Keep it up with those reviews. Also a few explanations. One: the marines talk the way they do because that's how marines talk. I know this because I am a marine. We swear and make up insane insults all the time. Two: the reason they are accepting the fact that they are in the story is that no matter where they are or what is going on a marine thinks tactically. There is no time to lose your shit. Now on to the story. If any one has any suggestions please give them to me.
We followed Eragon to to a well hidden clearing surrounded by trees near the large river we were traveling along. When we got there Brom had built a small fire and was tending to his wound. We dismounted and tied the horses to a tree.
"How are you?" Eragon asked Brom.
"It's a large scratch and hurts terribly, but it should heal fairly quickly." Brom replied.
"We have a couple of first-aid kits. We should have something to help you out." I said.
Brom looked at us with a confused look. "Who are you?" he asked bluntly.
"They were at Yazuac. They killed three urgals and helped me get you onto Saphira." said Eragon.
"Well then you have my thanks strangers. But that does not answer the question of who you are." said Brom.
"I'm Private First Class Frank Sorenti and this is Private First Class Christopher Sullivan. We are members of the United States Marine Corps." I replied.
"The what?" asked Eragon and Brom at the same time.
"Nevermind. We're just soldiers that are a long way from home." I said.
"Damn straight. A looong fucking way." said Chris.
"Well I am Brom and this is Eragon. You are welcome to share our campsite and travel with us. We are thankful for your help." said Brom.
"Thank you very much sir." I replied.
"Humph. 'Sir'?" asked Brom in an amused manner "You could learn something in manners from these two, boy." he said to Eragon.
Chris and I took off our packs as Eragon started talking to Brom. They were speaking in hushed tones. We knew they were talking about us. After a few minutes of us checking our equipment, taking inventory and assorting it all properly.
"All right brother. Time to dig with the hands God gave us." I said to Chris.
"Fuck. I've always hated digging." said Chris.
"Well we gotta sleep somewhere." I said as I grabbed my shovel and started to dig my sleeping hole. Chris followed suit moments later. Eragon and Brom were arguing when we started. Brom stopped speaking and looked over at us. Eragon followed his gaze.
"What are you doing?" asked Eragon confused.
"Digging our sleeping holes." I replied simply.
"Why?" he asked.
"Because that's what we're trained to do. When we were deployed in Iraq we didn't have any real "accomodations" a lot of the time. So we slept in the dirt." I replied.
"Where is Iraq?" asked Eragon.
"A long way away from here." I replied.
He had more questions but Brom pulled his attention back. We finally finished digging our holes and settled down. I commenced to disassembling and cleaning my firearms. Eragon and Brom had finished talking. Eragon walked over non-chalantly and sat down next to me.
"Hey man. What's up"? I asked.
"What are those?" he asked.
"They are our main weapons. They work a lot like a bow. The fire projectiles over long distances. I'd like to keep it at that if you don't mind. It gets very complicated."
"Alright. Do you carry any other weapons?" he asked.
"Yes. I have two fighting knives, three throwing knives, a tomahawk, a bayonet and my infantry entrenchment tool." I replied.
"Your what?" he asked.
"My shovel." I said.
"How is your shovel considered a weapon? I know you could kill someone with one but it's not a first choice for a weapon." he said.
"Ah but we sharpen our shovels and receive special training in using them as weapons. They make great war axes." I replied.
He sat there for awhile watching me clean and reassemble my guns. Then I started on my blades, cleaning them and making sure they were sharp. Eragon seemed interested in my throwing knives.
"I can teach you to use them if you want." I said.
"Really?" he asked, sounding excited.
"Sure bud. But not tonight. Even Devil Dogs need sleep." I said as I packed up my weapons.
"Devil Dogs?" Eragon asked.
"it's a nick name that was given to all marines 93 years ago. We were fighting this country called Germany. The great and mighty U.S.M.C. fought them at a place called Belleau Wood. We fought them for hours. They were heavily entrenched in bunkers and other fortifications. Our men were disheveled, dirty and haggard, crawling up the hill towards the enemy fortifications on all fours like dogs. We intimidated the Germans so much that they gave us the nickname "Teufel Hunden" which means Hell Hounds in English. That eventually evolved into Devil Dogs."
Eragon had been listening with rapt attention. "Wow. You must be great warriors."
"Hell yeah we are!" said Chris from his sleeping hole.
"Calm down boot." I said to him.
"Don't call me boot you asshole." Chris said back.
"Or what?" I said rising to my feet.
"OR THIS!" he yelled, jumping at me.
I caught him mid-air and tossed him to the ground laughing. He got back up and sparred. Although Chris he is fast and strong he still wasn't as well trained as me. Twelve years of Okinawa martial arts had its benefits. We finally stopped after picked him up in a military press. I let him down and we laughed hard embracing in a brotherly hug. Eragon had watched the whole thing.
"Wow." was all he could say.
"I can teach you that too if you want." I said.
"You should take that offer man. He's good." said Chris.
"I'd like that." Said Eragon.
"Alright. Sleep time." I said dropping into my sleeping hole.
"Goodnight." said Eragon as he walked over to his bed.
After a few minutes I heard Chris talking to me.
"Hey Frank." he whispered.
"What's up?" I asked.
"What are we gonna do man?" he asked.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"How are we gonna get home?" he asked.
"I don't know bro. We're just gonna have to go with it for now. Fight our way out of this "jungle"." I said.
"Place a KA-BAR in our hands…" he said in a sing song voice.
"We'll fight our way to the promised land." I replied.
"Night brother." he said
"Night little bro." I replied.