Author's Note: This is my third fanfic story - I wanted to approach this one with a new angle as my other two stories are quite similar to each other. For now, this chapter is going to be a trial run to see what response it receives. Obviously if it's good feedback I'll carry on - if not I'll focus on just finishing Futility. So please review to tell me what you think - sorry if there are any soldiers out there who read this - I researched quite a bit but obviously not being in the characters' positions myself I may get things wrong - forgive me!
Joining the army was never the goal in my life. It's never a decision to be made on a whim, no matter what role you're in. I joined because where I'm from, jobs are scarce and my family needs the steady income that the forces can provide – at least until I get killed that is. I'm a dog handler. I and my dog Jake have been partners in the army for three years now. We've worked on a range of missions including bomb detection, vehicle searches and patrols. Don't get me wrong, I love my job – my team - but there are obviously risks with working so close to the battlefield.
"Private Everdeen." The deep voice pulls me out of my trance. I sit up and put the latest letter from my sister in my safety box under my bed, which in turn gets the attention of Jake who is lying on the foot of my bed. Not only is the German Shepard one of the best canines in the unit but he is also like a bodyguard and my best friend. I remember the first time an explosive detonated on one of our searches in Sangin, Afghanistan, I was blown off of my feet and knocked into a building. I was momentarily knocked out and Jake lay on my body to protect me until someone came to help. I woke up the next day in a hospital ward a few miles away from where I was based, later that day I went back to camp and found Jake waiting for me by my bunk. Some people don't realise how smart animals can be – they just need the right people and the right training to bring it out.
"Yes Corporal Sir." I stand to attention as my superior – Corporal Heavensbee approaches me.
"You're on patrol of the premises at twenty one hundred hours along with Private Odair and Lieutenant Mason." He states – this is no discussion – I've learnt this by now. The army knocks any objections out of you in training. When talking to a superior, you become a robot.
"Sir yes Sir." I respond with a salute. He gives me a nod, turns round and walks out again. This is pretty much all I do. Except sometimes things blow up or we get shot at.
"Ready to go out again tonight boy?" I ask Jake who is still watching me from my bunk. He replies by sitting up and pawing at the bed covers. Tonight shouldn't be too bad; at least I'm on patrol with people I actually like. I met Finnick Odair during canine training. He is a smooth bastard but a damn good soldier. We got deployed here at the same time – so we've been together throughout the whole process. I haven't known Johanna Mason as long, she was already stationed at the camp when Finnick and I got here – she's an Artillery Troop Officer – basically she leads a small team of soldiers in missions. She's the highest rank of the three of us and god does she know it. I check the time on my watch and there is still three hours until the patrol so I sit back on my bed and pull out my letter again.
Dear Katniss,
It seems so long ago that we saw you last. As usual, everyone in town sends their wishes to you and hopes you another safe return. Daddy isn't very well at the moment, but I'm sure he will get better soon. He's a fighter just like you. Buttercup misses you. I know you think he hates you but he doesn't really. Thank you for the picture of Jake. He's grown a lot since the last picture you sent of the two of you. I know you're out there helping people but I really miss you and I hope you can come home soon. Gale says hi as well. I've been talking to his brother Rory more lately as we are in the same class at school now; he is a lot like Gale. I took another photo of us for you so you don't miss anything. Goodnight,
From your little duck xx
I pull out the picture of my family again. My sister Prim is twelve years old, although she seems much older. She has her blonde hair tied in two braids, one either side of her head, in her arms the scruffy cat she called Buttercup – the devil cat, glaring at the camera. Either side of Prim is my mother and my father. My mother looks identical to Prim, same blonde hair, same blue eyes, even the same face shape. Whereas people say I take after my father, with his dark hair, tanned olive skin and muscular build. My heart aches looking at the picture – looking at what I'm missing out on. Jake must sense my shift in emotion as he moves forward to rest his head on my lap, eyes looking up at me. His affection puts a smile on my face as I hold the picture in one hand and use the other to pet him.
