Starved dog stared into the flames as they continued to burn the two crspes inside, same as he had been all night.
The sun was just beginning to peak out over the horizon and shine down upon the rows of tents.
"Legionary Starved dog", a commanding voice said.
"Yes sir", starved dog said as he stood up straight at the sight of centurion Vorenus.
Vorenus looked the legionary up and down with his usual stone face. Then he glanced at the pyre before looking back at Starved dog.
"You need sleep", Vorenus said as he looked at the bags under Starved dogs eyes.
"I'm fine, sir."
"That wasn't a bloody suggestion, prime!", Vorenus growled, "You WILL get some fucking sleep or Caesar help I will knock you out until you are well rested!"
"Understood, sir!"
"Good", Vorenus nodded, "but that isn't why I've come to see you. With Chief dead, we are in need of a new Decanus. You are too lead your squad."
"Sir, I'm a soldier not a leader."
"That wasn't a suggestion either", Vorenus growled.
Starved dog said nothing.
Vorenus face did something strange, his express softened. "Chief spoke highly of you, you know. Every report he delivered spoke proudly about his men and what they accomplished. He talked about you the most though. He said you would probably charge a mini gun armed with nothing but a machete if ordered."
"I follow orders like any loyal legionary, Sir. But I can not give them, Sir."
"Well you better learn how then.", Vorenus said, "It is a long war ahead and we need all the good men we can get. Leading is not just telling others what to do. A leaders most important job is to be an example to his men."
Starved dog said nothing in response. Both stood there, looking back at each other with tired and worn looks on their faces. Something passed between them. These two hard been seemed to both understand that they could trust to show their weakness to the person standing opposite them.
"I'm tired, sir. Tired of good men dieing. Tired of the war."
"Aye, that's how you know your doing something worth a damn.", Vorenus said tiredly, "Do you wish to leave the legion?"
"Never, sir!", Starved dog said, "I'm a legionary not a profligate!"
"Then you will follow orders. You will start decanus training in an hour", Vorenus said, "that's an order."
"Understood, sir"
...
When Titas woke up he felt so warm and comfortable. Siri was curled up against him.
Then the memories rushed back.
Chief...
Sherman...
He felt almost on the brink of tears again, but he was too thirty to cry. His throat felt drier than the entire Mojave. He got up trying not bother Siri because she looked so beautiful asleep like this.
When he opened the flap to his tent he saw Centurion Vorenus and Starved dog talking to each other.
Vorenus soon left, leaving Starved dog standing their rigidly.
"What's going on?", Titas asked but than erupted into a coughing trip.
"Here", Starved dog offered him his canteen.
Titas took it without a word and chugged it greedily. Finally after empitying the entire canteen, he took in a large breath.
"Thanks", he said hand him back the canteen.
Starved dog grunted in response.
"So really... What was that about?"
"Centurion Vorenus has chosen for me to be our squad's new Decanus."
"Listen man I know you don't want to be an officer, but let's face it. Julius charges in swinging his axe like a madman, Burning ant would just pray that a suicide charge would go well, and and I'm probably too soft."
"What I want is meaningless.", Starved dog said as he looked straight at him with a fire in his eyes that chilled Titas to the bone, "All that matters is what the legion needs."
"Yeah, sure", Titas said trying to calm his fellow legionary. All he could think was, 'what would Sherman say.', but that only saddened him again.
For all his faults, Sherman always kept them together, usually by making himself the common ground by annoying all of them, but still he was his friend.
"We should eat. I must leave for decanus training in an hour.", Starved dog said, snapping Titas out of it.
"Yeah", Titas nodded, "we need to tell Julius and Burning ant about this."
...
Starved dog peeked into what he hoped was the correct tent. There were a few chairs facing the back of the tent. Most them were occupied by other legionaries, mostly recruits.
Starved dog sat in one of the only open ones.
Most of the small group were chatting and laughing as they waited. Starved dog said nothing and only looked ahead.
"Alright, calm down!", A voice called from the flap of the tent.
They all turned to see a legionary in veteran armor wearing a decans helmet. That, however, was not what caught their attention, but that he was missing a leg.
The veteran made his way to the front using his good leg and his crutch.
"Now let me tell you little shits how to lead a bunch a horny ass blood thirsty bastards into battle!"