisters eyes, he’s got a nice blue from his mom. He doesn’t get tattoos like his sister. But he does get a twine necklace. With a green rock on it. He is very protective of the necklace.

Ellie is blonde like her mom. And also has her mom’s blue eyes. She has a woven bracelet that she never takes off.

Oh I can’t stress enough how Horace and Gilan would both be the fun uncles in their own ways.

Horace would spoil them rotten and spend every moment of visiting telling stories of Wills idiotic decisions. I can also imagine Will getting a bit defensive and then the kids get the time of their life as their uncle and Dad have a competition of who can tell the most embarrassing story about the other.

Halt would absolutely spoil his grandkids. And he would deny it every second.

Then Gilan is the fun uncle that live nearby. Since Sam is his apprentice and she trains with him. While he’s tough on Sam as a mentor needs to be. They soon become close friends. Gilan would love Reggie. He would be the uncle that visits While Reggie is a squealing infant and bounce Reggie on his knees While singing silly songs to make Reginald laugh.

While Alyss and Will have ebony (dog) and her pups. The treaty parents insist their kids need to learn to take care of themselves before ether get the responsibility of taking care of a pet.

Despite that, halfway through Sams apprentice ship she gets one of those white Cockatoos. They don’t protest because Sam is more stubborn than a mule when it comes to keeping Max. Gilan already tried to talk her out of the bird. She doesn’t even explain where she got him. Though it’s generally assumed she didn’t buy him from an exotic pet merchant like a normal person. Neither Sam nor Max are normal.

Sam during Sams apprentice ship becomes an excellent archer. even for a ranger. Though it becomes clear that she prefers her sword. She seems to feel more natural with it. While the bow is a tool. A sword is part of her. At least that’s how Gilan explains her progress in training.

She probably has more than a couple legends surrounding her before she gets out of the apprentice ship. Shes not exactly normal, as I said before. She has an odd fascination with dead things, ghost stories, and anything monster related. She never let it get in the way of her apprenticeship. But shes soon banned from telling stories around the campfire during the ranger gatherings. After she told a ghost story that scared all the apprentices into mad panicked scramble for their mentor. She just laughed as they ran away screaming.

(Also many mistake her vibe for goth or emo. Not exactly either. Yes shes kinda a spooky vibes person. But goth implies shes got that “elegant literature vibes” nah. Shes just a teen at heart. A really sassy teen. Emo is what it’s short for “emotional” like she isn’t expressing emotion through all of this. She just likes ghosts) (also don’t kill me and please don’t mock me. Tc-96 has a story about Pokémon found family. One of the kids is a bit like this. Her name is pig, short for pigment. Again, it sounds dumb and silly. But shes easily my favorite character in the story. I based Sam off of her.)

People say that though she isn’t Halts blood granddaughter. She is very much his granddaughter. Her deadpan stare and his are nearly equal levels of terrifying. She glared at anyone and everyone her entire time as an infant, toddler, and child.

The rbf of this child was intense. She didn’t laugh at the normal stuff that babies do. The first time she laughed and actually reached for a “toy” was when Will brought home a ravens skull he had found in the woods. He was busy being scolded by Alyss for setting a dead animals skull on their kitchen table, when both of them stopped in shock at hearing Sam laugh. Both of them looked over to see Sam absolutely enthralled and babbling with laughter while she played with the skull.

Will and Alyss got slightly concerned when she started doodling pictures with crayon that looked like they belonged in a horror story. But she wasn’t in danger. She wasn’t bad. She was different. And they accepted her for that.

Reggie on the other hand… is a little ray of sunshine. Growing up he seemed to struggle finding what he wanted to be for his life. He liked socializing. He liked animals. He liked helping his mom around the house. Cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, mending clothes. It was more than a little relieving for Alyss. Despite loving her husband and children, she’d never been fond of the thought of becoming a housewife. Reggie quickly took over all the chores. upon reaching thirteen he would actually get upset if anyone but him did the chores. Telling them off for putting everything away wrong.

“No, why would you put the brown sugar next to the salt?!?! Are you insane?!”

Alyss at first felt guilty that her son was doing all the housework. But as she realized he genuinely enjoyed it. She took the opportunity to get back into diplomacy, and politics.

