Ozlo did not sleep well. The combination of the anticipation and lack of exercise that he had grown used to while helping around the smithy led to a night of tossing and turning followed by short bursts of sporadic rest. Eventually Ozlo eventually managed to close his eyes and drift off into a peaceful slumber. Only to be interrupted by his master what felt like moments later.

"Boy. Gather your pack, double check your gear and eat some breakfast. After you're done head out to join the CDF." Burgin strangely enough didn't stick around and left Ozlo to follow his orders, which he did to the best of his abilities. Finishing up his breakfast Ozlo grabbed his pack, after giving it a quick once-over to make sure the gear was still there, and marched out the door to join the CDF.

"And Ozlo. It's always good to see you, right on time. I think that makes you the last of us." Boyd glanced around the group as he addressed them. "I see by the way you're all dressed, that you have been informed of todays mission. That's right, you are now proficient enough with your arms to not hit each other, for the most part. And that means it's time to get to killing."

Boyd handed everyone present, all three of them, their preferred weapons, not blunted this time. "Alright, you've been armed. Now let's see if you can learn the most important part about being a soldier. Would any of you know what that is?" Hesitantly, Andrew help up his hand. "Uh, following orders?" He asked the captain.

Boyd scratched his head a little before responding. "Well, yes. And no. Specifically, how to shut up and follow me. Most of this kind of work is walking from one place to another and is rather dull. So form a line and let's go."

Ozlo looked towards Andrew and John, the only current members of the CDF and started walking. And walking, and walking and eventually. When Ozlo had grown tired and they had gone farther out of town than Ozlo had ever been. They did some more walking.

Unceremoniously, Andrew called out. "Ugh. Are we there yet?" Boyd motioned for them to stop and promptly dropped his pack. "Yep, this is it, we're here." Andrew looked around excitedly. "Really?" The captain looked back and forth before leaning in and shouting. "NOPE! And just for that, you're carrying my pack now too."

Moaning not so quietly to himself, Andrew shouldered the pack, making sure not to complain lest Boyd make him carry something else, and the four of them continued their march.

Aside from the minor complaints from Andrew struggling with two packs and the occasional detour through this or that bend in the road, the walk was uneventful. That is, until they reached a rougher patch of road. If one knew what to look for, they might have noted the distant lack of wear and signs of human interference.

Stolen story; please report.

Boyd casually glanced around and came to a stop. Andrew, once again asked. "Are we there yet?" Only this time, Boyds answer was a simple. "Yep. We're here. Put your packs down, we need to talk."

The boys complied and their captain gestured to an outcropping of rocks in the distance. "Over there, be monsters. Vile, evil things that terrorize children and steal the virtue from maidens. Twisted creatures of the land. I'm talking of course about. SLIMES!"

A silence fell over the boys before Andrew burst out laughing. "Slimes, really? Slimes are the dangerous thing we're hunting today?" Boyd gave Andrew a small smile while Ozlo and John cringed inwardly.

"Yes boy, slimes. Did you think we were going to hunt a dragon or a lich on your first hunt? Pray tell, what did YOU think we were hunting? Know of any demons or dire-wolves that have taken up residence in our peaceful village?"

Andrew, grin thoroughly wiped from his face smiled sheepishly. "Sorry. It makes sense I guess." Boyd stood up and gestured for the rest of them to do the same. "It's fine, I was just trying to create an air of reverence for your first hunt. Were times a bit different we'd be hunting goblins or kobolds, but thankfully, the area is pretty clear of most monsters lately."

A twinkle entered Boyd's eye and he stood up straighter before going off on another of his speeches. "Thanks, in no small part to the CIVILIAN DEFENSE FORCE! Thanks to our great efforts in cleansing the land from any monster filth we set our eyes upon, the CDF has reduced civilian casualties by eight percent this year. That's up from last years six percent by two whole percentile points. Were you lads not already a part this illustrious organization, I'd highly recommend you join today. Tell your friends, the CDF is happy to help!"

While Boyd was lost in his own little world with his speech, the boys glanced over and noticed a clear blue slime heading their way. Andrew was the first to pipe up. "Uh, Boyd, there's a-" Boyd glanced behind him and suddenly the slime was dead. Deflating in on itself, it's crystalline core shattered into pieces.

"Ahem, as I was saying. The Civilian Defense force is... Is... Damn it. I lost my train of thought. John, go grab that shard for me will you?" The boys stood there confused, not quite sure what just happened when John did as instructed. "Ahem, anyway. Just over the hill there are slimes. They're not a threat to any real extent, unless of course they manage to sneak up on you. At least these ones aren't. There's other variations of course, but we'll get into the nitty gritty of monster research when I feel like you're ready. For now, you just need to know this boys, lean in close."

The group did as instructed and Boyd whispered. "Stab them." Boys words hung in the air while the boys stared at him. Ozlo was the first to pipe up. "Stab them? That's it? Stab them?"

Boyd started walking towards the hill and gestured for the group to follow.

"Yep, stab em. That's it. If you can hit their core they just kind of dissolve and if you poke a big enough hole in them they'll leak out all over the place. So stab them. And let that be a lesson to you. Most enemies can be killed by stabbing them. Not exactly sage advice, I know. But still something to remember and take to heart. Never underestimate the pointy end!"