#KingsArm

Briar hugged his knees closer to his body, placing the journal on top. The large oak tree he had nested away in offered little shelter against the wind, its bare limbs shaking. Most of the snow had melted away in the last couple of weeks, and the sky blessed them with a clear sunny day, but the wind blew steadily.

His warm house was filled to the brim, family had come back since the war ended, or came to a stall is what some whispered about. The brindle buck counted in his head how many had come to stay in the two-story home. Well, there was him, Mother, and Father. Wilfred and his wife, Anna, and their twin daughters Julia and Bramble. Garten, still without a significant other. And newlywed Whittle and Sween, already expecting.

“Hey, bucko!” A voice jerked him out of thought, he almost dropped his pencil. He looked below at the grey buck, a smile plastered on the stout one’s face.

“Hey Whittle,” Briar said, quickly closing his journal before his older brother could see, but apparently not fast enough because his sibling was already scrambling up the tree to squeeze in beside him.

“Ooh, whatcha drawing?” Whittle asked mischievously.

Briar frowned, he was always squeamish about showing his drawings, especially around his father who would murmur that he should be doing chores instead of sitting around and drawing like a child. “Uhm- nothing?” He said, flashing a fake smile to lure the conversation to something more appetizing. “How’s the house holding up? Any juicy gossip?”

“Hah hah.” Whittle snatched away the journal, “You can’t fool me Briar boy, ooh? Who is she?” he snickered softly, staring at the paper smudged slightly with graphite.

Briar frowned at his brother, he had always been closer to Whittle, seeing how they had been the younger of the bunch. Whittle knew his younger brother loved to draw but was always nervous to show it off. Whittle also knew he liked to play the trouble maker and heartbreaker, but was actually nervous and paranoid, seeking attention from his Father, who wanted all his sons to be respected officers in the army. Briar hadn’t even started training yet.

Whittle’s dark green eyes sparkled in knowing, the picture held a simple bust, sketched with a skillful hand. The doe’s ears were folded back, she had a frown on her face but her eyes showed a hidden smile. Her face was set in a heart shape and she was bundled up in scarfs, white breath billowing from her slightly parted lips.

“Briar… this is great.” Whittle praised his brother.

“Yea… she is,” Briar murmured, the picture held the likeness of the time Jody and he had gone for the king’s present.

“Wh- what?” Whittle laughed.

“Nothing!” He flushed, grabbing the small journal he stuffed it into the satchel at his side, then started to climb out of the tree, “So uh- why did you come out here?”

“Well…” Whittle frowned as he stepped off of the giant oak, placing a hand on its rough black bark, “I and the others are being called back.” He paused when he saw Briar’s eyes widen, “No! Not like that, no skirmishes have happened since Lord Captains Helmer and Perkin went to Grimble, and that was two months ago. Just some paperwork!” He smiled.

“You sound overly excited for paperwork.” Briar gagged. “Why are you telling me now?”

“Because it's about time you come with us.” Whittle smiled.

“Wait- really?” Briar grinned, starting to walk back to the house, Whittle falling in beside him. He was already past his older brother’s height, **** he was almost as tall as Wilfred now. “Really?” he repeated.

“Now we’re only going to the palace, but we may need an aid.” Whittle said, his eyes flickering like a lump of burning coal.

Briar smiled wider, “That’s… great!” He tried to hide his excitement at going back to the palace, he’d get to see Jody again! They had started to hang out more, and ****- she was so amazing. He could be himself around her, let down the curtain, and she didn’t judge him, she liked him for who he was.

He was happy to finally spend some alone time with her.

“Hey, Jo.” Winslow walked past his younger sister, who was sitting in her room, a small smile on her young face as she held a piece of paper in her hand, scrawled in perfect lines was a portrait of herself and her sisters, laughing and hand in hand.

“Hey Win!” She said, bouncing to her feet, “What brings you past this fine morning?”

“Well definitely not mooning over a certain Longtreader,” Winslow said sarcastically.

Jody flushed a bright shade of pink. “Am not!” She retorted.

Winslow ignored her cry, “Father wants you. He’s in his office.”

“Well, you could have just said that.” The red doe harrumphed, strutting past him, sticking her tongue out. Winslow shrugged.

Jody rushed upstairs, thoughts rushing to her head. Why would Father need her? Was Mother ill again? After giving birth to a young and beautiful doe, her mother had been a little sickly. But that was months ago…

She paused outside of her Father’s office, muffled voices could be heard, but she didn’t know how many. She straightened her back, and smoothed ruffles in her blue-green dress then knocked on the door.

The voices stopped, but a warm and clear one sounded through the doors. “Enter.” The king said, a smile in his voice.

