Lost without a leader
It took the Hikari army two days before they realized their general and the others were gone and they weren't likely to come back. Though they regretted the loss, they continued without them. But things started going sour very quickly without the general to command them.
His tactical knowledge and battle experience was sorely missed as barrage after barrage of attacks came at them from all directions. The entire army was thrown into chaos and it was clear that unless the general suddenly reappeared to take command, the Hikari attack on the Niwa clan was doomed.
"I've had it with this army! I want to go back home!" complained many of the soldiers.
"ENOUGH WHINING!" roared the commander.
"But sir, this campaign is pointless without the general!" they whined.
"I SAID ENOUGH WHINING! Unless you morons want to answer to the elders back at the temple, I suggest you toughen up and keep going!"
"I bet the Niwa clan isn't so thick-headed…" mumbled one of the soldiers.
"WHAT WAS THAT?! DID I HEAR YOU CORRECTLY, SOLDIER?!" the commander roared in fury.
The men had had enough of the pointless march and answered him in one mind.
"We want to go home NOW!" they cried as one.
"If you want to go home so badly, then why don't you go ask the enemy to surrender?!" he growled, pissed at their reply.
"Is that an order, sir?" retorted one of the soldiers defiantly.
"IF YOU WANT TO GO HOME SO DAMN BADLY, THEN YES!"
A large portion of the army split off and went in search of a scout from the Niwa camp. They didn't have to look long as the scouts came to them after they were out of sight from the main army.
"Did we hear you correctly? Do you really want to go back home so much that you went against the orders of the commanding officer?!" they said in disbelief.
"Yes, you heard correctly! Ever since the general disappeared and didn't return the army has gone awry. This whole campaign against your clan is pointless without someone like the general leading it!" answered one of the soldiers.
A girl with silver-white hair dropped down from the tree in amusement.
"If you really want to go home, then we can help. But it'll have to wait until most of the militia follows your example," she said.
"So we're not prisoners then?" asked one of the Hikari, hopeful.
"Not if you say the two magic words…" she replied playfully.
"We surrender," they all said.
"Those are the two words we needed to hear before we bring you to the main camp. Follow me boys," she laughed.
At the Niwa camp, many of the girls from the Dorms came to see the Hikari soldiers. The soldiers were very surprised to find out who the girls were. They were even more shocked at the fact that the healers who gave them check-ups after all the attacks were young! (In the Hikari clan, the elders usually take all the young women and have them as personal healers until they're around 30 years old.)