Hannah heard someone shouting, then someone grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her roughly. She groaned and rolled over. Someone caught her before she fell off the bed, forcing her to sit up. Hannah did not want to wake up. Someone was shouting from the door, cursing.The nightmares in Hannah's sleep were not as bad as this. Someone was shaking her roughly.
"Wake up! Come on, we need to get moving, busy day!"
The harsh, yet almost jovial voice grated into Hannah's ears as she was dragged out of the bed and stood on her feet. She had to open her eyes. Slowly, very slowly she did. Gray, white... black. A man stood beside her, directing the other girls that were waking up to stand. He clapped Hannah hard on the shoulder and strode past her.
"Get dressed and ready in five minutes."
The door slammed. Hannah stood, dazed, swaying as she tried to make her eyes focus on the other girls' faces who were standing beside their beds, rubbing the sleep from their eyes. Hannah was still half in her dream, confused. She thought that maybe... The shouts and curses continued as the retreated down the path outside their small dorm. The girls slowly began to get their bags from beneath their beds and dressed as quickly as possible. It was cold in the little dorm. Their green and gray uniforms kept them sort of warm. Each quickly brushed her own hair then put it in braid and pulled their cap on over it. Hannah hated the clothes. Hated the boots, thinking this as she pulled the large boots over her feet and stood. She gritted her teeth, enduring the pain in her back and arms in silence as she made her bed then walked, or stalked rather to the door. The other girls followed to, quiet as ever. They could see at just a glance that something was up with Hannah. Maybe she was concocting another one of her wild ideas, or maybe she was just in a rebellious mood today. She glanced at her companions then opened the door and walked out, down the steps and onto the path. They glanced at each other the followed her outside.
Hannah was toying with the sleeve of her uniform as she waited for them. They were going to march that day, she was going to lead the other girls, the commander said that there were going to be surprises, fighting. Hannah sighed. Surprises... She wanted something more then just surprises. Her companions filed out, still watching her. She looked up at them.
"I'll go with Jay to get the packs, the rest of you can wait at the cross road." Hannah said gruffly.
Jay stepped forward and walked to stand beside Hannah. Hannah waved the rest on and stood behind with the girl she had picked to go with her. She glanced at Jay and sighed again. Jay, a small confident looking person with blond hair and fair skin watched her friend for a second then ventured a question.
"You get bad grades yesterday, Han?"
Hannah chuckled dryly.
"The best."
Jay cocked her head to one side just slightly, eying her friend.
"I'm sure the Commander thinks the same thing."
"Oh, I'm sure." Hannah buttoned the cuff on her left sleeve then turned. "Come on, let's go."
The path leading through the woods was gray, the trees were all dead so they were either gray or black. Some grass and moss grew at the base of the trees, and Hannah's eyes lingered at these places. No flowers grew anywhere. Jay trailed behind Hannah, watching her wearily. The icy morning air seemed to reveal the high strung tension in the camp more then words ever could. The sound of boots thumping against the hard path didn't seem to make a impression on the hard silence. Hannah walked with louder footsteps, hoping disrupt... Something. She never could, nothing ever worked. The two girls walked along until the came to a gate. The huge iron gate was attached to a tall fence that surrounded several tall gray buildings. Hannah stood to attention, cleared her throat and yelled out as loud as she could, waking up the guard a few yards into the fenced in grounds.
"Hagel Drago und das Biest!" she said, holding out her right hand and holding out her first and middle finger in a stiff, military salute.
She stood perfectly to attention as the guard jumped and scrambled up, embarrassed that he was caught napping on the job. He ran over, mumbling and cursing as he brought out the keys.
"Hagel Drago und das Biest..." he muttered back, lifting his right hand for a second.
Hannah pretended to be impatient as the guard stuffed the key into the lock then opened the gate. She nodded to the man then swept in, Jay following a pace behind her. Jay gave the guard a sympathetic glance but had no time to say anything. Hannah was practically dashing of over the ground, headed towards the largest of the gray buildings. Jay held back a sigh and followed at a slower pace. Hannah jumped up the steps and, again, stood to attention and pretended like she had sedately marched over to the Commander's HQ with out so much as a trip over the odd rock. Jay shook her head as Hannah rapped smartly on the door then stood back. She was impossible. Jay arrived just as the door opened. A man dressed in a smart gray military uniform stood there, not looking at all welcoming. He glared at them both and was about to make a snide comment when Hannah shot out her hand, almost bopping him on the nose as she saluted.
