Author's Note: Hi everyone! This is the first fanfiction I have been brave enough to post, I hope you like it. :) I am open to constructive criticism, so please review if you have a suggestion/correction to make, or if you just want to say you like it. Thanks!

Disclaimer: I own nothing in this story, not even the kitten (she's Halt's). I write purely because I love writing and I get nothing but my own enjoyment (and hopefully that of others) from it.

An owl hooted outside; a long, mournful noise that made being inside feel safe and warm. The candle flickered and Will watched the shadows it cast about his room. He had been in bed for some time now, but sleep eluded him. His drooped at last and he smiled slightly in anticipation of restful slumber.

Thump.

Will's eyes shot open at the sudden quiet sound, but he made no other movement, not yet. He waited, holding his breath in order to catch the smallest noise. Another thump came, as soft as the first and followed by a low chuckle. It was coming through the wall from Halt's bedroom.

Will had been apprenticed to the grim-faced Ranger for a couple of weeks already, but the boy was still a little frightened of him. He slipped out of bed at the third thump and crept across the floor and out to Halt's door. He hesitated a moment, imagining Halt's possible wrath if he was found eavesdropping. Then curiosity overcame fear and he opened the door a crack, peeping into the dimly lit room.

His eyes opened wide in amazement as he saw the cause of the thumps and chuckles. Halt was sitting cross legged on the floor, tossing a sock around and dragging it on the floor. A tortoiseshell kitten, no more than eight weeks old, was stalking and playfully murdering the woollen sock. Every now and again she would grasp it between her tiny paws and roll over, scrabbling at it with her back feet and making Halt laugh, very quietly.

The kitten lay on her back and gazed at the Ranger, one forepaw batting vacantly at the air above her and the other clutching the sock to her chest. Halt stroked the paw between his thumb and forefinger and whispered to her, a smile in his voice.

"Little toe-beans," he said softly, his finger touching each of her toe pads in turn. "That's what Caitlyn used to call them, you know. Little toe-beans."

Will heard the bittersweet tone his mentor used as he spoke the name and wondered who she was, this Caitlyn. His nose twitched and he realised in horror that we was going to sneeze. He pinched his nose and held his breath, desperately trying to subdue the explosion. Despite his efforts, a small sound escaped and all three froze; boy, cat and Ranger.

Halt's hand flicked suddenly, the sock spun through the air and struck Will's face. He yelped in fright and dashed for the cover of his own room, slipping on the wooden floor and scrambling on hands and knees. The kitten had dived under Halt's bed when Will yelped and now she cautiously re-emgerged, mewing reproachfully at the Ranger. The corner of his mouth tilted upwards and he rubbed her head affectionately.

"Don't worry," Halt murmured. "I think our secret is safe with him."