With a second-hand bow and quiver on her back and an old but seldom used machete at her hip, Ash had arrived at the plaza. She wasn't even sure that she would ever see the others again. Maybe they found others, maybe they quit, maybe they trained for different amounts of time. They didn't keep in touch during the training. They didn't even make an agreement to meet up once they were all done. All Ash could do was wait for the others. In her lonesome wait, she began to reminisce about her week of training.

[hr]
Training to become a ranger was, for lack of a better word, vague. Throughout the week, she learned about a variety of subjects. Outdoorsmanship and combat were the two main focuses, combat more so. Throughout the days, she learned how to fire a bow, how to fight with a machete, knowledge of common plants and animals, shelter building, firestarting, cooking, butchering, and anything a hunter would need to know. There was so much to learn in only a week, so Ash only received a basic understanding of these concepts. Rahere had also taught Ash an invaluable skill, Predator's Gaze, to enter a trance that allowed her to find and follow tracks with greater ease. 

The first two days were hell. For half of each day, she ran. Uphill, thick vegetation, and the looming threat of predators forced her to push herself. The first day was standard; she jogged into the night, came back, and managed to sleep while her legs ached and blisters formed. Compared to the second day, the first day was baby's first jog. She had to do the exact same run, but with an extra 80 pounds on her back. She managed to complete the run, however.

The third day was more about learning experiences. The runs were toned back to make room for more learning. She learned how to butcher a deer. It was a gross and bizarre experience, but Ash managed to follow the lesson plans. While she had taken it slow, she still managed to overcome the bizarre sickness of slicing through the carcass. She didn't vomit once. She did gag and heave constantly, though.

The fourth day was a day of retribution. Punished for her previous days cardio training, the blisters on her feet popped with pus and blood. Mosquito bites punished her for resting outside. Everything hurt and was bloody. Rahere, her mentor, taught her some natural remedies. Nothing complicated, but enough to soothe the bloody, disgusting mess that was Ash's feet.

The fifth day was a massive boost of confidence for Ash. Being a hunter finally clicked. She understood how to move through the woods and her bow training shifted from the dreaded wooden dummy to the legendary non-threatening birds and deers. The discomfort of living off the land subsided, making her more used to the outdoors than she ever was. She even managed to find a cool spring to relax in, take a cold bath, and wash her clothes. 

The sixth day was humbling. While traveling up the mountainside alone, Ash had stumbled across a bear. The two noticed each other at the same time, and Ash ran away. The bear ran after her. Despite having 200 pounds on Ash, the bear was almost twice as fast. It mauled Ash. As she fell into unconsciousness, a silver wolf leaped from the woods and tore at the bear's nose.

The seventh day was bizarre. She woke up in the church with anemia. Rahere was with her and told her about the their patron god. Kur-Inuus, the wolf that watched over life and death. It was tradition to leave an extra meal whenever one was out in the woods at night. He also went over some more general knowledge without enthusiasm. Throughout this day, Ash couldn't help but feel terrible. Not at her anemia, but almost dying from something as simple as a bear. If they were to hunt monsters, what chance did Ash have if she couldn't even escape from a bear?

[hr]
Her recap was cut short when she finally saw her party. Ash joined them and thought about making some conversation. She didn't, however. There was a time and place to have a conversation with others. But now was the time to finally leave the safety of the city. Plus, Ash's nerves were pretty much fried ever since she was mauled by a bear.