This Is the Day That We Die

October woke up to blaring sirens and people shouting. She jumped out of bed and pulled on her red uniform faster than a man could swing his blade. She ran down the hall with her sword drawn and burst into the prince's throne room. He was sitting there in his chair shouting commands. October went to her knee and bowed her head.

"Sir, what has happened?" She asked.

"Our men. They have all been killed by the forest."

"I do not believe it." She said, even though it wasn't hard to believe.

"I understand that you were close with a soldier named Damien. Is this true?"

"Yes sir. I knew him." she said, letting her voice show no emotion.

"He was part of that group. I'm sorry." He had walked down to her and held his arms outstretched, thinking she'd start crying and run into his arms. But she stood up and looked him in the face.

"Their deaths were a hard blow to this country. I am not sorry that they died, but that we still are at the bottom. We are going to all be killed if we don't get better soldiers, Sir. And more. Have you started to train the children that I brought in, Sir?"

"No, October. They are only 7! You expect me to put them through that type of training?"

"I went through it, and ten times worse. They will live."

"I can't do that. It's not right."

"You have become soft." She said and turned to leave.

"Wait! I have a job for you."

"Yes, Sir?"

"I need you to travel to a camp in the Forest. I need to know the weaknesses of their soldiers. Undercover, of course."

"Of course, Sir" She bowed and walked out.

Luke

"You really hate me don't you?" I asked with a forced grin as I once more held out my arm and scrunched up my face. This time, the hot, harsh metal set the other medicine burning anew and I screamed out in such pain that the sound of running feet announced the arrival of a small group of soldiers.

"What's going on in here?" General Samark demanded.

"Hold still," Amanta murmured, ignoring him in an attempt to concentrate. Upon seeing the it was only Amanta treating one of her patients, the general fell silent and hovered at one side, waving his men away.

"Is it done?" I asked when Amanta finally removed the hot iron.

"The bleeding's stopped. That's a good sign," Amanta replied, her brows knitted in worry.

"Does General Cronan know you have one of his men? He's planning a joint mission soon with my squad."

"Already?" Amanta demanded. "What about the seriously wounded?"

"They're staying here which is why we need the two squads and every man we can get. Send him down to the military camp when you're done."

"He's seriously wounded," Amanta objected.

"He is? It just looks like a little cut to me."

"Blood poisoning," Amanta explained, "Very serious."

"Oh? What say you soldier. Ready for some more fun?" I managed a small smile and nodded my head.

"Good on you," The general grinned, crossing the room and patting me on the shoulder. Fortunately, the uninjured one. Then he left us in peace and I prepared myself for Amanta's explosion.

Amanta remained silent for a while, a vindictive silence because she knew Luke would be waiting for her to explode all the reasons he shouldn't go. But she didn't say anything yet.

At last (to Luke's relief) she spoke, her tone was forced calm, "if you are going back out there I'm going with you."

His turn to explode, "no way!"

Amanta glared at him, "theres a good chance this will open again, and there is so much I could do actually on the battle feild than here. So many more lives I could save." She had her arguement worked out, all she had to do was convince the general and Luke to let her go. Luke was going to be the problem.

Luke

"There are too few nurses. If we lose even one and one as good as you, we'll lose the war," I exclaimed, searching for reasons why she couldn't go.

"That's ridiculous!" Amanta protested. "And you know it."

"Well, you're not trained."

"I wouldn't be fighting...yet," The last word was added as a whisper that I only just caught but it caused my heart to skip a beat. The problem was that I knew she was right.

"Amanta..."

"I'm going." I spent a long time staring deep into her beautiful, blue eyes and for a moment I was back there, on that battle field.

"Get out of here!" Caleb shouted above the clash of steel on steel.

"Not without you," I screamed back, kneeling down so I could get my arm under his back and lift him from the ground. This action brought my face to his and he smiled that grimace of a smile and his blue eyes flashed with a bitter merriment.

"For once you're wrong Luke. You are going back and it will be without me. Look after Amanta for me and take care..."

"I was right," I murmured to myself, remembering how I had stumbled into camp with my barely conscious best friend slung over my shoulder.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Amanta demanded, pulling me back to the present.

"You can come," I replied. "But you stay back behind the archers. Let's go."

Amanta repressed a squeal of delight as she went with Luke to the lines.

"Promise you're going to stay behind the archers," Luke said in a stern voice.

Amanta rolled her eyes, "unless absoloutly necessary, I will stay behind the archers, I promise."

"I will hold you to that."

"You will come get me if somebody is hurt right? Like..." she swallowed, "Caleb was?"

Delita walked down the hall way to the throne room, his red cap swaying as he moved. Pushing open the large golden double doors he entered and walked up to the queen, "You wished to see me?"

"Hey, show the queen some respect!" Yelled her body guard.

