My old spot on the ground had been taken. I had been expecting that, but it still pissed me off. I liked that hard, uncomfortable part of the ground.

I found a spot to put my stuff at the front of the tent just next to the entrance. The spots right next to the tent flap were considered the worst. They were the draftiest and had the most dirt tracked onto them. I would have to get a better spot as soon as possible. I would probably get sick again if I spent winter there.

Just as I was setting up my bedroll, Pill pushed the tent flap open and entered the tent.

He looked at me, and I looked at him. I leapt to my feet and embraced him. Pill was tense for a moment but then relaxed and returned the hug.

“I’ve missed you, Rico.” Pill said.

“Me too. I’m so glad you’re alright. I was so worried.”

Pill laughed. “No need. I’m not going anywhere.”

“When did you get so sentimental?” I unwrapped myself from Pill.

“You’re right. It tastes bad.” Pill stuck out his tongue.

I laughed. “You dumbass.”

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It felt so good to be around Pill again. We had been best friends for as long as I could remember. This was one of the times I was reminded why. He was so easy to be around. One of the few people who didn’t drain my energy.

“You should go find Staggy. He’s been really worried about you.” Pill said hugging me again. It was a bit out of character, but I supposed he was scared that he would never see me again.

“I’ll go find him in a minute.”

“He’s been having a hard time. The medics have been put to work. We’ve been going out on more campaigns recently.” Pill fiddled with the hem of his shirt. Pill was good at recognising emotions of others but didn’t like talking about them. He found it difficult to know what to do to help others. Pill liked to leave that to me because, according to him, I was good at dealing with people. I wasn’t convinced.

“What about you? Are you all right?

“I’m as fine as you can be at war. I’m alive, so that’s something.”

I had the urge to hug him again but refrained. “That is something. I’m so glad you’re not dead. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

“I think you would be fine. Absolutely horribly depressed, but you would be fine.”

I gave him a smile. “I would be horribly, absolutely depressed.”

“You care about me.” Pill said with fake sincerity.

“Of course I do. I’m going to talk to Staggy now. I really have missed you.”

As I was walking away, Pill called out, “See you, Riri.”

I turned back around and slapped him. “Don’t call me that, you dick. You know I hate it.”

“And this is exactly why I call you Riri. Your reaction is priceless every time.”

Just another downside to being close to someone: they know exactly how to push your buttons. From the moment Pill found out that I hated the nickname Riri, he would use it at every opportunity.

I flipped him off as I left the tent. Pill just laughed. By stars I had missed him.