For the rest of the train ride, I just sat replaying my encounter over and over. It was all so baffling. I wasn’t quite sure how to react.

When the train pulled into the station in Kâlimèth, I pulled my pack onto my back and stepped onto the platform. It was the same mess of people on stretchers, screaming, crying, shouting, running, and limping. People came at me from all angles. I nearly lost my balance several times. Kâlimèth was the central town for all the units along the southwest front.

I had to push and elbow my way through the throng of people. It was overwhelming to say the least.

I had no idea what I was doing, so I approached one of the more authoritative-looking people.

I tapped him on the shoulder. “Excuse me. I’m a returning soldier for unit 42. Would you be able to tell me where to go?

The man turned to me with an angry look. “Can’t you tell I’m busy? Just use that pea-sized brain in your head and figure it out.” He poked me hard in the forehead. Then, in a voice like he was talking to a kid, he said, “Maybe you should start with the carts over there that are supplying all the units. Do you think you’ll be able to walk over there by yourself, or do you want me to hold your hand? The senior soldier grabbed my wrist and pointed it towards the carts lined up near the station.

He then released my wrist with a laugh and continued shouting at other people. I rubbed my wrist where he had grabbed it and hurried over to the carts.

“What a dick,” I muttered under my breath.

There were about ten carts lined up beside the station. People clambered on and off. Supplies were being unloaded, then they were immediately loaded back up. People shouted, and the poor horses tasked with pulling the carts looked like they hadn’t gotten a break all day, because they probably hadn’t.

One of the coachmen yelled at the top of their voice. “I’m leaving for Unit forty twos camp in two minutes.”

I scrambled through the crowd to the cart heading to my camp. Crates of supplies had already been loaded onto the back. The cart was already nearly full. I jumped onto the edge of the cart. I was sitting on a crate labelled ‘food.’ I let my legs hang over the side; I didn’t really have a choice in the matter. There was barely enough room for my butt, let alone my legs.

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The coachman clicked at the horses, and the cart lurched into motion.

It was easy to tell the difference between the new soldiers and the returning ones. All the new soldiers were laughing and singing happily while the returning soldiers sat in silence. Some of them still had bandages wrapped around various body parts.

None of the new soldiers knew what they were in for. The government had been careful to keep the many failures and gory details out of the news so as to not panic people. Pretty dumb if you ask me. The war had been going on for long enough that I was sure people were starting to realise it wasn’t going well for us.

One of the new soldiers hit me in the back of my head with their arm. I was sat precariously enough that it nearly sent me over the side.

“Watch it,” I said angrily as I rubbed the back of my head.

The young boy turned to face me. He had wind-tousled blond hair. It sat in ringlets perfect around his face. He had round chestnut eyes. I recognised him immediately.

“Precana! Is that you? Are you already sixteen? Preacana lived in Pallamin in the house on the other side of town from me. He was in my year at school, but he was the youngest in our year. He wasn’t a close friend, but we had been friends.

“Rico? I guess I knew you would be fighting, but I couldn’t really imagine it. Are you also part of the forty-second unit? He looked at me in confusion.

“Yes, I am.”

“Why were you in Kâlimèth? Did you get injured?” He gave me a scanning look.

“Nah, I got Sting.”

“Ah shit. That really sucks.”

Some of Percana’s friends were looking at me in confusion. Percana turned to them and said, “This is Fi-Rico. He’s from the same town as me.”

Some of his friends nodded in understanding. One of them waved at me. I waved back with a smile I hoped came across as friendly.

“Rico, this is Go-Valdess, Fe-Kamtal, Da-Fretalima, and Ki-Hart.” Percana said, gesturing to each of his friends in turn.

“Lovely to meet you all.”

“You as well.” Ki-Hart said.

I didn’t know what to say, but thankfully, Percana had always been really good at conversations and filled in for my lack of words.

“Rico, have you and Calla been kicking some Tiffer ass? I bet you have. You’re not the most violent but pretty good on a Pegasus and with a bow.” Percana then turned to his friends. “He won a bunch of archery competitions at home.”

I felt a lump grow in my throat. “Percana, Calla is dead.”

The smile fell off his face. “Oh, Rico I’m so sorry. I had no idea.” He then pulled me into a hug.

“It’s all right, Percana. You had no way of knowing.” I could feel the tears starting to burn my eyes, but I pushed them back. I refused to break down. I had done enough of that recently.

Percana, for the first time in his life, was at a loss for words. He released me from his grasp.

I spent the rest of the cart ride in silence. I tried to listen to Percana’s conversation with his friends, but I couldn’t bring my mind to focus on it. All I could think about was how similar Percana’s hair was to Calla’s. I hated it.

When the cart pulled into the camp, a rush of dread hit me. It was the last place in the world I wanted to be.

I started to make my way to my tent. Thankfully, nothing had been moved, so I could still find it without issue. I was hoping Pill would be there. I needed to see him. I had missed him.