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Darkseeker
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Ruina would look back ocasionally to make sure all of her troops were filing out. There would be role call later to see if anyone had become AWOL. She hoped no one would, after all, many of the soliders recruited into her battalion were already use to wars and battles. She didn't get many "rookies" in her battalion. However, the chance of going AWOL was a possibility. "All the troops are out of camp." Tarron reported as he twisted back around. The flag had been raised back at camp, a signal that all the troops had left camp and the gates were being closed.
"Good. Send word back that we will remain at a slow pace for about thirty minutes and then we will pick up the pace." Tarron nods and both he and Riden twist in their seats to send word back. Ruina turns her head to watch as soliders turn towards each other to spread Ruina's command all the way to the back. She nods to herself as she turns back to the front, leading her horse along the trail. There were many ways to get to Banks' base, but this was the fastest and if the division was to get to Campbell and his men before they fell to the Russian army they faced.
Ruina's lips thin, the war with Russia had been going on for a while. Campbell's army had taken the full brunt of it with the rest of Great Britian's forces have been focused on keeping Russia from sending in armies other places. The fact that Campbell and his men had managed to stand alone against Russia's army for that long spoke wonders about how strong that army was. Yet, word was that Russia had given up trying to sneak armies past and had sent the rest of their forces against Campbell and his men. Hence the urgent summons to the battle field.
No matter how strong an army could be, if they were outnumbered by enough, they would be overrunned. And if Russia got into Great Britian, the bloodshed would increase. No doubt, even their civilizans would be unsafe in Russia's quest to conquer Great Britian.
Thirty minutes passed quickly and Ruina soon sent another command back, pick up the pace to a canter. They would hold this pace for a while. Slowing down only to a walk every thirty minutes for ten minutes to allow the horses to cool down and rest a little. Eventually, Ruina would call a brief halt to allow the horses to stand still and drink. But first they would have to get to a river. There was only one river along this route and it would be their halfway point. At which, they would push at a gallop with interval rests until they reached Banks' base.
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Lightbringer
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Jackson rode upon Reckless, at a steady walking pace. The brown stallion shivered in anticipation. Jackson knew what he wanted, to ride off and gallop into the sunset. But for now, they stayed in formation, Jackson's gaze focusing on the officer in front of him. What waa his name, ah Eric Rohakenson. The young African American officer was new to the Royal Army, having only joined a couple months ago, although he had quickly climbed the ranks with his excellence in leadership and targeting. If Jackson were the enemy, he would not ness with Rohakenson, even with his hunting skills. During the missions orders he recalled hearing they were assisting a battalion further along, his first taste in combat simce his injury. As he thought about it the wound on his shoulder started throbbing. He grabbed his left shoulder, the memory coming back to him. Janurary 7th, 4 years ago Jackson trekked along the steep slope, the cold snow seeping into his boots. He held his rifle in hand, as gun shots and explosions rippled around him, one buzzed by his ear, making him flinch. He aimed his rifle blindly at the enemy in front of him, a crack as his rifle shot the bullet. He heard a small scream a few seconds after pulling the trigger, meaning he had hit his target. Jason stood a few feet to his right, the young man shooting vigourously at enemy lines. Through the fog he made out the outline of a Russian soldier coming towards them, heading straight towards Jason. Jackson raised his rifle, aiming for the soldiers head. He pulled the trigger, but a click only came out. Hus gun had jammed. Jason wasn't looking in the direction, as he was firing at a soldier to his right. "Jason!" He yelled, rushing towards his friend. His boots heavy in the deep snow. The Russian soldier raised his rifle, Jackson scrambled faster and leaped just as the gun went off. He was able to push hus friend over, just as the bullet sunk into his shoulder. He let out a pained moan, as another trigger went off, killing the Russian soldier. Jason ran to his side. "Jackson, Jackson... Jackson looked up to see Rohakenson calling his name. "Jackson, you okay? You looked like you saw a ghost." Jackson met the Officer's eyes. "You could say that." He replied, kicking Reckless slightly to pick up the pace. His mind focused on the memory, the Sergeant rode im silence. Edited at December 12, 2023 06:44 PM by Wolf Pride
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Darkseeker
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-Time Skip-
Ruina sighs as she twists in her seat, glancing back at her soldiers. Although, truth be told, she couldn't actually distinguish which ones were hers. They were now three days into the mountains and the trek was getting more difficult with every passing day. There had already been snow when they had entered the mountains, but a steady snow storm has been following them as they move. They had found it incredibly hard to find shelter for resting and starting fires for warmth had been near impossible. They had less than a week left to make it through the mountains or Campbell and his army were in trouble.