"I wish you could meet them. Prim would love you. You'd never be wanting of anything. You'd have a home with her." I can just imagine taking Jake home to her – she'd freak out like the time I bought her a goat for her birthday. I got it for cheap because it was ill but I took it home for her and she healed it, looked after it, and loved it and it is happy and healthy to this day. So much better than that cat of hers.
"Wanna get some food?" I ask him as it's always good to get a hearty meal before going out on patrol for five hours – after all – it may be your last. I get a response of a tail wag and a lift of his head to look at me better. I guess that's a yes then. "Come on then boy." With that he jumps off of the bed ready to go. I attach his lead to his collar and make my way out of the tent. Our dogs do not eat in the same place as their owners – it's probably one of the only times we're ever actually separated but it is for hygienic reasons which is understandable so I take him over to the kennels where all the animals are fed in camp.
"I'll be back in about an hour to come get you okay?" I tell him as I hand his lead over to the vet in charge of the kennel. He accepts what I say as he turns away from me, being lead off and I make my way over to the eating hall in camp. I enjoy the nights most of all here. When the temperature drops from the sweltering heat and the colder winds pick up – making it nice and cool. The eating hall is lit up and obvious full of life as I approach. You can hear the hum of chatter and the clanking of knives and forks but the smell isn't too good as usual – we do get the majority of our food from packets that can last for years after all, so the food obviously isn't of the highest quality. Walking into the hall I scan the inhabitants, trying to locate someone I half enjoy talking to. I may sound unsociable but I rather think of it as not trusting more than necessary. Luckily I spot a table occupied by Finnick, Johanna and another soldier – Private Jeffrey – he's in Johanna's squad. I don't speak to him much but 2/3 on a table is more than I could have hoped for. I collect my tray of mushed up food and go to sit with them.
"Evening Everdeen." Johanna greets me as I take a seat opposite the three. "So I hear we're teamed up for patrol tonight. Exciting stuff." She says laced with sarcasm.
"What's wrong? Not up to your normal standards of work LIEUTENANT?" I smirk back to her. This is pretty much the norm of conversation – taking the piss out of each other. You have to get rid of all sarcasm and sass before going on a mission or meeting with officials – just encase some slips out and you get into shit because of it. What are friends for after all?
"I'm used to working with more obedient and frightened people that I can order around. I'll get you guys there some day." She smiles with a mouthful of food on display.
"No woman could ever tame me. Not even you with your rank positioning – which you only have over us because you've been here a year longer." This is also a norm. Finnick likes to push the boundaries of what is accepted in terms of flirting with 'colleagues' – if that's what you call us. Thankfully all the women here are here for a reason – they aren't giggling little school girls so generally they don't fall for his charming chat up lines although I have seen a couple of them fall for his bullshit lines. I can definitely see that he is attractive – with a big muscly frame, ocean blue eyes and golden-bronze hair – he's just not attractive to me personally. Plus you tend to try not to get too close to anyone – encase the worst happens.
"How long you got left to serve?" He adds as he didn't get a response to his original comment.
"Technically half a year but I'm extending. There isn't anything for me to go home to so I might as well carry on what doing what I can do well for as long as I can." She says without even a glance up from her food or hesitation in her voice. I couldn't imagine the position she is in. Would I stay here for my whole career if I had no family waiting at home? All I know is that as soon as I know my family are well enough supported – I want to return home.
"Everdeen?" The question is directed at me.
"A year left, same as you. I'll be extending too. Maybe not as long as Jo though. I have a month left till I can go see my family again." I reply. The thought of seeing Prim's smiling face at the train station waiting for me as it always is when I visit brings a smile to my face. I miss my little duck. Little duck was a nickname I gave her as every time I took her into the woods she wanted to visit the large pond there where she always fed the ducks. It is not a nickname of much significance but it just stuck. I check my watch to see that it is drawing to nineteen hundred hours.
"Come on Fin, let's go get the boys. We should get ready to go." I say shovelling the rest of my food down. "See you up there Jo. She simply nods in recognition - I think the family talk throws her off a bit. I don't know why, but she has no one left. As soon as she turned 18 she signed up and shipped off straight away, never to look back. And at that last thought Finnick also gets up and we make our way back to the kennels to get the dogs.