Reggie liked doing chores, sure. They helped him feel calm and relaxed. It wasn’t exactly… fun. More like a meditating sort of thing. It helped him clear his mind. And there was something so satisfying about taking a messy area and making it neat! He was still struggling to choose a trade though. Until he visited his Aunt Jennie.

…

Jenny left the kitchen for two minutes. And came back to see Reginald calmly stirring the pot. She was about to scold him for touching her food. (And more importantly her ladle. No one touches Jenny’s ladle.) Reggie doesn’t seem to realize he’s done something wrong yet. And before she can get a word out he looks up at her and smiles, “oh, sorry. The pot was about to boil over. I didn’t want anything to burn.”

This caught Jenny so off guard.

Fast forward a week. He has become her apprentice.

We should probably also mention Reginald never gets a pet. But he’s always been big turtle and tortoise fan. Will offers to get him a pet tortoise at one time. But Reginald declines, he says they are happier out of a terrarium.

He also learns to play a bass recorder. Which many people call a clarinet. Much to Reginald’s annoyance. Will nods solemnly. “I feel your pain,”

And to his delight when he plays it near ponds, the turtle there have learned that means he’s going to give them food. So they learn to come at the sound of the bass recorder.

I don’t doubt when Reginald is nearly done with his apprentice ship. Sam is already a full ranger. Both are shocked to hear Alyss is pregnant again. They are going to have a little sister.

Ellie is very shy. She hides behind her parents watching people with wide eyes. Even her uncles and aunts who come around often. She doesn’t ever let approach. She watches from a distance. Silent.

Her blonde hair falls in her face, shielding her slightly.

The only people other than her parents and siblings that she is comfortable around is Halt and Pauline. Ellie is still a bit shy around Pauline. But she loves Halt. Much to his dismay she will climb up on lap without asking for permission. And fall asleep against his chest. The first time she did this he stared at her for along moment then looked at Pauline. “What do i do?”

One time she actually gets really excited when Halt casually hands her a book she liked. He said she could keep it. He didn’t think much of the gift. Until Ellie immediately climbed onto his lap and kissed his cheek. And give him a tight hug. Will was trying so hard not to burst out laughing. Halts face looked like a deer caught in a beam of light. Wide terrified. He immediately covers up the expression the moment Ellie lets go and climbed down. He determinedly pretends that the last ten minutes hadn’t occurred at all. He hadn’t given Ellie the book. She hadn’t kissed his cheek or hugged him tight. And he definitely hadn’t been terrified.

After Ellie is nearly five and still won’t talk. Will and Alyss are getting really concerned. They take her to Malcolm. He quickly deduces that Ellie is mute. Will and Alyss are shocked. And immediately set to work studying sign language and teaching her signs.

Oh also Ellie gets a pet frog at some point in her childhood, it sits on her head and judges everyone While Ellie hides her nose in a book,

Alyss first childbirth. Yes. Will would definitely faint While seeing Alyss go through labor. Then when he wakes up and sees his child for the first time. Bro faints again. While Halt just stands off to the side and sees Will fainting and is just like. 🤦 \*sigh\*

Alyss smirks at her husband who was still recovering, “by the way, thanks for the support during childbirth. Your moral support was very inspiring, passed out on the floor like that.”

Okay, that’s all the headcanons that my silly little brain can come up with for now.

Halt was heading over to Wills cabin, to pick up Ellie. Will had had to leave suddenly for an emergency. Alyss was already on a trip far away. Reggie is busy in his apprenticeship and Sam and Gilan are also on a mission. So now Halt had to pick up Ellie and bring her to his and Pauline’s room in redmont keep. He sighed to himself in annoyance,grumbling under his breath about being a retired warrior not a babysitter. But his heart wasnt in it. No. His heart cared too much about all the treaty’s. And a part of him that he would never admit existed, was looking forward to spending the day with Ellie. Pauline had once called him out for enjoying caring for Ellie while Alyss and Will were busy. Halt had grumbled, “well shes a lot less rowdy than you lot.”

