Jordan was up earlier than everyone ells, staring out of the window, all was quiet and silent and dead … Jordan could hear his breath and saw that he could see the cold fog of his shallow breath it was cool damn cold but that's the way he liked it he liked the cold.
He enjoyed the quiet and the cold it was peaceful and still and he enjoyed every second of it not thinking and not moving.
After a while Captain Antony burst into the room and banged a metal bucket with a stick "STAND TO! EVERYONE UP RIGHT NOW!" and the room burst into life as sleepy cadets scrambled to get out of bed and figure out what was going on but shortly all the cadets where out of bed and standing at attention and saluting the captain he plodded trough the room staring at the sleepy young cadets
And stopped at a an unfortunate particularly young girl "are you tired?" he asked sympathetically
She nodded sheepishly rubbing her eyes "y-y-yes sir"
He roared at the small girl "THEN GET OUTSIDE YOU LAZY USELESS CADET, ALL OF YOU BOOTS AND RUNNING GEAR NOW!"
She looked distraught as the Captain marched outside and everyone ells scrambled for cloths ….He was the only one who noticed she stood still and tears where in her eyes Jordan walked over to her and she was looking down now crying he placed a hand on her shoulder "are you ok?" the small girl possibly about 16 with sort blond hair looked up with brown eyes her lip quivering "i-I … I didn't mean to make him angry"
Jordan placed a 2nd hand on her shoulder and looked into her eyes "you didn't do anything wrong its ok … what is your name? …"
She rubbed her eyes "A-Alice"
He Smiled at her "Alice … that's a nice name" inside he felt a short stab in his heart …
"Listen you didn't do anything wrong he's a bad person … and you are going to have to be brave to survive in this ok? You're gonna have to not cry … can you do that?" he smiled at her hopefully
She Nodded and smiled back "yes I will …"
Jordan smiled widely at the girl "good … now get changed quickly and get outside go go" he encouraged her, she nodded and then enthusiastically ran and got changed Jordan Chuckled slightly to himself it felt good to help someone out but it suddenly dawned on him as the last groups of people where leaving that he was going to be late …
Jordan fumbled to get his cloths on and saw 5 seconds behind the last person to leave Captain Antony looked to see who it was … "Jordan!" he grumbled to himself in a low voice …
Jordan Joined the back of the large Group of people and the Captain ordered "Follow me!"
He began Jogging and the Column of people followed … they ran through the forests for half an hour before coming out onto the open countryside on dirt roads that seemed to have no end to them the air was cold the track was muddy and this early in the morning with no breakfast some of the cadets fell but picked them self's up and Jordan Saw Alice in a puddle as he jogged past her he grabbed her arm and dragged her up as he went past and kept her going "come on Alice!"
"My Knee Hurts!"
"I know but you have to keep going! Come on Alice you can do it!"
She nodded and was panting heavily "ok …"
They Ran until their feet hurt and they could hardly Breath Jordan was virtually Carrying the poor girl by the end of it all and soon they were back through the woods and back to the huts once again
"COME ON Alice where almost there … keep going …"
They finally got there and everyone collapsed on the floor exhausted Jordan sat next to the poor Alice Who cried Jordan put an arm around her "there there … you did grate well done … let's get some food" he helped her up on her shaky legs and all the cadets made it over to the Mess hall Jordan got Alice some food and they ate at the dinner table she looked at it strangely
"that looks …"
"haha what's there to complain about free food!?"
She poked around it but was so hungry and gave in but as soon as she ate some pulled a bitter face when she tried it …
"What's there not to like?"
"I'm used to … normal food …"
"You're not exactly from around here are you?"
She looked worried "why what makes you say that?"
Jordan laughed at her surprised response while eating his food "well who turns up free food in a time like this … you must be from the inner walls … where about"
She looked Anxious "I'm from … Mitras … the erm Capitol …"
Jordan looked shocked … "yes everyone knows where Mitras is … what is a rich girl like you doing in the Recon Crops!?"
Alice looked shyly away "I erm … I wanted to be a hero and fight the evil titans!" she said with more confidence at the end … Jordan knew deep down already she wasn't cut out to be in the recon corps at all … he worried about this poor misguided rich girl …
He put on a brave almost fake smile at the confidence "yer haha … well you did well today Alice …"
She Smiled "really!?"
Jordan chuckled again "yes … now eat your food you're gonna need your strength back"
They ate food and talked and had a laugh with each other Jordan told Alice Funny stories about him and his friends before he joined the recon corps … "and one time me and Alice …" he stopped himself Alice looked up from her food as Jordan stopped "Alice? … you had a friend called Alice!?" she asked happily
Jordan felt another pain inside him … "yes … a long time ago"
Alice Asked "where is she?"
Jordan stared blankly "she … she's … gone now … faraway"
Alice said "ow … well maybe you can see her again someday …"
Jordan Held back the flood that was building up behind his eyes and smiled at her "yes … I hope so"
There was a quiet silence between the 2 of them after that as Jordan Quietly ate and stared down at the table Alice was unaware that he was sad as he hid it …
They all walked outside once they had finished As Jordan walked outside Captain Antony Stopped him "hay … you there Jordan"
Jordan Saluted he Captain "SIR!"