"Hagel Drago und das Biest!"
The man's gaze strayed to where Jay was standing and she quickly did the same. The man cleared his throat then, grudgingly, saluted back.
"The Commander is waiting for you, Lance Forthryte. You're late."
Hannah gave him a winning smile, lost on him of course, and slipped by, entering into the house. Jay glanced at the man then quickly squeezed by him as well, careful not to make eye contact. The room they entered was big, made from something that looked like gray marble. Several chairs and a table were placed in the middle of the room. A man sat in one black chair, back turned to the guests, hands folded before him. The salutes of the two girls rang in his ears before he turned around. Hannah and Jay quickly put their hands down and stood to attention.
"Hagel Drago und das Biest. At ease." the man said dismissively, standing and walking around the chairs. He did not walk towards them but past, and stopped before the west wall, staring at a picture, black and white picture of a military looking man, uniformed. Hannah's energetic mood slowly began to fade at the dismissive and disdainful glance the man, her Commander gave her. Hannah's face fell. He smiled.
"Hannah darling, I've been waiting for fifteen minutes, what took you so long?"
"Sir," Hannah began. "Your man woke us up only ten minutes ago."
"So he did." the Commander nodded and turned to them. "So he did."
Jay did not look into the man's eyes.
"Sir, we came for our packs." Hannah said as firmly as possible, the insecurity she felt making her voice tremble ever so slightly.
Commander Viltag pointed to six gray packs standing near the door.
"Over there."
Hannah and Jay quickly grabbed them, slinging two over their backs and carrying one. They made for the door.
"Excuse us, sir."
"Wait."
The both stopped, Jay cringing slightly. The Commander stood still, his hands clasped behind him. His eyes were fixed on Hannah. He gestured for her to come over to him. She did, slowly, like a dog slinking back to her master. The Commander studied her guilty face for a moment then shrugged.
"I only wanted to tell you not to do anything stupid on this one," he bent close to her face. "Or else." he lowered his voice. "Don't try to mess up, I know you couldn't have down something so dumb unless it was on purpose. Now go."
Hannah bit her tongue, hard.
"Yes sir."
She turned and left through the open door, Jay right on her heels. Commander Viltag looked at the doorman and he shut the door quietly.
Jay tried to catch up with her companion with joggling the packs as best she could. She had small hands and had always regretted that fact. Hannah was up ahead, her red hair waving behind her as she stalked along, gnawing on her lip. It was a thing she'd always done when she was upset, it stowed the tears, not saying that she was going to shed any... Jay caught her arm.
"Slow down, will you? What was that about?"
Hannah almost smiled. It was a odd expression, one that Jay knew all too well.
"Oh, Hannah, you didn't... Not again..."
Hannah coughed and cleared her throat, saluting to the guard as she passed through the gate, Jay trying to talk to her.
"Han! How could you, again?"
Hannah shrugged.
"I wanted to see if it would work. Didn't though, a pity."
"Then stop doing it!" Jay protested. "Han, you're in charge of our group, you can't do stunts like that and get off free."
Hannah suddenly stopped and Jay almost bumped into her.
"Why?" there was a moment of awkward silence. "I mean, why am I the leader of the group? Why not you?"
"Uh..."
"Why not?"
"Because you're the best, I guess?" Jay answered as best as she could.
Hannah drew her friend closer.
"No, that's not it. I don't know what it is but I'm going to find out. There has to be a reason for us being here, hasn't there?"
Jay pulled away, giving Hannah a odd look.
"What are you getting at, Han?"
"Nothing," Hannah said, as if she was relenting something. "Nothing at all, come on."
Bewildered, Jay followed her friend, trying to keep up while maintaining her laggardly pace. The walk back was a quick one, dew to Hannah's hot temper. The path grew more wooded as they went along, following the windings and curves. Jay held back questions she wanted to ask her ambition friend, things that she started to wonder after Hannah's sudden outburst. Suddenly Hannah stopped and Jay ran into her. They had stopped in front of a large post stuck in the ground. Two signs were nailed into the post. One, pointing to the south said 'March trail' and the other, pointing to the north said 'Training course'. The other girls were standing just in side the 'March trail'. Hannah sighed, straitened her shoulders and stepped onto the path, followed by Jay. Another day of training.
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