In the afternoon it began to rain. Rabbit and his horse trotted alongside the Red Guard who still refused to say a single word while the Fieldon army led in the distance. Rabbit had eaten all of his food that he had brought as provisions in the morning after the battle and now his stomach ached with every step the horse took.

Rabbit didn’t want to ask the Fieldon army for food because they were brutes. After chasing down any remaining opponents they could find, the army slept right in the middle of the bloody territory they had just captured. Rabbit had to ride four acres away just to get away from the smell of it.

Then again Rabbit also knew that he was accepted in the army for the reinforcements charged right past him and into combat. Rabbit wasn’t expecting food, but he was hoping the company would repress his hunger, but the army was not disciplined so Rabbit didn't get to close for fear he might get hurt.

The soldiers shouted and drank in a savage fashion while sloshing through mud. Rabbit found a comfort in watching these antics as they gave him something to think about, but soon the solemnness of watching the army became worry, for he saw the village where the troop was heading. A small village with huts and smokestacks venting smoke were probably the homes of families preparing dinner. Rabbit remembered the women and children who did not harm or interact much with the beast-men. Their gentle laughter was enough to brighten Rabbits day in the cells, and the quiet on their face when they watched the beast-men pass was a quiet sadness.

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

“Why do they have to be so violent?” Rabbit asked aloud, and the Red Guard turned his head but said nothing in return.

Then they started rushing forward, burning and yelling.

Rabbit simply rode away in disgust at the merciless pillaging. He rode far enough away that he could not hear or see anything.

The rain was light when Rabbit found a tree big enough for cover and far enough away from the village. He was hungry enough to eat the crab apples on the tree which did him good. The Red Guard got off his horse and sat under the tree, eating a piece of jerky which he had the knowledge to have saved. Rabbit glared at the Red Guard, but ended up sitting opposite of him and eating crab apples until he fell asleep.