Ruina, Tarron, and Riden were riding with leadership at the front. Along with Major General Banks and the other two battalion leaders and their command. They were in deep discussion, trying to figure out how to get across as quickly as possible. The horses had been bred for harsh weather, but even this was rough on them. "And if we can't get across?" Banks grimaces as he looks at Ruina,"We must. We cannot fall to Russia. Our forces are spread too thin across the borders to defend the capital and the Queen."
The Queen had her personal royal guard, but even with the hundreds that were enlisted into the royal guard, they wouldn't be able to hold off Russia's army. Banks had already sent a letter to the Admiral and the Queen requesting that forces be sent back to protect the Queen just in case. But he had no idea how long it would take to pull enough forces back. Not to mention, they couldn't leave the borders unattended, else Russia or one of their allies move in. And even with the aid of their own allies, this war was a struggle for the great nation.
"General!" The shout rose from the soldiers behind leadership and all their heads turn. Ruina's eyes scan looking for the threat. When Tarron suddenly exclaims,"Dear God, may the Queen save us all." Ruina twists back around, following Tarron's gaze to the massive blizzard that had just appeared over the horizon. "May the Queen save us all." Ruina repeats as she whips her head towards Banks,"Orders, sir?" Banks nods,"Fall back to your battalion, warn them of the storm. Order them into cover. It doesn't matter if the cover is behind us. Find cover."
Horses throw their head as they are suddenly whipped around and leadership spurrs towards their battalion. Tarron and Riden were hot on Ruina's heels as she directs Sol towards the Light Dragoons. While she skids to a halt in front of the battalion, Tarron and Riden continue on, stopping once they were further back so they could spread the command quickly. Ruina raises her voice, projecting it as far as she could, hearing the other leadership doing the exact same. "There is a blizzard upon us!" She makes a gesture towards the rapidly approaching storm.
"We must take cover at once! It does not matter where, just find cover. We passed some cover back a few miles, and there should be some ahead. We must go at once!"
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Lightbringer
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Still unraveled by the flashback, Jackson pulled his overcoat harder around him, and tried to focus on something else. The trees around him? Nope, uninterested. The birds in the air? He looked up, none. Any wildlife around him, nope. Nothing, he tried engaging in conversation with Rohakenson, but nothing worth talking showed up. He sat up straight in the saddle, kicked Reckless a little bit to slow him down, and he began to relax. That of course, didnt last long. He noticed Reckless's behavior started to get ansy. Like he was worried and scared at the same time, but like true Reckless behavior, didnt want to show it. Jackson knew this by the hesitation as they sped up, or by the way he started to throw his head and look around anxiously. Eventually Jackson looked back up to the sky. Blackish-gray clouds swirled up dangerously in the sky. Winds began to blow, rattling up Reckless even more. Just then he heard the orders. Blizzard, and a really bad one at that. They needed tobfind shelter immediately. Almost at once all the soldiers started to panic. Murmuring at first hadbturned to worried yells. He knew almost at once what was about to happen, everyone would start to rush for cover. But Jackson remembered one thing. They had just passed a small town, with about 100+ buildings, not mentioning a small motel. He had to get the soldiers attention. He could hear orders from officers ahead in the line, and knew he had to hurry to stop the panic. "Light Dragoons!" He yelled, to no prevail, his voice rang through the mountains, but not loud enough to get the attention of the panicking soldiers. "Light Dragoons!" He yelled louder, finally catching most of their attebtion. "There is a small town about a mile back, just over this mountain!" He yelled, pointing with his right hand towards the tallest mountain they crossed. "If we hurry we could pass most if this Blizzard, but we must hurry." He said, turning Reckless around. Reckless was even more anxious, as he hesitated before finally turning. The snow had just begun, light at the moment, but heavy sbiw was soon to come. Jackson took the lead on the way back along with Sergeant Tanner Badjent. Another Sergeant in their unit, he was here long before Jackson, but yet he still didnt know him to well. Jackson kept glancing worriedly in the direction of the storm, the clouds swirling more vigourously than before. Reckless anxiety had gotten even worse, and he was acting up now. The snow started coming down harder, and Jackson could barely make out the town ahead, the lights getting covered up by the snow. They were making their way down the mountain at this point, less than a quarter mile from the vilage. Thats when Reckless had had enough. The brown stallion reared, letting out a loud neigh, which flung Jackson into the cold snow, landing wrong on his left ankle. Reckless galloped away, and was soon out of sight. "Reckless!" Jackson screamed, but to no use. What had spooked Reckless enough to throw Jackson? Jackson was trying to think what had happened as he got to his feet, and thats when he felt the ground shake beneath him. "Jackson, you alright..." Someone said to his left. Jackson turned to see Rohakenson at his side. But his eyes were somewhere else. Thats just when a soldier in the crowd yelled the word Jackson hoped he never would hear. "Avalanche!" Edited at January 1, 2024 06:35 PM by Wolf Pride