Delita disappeared into a dark cloud of smoke and reappeared behind the man with his sword drawn pressed against his neck, "Shall we test the sharpness of this blade."

"Enough of this Delita!" Barked the Queen.

He looked at the man who was sweating and trembling, "He's not even worth it." Putting his blade away he walked in front of the queen, "Tell me what you wanted to say, because I'd much like to leave."

"I understand you have no liking to me, but your country needs you Delita."

"Is that so."

"Yes, war is almost upon us and we need to make the first strike."

"Well that's something new."

"Let me finish! All of the countries are at war with each other and we need allies. Go to the forest and see if anyone will aid our cause. Do the same in the other two. That is your mission."

"I wont be your errand boy, find someone else to do it."

"Delita you selfish son of a.."

But, there's nothing else to do, so I'll take the job." He walked out closing the doors behind him leaving the Queen furious at him as always.

Luke

I froze, stunned that her mind had been following the same track but then why wouldn't it? He was her brother afterall and she probably had more right to him than I ever had.

"I did the best I could," I mumbled, casting my eyes to the floor.

"Oh gosh, I wasn't saying... I mean... I know you did everything but I wish I'd been there sooner," Amanta sniffed softly and a tear trailed down her face, coming to rest upon her trembling lips.

"Come here," I drew her closer to me and gave her a friednly hug that was well worth the pain. "Now come on, the war waits for no one."

They parted, Luke to the front lines and Amanta to behind the archers. Although she felt safe, she was also bored. A rush of guilt went through her system and she redied her supplies, just to have something to do with her hands.

**Thats all I can think of sorry**

That's fine =)

Luke

I carried my bow up to the front to have a word with general Cronan.

"Ah, our hero of the day. What is it Luke?" General Cronan asked in a friendly tone.

"How are Gavin, Roger and Travis sir?" I queried first, feeling a lump build up in my throat but General Cronan grinned and replied that they were "Fine, my lad. Just fine. Why's the lady with us?"

"Amanta wants to help the soldiers on the battle field if that's okay with you, sir."

"Fine, fine. You keep an eye on her though. We can't afford to lose a healer you know."

"Yes sir," I agreed and headed back to take my place with the archers on what would probably be at least half a day's march.

Amanta wasn't sure where she was supposed to walk so she just walked behind carrying her stuff.

"Hello Amanta," General Cronan said.

"Oh, hello general."

"So, Luke tells me you're tagging along?"

Amanta nodded curtly, "yes, there is much more use for a healer on the battle feild than in the camp."

"I understand, just, look after yourself okay? We cannot afford to lose a healer."

"Don't worry about me, General, you have more important things to think about. I assure you, I will be fine. I promised Luke that I am going to stay behind the archers unless I'm needed."

Luke

After a short conversation with Amanta, General Cronan nodded happily and went to ride alongside General Samark. After a few minutes, it seemed foolish for Amanta to march at the back of the archers so I called her over and we talked on our way to the enemy camp. It must have been four hours later when General Samark called for a halt.

"About an hours march from here is one of the Mountain people's offensive squads. They were planning on sneaking up on one of our villages but we uncovered their plan but we must approach quietly. They have us outnumbered but soon they will be sleeping so we'll take out their sentries and as many men as possible before they know what hit them. Is that clear, soldiers?" General Samark hissed and, after a chorus of nods, we resumed our march but we slipped stealthily through the forest with not a sound and the archers moved closer to the front, ready to take out the sentries.

Delita sat a top a tree watching a banned of forest soldier march on into the dark. With a smile on his face he thought of how to approuch.

(Got nothing)

(Where is Elvin-Madian???)

After talking to Kenran, Aren ran through the woods. She watched as a group of forest people walked by probably going to battle. SHe saw a man sitting up in a tree and she quietly walked up behind him.

"See anything interesting from up there?" She asked, he suddenly disappeard in a cloud of dust and she felt a sword to the back of her neck. 'Not good'.

"Weren't you ever told not to sneak up on people?" He demaned.

"Once or twice, never really sutied me. I normally sneak up on people, but I've never had them act like that." She said, 'They usually beg for mercy,' she thought. "Can you please get your sword off my neck, I don't like the feel of it."


*Hope that helps ya Piepie*

*I'm here; my computer was down yesterday.*

Kenran pursed his lips and bent closer to his carving, carefully sliding his blade in a small arc to shape the eyes. He wanted it to be just right.

FInally he put down his knife and his project, rubbing his eyes. If he continued to work on this by only candlelight, he'd go blind. With and idle sigh, he stood up and walked out of the tent, wanting nothing else then to get out of camp.

Silver

"Delita" Silver whispered in his ear.
Delita looked back very quickly, and saw his childhood enemy, Silver.
"Why are you here, and how did I not notice you?"asked impatiently.
"Woah, enough with the attitude, partner." Silver said with a mockingly sly smile.