Outskirt of the Hamlet

The night was interrupted by a terrible storm. A harsh blizzard of wind and ice engulfed the land, halting everyone to seek shelter from nature's motherly wrath. The hamlet didn't fare much worse like the rest and received the same treatment.

The men from the hamlet took refuge in cover to bide their time for the weather to stop. Yet not everyone didn't make it in time to return to the hamlet.

Ernest and Grimwald were on their daily routine patrol when the storm arrived all of a sudden. Unable to see far ahead from the thick of the storm, the two were forced to take refuge at a nearby cave. Fortunately, the cavern had scatter pieces of vegetation to make campfire.

“Blasted weather! How did it come to this." Grimwald the thief sat down on the ground, close to the makeshift campfire, rubbing his arms together.

“At least we found this place before the winter turned for worse." Ernest the Honest stated optimistically.

“Yeah, sure, whatever you say. Can't believe this is happening to us." Grimwald stretched out his hand towards the fire. “Our officers sure do love us getting tortured. Wonder what they are going to say when we get back I wonder? Probably there is some lesson to all of this, wouldn't you say?"

Ernest remained silent for awhile, poking the embers with a stick. He watched the flame got bigger enough to provide enough warmth for the night. “I'm more worried for the Commandant when he learned that we are missing."

“Enough evidence to give us the harsh treatment. Wonderful."

The two sat quietly by the fire in the long duration of the night, hoping that the storm would come to pass. After a couple of hours being cooped inside the cave, it was clear to Ernest that his friend took a quick snooze, snoring obnoxiously loud that might give away their position.

Ernest pondered to how his friend could manage to sleep in a time like this, ignoring the possibilities that they might be in some sort of danger. The outskirts around the hamlet hadn't been fully explored due to the conditions of the weather. Any attempt to further expand was dashed away from the snow, and inefficient number of troops.

After Partishan Callus lead the expedition, the hamlet was cut downhalf of a garrison force, too few to make a respectable defense. Ernest questioned personally of the decision made by Lady Valice. Even if the expedition manage to reclaim most of the equipment from the forsaken forest, they would not find anything worth valuable to salvage, and that a chance of survivors that were left behind was minuscule when buried under a ton of snow.

Ernest honestly believed that the expedition was a waste of time and effort, but that wasn't his choice at the matter. He was a soldier and nothing more. He stopped there when Grimwald's snore became much louder after each inhale.

  Ernest sighed exhaustively. "One of these days, it is you that's be on watch duty."

After much extent of time, the blizzard that has been battering the land has finally come to pass, revealing above the nightly sky a gentle stream of gems, twinkling and shining out bright from the distant. The fire crackled low as the light began to fade. It wouldn't be long before the cave where Grimwald and Ernest reside be engulf in a complete and utter darkness.

The first person to woke from his sleep was Grimwald, feeling the bite of the cold that was coursing through vein like daggers.. He was rudely interrupted from a good dream, a terrific dream about riches and fame and loot. He gave out a big yawn, rubbed his eyes and get up on to his feet.

Grimwald poked a stick against the fire, hoping that the fire would continue from the rest of the night. Unfortunately, all of his attempt was for naught as the fire died out completely. The only light source for him to see anything was the stars from above.

“Guess it's time for me to get the firewood." Grimwald grimaced bitterly. He hated the job, gathering the materials through the insidious and palpable terrain that was snow. Usually in some case, he would rely Ernest to do the job for him, but it seemed that wasn't case.

Grimwald found his friend leaning back against the wall, sleeping soundly with a musket close to his chest. He couldn't but to shake his head, amused of his worried nature.

“Overprotective and anxious. As always."

As the musketeer gathered his gear, Grimwald exited from the cave and head out into the night to gather more firewoodwood. He never like the weather, the cold and the ice, but it was important to accomplish this task. Otherwise, he wouldn't hear the end from Ernest, spouting nonsense about duty and responsibility.

While on the steady course through the trail, Grimwald absentmindedly thought about the hamlet and the officers that were waiting them for return. They could return to base, considering that blizzard storm had come to pass. Although Grimwald wouldn't mind waking up Ernest just to see his colorful personality, he frankly wasn't going to do that. He had no intention to return for a moment.

Grimwald would not mind spend quietly without the constant babble and distraction and annoyance from his imperial officers. He imagined that a long list of punishment that await for them. The grim thought of latrine duty was far worse from death.

The musketeer, the former thief, reached at the edge of the forest, finding a suitable enough of firewood that would last a day or two. He didn't waste time on his task, wanting to finish as soon possible. While the former thief was about in the middle of his progress, something caught his attention.

Not far from where the former thief was positioned, a bright, orange light flickered in the forest.

Grimwald suspected it wasn't the rescue party from the hamlet nor anyone at that matter. He was indeed curious to investigate what lied over there, but a right mind told him otherwise that it was a foolish idea. Instead to walk straight into the light, he instead turned the other way around.

The former thief had no desire to risk his life for a mere curiosity. He came to a conclusion that the people from the orange light were the locals of the land. He cannot say however if they were friend or foe.