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Darkseeker
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Ruina kept a steady hand on her steed,"Stay calm, Sol!" The stallion, surprisingly, was indeed very calm. A lot of the other horses were calm as well, but being controlled by panicked riders. Panic had ensued, and that was not good. They should have led their battalions to safety, in a calm collected manner. Suddenly, her battalion shifts, turning to move in one direction. Someone had captured their attention and directed them to safety. Hopefully. Ruina raises her voice, gathering the attention of the rest of her battalion.
Tarron and Riden appear beside her, their steed's flanks heaving. "Come, the battalion is on the move." The trio take off, following their battalion as they move. Relief floods through Ruina as she starts to spot the lights of the town they had passed through a little bit ago. The snow was coming down heavy though and even the sturdiest of horses were struggling through it.
Many of the soldiers were moving on foot, their horses having thrown them and run. Sol was close to panicking, but Ruina kept steady control, soothing the stallion the best of her ability. "We're going to be okay." Ruina whispers as she leans over Sol. "Avalanche!" Ruina twists in her seat, her eyes going wide as she spots the avalanche. "Oh no."
(Sorry this is short, writer's block, eek. Also, sorry this is late. Life kicked me in the butt, XD)
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Lightbringer
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Jackson stood wide eyed, mouth open as he watched what looked like 70 tons of snow, rock, and mud hurling itself down the mountain, straight towards Jackson and the Light Dragoons. Most of the officers horses buckled and reared, and a chorus of neighs rang through the mountains. Jackson turned towards the units, who were mainly standing there watching the avalanche. "Run!" Jackson yelled, then all oanic broke lose. About five officers were thrown from their horses, and all the soldiers on foot started to run down the mountain, towards the town. Jackson, with only his bag, which fell from his horse, and his rifle, ran after the soldiers. Every moment or so he'd look back, seeing the snow getting closer and closer. But Jackson, who unlike the other soldiers, wasnt used to running in the snow, for he was ususally upon Reckless, began to slowly fall behind, and the bag wasnt helping much either. He caught a glimse of Jason through the blizzard, which was coming down even harder now. Jackson called for Reckless again, but t no prevail. He turned and saw the avalanche was nearly upon them, only half the unit seemed to be near safety. He ran faster, seeing the first fleet of officers and soldiers making it to the town, which seemed to be out of range of the avalanche, for now. Jackson ran and ran, but he knew he woyldnt make it. He turned his head back, and seeing the first bit of the avalanche nipping at his heels, he jumped as high as he could, as the big wall of snow and ice slammed into him, a rock hitting him square in the head, leaving him with a gash, as he was knocked unconscious, and buried in the snow. (Sorry for the shorter post Dagger :( ) Edited at January 22, 2024 02:54 PM by Wolf Pride
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Darkseeker
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Tarron and Riden take off on Ruina's orders to help the soldiers. While Ruina follows. Although she slows down when she spots a solider who fell. She directs Sol towards the solider, and swings off. "Get up!" She orders as she leans down to help the solider. The solider scrambles to her feet with the help of Ruina. "Get on Sol!" Normally, Sol would never let anyone else ride him, but the stallion was too panicked to care at the moment. Ruina helps the solider on the stallion's back, before slapping his rump. Sol rears before taking off towards the town.
Ruina looks around, unable to spot any more soldiers down, they were all on the move. So she takes off, plowing through the thickening snow as fast as she could. She exercised and ran daily but the snow still slowed her down. And she was still a good ways out as the avalanche hits her. She gasps in surprise as the snow slams into her back, knocking her off her feet. She fights desperately to find her footing, but was unsuccessful. She couldn't tell which way was up and which way was down.
