They rode through the forest valley on horseback, soft crunching of leaves underfoot and birdsong cascading through the branches in a river of sweet music.
"Ah... how I love the placid song of birds. Seems to brighten up every mission." Aramis said dreamily, gazing around them.
He received a puzzled stare from Porthos and d'Artagnan, who were riding next to him.
"Are you okay?"
"Couldn't be better! What makes you say that? I am simply appreciating the wonders of nature" He commented with a pleased smile.
"Right" Porthos turned back to the path ahead of them. A rustling came from the trees above them and they saw a red squirrel perched precariously on a branch. Aramis went to look up just as an acorn came flying from the squirrel and hit him in the eye.
Porthos immediately burst out laughing, his rumbling laughter echoing through the forest.
"How's that for a beauty of nature?" Porthos exclaimed under his laughter
The corners of Athos' mouth twitched; the closest he would ever come to smiling, but only a concerned glance rose onto d'Artagnan's face as he saw how red his eye was underneath his cupped hand.
"Is his eye alright Athos?" d'Artagnan mumbled to the musketeer trotting next to him.
"He can here you! And my eye is fine thank you... But my pride has been greatly wounded, by a damned squirrel." At this Porthos almost fell of his horse laughing.
All seemed well... the laughter of this band of brothers echoing throughout the forest... Until a twig snapped from somewhere and Athos; the more alert of the four of them immediately silenced, stopping his horse.
"Shhh. Listen." He glanced at Porthos who hastily suppressed his laughter.
They stopped in a long line in the valley. Everything was silent. The bird song that had charmed Aramis before was gone.
Silence.
Until four musket balls came whistling through the trees and found their targets.