While the former thief soldier was about to head back to Ernest, Grimwald felt something behind the shadow. He turned his head around to hear a rustle from the overgrown vegetation. He quickly dropped the firewood and raised his musket. He slowly backed away from the vegetation.

Grimwald wanted no trouble yet it seemed trouble had found him. He was about to get away safely when the sound of a string being pulled stop in his advance.

“Stay where you are, stranger, unless you want this dart landed straight to your skull."

Grimwald softly cursed himself, caught surprise by the well-hidden archer. He made an attempt to turn his head to get the idea on who the person was, but the archer caught up to his antic and shot an arrow between his legs.

“Do not turn, stranger. I warn you. Do not speak and stay still!"

The former thief gladly obeyed and remained still as a statue. Although, he was unable to get a good look at the character, the voice from the archer describe to be female, rich and firm in her tone.

“Drop your weapon and kick towards to the bushes."

He followed her command, lowering the musket down and kicking it toward to the bushes.

The overgrown rustled wildly and before long a shadow emerge from cover.

Grimwald was unable to take a good look at the mysterious individual, whose identify covered well beneath the shade of the forest.

The shadow gradually picked up the musket, inspecting the craftsmanship with its careful, golden eyes.

“Yes, this seems efficient enough. Different than most of this today's invention. I wonder how far it would go." Its voice echoed throughout the trees, old and refined.

Grimwald quickly judged the mysterious shadow to be fixated over his musket. He could describe the voice of the shadow to be of a male character.

“Stranger, tell me. How far can this gun reach?"

Grimwald had little to no choice but answer to his question. “At least about three hundred yards."

Whatever the shadow reacted, he didn't show it to him. “How long does it take to reload."

“That depends on the craft of the gun. An ordinary soldier could reload under a minute. For me? Minute and a half."

“Hmm, thought the reload would take longer. It seemed so easy for you."

Grimwald made a scoff. “Let me tell you, it takes but a routine to get used to it."

“For that we have come in an agreement." The male shadow focused his eyes on the archer, gesturing his fingers to stop what she was doing. “We have come what we came for. Time to plan for the second phase."

“As you wish." The female archer stepped away from Grimwald and quickly vanished into the darkness.

Grimwald turned his head around to find the archer gone. “So…what is going to happen to me?"

The male shadow chuckled. “You could leave, if you want. Although I must thank you for this information. I suspect that you would resist."

“With an arrow behind my head, I guess you're welcome."

With that said, the shadow vanished without a trace and Grimwald was left all alone in the forest. He remained still for a couple of minute before he gathered his things and returned back to the cave.

With the fireplace lit once more, Grimwald didn't spend the remainder of his time on the warm fire, but instead spend outside on the cold, waiting, guarding for his friend in case the two might return to finish the job.

Grimwald despised the weather, the snow and the ice. In the end, he gotten used to the condition and that the cold never bothered him anyway.

At the break of dawn, Grimwald remained outside of the cave, tireless and unbroken since the incident from the forest. He would never forget his encounter, the humiliation that dwell in his heart. If he ever meet them again he would not hesitate to pull the trigger and kill them both.

Ernest yawned out loudly, rising up from his slumber. He appeared out from the cave with a terrible pain behind his back. “Never again would I sleep like that again. Grimwald? You're up early? What's the occasion?"

Grimwald thought it would be easy to tell him about his encounters at the forest, but that might prove otherwise disastrous on his part.

“Can I not wake up early for once?" The former thief made a smug face. “Also I would like to see if I could manage. You never know when the officers tell you to wake up at the last second."

“Ah, that be true. The Partishan wanted us to do double time."

The two made a gradual return to the hamlet, neither one of them spoke in the quiet trail.

“So what's the deal with you." Ernest asked suspiciously. “You've been acting like this since morning. Did something happen to you while I was asleep."

Grimwald quickly waved dismissively to his statement. “The only thing I'm tensed up is you sleeping throughout the night while I have to watch your butt of. I just want to sleep and be done with it."

“Guess that make sense." Ernest looked back at the cave from the distant. “I am quite surprise that we haven't encounter any of the locals yet. Strange, isn't it?"

“Yeah, quite strange indeed." Grimwald face hardened and went further ahead of him. He had enough remembering the two individuals from last night. The voice of Ernest ringed from behind, but he didn't heed of his friend. There was nothing to discuss either than to go home, eat a hearty meal and sleep throughout the rest of the day.

The two made safely back to the hamlet without any problem. They entered through the front gate where a crowd of soldiers gathered at the center. Curious to the event that was at hand, they approach to the nearest individual.

“Oh, Grimwald. Ernest. Glad that you made it back." One of the musketeers declared, sizing up for a smile. “We thought that you guys were lost or something. Guess Yvir owes me a couple of ration after this."

“You're all heart, Feris." Grimwald stated, raising his feet up to see the commotion. “What in the Savior is going on? Why aren't you guarding at the gate?"

