I woke up hours later... to find myself still on my couch asleep. Hazel and Bigwig were asleep by the fire to be warm. Scorpion and Nightwolf were sitting on the couch and might have fallen asleep. On top of me was Holly. Covering me was my blanket that was from my bedroom. There was a clock in the living that the time was still going. It was around three o'clock in the morning. I might have slept through a day. I gently picked up Holly and set him next towards Hazel and Bigwig. As I placed a blanket on them to keep them warm. I managed to find a few extra blankets and placed them on Scorpion and Nightwolf. I exited out of the barrack to my front-yard.
I sat on the grass on that cold, windy night. I looked out towards the main hall, where my family were still tied up to stakes and I could smell the faint burnt flesh from the distance. A gospel song than was being sung into my head. The song was called The Wayfaring Stranger. I first heard of it, from a great and powerful war-film called 1917. Even my army buddies would sing the song, whenever we're frightened, mourning, tired from combat, and/or missing home... also, a song that we sang to the dying. I always remember the older brother of the private sang the song, whenever his younger brother was scared and missing their family. When we were captured: the younger brother and myself, he would sing the song in tears, as he wished to be comforted by his brother. He would either finished the song or ended shortly as a Taliban guard silences him from singing. I even heard the song again, when my brother in arms were being executed, they would sing the song until they were beginning to feel the burns and/or until being consumed by the flames. Strange as it maybe, the song comforted me, as I was alone during my imprisonment, as I would long to see the stars and sing to my brothers.
Tonight, the stars were brightened, with no moon, as it was cover in clouds. I started to sing the song to myself, as I began to think about my brothers in arms I've lost... and now my family.
I am a poor wayfaring stranger
I'm travellin' through this world with woe
Yet there's no sickness, toil, nor danger
In that bright land to which I go
I'm going there to see my father
I'm going there no more to roam
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home
I know dark clouds will gather round me
I know my way is rough and steep
But golden fields lie just before me
Where God's redeemed shall ever sleep
I'm going home to see my mother
And all my loved ones who've gone on
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home
I am a poor wayfaring stranger
I'm travellin' through this world of woe
Yet there's no sickness, toil, nor danger
In that bright land to which I go
I'm going there to see my father
I'm going there, no more to roam
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home
"Thomas?"
I turned towards my barrack to see Captain Holly. He must have woken up and noticed I wasn't there. "What are you doing up, brother?"
"I just woke up. Couldn't go back to sleep." I answered, as he came towards me and sat next to me. "How long was I asleep?"
"After the incident, you slept through the whole day." he answered.
"Look... Captain... forgive about what happened."
"You don't need to apologize to me, brother. You done nothing wrong." he placed his paw on my knee.
I sighed and took some breaths. "But really, I do need to. I left without consenting to you guys, putting you all in danger for going after me, awhile the warren being left defenseless."
"You have done nothing wrong. We're relieved that you're found and safe." he added, as he placed my blanket on my lap. "Thank you... however the fire is keeping us warm enough."
I wrapped the blanket around me, as well for Captain Holly. We watched the nightly evening. "I've never seen so many worlds out here, since watching them back in Sandleford."
"Stars?" I questioned.
"Oh." he chuckled. "The stars that Frith made are other worlds. Our ancestors watch out for us over night, as Frith watch over us during the day."
"That's a good way of putting it for stars." I complimented. "I used to remember my family and even my army buddies would watch the night skies to find shooting stars. I missed watching the stars while I was imprisoned. I only saw one shooting star, while I was imprisoned."
"Really? When was that?" he asked.
"When I was being slave to clean for one of my enemies' families, I would look up at the stars and saw one shooting star to have a wish." I recalled.
"You make wishes upon a star?"
"One wish. I wished that I would be free. However, it wasn't the way I wanted to turn out." I spoke.
"Why's that?" he asked.
I sighed. "I was set free... only for an enemy to be released. Which that was the captor's brother, who was a terrorist, released back to his home country. I wanted to escape or die trying, without being brought back as a trade to feel shame and embarrassment."
"You have attempted to escape, but it was good enough that you didn't do another, because your life would have ended. And you fought to survive, despite the conditions." Captain Holly comforted me.
"Even if an enemy is freed." I stated.
Captain Holly sighed and thought for a moment. "What were you singing?"
"What singing?" I questioned.
"I heard you singing a beautiful song. What was that?"
"It was a gospel that me and my army brothers sung while we were in the Army. It comforted us, whenever we were suffering from injury and/or mentally, as well if we were missing home." I answered.
"I would like to hear it, if you don't mind." he was interested to hear the song.
I nodded my head, as I took some breaths, as he waited very patiently to hear me sing.
I am a poor wayfaring stranger
I'm travellin' through this world with woe
Yet there's no sickness, toil, nor danger
In that bright land to which I go
I'm going there to see my father
I'm going there no more to roam
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home
I know dark clouds will gather round me
I know my way is rough and steep
But golden fields lie just before me
Where God's redeemed shall ever sleep
I'm going home to see my mother
And all my loved ones who've gone on
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home
I am a poor wayfaring stranger
I'm travellin' through this world of woe
Yet there's no sickness, toil, nor danger
In that bright land to which I go
I'm going there to see my father
I'm going there, no more to roam
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home
I wept a tear, as I started to remember all of the people I've known, who passed on. Captain Holly's heart went out to me, as he nuzzled me for comfort. I couldn't help, but gave him a hug. I wept very bitterly, as I wished that I could have died back in Afghanistan, instead being returned back to the states.
"It's alright... it's alright." he warmly said to me, with a very warm soothing voice. "It's alright... now try to get some sleep, son. We'll be heading out in the morning, if you're well."
I nodded, as we entered back into my family barrack. We went to my room, as I lie comfortably in my own bed.
"Get some sleep, son. Goodnight." Captain Holly spoke, as he lie next to me, since I asked him to stay with me. I needed someone to comfort me to fall asleep. I gave him my share of my blanket, as I rested next to his soft side. My hand was around him, only I didn't want him to perish because he's now like a fellow family member to me. We both slept, as we would be prepared for the morning.
