PART VIII - A WELL-EARNED DISTRACTION
The eight recruits crested a small rise as they approached the Commandant’s office building. Standing outside was the Legate, speaking closely and intently with Thorn. Both looked up at the approaching team.
“Welcome, all of you,” Galin said, adding a smile.
“Thanks,” Callie said on behalf of everyone. “We were delayed a minute because Koda wanted to give us a pep talk before we all left. Sorry if we’re late.”
Galin shook his head. “Not at all, you’re right on time. Neither Reynard nor the Major have arrived yet. For now, all of you relax, and you can brief everyone when they do.”
“Any sign of Rowani?” Callie asked the Legate. “I suppose it’s too soon.”
“She’s only been gone about fifteen minutes, so it will be a bit.”
“Perhaps you could lead your team in some breathing exercises,” Thorn suggested, seeing the somewhat nervous looks on the recruits’ faces. “To help calm their nerves?”
Callie looked from the officers to the rest of the recruits, who were all standing in a tight gaggle, unsure what to do. “Uh … sure. I suppose,” she said with a shrug.
Under Callie’s direction, the team spread out and lined up into three rows. Ambria, Pixyl and Lhawni were in front, Shul’an, Thucax and Jesca in the middle, and Tazrok standing tall over everyone in the back.
“Are we going to do your Callie Chi stuff?” Jesca asked.
“No, just something simple,” Callie replied. “We don’t have time for anything like my morning classes. And stop calling it that!”
With careful and slow guidance, Callie led the team in some simple deep-breathing. “In through your nose, blow out through your lips. Slow, deep breaths,” Callie intoned, calling out a slow, gentle cadence for the other recruits. Together, the seven in line followed Callie’s lead, although Thucax was a little confused at first until Jesca lightly slapped his arm, telling him to focus and just follow along. Behind everyone, Tazrok tried almost too hard, gulping in big exaggerated breaths a few times, but eventually slowing to the rhythm Callie set.
“This reminds me,” Callie heard Thorn whisper to the Legate, “I was going to mention it in our meeting, but Juniper distracted us, I hit nine-nine-nine this morning. I’m not sure why I’ve been getting points …”
Abruptly, Thorn was cut off as Callie turned to face him. “Did you say you hit PLATINUM.999 this morning?” she gasped, mouth agape and smiling widely. Behind her the other recruits stopped at hearing Callie’s question.
“Damn! I always forget about Gnome ears,” Thorn sighed, slapping his paw to his face. “Yes, as of this morning.”
“Way to go!” Callie said, clapping her hands together, the recruits quickly joining her. “Do you think you’ll get it tomorrow? What even comes after Platinum, anyways?”
The Ratkin shrugged. “I have no idea. Maybe? I’d gone months with only a few points of change before the term started, and in the last two weeks I’ve gained several.”
“As for what’s next, that would be Topaz,” Galin added. “It’s very rare for anyone to get that high. Even more so for Beastkins.”
“We don’t live as long as some of the others,” Thorn amended by way of explanation.
“We need to have a party when you make it!” Callie said, bouncing slightly. “For the whole camp, I mean. It’s a big deal, right?”
“Yes …” Galin intoned contemplatively. “A big party, I think.”
“No! Absolutely not! I forbid it!” Thorn snapped, slashing his hand through the air with a whooshing sound.
“Let’s vote!” Callie said with a grin. She turned to the recruits. “All in favor of a big party for the Master Trainer when he hits Topaz, raise their hand.” Of course, every hand went up, including Callie’s, as she turned back to the officers. Callie shrugged. “Sorry, Sir, you’ve been outvoted.”
“What? That’s not how this works!” Thorn cried.
“Like she said, ‘you’ve been outvoted” Galin said with a laugh, adding his own raised hand for good measure.