Feris widened his eyes, almost shock even. “You guys haven't heard?"

“Hear about what, exactly?" Ernest added.

“Guess you haven't heard at all." Feris smiled widely. “The hamlet made contact with a group of locals."

Ernest raised an eyebrow. “No snite? Is that true?"

Feris nodded. “I snite you not. They just came at the front entrance, speaking a tongue that none of us could understand. Fortunately one of the Partishans are handling the situation as we speak."

Grimwald was quite suspicious of the locals, but remained silent for the moment.

“Who is the Partishan that is dealing with the local?" Ernest pondered.

Feris smile quickly faded from his face, replaced with a painful reaction. “None other than Partishan Simr Lars."

The two scouts swore simultaneously.

“Yeah, you got that right." Feris sighed, hearing already the voice of Partishan Simr Lars interacting with the locals. “What a damnable bastard. I wouldn't be the locals at the moment. Hope they are doing alright?"

“Well it's none of our business." Grimwald turned his around to the barracks, eyeing for a good night rest. “Tell me once this business is concluded. I'll see you around you guys."

Grimwald was about to take leave his before Feris added that would shock the both of them. “Guess that would suspect when they aren't humans at all."

The two froze at the spot.

“Say what now?" Ernest exclaimed.

The smile from Feris face returned, wider than ever before. “You heard me right. They're not even human at all. They're some overside rabbits walking on two thinly legs. For now, there are two of them at the moment. One of them looks like some kind of scholar and the other an archer."

Grimwald turned his head around towards the musketeer, eyes widened with shock. “An archer? Are you sure?"

Feris quickly nodded. “Y-yeah. That's right. Don't know for reason why you shout like...hey wait!"

Grimwald went into the crowd, shoving them aside towards the center.

Ernest was alarmed by the sudden reaction and followed him from behind.

“Grimwald, wait!" Ernest said, clasping on his friend's shoulder. “What in the world are you doing? This isn't like you."

Grimwald didn't respond to his plea. He shoved the hand from Ernest away and continued onward through the crowd, leaving his friend behind among the mass of musketmen. When the scout was at considerable range, he could faintly hear the distinctive voice from Partishan Lars.

“<And who do you think are, telling us what to do?>"

Grimwald recognize that voice. It was the archer.

“<Rabbit, I am Simr Lars. Partishan and Guardian of the Empire. I have every right and authority to say otherwise. You have come here, barge through the front gate like you are some higher up and demanding me to let you speak with our leader? If you think you have come here so easily then you are sadly mistaken.>"

Grimwald could feel the rage that was building around the Partishan.

“<My good man, please excuse my friend here. I'm afraid that she hasn't quite used to the customs of your kind yet. Our only purpose for this venture is a peaceful one and we only desire to meet the leader of this operation.>"

Grimwald recognized the voice right away to be the male shadow, speaking in a suave tone to appease the Partishan.

“<I do not think that you understand, old one.>" Partishan Lars quickly make a statement. “<None of you have the right to meet the leader and none of you have the right to speak such due. You've come to parlay with us, to strike some sort of deal, right? Tell me, what purpose have you come here, I wonder?>"

Grimwald had finally made his way through the center to spot the Partishan and the two locals. He was quite shock with unbelief to find two large rabbits at the center, dressed in the colors of black and yellow and white.

The female archer was easily recognizable in her lightweight adventure garment and her wooden bow. She had a shade of brownish fur with a fierce determine look upon her face, gripping the quiver of arrows from the right side of her waist.

The other rabbit, the male shadow from the forest, look more like a scholar than a mere warrior, wearing a heavy set of robes and garments. He had a shade of blackish fur with a calm look upon his face.

While amazed by this turn of event, Grimwald pondered as to the reason for his ability to understand the rabbits while others were unable at all. Why Grimwald and the Partishan were the only the people who could communicate with them?

The argument in the center quickly intensified when the Partishan grabbed the neck from the scholar.

“<I don't appreciate with the way you talk, old hare. If I were you, I consider you choose your words wisely.>"

“<Back off, freak!>" The archer raised her bow with a dart in aim for the Partishan's head. “<You better let him go or->"

“<Or what, little fluffball? What would happen if you did, I wonder?>"

Grimwald looked at the musketeers pulling their arms against the archer.

“<Little archer, you have no leverage against me nor the courage to do it?>" Partishan Simr Lars gloated. “<If you plan to go through with it then you'd better do it fast. These boys would have every right to put you and your friend down to the ground. If you play nice then maybe I can offer some form of arrangement with the leader of the hamlet.>"

The rabbit archer look annoyed, eyes glared viciously at the person that was in front of her. She saw her companion struggling to breathe from the Partishan's grasp. She had no other choice but to comply with the Partishan.

The Partishan could see the rabbit was getting the idea. He was about to be triumphant when something unexpected happen.

“<I am sorry, Lars but I cannot let you do that.>"

All eyes were focused upon one individual that stood out in the center. They couldn't believe there eyes when the former, young thief, Grimwald, spoke in the tongue of the beast.