'If I had to picture myself on the battlefield, it would be a dashing man with long flowing hair, and armor that struck fear into my enemies.
Holding onto the reigns of a mighty stallion with my left hand and holding a blade in my right. I would be leading a band of loyal soldiers to glory, as I would be their only hope. Right now the dreams of this innocent nerd are being crushed.'
Jairo was in a terrible mood. All he could hear were the stomping of feet on the ground. He looked around to see a few of the other young men Caspien had drafted. Around thirty or forty in total.
On their first day they had been walking for hours.
A sea of fur that was surely going to need an immidiate bath the moment they arrived.
Some of the boys were shaking, jittery. Some were more relaxed, at least it seemed that way.
Jairo seemed to be handling himself well enough on the outside. Inside he was getting annoyed.
On top of having to smell all the stink around him, he also had to look forward to see Caspien riding on top of a Giant Direwolf, and his more experienced veterans mounted atop Giant lizards that had been tamed.
They were only here to make sure none of the boys ran off. Each one of them wore silver plate on parts of their bodies. They looked intimidating, and to make it worse they may really look to make an example out of them if they tried anything stupid.
'I didn't even get anything to eat this mourning. I just woke up, got injured in a fight and then got drafted. I'm fucking hungry and on top of that im exhausted. Such a dream fantasy im in.'
Jairo said shaking his head.
That being said, he looked around. As much as everyone stunk and he wanted to get as far away from these boys as he could, he might need one of them to have his back for future reference.
He was about to tap the boy next to him, but he looked a bit out of it. Perhaps he was even pulled from his bed. Drafts were unexpected after all.
On second thought, he quickly retracted his hand. Maybe another time, untimely interruption is rude after all.
Werewolves had a warrior culture, with the average young boy or girl having either killed an animal or helped their parents take one down.
Yet these young boys knew that this was nothing like that. These boys at most ranged from sixteen to seventeen, Likely hardly having any experience in a real life or death scenario.
He had gone through a bunch in a measly two weeks, but he had prodigies surrounding him when they happened.
The only other life or death scenario he had ever had was recently, and even then, he had almost died if not for the help of a kind lady.
Had she simply run off then what? Sure the people would have torn his killer apart, but what would that matter to him? He'd be dead by now.
His training was in a controlled environment where he was at least guaranteed to live. An actual battlefield was nothing like that.
And as such he did not develop the skills nor the will to truly put someone down. A man had told him to his face that he would chop up his body, and he still hesitated.
He didn't have it in him yet.
Right now that didn't matter. Just putting one foot in front of the other was infinitely more important.
Eventually, Caspien who was riding atop a giant Direwolf had turned around.
"I know some of you might be a bit less exited about the journey, but fear not. The kobolds are a bunch of scaly human like freaks with no sense of strength. Never able to fight head on.
Go fight with me, and you will return with honor."
There seemed to be a few cheers amongst the boys. Some seemed to feel emboldened, puffing out their chests as as their stride seemed filled with more purpose.
'Must be great for them. I've heard shit like this in half the anime I've watched.'
As much as I hate the bastard, I gotta give it to him. He does know how to play with the emotions of a crowd. Use them to his advantage.
Eventually they arrived. The only knew because Caspien turned around. "We're here." He said, eventually they walked through.
They saw wooden formations, wolves in trees, small houses and tents, clay structures built up likely to block arrow volleys.
This was the furthest edge of their territory.
One of the many places where the war against the kobolds was taking place.
He got flashbacks to that very night. A wall of fur in front of him. Howling and screaming in the background.
A glimmering bronze mace that careened into his face. It was spiky. How the hell did he survive a hit from it?
His head began hurting as he tried to recall further, so he simply stopped.
In the camp he sees many men working, eating and even entering tents to sleep in.
Caspien walked up to a man with a necklace with the teeth of various animals on it. His brown fur contrasted the white bones nicely.
"You." Caspien said pointing, to which the man stopped talking to his friends and looked to Caspien.
"The long journey has made me tired. It's been a long as stressful day of keeping these young boys motivated. If you can feed them and assign them something to do so I can get my desired rest it would be so kind."
The man sighed, as he pulled his palm down his face. "Sure. move along I don't have time to listen to you anymore."
Caspian seemed to have the strength to skip despite allegedly being tired. "Thank you kindly."
He said before his smooth strides led him to one of the larger tents in the far left side of the area.
The man sighed as Caspien went into one of the larger tents to go to sleep.
"you all will refer to me as Captain Emory. I will be leading and instructing all of you boys on the benefits of teamwork."
All the young boys nodded, so he continued.
"You boys will pair up into groups. Each of you will have the task of collecting cloth, wood and other resources."
Inwardly Jairo had breathed a sigh of relief.
It was a lame start, but at least he wouldn't have to fight after a two hour long walk.
Now, as he turned around he began eyeing out potential targets for a team up.
'Which of you is going to be a friend of mine?'