“What are we voting on?” Major Celeste asked, joining the rest of the team. She had changed out of her casual, everyday leather armor she’d been wearing for the game, and into something thicker, heavier and less decorative. Several worn cuts and scratches were visible in various places, showing the scars of previous fights. Her boots had changed to something heavier as well, and she carried a heavy leather helm with metal ringlets hanging down the sides and back of it, which would protect her neck once she put it on.
“Thorn’s going to hit Topaz tomorrow, or at least in the next couple days. He’s at nine ninety-nine,” the Legate said.
“He is? That’s great! We definitely need to have a party.”
“See? That’s what I said,” Callie pointed out, gesturing animatedly towards Thorn. “I mean, if the Major supports it, we gotta do it.”
Thorn grumbled and growled, facing a losing battle in response to the celebratory assault on all sides.
“Maybe we do something for Midsummer?” Jesca suggested, raising her paw hesitantly. “That’s in three weeks, so we have plenty of time to plan a big party, and get supplies if we need to.”
“Oh no!” Thorn said, wagging a finger at the Cheetahkin. “No! No! Nothing like that! Don’t any of you dare!”
“Yes!” Callie nodded with Jesca, completely ignoring Thorn. “Midsummer! You love that holiday! We can have music and singing and dancing and all the booze. Pama can come up with some great food, too. We don’t have to do that formal thing again, but something really fun! All the other officers can tell embarrassing stories about him. Maybe we make a big banner that says ‘Best Trainer Ever’ on it!” Callie gestured into the air as if spelling out the message on a theater marquee.
“Oh shit,” Thorn groaned, knowing he was utterly losing control.
“We could call it Thornday!” Callie said with a violent nod. “What do you think?”
“I think it’s a dreadful idea and I want no part in it at all,” Thorn grumbled.
“Oh, come on! It will be fun.”
“Shouldn’t you be doing your breathing exercises?” Thorn said, gesturing to the other recruits.
“What? Nah! They’re all relaxed and ready to go,” Callie giggled. “See?” She grabbed Ambria’s face and pinched it into a misshapen pucker. “Have you ever seen happier, more-relaxed looks on anyone?”
“They do look pretty ready to me,” Celeste said, gesturing to the fish-lipped Faun and trying to hold in a giggle.
“They’re just happy because you’re all conspiring against me!”
“Yes, that too,” Callie concurred with a nod. Then her voice got slightly more serious. “Also, it’s a really good distraction for us right now, so thank you for that.”
Thorn was about to make another clever retort, but Callie’s sudden change in tone made him mentally stumble. “Uh. Right. You’re welcome,” was all he could manage to say.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
“Cool!” Callie squealed. She turned back to the rest of the team. “Big party. It will be great!”
“Excuse me a moment,” Major Celeste said to the two officers, her face scrunched up and contorted. She spun and walked stiffly around the corner of the building. Suddenly, roaring laughter, with a definite Celeste-like tone to it, could be heard. It continued on for several long seconds, poor Thorn holding his paw to his shaking head in utter disbelief at what had just happened in the last two minutes.
After a moment, the laughter ceased and the Major returned. “Sirs,” she said blandly, nodding at both Thorn and Galin and standing rigid, as if nothing had just happened.
“I never should have recommended you for an officer commission,” Thorn mumbled towards Celeste.
“But sir, without me, who would protect you from Callie?”
“You’re not doing a very good job of it right now,” Thorn pointed out.
“Yes, but imagine how bad it would be if I wasn’t around,” the Major said with a laugh.
----------------------------------------
About five minutes later, Reynard finally arrived. Like the Major, he had changed into battle-capable armor and hung his swords into place. As the other Rangers had done, a trio of daggers in a leather harness were buckled to his thigh in easy reach. His face was all serious, and became quite confused at the mirthful expressions of everyone.
“Did I miss something?” he asked the Legate.
“Reynard! Welcome. We were just reviewing plans for a big party celebrating Thorn’s achievement.”
“Achievement?” Reynard confusedly asked, before his eyes lit up. “My friend, did you get Topaz?” he asked Thorn.
“Almost. Nine-nine-nine this morning.”
“Fabulous! So we’re going to have a party?”
