"Son of a bitch!!" Screamed a Soldier as he threw his helmet into the dirt.
"Hey, take it easy Clark." Another urged as Clark slumped into a seated posture on a tree stump with elbows resting on his knees and hands dangling lifelessly between them.
"It's hopeless. Why are we even fighting for this spit of dirt anyway? We should be fighting for the whole damn country!" Clark mumbled.
The other soldier gave him a nudge.
"Hey, don't talk like that. We've lost a few skirmishes. But overall this area is still out of enemy hands. And we're almost ready to-"
"To fucking tuck our tails between our legs and run away to Lenmea, while those pigs continue to strip our homeland of all her dignity like some kind of rapist in an alley!"
"Clark, seriously. Just-"
Clark shot up from the tree stump.
"Don't you fucking tell me to calm down Ian! I won't calm down! Not this time!!"
Clark and Ian were face to face, neither backing down, before a small pair of hands pushed between them and managed to nudge them away from each other.
"Clark! Please!"
Clark glared down at the young woman who forced herself between him and Ian with a snarl.
"Sei'rina! Zip it! Every time we fight we lose more of our territory! By the week's end we won't have any left! And this piece of shit wants me to just calm down?! Fuck no!!"
"Going to Lenmea is supposed to give us a chance to regroup and fight back, Clark. Please have patience. The country will-"
Sei'rina gasped as Clark raised a hand to slap her, but was quickly tackled to the ground by Ian who growled at him about the very notion of slapping Sei'rina who was only trying to help. The two continued to scuffle in the dirt before they were pulled apart by other soldiers in the resistance who managed to overpower them and yank them free. Forced to sit down, the pair were reprimanded by one of the leaders of their group while Sei'rina caught her breath after the fright of Clark threatening her with violence. And just then, a hand appeared on her shoulder which caused her to jump with a tiny, soft yip.
"Woah. Sei'rina. Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."
Oh, Bertran. I'm glad to see you're all right. She said with a light bow.
"Yeah. Made it through another one. I got lucky." He said while pointing to his armor which now bore a large crack at the left shoulder area.
Oh my goodness! Did the weapon break through?!
"Yeah. Hurt like a son of a bitch. But Rhas managed to Heal me before any permanent damage was done."
Oh, thank the Goddess. She said softly with a hand over her heart.
"Thanks Rhas. Without him I'd definitely be crippled for life and wouldn't be able to fight anymore."
Of course. Rhas is our best Healer. So-
"Is Sei'rina singing my praises again?" Came another voice behind her.
A young man in Priest robes stepped into view and put a hand on Sei'rina's shoulder.
"I may be the one with the most experience, but I'm hardly our best healer Sei'rina. You give me way too much credit."
Sei'rina shook her head with a smile.
In just the last month you've taught me so much, though! And all the other Healers look to you for guidance too. How can we not call you 'the best'?
Rhas chuckled.
"Well, we all have a role ordained by the Goddess. Mine is to Heal. Nothing more. I don't need to be called 'the best' anything to do my job and fulfill the Goddess's good will."
Sei'rina chuckled.
"Oh, crap. Hey, c'mon you two. Looks like the Caravan's gearing up to move again since we still have some daylight."
Sei'rina and Rhas both nodded, but Rhas went ahead with Bertran while Sei'rina looked back to where Clark and Ian had just been allowed to stand and walk their separate ways. She couldn't help but sigh. Clark was always such a nice young man before the war started. Cheerful. Optimistic. But once the war started and his family's Inn was torched to the ground he changed in ways she'd never seen a person change before.
Honestly, it frightened her.
Gripping her Bloom Festival Staff tightly, she took a deep breath before walking South as the Caravan began moving again.
Their destination was about another day's walk down the South roads towards the border. A small town was there. But they were aiming for the forest just beside it to avoid being seen while they navigated the brush and woodlands to a newly built shack where a Scout would give them a new map of the area with the safest route. If they could make it to the border, they'd be home free. Gurein, violent and aggressive as it was, had already conquered the capitol city and slain their beloved Royal Family. King Rhamos and Queen Daea. And the Prince and Princess. All confirmed Slain.
Even if they managed to take their country back, there was no one in a position to lay claim to the throne. A new Royal Family would have to be chosen. And only the Goddess knew what that process would be like and how long it would take Zaerma to recover from what Gurein's invasion had done to it.
But the Goddess knew all, and Sei'rina had every faith their path would be revealed in time. They just had to survive.
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