Desert Sands
The following dawn saw the tents packed away, and the Ganymede forces on the march again. It was hard to gain footing on the shifting dunes, and even covered as they were with burnooses and scarves over their mouths and noses, the sand seemed to penetrate everywhere. The sun was far away, and so the climate was always cool, yet the harsh light seemed to beat down upon them relentlessly.
Gren marched alongside the others, tired and thirsty. His own canteen had sprung a leak, and been empty for hours, and it would be another day or so
before they would be given another ration of the precious, life-giving
water that was so scarce.
"Hey, can I have a drink?" He reluctantly asked the man next to him. The soldier looked even more reluctant to assent, but passed Gren his canteen
anyway.
"Alright, but just a sip! I can't give you all my water just 'cause you lost yours." Gren nodded in understanding, and put the bottle to his lips.
"Gren!"
The young man paused at the harsh voice, and turned to see Vicious glaring
at him, along with the rest of the men.
"Give that soldier his canteen back." Vicious demanded calmly. Hiding his disappointment that he hadn't even gotten a drop, Gren complied. As the army started marching again, Vicious tossed him the ornate canteen hanging
from his belt.
"Drink mine instead." He said brusquely. Gren drank the sweet, cool water
quickly and gratefully, throwing it back to Vicious with a broad grin.
"Thank you sir. I guess comrades have to look out for each other, huh?" For a second, gren thought he saw the corner of Vicious' mouth turn up in a faint, wry smile. Then his commander turned and continued walking without
another word.
The following dawn saw the tents packed away, and the Ganymede forces on the march again. It was hard to gain footing on the shifting dunes, and even covered as they were with burnooses and scarves over their mouths and noses, the sand seemed to penetrate everywhere. The sun was far away, and so the climate was always cool, yet the harsh light seemed to beat down upon them relentlessly.
Gren marched alongside the others, tired and thirsty. His own canteen had sprung a leak, and been empty for hours, and it would be another day or so
before they would be given another ration of the precious, life-giving
water that was so scarce.
"Hey, can I have a drink?" He reluctantly asked the man next to him. The soldier looked even more reluctant to assent, but passed Gren his canteen
anyway.
"Alright, but just a sip! I can't give you all my water just 'cause you lost yours." Gren nodded in understanding, and put the bottle to his lips.
"Gren!"
The young man paused at the harsh voice, and turned to see Vicious glaring
at him, along with the rest of the men.
"Give that soldier his canteen back." Vicious demanded calmly. Hiding his disappointment that he hadn't even gotten a drop, Gren complied. As the army started marching again, Vicious tossed him the ornate canteen hanging
from his belt.
"Drink mine instead." He said brusquely. Gren drank the sweet, cool water
quickly and gratefully, throwing it back to Vicious with a broad grin.
"Thank you sir. I guess comrades have to look out for each other, huh?" For a second, gren thought he saw the corner of Vicious' mouth turn up in a faint, wry smile. Then his commander turned and continued walking without
another word.