Times were dangerous. No one could be trusted as friend or foe, unless you were willing to risk your life. People had thought, prayed, that the witches fall would ensure the OZ's ease of hardships. How wrong they were. Longcoats had declared war with the OZ, trying to retake it for their former Mistress. People had volunteered to join in the fight against them. Hundreds fought for their freedom. Hundreds died, and the war was far from ending.
Laying in one of many trenches dug for battle purposes, DG twiddled her rations between her fingers. In the time she had been on the battle line, she knew that this silence she was experiencing at this moment, wouldn't last. Soon gunshots would filled the cold night air. And all that would occupy her mind would be; who will die tonight?
The cracker stopped at her index and middle finger. DG took a bite out of it, ingesting the stale taste of bread and salt. It wasn't much, but she wasn't willing to eat the soldiers rations. They were the people who really needed. And as long as no one caught her eating little rations she had brought, she would be safe.
DG sighed as she chewed the stale cracker. It had been a month since she joined the battlefield. It hadn't been planned for her to stay, or even see the first gunfire. But her convoy had been ambushed as they began to return, stranding her surviving guards and herself with the regiment. They had been given bunks with the soldiers and allowed to the rations. However, DG couldn't take food from those who needed. She had, without anyone knowing, brought rations for herself and her guards. Things that were less than what the soldiers ate. Rationing herself, DG felt like a soldier. Helping those who needed it, even if they advised against it.
She swallowed the stale cracker and continued gazing up at the sky. She pulled her coat tighter around her body. The nights had begun to grow colder, making her night watches only longer. She was often asked if she would rather have the day watch, but this was the only time DG could get to herself. Besides, she was more focused at night than in the day.
"What are you doing over here?" DG's head snapped up at the sudden presence. Even in the dark, it wasn't difficult to guess who was standing over her.
"Waiting to relieve Jenson from his shift." Dg answered. She turned her head from her guest and stared out at the encampment.
"You can't keep up the night watch when it starts snowing kid." he replied.
"Some people can handle the elements better than others Cain." DG explained.
"And some people don't know when they've helped out enough." Cain said. He settled himself next to DG.
"Well there's not much else for me to do." DG replied.
"You could go home." Cain answered.
"For the last time Cain, I'm not take any troops to trek through the area, just to get me home. You need them here. I could get out perfectly fine on my own if you would just let me." DG explained. She tightened her scarf around her neck.
"And you know that I'm not willing to risk your life out there alone." Cain replied.
DG sighed. Cain was so frustrating sometimes. She could get passed enemy lines easily without others. She was more quiet, easily concealed because of her size. That's how they had been ambushed the first time. She pulled her legs up and hugged them close to her body.
"You ever wonder if this war will end?" DG asked.
Cain seemed stunned for brief moment at her question. "What brought this on kid?"
DG shrugged, "Just something I couldn't shake in my mind."
"Well, wars don't last forever." Cain said.
"I know that. Back on the Other Side, we learned about some of the wars. There was even one going on when I left, getting to its seventh year. I…I've never…"
"Been close enough to think about it?" Cain finished.
"Yeah." DG answered.
"Kid, to be honest, I've never been in war until you showed up to stop the witch. So I understand what you're saying. However, from a Tin Man's perspective, everyday's a war to be fought. The wars just reached its limit between two sides and both are calling for a blood fight." Cain explained.
"I noticed that." DG stated.
"Have you noticed that these men aren't shaken by it?" Cain asked.
DG looked up over her knees, "Yeah. I've never seen a group of men face something that could kill them without fear in them. Except once."
Cain rolled his eyes. "A zipper head, fuzz ball, and a tin man don't count."
Dg turned her head, "Says who?"
"The Tin Man." Cain answered.
DG's eyebrows rose in defiance, "Since when do you get to deem what's worthy to my eyes, Cain?"
"Since your parents put me in charge of you, Princess." Cain replied.
Before DG could reply, something happened behind her. She wasn't sure what, but she could hear something behind them. Her head turned to Jenson's sentry station. It was too dark to see him, but Jenson and DG had made out their systems of communications.
Dg let out a small purr sound. Cain almost asked her what she was doing. Suddenly she bolted from her seat. Cain followed after her.
"Dg what are you doing?" Cain whispered.
Dg stopped at Jenson's sentry post, except Jenson was nowhere to be found. Cain then realized what she was doing. He grabbed her arm protective-like. Reaching for his pistol.
"Let's get back to camp." Cain said.
"What about Jenson?" DG asked She knew they had him and that it was pointless to hope for him.
"We wouldn't be able to find him now if we wanted to, Deeg." Cain said. He started heading back to the camp.
DG turned and followed him. Suddenly something moved fast enough and grabbed her throat, silencing her scream. The air was cut off from her lungs. She reached out for Cain, only missing him by centimeters.
"Don't make a sound." ordered a menacing voice.
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dun dun dunnnnn...yeah...i have fun.