The air was getting thinner and thinner and it wasn't long before Ruina passed out.
(Sorry this is short, eek. And sorry this is so late)
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Lightbringer
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Time Skip Jackson awoke to a huge headache of pain. He was laying flat on his back, only a thin layer of snow and ice covering him. He brushed his head iber his forhead, where the throbbing was the most, and when he brought his hand back down, it was covered in blood. He looked around, turning on his side. The sky was clear, as if the blizzard had never even existed. The landscape was barren, all you voyld see was snow and ice, and the debris of the avalanche. He pushed himself to his feet, blood begining to run down the right side of his face. Miraculously, his pack containing all of his supplies lay a few feet from him. It seemd to have been a few days, either one or two since the avalanche. And it suprised him that bine of his brigade had even bithered to look for them. But the the thought arose, had all of his unit been caught in the avalanche? He put on his pack, and began to walk down the mountain, looking for any gimpse of his unit. But all he has seen was trees and boulders. But when he looked harder he noticed that one of the things he had thought was a log wasnt, it was a human. He made his way quickly towards the soldiers side. He knelt down beside the soldier, a clear head wound and shoulder wound still produced blood, but most had scabbed over. He checked for any sign of breathing, but there was none. He checked his pulse, but clearly the soldier had passed on. He bowed his head, causing more blood to gush from the wound on his head, and said a few respectful words to the soldier. He reached in his combat jacket, and pulled out the soldiers tags. They read Sergeant James Smith. He ribbed the ectra tag of the chain, and placed it in his pocket. He then tucked the ither tags back into Smith's jacket, and after anither respectful bow, left the soldiers side. He began to make his way down the mountain, this time looking for more bodies of the fallen, hoping against hope one would be alive. He found another in no time. He ran to his - her side and knelt down, feelimg for a pulse, and thankfully finding one. She seemed to be breathing, but only barely. He read the name on her command jacket, and found the last name Agarvran. He recognized the name as the brigades commander, and hurried to her aid, and placed his hands sligjtly on her soldiers, and gently shook them, harder as he tryed to gain her response. "Agravran, stay with me. Yoy need to wake up, Agravran." Then kept on repeating her last name, ignoring the fact that he could no longer see out of his right eye, the blood cobering his eye and gluing it shut. He was just hoping against hope that she would wake up, as he didnt want to lose another. He didn't want to be the inly one stranded out here in the cold, barren wilderness. Edited at February 11, 2024 06:49 PM by Wolf Pride
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Darkseeker
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She groans as she's shaken awake, rolling over as her eyes slowly open and her vision slowly comes into focus. "What the hell happened?" She groans as she forces herself to sit up. Her body hurt bad, and she could barely hear or see. Hopefully that would go away. She hated not being able to see or hear anything. Her grey eyes flicker to the man beside her. He was one of hers. She could tell by the symbol on his shoulder. "Spears." She grunts as she shakes her head. Trying to get the ringing to go away. Her vision was slowly clearing so she could see a little better.
(I am so sorry this is so late and so short. Life has been kicking me in the butt... I'm gonna try to be more active, promise, XD)
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Lightbringer
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He couldn't help but smiled when her eyes opened. Even if it was with a slight groan. He rubbed his right eye, clearing the blood from it, allowing him to see again. He looked up from Agravran, looking around. From what he could see, they were the only ones out here. She muttered a question, which he could barely hear her say. He thought for awhile, then said, "Well the blizzard caused a huge avalanche. We got swept up in it, and it seems we were the only ones to survive. It looks like it has been about two days though." He looked down as he finushed, his blue eyes making eye contract with hers. He slipped his pack of his shoulders, digging through it, and pulled out a canteen full of water. He unlatched the top, and handed it two her saying, "Here, drink up." He reached back in his pack again and pulled out a small pack of crackers, slowly opening the package and pulling two out for himself, before handing those to her too. He put the cracker in his mouth, it at first salty, then savory. He took a deep breath, before looking to the town below, which seemed unnaturally empty. Had their team left them? Were they stuck here in the wilderness? He turned his attention back to the Lieutenant Colenel. "How are you feeling? Are you hurt?" He asked, as he also had a first aid kit in his bag if needed.
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