Jody did enter, blinking at the sunlight as she closed the door behind her. She made out three figures- no, four, one was in the shade to Jody’s far-left- her Father was standing leaning against his desk, Ambassador Garten stood calmly at his right. Jody tilted her head to look at the two bucks to her left but dressed in officer’s garb.

One was a pale sandy brown, his fur glinting blinding gold in the warm sunlight, her father always pulled back his curtain during meetings, something about it making him more intimidating or something. The buck turned his head, brown eyes glinting friendly-like, his eyeglasses shining, he must have been around her age. The sound of someone clearing their throat caught the attention of the younger rabbits

King Jupiter had a booklet in his hands, and an eyebrow raised. “Miss Jupiterson, you have completed all your medical studies, I stand corrected?” He said in his formal voice, but his mouth twitched as if he was suppressing a smile.

Confused, Jody nodded her head. “Yes sir, Master Eric said I should graduate this month at the most, perhaps even this week.” She stated, putting her hands behind her back and trying to hide the pride in her voice.

Jupiter nodded his eyes, mock seriousness creeping in. “Good good, Princess Jody, you wish to work in the field still? Even though the war is over and someone still insists they can’t settle, have a family and be content as a uh… potato farmer?”

Now Jody really was confused, “Yes???” she guessed, still not knowing how to properly answer, she had a feeling the buck in the shadows was the butt of the joke.

Jupiter nodded his head and blotted something down in the book before placing it back in its spot, “Well then, tomorrow morning you will report to Lord-Captain Helmer and his rag-tag crew. Miss Jupiterson,” Jody beamed, looking up at her father, “serve well.”

“Yes, your majesty,” She bowed slightly, a smile dancing across her face.

“Dismissed.” Jupiter smiled down at his oldest daughter.

Jody was grinning widely as she hurried out of the door, she had made it! Really? Her father would let her? A small disgruntled voice said maybe it was because the war was over, but she forced it down. Nothing would ruin her day!

“Excuse me? Miss Jupiterson?” A voice said behind her, she turned to see the officer from before. Lord Captain Helmer, her father, and Ambassador Garten were all speaking in low voices.

The buck stopped a little ways from her, a shy smile on his young face as he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “Uhm- I know we are going to start working together, maybe we should be properly introduced?” He cleared his throat and dropped his hand, then he shuffled around before finally settling on reaching his hand out, Jody looked down then shook it.

“Princess Jody Jupiterson, at your service.” She said, a grin showing as she tried to be witty.

The pale buck smiled, “ Lieutenant Henry Gavinson, and it is my pleasure to meet you.”

“Oh?” She said slyly, “Why thank you, kind gentleman.” This buck was nice, she liked that she could be herself around him, and they’d only just met. “So, about your group, how many members do you have? Does it have a banner yet? And most importantly,” she glanced at him, “does it have a name?”

Henry tapped his chin in thought, “Well, no we don’t have a sign yet, and uh- we have a few chosen bucks, and Master Helmer does have a name in mind.” He waved his arms dramatically as if pointing at a distant valley, “He calls it… ‘The King’s Arm.”’

“Uhh why?” Jody asked, walked away from the office a bit.

Henry walked beside, they had started strolling away, towards a long hallway with large paintings, mostly of past kings and queens. “Well, that is a long story--”

“I have time,” she said without hesitation, surprising herself.

Henry paused and looked at her, raising an eyebrow, “Well uh- long story short Helmer killed someone, and here we are.”

Jody stared at him, killed someone? Huh. She wasn’t really satisfied with the answer, but it would have to do for now.

“Hello, M’lady.” A familiar voice said cheerfully behind her.

Jody smiled as she turned to glance at the tall brindle, a hand on his hip and a quirky smile lined his mouth.

Jody exaggerated on her bow, “Morning Briar.”

Briar stepped up, “Why, a princess, bow to me? Never thought I’d see the day.”

“Don’t get your hopes up, Peasant.” She poked him on the chest. “Maybe I was just... Uhhh.” She fumbled for a comeback.

“Stopping to smell the roses?” Henry butted in, leaning in towards the two, an eyebrow perked.

“Yes. That’s uh- exactly what I was going to say!” Jody said, smiling like a triumphant hero at Briar.

Briar’s eyes flickered up to the pale buck, at the way he and Jody were laughing and chatting, a spark of something burning and heated it hurt his pride.

“Who’s this?” He asked, subconsciously moving closer to Jody.

The strange buck leaned back, resting on one long leg and pushing his glasses back up. “Lieutenant Gavinson.” He reached out a brown-furred hand.

Briar shook it, “Briar Longtreader.”