Halts eyes snapped to the front door of the cabin as he came into the clearing, something was wrong. Ellie had been left alone despite being only five. Will and Alyss wouldn’t normally do it. But Will had to leave in a hurry to deal with the danger in the next town over. Ellie is smart enough and shy enough to not leave the house. Halt quickened his pace. Striding into the cabin he cast a glance around the cabin. “Ellie.” He didn’t raise his voice very loud. Ellie spooked easily. A quick look into each room told Halt that Ellie was not in the cabin. He rushed outside to start looking for her tracks. But as he cast a glance over the clearing his eyes landed on Ellie picking her way out of the forest silent as always. She looked up at him with wide eyes.

Halt rushed forward and grabbed her hand, not roughly, but tightly enough to let her now he was concerned. “You can’t go exploring the woods without supervision. You could have been hurt.”

Ellie nodded. Still silent. Halt sighed, he’d learned sign language a long time ago. He was a bit rusty now but could get by. “Ellie come on. Let’s go inside and you can tell me why you went into the woods.”

He started back towards the cabin. Gently tugging her hand forward with him. But she resisted. He let go immediately and looked back surprised. Ellie stared at him for a long quiet moment. Then she took a few small steps forward. And took Halts fingers in her small hand and tugged him toward the forest. Tiny, but insistent.

Letting Ellie guide him, Halt sucked in a breath as he realized where she was leading him. There was a bunny. Young. Lying on its side with a broken leg. Ellie looked up at him. Her bottom lip trembling. Blue eyes pleading. Halt knelt next to the small animal. Normally Halt hunts and kills rabbits for food on missions. But it was obvious this was important to Ellie. Taking off his cloak he gently shifted the bunny onto the fabric. He winced. He couldn’t leave Ellie or the bunny to get medical supplies. Normally he would much rather splint the leg before moving it. But right now he didn’t have an option. Cradling the small animal in his arms, Padded by the cloak, Ellie and him made their way back to the cabin. Where Halt set the bunny’s leg with a splint and bandage. Ellie watched quietly. Sucking on her thumb. Will and Alyss were still trying to get her to drop that habit. The bunny twitched and its eyes opened a bit, nose twitching. Ellie moved to the sink, unbidden. Grabbing a bowl she filled it with water and set it gently next to the bunny. The bunny shifted closer and drank. Halt nodded in approval at her. “Alright. When it’s done drinking all three of us or going back to the keep. Pauline’s probably already worried we aren’t back yet. We will keep the bunny safe.”

Nodding, thumb still in her mouth, Ellie watched Halt with wide trusting eyes.

A week later Ellie walked quietly to the edge of the forest with Halt. Halt had waited until the usual weekly date night that Alyss and Will have. On those nights, Pauline and Halt take Ellie. Halt had come to pick her up a bit early, surprising Will. Ellie hopper down from the porch in her usual white and blue dress, walked up to Halt with her usual unhurried calm gait, and took his fingers in her tiny hand. Ready to go. He led her down the road. When they were out of sight of the cabin Halt led Ellie off the road. She looked curious but didn’t protest.

He pulled out a small box with holes in it for air that he’d hidden off the side of the road just before getting Ellie. While he knew a box with holes wasnt the kindest place to keep an animal. He didn’t have many options on hand. He knelt down and got ready to release the bunny. “We’ve got to let them go. They need to be free.” He opens the box and the rabbit hops out. Its nose twitches and ears perk. It seems to be orienting itself and checking for danger. After a moment it scampers off into the forest, disappearing into the undergrowth. Halt stood up with the box in hand. looking down at Ellie, he realizes that for a child this young it might be heartbreaking to have to let the bunny go. But as she turns to look at him. There are no tears. Her eyes locked onto him. A little sad yes, but a deep unshakeable trust filled them. Halt swallowed. He realized how deep this trust went now. In her mind it didn’t matter what happened, if Halt was here, she trusted that everything was going to be okay.

He reached down and picked her up, settling her on his hip. She nestled her head into his shoulder, breathing growing steadier. Silently, he vowed would not betray that trust.

#rangers apprentice #halt o'carrick #rangers apprentice story #ranger's apprentice #will treaty #gilan davidson #horace altman #alyss mainwaring #pauline dulacy #crowley meratyn #I know Crowley doesnt show up in this post #but let’s be honest #it’s only a matter of time until he gets some headcanons in this au

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lilianaart · 11 days ago

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Yeah! That’s totally fair! 😁

I’ve got plenty of half idea stories and headcanons. O have like an even or two written out… and then was like, yup I’m satisfied. I know I can always come back to the ideas, but im not afraid to leave them alone for now.