“Yup!” Callie said. “We’re going to do it as part of Midsummer. That way we have time to prepare and order stuff if we need it. Something huge and fun for everybody! Jesca loves the Midsummer holiday, so she’s going to be in charge of coordinating things.”
“I am?” Jesca gasped.
“You’re kidding?” Reynard chuckled. “Thorn, you approved this?”
“No. I absolutely did not. But it’s Callie, meaning that she was repeatedly told no and they’re going to do it anyway. I was … outvoted.”
“Oh, lighten up grouchypants!” Callie grinned. “It will be fun.”
Laughing again, Reynard walked to Thorn, embracing him. “Congratulations, my friend. You’ve worked hard for this.”
“Thanks,” the Master Trainer quietly responded, a twinkle in his eyes betraying the grouchy performance he was putting on.”
“Is Rowani back yet?” Reynard asked, turning to face everyone.
“Not yet. I’d guess at least ten more minutes or so,” the Legate responded. “Should we brief everyone or wait for her.”
“I dunno, ask Callie,” Reynard shrugged. “This is her mission.”
Galin turned to the recruits and raised one eyebrow towards the acting Sergeant.
“Um, everyone’s here, so we might as well start,” Callie said. “If she gets back and it’s something else, we’ll either adapt or call this a good exercise in getting ready and rethink things.”
“Very good, Sergeant,” Galin nodded. “May I address your team, briefly?”
“Sure. Go for it,” Callie said as both Celeste and Reynard moved to stand next to the other recruits.
Legate Galin cleared his throat, shaking his head slightly at Callie’s more-than-casual response. “Team, congratulations on being chosen as the first live mission of the term. They don’t come up often and we take every opportunity we can to do some good with them. Recruit Callie has been chosen to lead this mission, and thus is Acting Sergeant.”
Several light cheers went up among the recruits, all of them patting Callie on her shoulders or head.
Clearing his throat, Galin continued. “Major Celeste and Trainer Reynard are coming along, and will provide their knowledge and expertise as needed, and should the situation require, will take over. But until then, they are considered under the command of Sergeant Callie. Try to ignore your first instinct to ask them for directives.” He turned to Thorn. “Do you have anything to add?”
The Master Trainer took a step forward. “I’ll just add that we have confidence in Sergeant Callie’s capabilities. She, in turn, has complete confidence in each of you, and thus we do as well. She hand-picked each of you, specifically, for this mission, because you have the skills, discipline and courage to excel. Make her proud.” He took a half-step back and stopped. “Plus … if everything goes well … I’ll even let you throw the damn party.”
Another light cheer went up among all the recruits.
Galin cleared his throat. “Sergeant, please brief your team.” Then he added, “Remember Sergeant-Major Natala’s advice.”
“Right, okay,” Callie said, nodding a bit to psych herself up. She looked up at her friends, the Major, Reynard, now all looking at her expectantly. She still didn’t understand why she’d been chosen, and maybe it was some big, silly mistake on Xera’s part, but she was going to do her damnedest to make sure she, and everyone else, was up to the task. She’d been thinking for a bit about what to say, and now it was time. She straightened, coming to some kind of attention, to address the team.
“The ‘advice’ that the Sergeant-Major gave me was simple,” Callie started. “She looked me in the eyes and said ‘get your shit together’. And she outranks me, so I don’t have a lot of choice in the matter. So, if I have to do it, then all of you have to do it, too.”
A subtle vibe went through the recruits as each of them now came to attention, as if being drawn into echoing Callie’s posture and tone. Callie was always goofy and fun and a great friend, but now it was time to be serious, and they had a role to play. They suddenly saw that now.
“Our mission is really important. We are going out to possibly save Juniper’s life. Trainers Reynard and Rowani are pretty sure a creature called a Bogwump, also known as a Carrion Eel, has built a nest. If the babies hatch, they could float downstream and threaten Juniper’s tree. If her tree dies, she dies. So, we need to make sure that doesn’t happen.“ Callie saw a sullen expression come over Shul’an’s face and they visibly deflated. She suspected they knew what they were facing.
