Hey guys!

So today's Memorial Day in America and I wanted to write something special, but nothing came to mind.

However, ever since I wrote "Redemption" I have been thinking about making something similar to "Amazonian Life", except of course this takes place during the American Revolution and it's a world where birds instead of humans rule.

So I thought… Why not do it? So here it is!

The Winter Enemy

December 1777, 18 miles northwest of Philadelphia

The revolution that was started more than two years earlier was looking more and more like a losing cause for American freedom and independence, even with victories like Saratoga and Trenton, the British Scarlet army was still in top fighting shape, causing General Washington to retreat with what remained of the depressed American rebels, fighting losing battles in New Jersey.

A British army, under General Howe has captured Philadelphia, home of the Continental Congress, in late September 1777 after Washington failed to stop them in the Battle of Brandywine. Washington retreated his army to Valley Forge in December after unsuccessfully trying to dislodge the British from the area, where he and his army would spend the winter in harsh and miserable conditions, first living in tents and then wooden huts, while the British were able to enjoy the warm, comfortable buildings of Philadelphia.

Alex, the Scarlet soldier turned American rebel during the Battle of Saratoga, now a Lieutenant, along with Blu and his other friends were with General Washington during the terrible winter. Blu and Alex were on a routine inspection to make sure the troops were taking care of themselves properly.

"How I wish we were in Philadelphia instead of the Brits sir." Alex sighed and shivered as he wrapped his coat around him tighter, as he spoke to Blu, who was a Major now.

"I know Alex, but this is the best we can do, at least we're not suffering in a prisoner camp." Blu said back. "All we have to do is survive the winter and we'll be fine."

Blu and Alex continued their inspection, coming to a fire where their friends sat down, the two joined their friends by the fire.

"How are you all doing this fine day?" Blu joked, trying his best to sound happy.

"Enjoying this nice cold winter sir." Zach chuckled back, holding onto a cup of hot coffee in his wings.

Another of their friends, Nightfly, poured two cups of coffee and gave them to Blu and Alex, the two taking the cups and sipping some, feeling the warmth go down their throats.

"Thank you Nightfly." Alex said.

"You're welcome sir." Nightfly replied back.

Silence then came over, no one having to say anything, they just sat there by the fire, enjoying what little warmth they had until Blu broke the silence. Blu wasn't being funny, instead he was serious this time.

"Did we lose anyone during the night?" Blu asked, seriousness in his voice.

"We lost Arthur last night sir." Michael reported. "When we tried to wake him up, his body was freezing, he died in his sleep sir."

Alex was especially depressed by this news. Arthur was a Scarlet just like him, taken prisoner, but was encouraged by Alex to change his loyalty and fight against the British crown. He and Arthur were good friends, Arthur proving to be a loyal soldier, in fact, during the chaos at Brandywine, Alex saw Arthur save a blue macaw soldier from getting killed by a bayonet from a charging British Scarlet soldier.

"Well at least he died peacefully…" Alex closed his eyes to hold back his tears.

"Well, Alex and I have to continue our inspection, you guys stay as warm as you can, and stay cheerful, we'll get through this." Blu advised his friends before he got up.

Before Alex followed Blu, he asked his friends something…

"Hey, where did you guys bury Arthur?" Alex asked.

"Just besides the woods sir, we marked his grave with his name." Jugal answered.

"Lieutenant?" Blu called to Alex when Blu noticed Alex was not coming.

Alex heard Blu, but quickly thanked Jugal for the information.

"Thank you Jugal, well as Blu said, keep warm men." Alex said before going to Blu and speaking to him. "Sir, can you excuse me, I have to go see someone."

"Okay Alex, I'll continue the inspection myself." Blu said.

"Thank you sir." Alex replied and went to go see Arthur.

Alex walked to the edge of the woods and searched for Arthur's name along the hundreds of graves already there from men who died from the cold, starvation, and disease. When he found Arthur's grave, Alex didn't know what to do, all he could do was start to let out his tears. Alex was so focused on his emotions that, at first, he didn't notice that someone was coming from behind him, someone very important…

"You feeling okay soldier?" A strong voice asked Alex.

Alex saw a blue wing on his shoulder and slowly turned around to see the last bird he expected to see. The bird was none other than General George Washington himself and Alex was astonished, never has he been this close to the general, he was a very tall man, strongly built, nothing like the British cartoons depicted him, as a weak short man who was being trampled upon by King George's talons.

"Sorry general." Alex apologized as he quickly stood to attention.

"It's quite alright, Lieutenant Alex is it?" Washington asked.

"Yes general, that's correct." Alex replied.

"And have you meant Lafayette yet?" Washington asked as he introduced a white macaw that was standing behind him.

"Marquis de Lafayette, Lieutenant Alex, your reputation perceives you." The white macaw, in English, but with a heavy French accent commented to Alex.

Lafayette was a French man, inspired by the American uprising against the British that he volunteered to go to America and help them gain their freedom. Washington accepted his help and Lafayette shared the hardships and had deep sympathy for the American cause. He also has heard the tale of how Alex deserted the British army and fought against the crown at Saratoga.

"As does you good sir." Alex smiled back.

Meanwhile, Washington looked at what Alex was looking at and then turned to Alex.

"Your friend?" Washington asked.

"Yes general, Arthur, one of the Scarlets I convinced to join us." Alex answered. "Sir, can I ask you something?"

"Go ahead Lieutenant." Washington allowed Alex to speak.

"Why is all of this worth it?" Alex asked, fearful if he offended the general.

"You know, I been asking myself the same question every night Lieutenant." Washington sighed, but then became confident. "I believe that our cause is worth it because our children and their children will no longer have to grow up under a tyrant, we have to fight united and survive or die trying to achieve our goal."

"I guess I understand general." Alex replied.

"Good, now get to a fire Lieutenant and warm yourself up, we can't afford to lose a great soldier like you." Washington ordered.

"Yes general, right away." Alex stood at attention and saluted.

With Lafayette, Washington went on to walk around the camp to provide morale to all the other soldiers while Alex stayed for another few minutes before going to his friends, sitting down and getting as much warmth as he could. And when night fell, Alex, along with the rest of the army, slept in their tents, although freezing in the cold winter night, still hung on to the dream of freedom…

As the winter passed, the American rebels, instead of being defeated and broken apart, came out stronger than ever before.

The winter at Valley Forge was a hard experience for Washington's troops as lack of supplies of food coupled with the defeats of the army caused morale to hit a critical point as the cold, starvation, and disease set in along the troops, causing 2,500 out of the 10,000 men present to die during the winter. Added to the fact that at first the troops had to sleep in tents, which offered very little protection against the cold.

However as food and supplies began flowing into the camp regularly, morale increased and the deaths lowered. The building of wooden huts also greatly helped as it offered much more protection against the cold, more and more going up each week until all the soldiers had adequate protection against the elements.

Not only that, but Baron von Steuben, a Prussian military officer who came to America, offered his services to help train the American rebels into a top shape fighting army, that alone increasing morale. This training paid off as the spring came and Washington could finally go back on the offensive, first recapturing Philadelphia which was abandoned by the British, chasing them through New Jersey. The Battle of Monmouth followed, in which the American army was able to withstand the British army because of the training.

And during the spring at Valley Forge, the greatest piece of news came to the camp, that France has finally agreed to support the American rebels and declare war against England. Now the American cause was finally looking like it would be achieved, the long desired freedom and independence.

And done!

How do you guys like this idea? If you don't like it, I understand why.

But if you do, make sure to press that fav and follow! And be free to give me any ideas you like! Just make sure you do some research first!