Antony gave a sly smile "as for being the last cadet out of the hut this morning you get to clean out the stables … have fun" he smiled Jordan felt glum but also hate on the inside he wasn't in the mood right now for this but he stood firm at attention and saluted "YES SIR!"
Jordan made his way to the stables and began shovelling the horse poo and cleaning the stables and replacing the hay and water for the horses it was a slow job and while he was alone quiet dark thoughts plagued his mind from his past he found himself biting his tough when he tasted the blood in his mouth "stop it! You idiot … think about something ells!" he whispered to himself he finally got the end stable and he was surprised deep in his own thoughts he didn't realise that there was someone already in the stables
He bumped into a woman with the green recon corps cap and long golden blond hair running down the back of it … it was the officer who was standing on the stage! Jordan dropped the bucket he was carrying in surprise and stood tall as the horse food was knocked over at his feet and the stood there saluting her
She turned around and looked at him with curious and slightly amused hazel green eyes she laughed quietly to herself with her hand over her mouth "hmhmhm … At ease cadet …?"
"Cadet Jordan Renner Ma'am!" He said now with his arms at his sides
She laughed "aren't you going to pick that up? …."
Jordan Immediately Apologies "Yes Ma'am I was just going to sorry Ma'am"
"It's ok … Chill out I'm not going to bite you … What are you doing here?"
"I was ordered by Captain Antony to Clear out the stables Ma'am"
"haha … what did you do to annoy him?"
Jordan hesitated for a second … he was surprised at her relaxed tone "I … I was late for getting ready for our Run this morning"
She laughed "yes … don't worry he's a good guy once you get to know him"
Jordan suppressed a laugh at that statement "as you say Ma'am …"
She looked slightly frustrated "you don't have to call me Ma'am all the time I'm Major Paulena Hoffman … I prefer to be called Paulena when its nor formal ok ?"
"Yes Ma … Paulena … well I only have this stable to clean out and I am done"
She Smiled "good I will help you"
Jordan was surprised he had never met someone who out ranked him who was … normal "T-Thank you … Paulena"
They both got about cleaning the stable and feeding the horse once they were done She walked up to the horse and patted it on the neck as he ate his food "hayyy there you go … come on Jordan … say hello …"
Jordan had lived in the city and never been around horses much was uncomfortable around them "erm … hello …" he said as he places a hand on its side
She laughed "come on … Stroke him …"
Jordan was uneasy at first but began stroking the soft fur of the horse and began smiling he was soft and war on his freezing pale hands She spoke softly also stroking his neck "His name is cowboy … I have had him since I joined the recon corps … he's always looked after me through many battles …" Jordan felt his fur he liked being around this horse … Cowboy … he was soft and gentle Paulena smiled "see nice isn't he?"
Jordan looked at her and smiled "yes he's a wonderful horse …" Jordan Felt happy and calm for a while now until he heard a sharp voice startles him from behind
"Cadet what are you doing!?"
Before he could reply she gave a firm whisper "shhhh! You'll scare Cowboy, Antony!" He Looked annoyed his authority was being challenged in front of a mere cadet! He pointed at Jordan and gave a harsh whisper "You get hear RIGHT NOW! …"
Paulena spoke "no he's staying hear …"
Antony Spoke again when Jordan didn't move confused between following the orders of the most superior officer and the one who was angry with him
Antony Spoke "I SAID …"
Paulena still keeping her voice at normal level Spoke firmly and officially … "I said CAPTAIN … he's staying here is that understood?"
Thee Captain looked at her surprised and looking shot down … is was surprising to see the once powerful and angry captain being told what to do he reluctantly gave up and saluted her "yes Ma'am" he turned around and left in a huff Once he left she turned to him "I apologise on his behalf Cadet a superior officer shouldn't treat his solders like that … and especially not defy his superiors … he's a terrible example" she sighed ashamed but also … what seemed like hurt …
"it's quite all right Major … Please don't apologise to me I'm just a cadet …"
She looked at him with a raised eye brow "maybe … butt I see something in you … I've seen it in other officers … I think your destined for better things …"
The room went quiet with what Jordan realised was a compliment … was he really leadership material … "thank you Paulena"
They finished up there work and closed the stable door "Thank you Cadet I will see you around and take care around the Captain I know he's ... demanding sometimes but he means well"
"I will do thank you Paulena good bye" he waved as he walked up the path up to the huts and met up with the rest of the Cadets and Alice and they spent the rest of the day talking and Jordan evenly climbed into bed Alice had decided to go into the bunk over his so they wouldn't be separated she said he could already tell she was becoming a friend to him and as he climbed into bed and rested his aching body he realised he made 2 friends today… he wondered what tomorrow would hold …
He rested his head on the pillow and as he relaxed once again noticed the cold on his exposed skin and looked at the dark starry night sky he wondered what the future held … was Paulena right ? … maybe he would do some good … maybe he could make up for his past … with that thought that one ember of hope he closed his eyes and the darkness of sleep took him.