And despite all the craziness in my life lately? Your story really inspired me. I couldnt stop writing these headcanons. My brain was going wild and having so much fun exploring the concepts and personalities.

So even if you never come back to the concept, that’s alright! While we’d love to see more of the story, forcing yourself to right more isnt the best idea. Let the inspiration come naturally.

You probably already know this as an author. 😅 I guess I just wanted to mention it just in case.

Also you totally made my day today. My plans for today was take a break from college for once and watch tv. But then I saw your prompt, I felt so inspired and energetic! I started writing out ideas immediately. So thanks! Your writing is really good! And it made my day 1000 times better.

Ranger Gathering 2025 - Day 27: Gift

The Greatest Gift

Will couldn’t be more glad to finally see his cabin after the long day he just had. The sun hadn’t even risen yet when he kissed a sleepy Alyss goodbye, and now the waning moon was already well on its way through the night sky. Tug raced the last metres to their home, just as happy to be back as his rider was. When Will dismounted, the front door opened to reveal his wife, already dressed in her nightgown. A beaming grin split Will’s face, and he rushed to embrace her. ‘I’ve missed you,’ he mumbled against her smiling lips.

Alyss chuckled. ‘Me too.’ She playfully ruffled his hair. ‘Now hurry up and get inside, before the food turns cold.’

Will saluted. ‘As you wish, my lady.’ He removed Tug’s saddle, and then lead the horse to its stable, where he gave him a good brush-through. Before going inside, where his warm meal was waiting, he made sure his friend had enough food and water, and treated Tug with a juicy apple. ‘That’s for the good work you did today.’ Will smiled as he affectionately patted his horse on the back.

You didn’t do too bad either.

‘Thanks, I guess,’ Will chuckled. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’ He left the stable and hurried inside, his stomach growling.

After Will was done washing their dirty plates, Alyss gestured him to sit down on their couch. He wrapped his arms around her as he snuggled up against her.

‘I’ve got something to tell you,’ his wife said.

‘Is it something good or bad?’

Alyss smiled. ‘Good. I think.’

‘Well go on then.’

Her hand slipped into his, and she lingered for a moment, her gaze faltering and fixating on their interlocked fingers. When she looked up at him again, a shine covered the stormy gray of her eyes. ‘I think I’m pregnant,’ she whispered.

A good few seconds, Will couldn’t bring out anything sensible, his mind stuck on what they had thought would be impossible. ‘That’s good, right?’ he eventually managed to bring out.

Alyss smiled, although there were some tears trickling down her face. ‘It is. It’s good.’ She laughed through a sob. ‘I’m so happy.’

‘Oh gods, this is amazing!’ Will laughed as he hugged her tightly. ‘It took long enough,’ he whispered, his voice breaking somewhere in the middle.

‘Yeah, it did.’ Alyss shook a little. ‘But I’m a little scared.’

‘Of course you are,’ Will said as he planted a kiss on her head. ‘I’m fucking terrified.’

A choked laugh escaped Alyss’ lips. ‘Happily terrified.’

‘Yeah, indeed. Happily terrified.’

‘You’re going to be a great dad.’

‘And you’ll be an amazing mom.’

‘I’m sorry for telling you this now, after you had such a long day. But I had to tell you.’

‘Don’t be sorry. This is the best thing that could've happened to me.’

‘To me too.’

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lilianaart · 11 days ago

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Thanks 😆 it was so fun to write!!!! I may or may not have gone a bit for though, I couldn’t help but explore the idea further. I have like a couple paragraphs of listed headcanons for this au.

Sam = white hair. (She was just born that way) pale skin. The most disorienting though was her eyes being a lilac shade. Sometimes the lighting makes them look more like deep endless Violet.

Sam shook her head. “He had no idea until it was already done,”

Will nods, “you’re just gonna let Alyss keep scolding him?”

Sam shrugged, “better him than me.”

Ellie is blonde like her mom. And also has her mom’s blue eyes. She has a woven bracelet that she never takes off.

Oh I can’t stress enough how Horace and Gilan would both be the fun uncles in their own ways.

Halt would absolutely spoil his grandkids. And he would deny it every second.

