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Death knew the man before him well. He had seen him many times over many years, always passing by him while accompanying another person to their afterlife. Death watched silent and unseen as the elderly ranger reached down and patted the black and white dog that lay beside him. Death had watched this man grow up, a unique and uncommon occurrence for the one normally working with the dead. The man sat back against the seat, sighing contently. He glanced up at Death, and for a moment, Death thought he could see him. But that was impossible. No one could see him unless they were dead, and the man was very much alive.“Hello, old friend” The man greeted, a soft smile on his face. Death shook his head. Of course, this man could see him. He ghosted closer, surveying the old ranger. Grey hair and beard, though Death knew they used to be brown. His brown eyes still held a spark of humor, as if he knew a joke no one else did. His face was weathered from a lifetime of being outside, with wrinkles that spoke of years of laughter.“Hello, Will” Death replied, returning the man’s smile.“Sit with me?” Will offered, gesturing to the chair beside him. Death quirked an eyebrow but sat down, nonetheless.“I’ve been waiting for you.” Will offered, gaze centered on the trees just beyond the porch. Death nodded. Most rangers, if they weren't lost in battle, spent long years waiting for Him. Most of them weren’t as aware of Him as Will was though. Will continued, never looking away from the trees.“I was always aware of you. Even as a child. Then as an adult, I saw you often, on battlefields and missions. I always knew you’d come for me one day. To be honest, I thought it would be a lot earlier. After all, I was 15 the first time I met you.”“No, Will.” Death’s voice was gentle. “You were much younger than 15.” At this, Will finally looked at Death, looking at him without flinching, a look of confusion on his face.“You were just an infant when I took your mother. You were there and I knew there was something special about you. You looked at me and you saw me. Will, very few people in my millennia of work have seen me. I’m glad the other man was there, otherwise I would have taken you too. It wasn’t your time but I’d rather you have the mercy of a swift end, than slowly starve to death.”“Halt. “Will said softly, a ghost of a smile on his face. “That was Halt. He was my mentor and the closest thing to a father I had in this life”“ Halt was one of the ones I hated to take. He had more time than he should have, but I just couldn’t bear to rip him from this world. I gave him more stolen moments than I should have and it still didn’t feel like enough time. I hated to take him from you, to take another father from you. ““His death rocked me to my core,” Will admitted. “ I had known him since I was 15, and even all those years weren’t enough. We talked often, in the last days, of our first days. He finally told me how scared he was when I faced that boar. “Will’s voice softened. “That boar. I still wish I had been braver when I faced the boar. “Death shook his head.“ Will, you were a child. A child who faced terrible things and kept your humanity about you. That is worth more to anyone who matters than how brave you were. And you had plenty of bravery- I don’t know anyone else who could have handled the things you did without losing your spark. ““I did lose it.” Will murmured, eyes returning to the forest. “When Alyss died... I lost everything. “There was no bitterness in his voice, just acceptance and pain. “When she died, I wanted to join her. I wanted to go into the forest, and let the moss reclaim my body, and let the trees take my breath. “Will took a ragged breath, eyes misty as he thought of the time at once eons ago and also yesterday.“I know Will.” Death’s voice was low, his pale face somber.” I don’t write your story- I just come when your time is up. But Fate played a cruel trick on you and for that, I am sorry. I wish I could have given you more time together. Just as I wish I could have given Horace and Cassandra more time together. ““Horace and Cassandra,” Will whispered with a pained smile. “At least they went together. “Death nodded.“It was the final kindness I could give them. “He explained.“Cassandra kept me alive in Skandia.” Will offered.” Skandia.” He chuckled lowly. “I saw you everywhere in Skandia.” Death nodded, thinking of the thousands of souls he had helped cross in Skandia.“The Skandian slave yards under Ragnar kept me very busy indeed. So many souls in need of assistance, so much pain that I often had to choose to cut their time short, just to save them suffering. And you, Will. You were there, slipping closer and closer to me every day. I longed to take you away from that and was also desperate to keep your soul connected to your body. You were a conundrum, always intertwined with the soul I was there for. I was glad when I saw you leaving Skandia.” Will agreed silently.“I didn’t think I was going to leave Skandia alive” Will admitted. “I knew Halt would come for me, I never doubted that, but I thought I’d be dead by the time he found us.“ Death shook his head, surveying the man in front of him.“ Halt would have died before leaving you there.” That was all Death could say. Will nodded, knowing that Death spoke the truth.Silence reined over the cabin, broken only by a songbird. Will’s eyes took in his cabin, the place that had been home for him for most of his life. The woods he had spent so many hours in, training first with Halt and then with Horace. The small lean that had held so many horses, each sharing the same name. The path leading to the Village, worn from years of use. The cabin itself that held the echoes of laughter. Will sighed as he stood up. He glanced back at Death, still seated on the chair.“What comes next?” Will asked softly. Death smiled.“Well now, that depends on what you believe. I am just the messenger, where you end up depends on you. “Will was silent for a moment more before he said “ I believe I’ll end up wherever Halt is” Death smiled. He stood up and slowly made his way down the steps of the cabin. He turned to look back at Will, who was gazing at the cabin again.“Do you need more time?” Death asked softly, understanding. Will glanced at him before moving to stand beside him.“No. I’ve had plenty of time. I’m ready to go. Ready to see Halt and Alyss. Just saying goodbye.” Death nodded leading the way to where he had come out, a small tree with twisted branches forming a doorway between this world and wherever Will Treaty was headed. Will stopped directly in front of the tree, glancing back at Death on last time.“Thank you, old friend” Was all he said. Taking a deep breath, he stepped through the doorway and vanished from sight.“ Goodbye, Will Treaty. May your rest be long and your journey peaceful” Death whispered, closing the doorway with nothing more than a thought. He turned his back on the little cabin nestled in the woods, and like he had so many times before moved on to the next transfer, but his thoughts remained steadfastly on the man who he had spent so much time with throughout his life. Will blinked as the light that had blinded him faded. Halt’s cabin was just as he had left it, smoke curling from the chimney, the smell of coffee in the air. A figure lifted his head as Will approached.“Hello Will. Halt said with a smile