“Longtreader?” Gavinson said, “You don’t happen to be related to a certain Ambassador, do you?”

“The very same,” Briar crossed his arms, this buck was very smiley, in his perfect shiny uniform.

Jody merely glanced between the two bucks, she cleared her throat awkwardly, “So… guess what Briar! I got that job!” She smirked at him.

Briar blinked, “Oh really? The one you never shut up about? The one that you always dream of? The one where-”

“Yesss.” Jody blushed, “I’m a medic! And I’ll be working with Lord Captain Helmer and Lieutenant Gavinson here.” She smiled at the other buck.

“Oh. Great.” Briar said.

Helmer walked into the clearing among the grove of trees, a heavy pack slung over his shoulder. He stopped at the edge, scanning the area. Soft moss covered most of the ground, and large ferns grew and swaths, a perfect place for training, oaks with long heavy branches that skimmed the surface of the botanical ocean grew along the edges, new buds springing on twigs. Shouts and small talk came from the four bucks who were going through arms stretches and exercises on the far side. Two murmuring voices sounded from two rabbits sitting on a fallen log, hunched over paper and ink.

Helmer started over to the two, dropping the pack gently beside them. They didn’t even look up as they smiled at their work.

“Ahem.” He cleared his throat at the two younger rabbits. The one closest to him looked up, her green eyes sparkling.

“Oh, hey Captain.” She said, looking back down at her work.

He folded his arms, “Shouldn’t you be folding clothes or something?” He growled.

She didn’t even look up, but her quill stopped moving. “Gee, sexist much Captain? Here I am. Working for you, to help make you memorable, and you answer with an insult? Surely that is no way to treat a doe. Did your mother teach you nothing?”

The buck beside her chuckled. Helmer flushed. Jody raised her parchment showing Helmer what she was working on.

On the top center, was scrawling and looping handwriting, fancy and neat saying; ‘My arm for the cause and crown, my all for the cause and crown.’ And under it, a single red diamond was drawn on it.

“What’s it mean?” Helmer asked, leaning closer to look at it.

“Well,” Specs started, he pointed at the writing, “the words are obviously your famous battle cry.” He pointed to the diamond, “The diamond has a double meaning, ‘King’s Arm’ the red crest refers to the Kingston stone, marking the crowned and present ruler. But it is also a mockery of the wolf's crest, actually the same ones we fought the day of Grimble.” Henry said all this with a sure voice, like a teacher repeatedly telling a student these things.

“Nice. I like it.” Helmer nodded his head. A shout rumbled from across the clearing.

He turned to look at the four bucks, two were aggressively tackling on the ground, while the other two were watching, one was even cheering them on.

Helmer jogged over, the two behind him bringing up the rear. “All right knock it OFF!” He yelled, grabbing one buck and dragging him off the other, Henry helped the battered one on the bottom up.

The grey and white buck shook off Hemer and brushed the dirt off his fur. “You better not start a fight if you can’t finish it!”

“I said knock it off.” Helmer scowled at the taller buck. He glanced at the blackish-brown buck being held up by Specs, a trickle of blood oozing out his nose. “What happened here? Atticus?”

The brown buck had his shirt to his nose, stoppering the now steady flow of blood. “I and Felix were stretching, when he asked a question, so I signed it back.” He nodded his head at a buck so similar to him, if it wasn’t for the white spot on Felix, Helmer would never be able to tell who was who. Atticus curled his lip at the taller buck at Helmer’s shoulder, “Then this big bucko thought it’d be a swell idea to come over, and ask Felix a bunch of questions.”

“What… kind of questions?” Jody asked, handing a white cloth to Atticus.

“All I asked is if he could read my lips.” Ein huffed.

Helmer rubbed the bridge of his nose, at the rate this was going, King’s Arm would end before it began. A skinny extremely small black buck stood beside Ein, a smile on his face. “What’re you smiling at,” Helmer growled, at wit’s end.

“Oh? Nothing, just the stupidity of this.” Sam said, shaking his head.

Helmer hated to admit it, but the small buck was right.

“Ok, enough of this, Ein take a walk. Atticus and Felix? Go with Jody. Specs, teach Sam the fifteen basic forms.” Helmer ordered as he watched them file out.

Atticus and Felix passed by Helmer, Felix stopped and made a fist, holding it at shoulder height, and bobbed it up and down. Atticus smiled, still holding the cloth to his bleeding nose, and turned to Helmer. “He said, ‘Yessir.”’

Helmer smiled, and saluted the younger buck, pleased as Felix and Atticus saluted back.

ayyy a relatively short chapter, but fun nonetheless!

Question: Who's your favorite character?(I know I've asked this before but who's going to StOp mE)