“So, when we go in, Pixyl’s job will be to slice open the nest from the top, so we can burn them out once we’re in. The rest of our jobs is to make sure she can do that. Lhawni and Ambria, you’re both on healing duty. The Major and Tazrok are acting as Guardians. Rangers, we’re to lay down a wall of arrows so thick that nothing coming for us can get through.”
“We’re going to be attacked? By what?” Jesca asked, concern on her voice,
“The Bogwump nest secretes a parasite that, in addition to killing off all the plants and trees around it, also enrages the local wildlife. They’ve gone feral and will come for us. It’s going to suck, but we’ll need to fend them off, and that probably means killing a lot of them. If it’s any consolation, the parasite will kill them slowly and painfully soon enough, so I’m choosing to believe we’re sparing them that suffering. Sorry everyone, I hate it too.”
“The infection really is a gruesome death,” Reynard added. “Allowing anything to suffer is the height of cruelty. All the same, the Sergeant is correct, it is going to ‘suck’.”
“At this point,” Callie continued, trying not to dwell on the culling that might be required, “Trainer Rowani is flying out and back, to confirm that it is indeed a Bogwump and its location. She should be back any time now. We’re guessing it’s about six to eight kilometers from here, so we’ll need to hike for a bit. If it’s not one of these Eel things, we’ll figure out next steps at that point.”
“We’ll be in a swamp, right?” Shul’an asked. “I’ve heard about these things. That’s where they live.” A collective groan went up among all the recruits.
“Yeah, I forgot to mention that part. Sorry,” Callie said, wincing.
The groan went up a second time, this time even louder.
“Eww eww eww,” Ambria said, imagining the stagnant water all over her furry legs, and instinctively rubbing it off. “You dragged me into this? I hate you Callie.”
“Sorry, Ambria. You’re the best Combat Healer I know, except Tasi.”
“I’m the only Combat Healer you know, except Tasi!” the Faun hissed back, narrowing her eyes.
“Exactly,” Callie said, shooting the Faun a smile. Then she addressed the rest of the team. “I know this isn’t glamorous, but Juniper’s one of us and we’re doing it for her.”
“And for Vanis,” Pixyl added, laughing slightly.
“Yeah,” Callie said, echoing Pixyl’s laugh. “We’re doing this for Vanis’s girlfriend. He’s a prince after all, so maybe we’ll get knighthoods or something out of the deal.”
“Sir Thunderfist,” Tazrok said, straightening and striking a pose. “Sound impressive. Will make good knight.”
Tazrok’s grand pronouncement cheered the team up, in spite of the task before them.
“Trainer Reynard, did you get all the supplies?” Callie asked.
“I’ve let outfitting know we’re coming and how many. They’ll have what we need, including all the potions.”
“That’s why we needed food?” Celeste asked. She already knew the answer, so it was a way for her to remind Callie to tell the rest of the team. She flashed Callie a wink in support.
“Right. When we get close, we’ll take a break to rest up, eat our lunches, and drink the potion to resist the parasite infection. It lasts longer on a full stomach. When we get back, we’ll all need some spells to make sure we’re clean, too.” She turned to Reynard. “That reminds me, I got you two of the sausage things up at the gaming field.”
“Oh, thank you,” Reynard said, a surprised expression on his face.
A sudden screeching sound in the distance called everyone’s attention, and they looked towards the southeast to see a golden hawk flying towards them at incredible speed. Callie and Reynard both had to jump to the side as the bird plowed into the ground, somersaulting several times as it changed forms into Rowani. She grunted and groaned, rolling, before the Pantherkin finally came to rest.
Rowani was a complete mess. She gasped for breath, wincing in pain as she pushed her hand against her side, and a second later blood started to leak heavily from around her already-bloody armor. She swallowed hard, and her hand started to glow, but the glow faded as she fell back in exhaustion and pain.