Okay, so this is really just a filler chapter because I need something to tie it together.

Also I said I would post yesterday but I ended up not being able to. It's short but I hope to make up for it by posting again tonight. May God bless you always.

Constructive criticism welcome.

Helmer awoke abruptly, sitting up he rubbed his eyes and looked around. The small room had six bunks occupied by William Shanks, Kenith Daggler, Snoden, and Carl. However Wilfreds bunk was empty. Helmer slid off his bed and grabbing his sword he snuck out the door, holding his breath, afraid he would wake the others. Once he was outside he let out a sigh of relief and looked around. The sun rose steadily above the small bunk house and the trees swayed in the gusts of wind. A buck could be seen training not far from a large pine tree. Helmer walked over to him and yawned as he stabbed his weapon into the tree causing Wilfred to jump and spin around, eyes wild. “Oh,” He breathed, rolling his eyes “Of course, it's just you.”

“Who’d you think it was gonna be?”

“Oh I don’t know, maybe a wolf!”

Helmer shook his head in disbelief. He could not understand how Wilfred could be so anxious on his first day. He wondered in that moment if Wilfred had not been fully prepared to come to the army either, and unlike himself had been unable to let the thought go. He shook himself meantally and looked back at Wilfred who was now strutting to the archery range. He started to jog toward him but a loud gong sounded and he stopped in his tracks turning around. Harlen walked through a large gate at the end of the field, followed by another buck who was banging loudly on a metal plate. “Wake! Wake, I say for today is a new day!” He cried, throwing his hands in the air enthusiastically. “Follow me, you are now Seers like myself, We see the future of our enemies, and protect this kingdom from harm.”

Helmer ran over and stood next to Snoden who had just exited the cabin. He was accompanied with the other bucks, all of whom looked upset at being woken. Harlen set off, taking the gong and banging it as they walked. They arrived in a court yard where many training stations were lined next to each other. However only one of them was Helmer excited for. An average tree stood in the center, it had ropes and sharp objects hanging from it, some of which looked like birds of prey. “Now,” said Harlen “Every morning you will be assigned different stations where you will train for three hours, you will take a break, then be assigned to a different station. Understood?”

“Yes, sir!” they said in unison. He nodded. They stood waiting for him to assign their stations. He looked at them in confusion. “Oh, right.” he said a dawning look replacing his confused one. He looked at each of them in turn as if studying them. He turned to Helmer and Helmer flinched. “Okay, Longtreader and Black, you two can do archery. White and Shanks, tree. Daggler and Steel, there's a training obstacle course through those trees. You're dismissed to your stations.” Helmer turned and walked quickly to the small archery range. He grabbed a bow that hung on a small rack and knocked an arrow, hoping to impress Harlen and possibly get on his good list. He turned to see Wilfred rushing toward him a grin on his face, but Harlen was nowhere to be seen. “Where’d the Lieutenant go?” he asked, aiming at the target. “Oh, he left. Just got a note saying he was needed, we’re supposed to keep training.”

“Ok.” Helmer responded, slightly disappointed.

They trained for a while pausing only to take a drink. Wilfred challenged him to some friendly competition, and they poked fun of eachother. Helmer was just about to mention how it was just luck that Wilfred had won, when they heard a yell. “What the- ?” Wilfred exclaimed spinning. “I don’t know!” Helmer replied painiking when the yells didn’t subside. “C’mon!” Wilfred said charging for the forest. They ran through the brush, slicing long branches out of the way. What Helmer saw made a furnace of anger bubble inside of him. Carl was on the ground, jaw bleeding, and he looked as though he had been attacked. Above him stood the buck known as Daggler, an evil snarl on his face. “What’s going on here?” asked Wilfred, stepping closer. Carl whimpered. “You think it’s funny does ya?” said Daggler, a slight lisp in his speech. “You think it’s funny anymore?” The buck shook his head trying to scramble away. He got to his feet, and Daggler swung his arm out, hitting the buck to the ground. “That’s it.” Helmer said striding forward. He grabbed the short grey buck by his collar and pinned him against a nearby tree. “You don’t pick on other soldiers. I’m going to tell Lieutenant Harlen, and you will be leaving this unit.” Daggler snarled. Helmer let him fall to the ground, feeling slightly better. He helped Wilfred get the buck to his feet again. “Thanks.” Carl said rubbing his head as they walked away. “I jus be’d laughed at some fing, cause a thought he were kidden’”

“Horrible buck.” Helmer muttered “He ought to be expelled.” Wilfred nodded. “Don’t worry Helm, It’ll be just in the end, when we tell Harlen.” They walked on in silence until they made it back to the archery range. Snoden and William were waiting for them. “What happe-” started Sno his eyes wide. He was cut off by a loud bang. Harlen had returned and all four of them rushed toward him, forgetting Carl. “Sir! We heard screams and,”

“They left and we didn’t know what to do,”

“Daggler, he-”

“And on the ground!”

“Quiet!” Harlen yelled his weary face confused again. “Steel, come with me.” he said. They spun to see Carl, hand raised, as if asking a question. A blush rose to his cheeks but he followed Harlen all the same. Infuriated Helmer stomped away back to the archery range. He picked up his fallen bow and aimed it at the target. He shot and missed. He knocked another arrow, shot and missed again. Then Harlen’s voice called out again. “Black, Longtreader, come here.” Helmer glared at the target, knocked his final arrow. and released it, then he spun and headed after Wilfred, not seeing the arrow hit the one place he knew he missed most.

Home.