While Alyss and Will have ebony (dog) and her pups. The treaty parents insist their kids need to learn to take care of themselves before ether get the responsibility of taking care of a pet.

Despite that, halfway through Sams apprentice ship she gets one of those white Cockatoos. They don’t protest because Sam is more stubborn than a mule when it comes to keeping Max. Gilan already tried to talk her out of the bird. She doesn’t even explain where she got him. Though it’s generally assumed she didn’t but him from an exotic pet merchant like a normal person. Neither Sam nor Max are normal.

“No, why would you put the brown sugar next to the salt?!?! Are you insane?!”

Alyss at first felt guilty that her son was doing all the housework. But as she realized he genuinely enjoyed it. She took the opportunity to get back into diplomacy, and politics.

…

This caught Jenny so off guard.

Fast forward a week. He has become her apprentice.

He also learns to play a bass recorder. Which many people call a clarinet. Much to Reginald’s annoyance. Will nods solemnly. “I feel your pain,”

And to his delight when he plays it near ponds, the turtle there have learned that means he’s going to give them food. So they learn to come at the sound of the bass recorder.

I don’t doubt when Reginald is nearly done with his apprentice ship. Sam is already a full ranger. Both are shocked to hear Alyss is pregnant again. They are going to have a little sister.

Ellie is very shy. She hides behind her parents watching people with wide eyes. Even her uncles and aunts who come around often. She doesn’t ever let approach. She watches from a distance. Silent.

Her blonde hair falls in her face, shielding her slightly.

Oh also Ellie gets a pet frog at some point in her childhood, it sits on her head and judges everyone While Ellie hides her nose in a book,

Okay, that’s all the headcanons that my silly little brain can come up with for now.

Thoughts?

Ranger Gathering 2025 - Day 27: Gift

The Greatest Gift

Alyss chuckled. ‘Me too.’ She playfully ruffled his hair. ‘Now hurry up and get inside, before the food turns cold.’

You didn’t do too bad either.

‘Thanks, I guess,’ Will chuckled. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’ He left the stable and hurried inside, his stomach growling.

After Will was done washing their dirty plates, Alyss gestured him to sit down on their couch. He wrapped his arms around her as he snuggled up against her.

‘I’ve got something to tell you,’ his wife said.

‘Is it something good or bad?’

Alyss smiled. ‘Good. I think.’

‘Well go on then.’

A good few seconds, Will couldn’t bring out anything sensible, his mind stuck on what they had thought would be impossible. ‘That’s good, right?’ he eventually managed to bring out.

Alyss smiled, although there were some tears trickling down her face. ‘It is. It’s good.’ She laughed through a sob. ‘I’m so happy.’

‘Oh gods, this is amazing!’ Will laughed as he hugged her tightly. ‘It took long enough,’ he whispered, his voice breaking somewhere in the middle.

‘Yeah, it did.’ Alyss shook a little. ‘But I’m a little scared.’

‘Of course you are,’ Will said as he planted a kiss on her head. ‘I’m fucking terrified.’

A choked laugh escaped Alyss’ lips. ‘Happily terrified.’

‘Yeah, indeed. Happily terrified.’

‘You’re going to be a great dad.’

‘And you’ll be an amazing mom.’

‘I’m sorry for telling you this now, after you had such a long day. But I had to tell you.’

‘Don’t be sorry. This is the best thing that could've happened to me.’

‘To me too.’

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lilianaart · 11 days ago

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Alyss sighed, “Reggie, does this have anything to do with why you came home with a black eye and missing a tooth?”

Taking a deep breathe through her nose to steady herself through her sons antics, Alyss replied dryly, “Yes. I’m sure Ms. Deliahs rabbit was delighted you returned its dinner.”

Reggie nodded proudly, completely missing the sarcastic tone.

Alyss pulled him to the side before he could go outside and tell his dad and sister that dinner was ready, “Reginald. I know you were trying to do the right thing, and I’m proud of you for that. But please choose your battle wisely. Ms. Delish has no shortage of rabbit food. And that Goose could have really hurt you.” She winced internally as her son displayed a chipped tooth while smiling at her earnestly. “Well, it could have hurt you even more. You are very strong and smart, but throwing yourself into pointless heroics is not always the solution.” Her voice shifted from earnest concern to a teasing jab, “Your dad is not an example you want to follow.”