One

Hana

His heartbeat was dramatically increasing again. Soon he would awaken from an uneventful sleep and grasp his lover briefly, as if checking to see she was still there. Until that moment, she would continue to lay her ear on his chest and pantomime sleep, hoping she might still dream.

Just as she expected, he gasped, then quietened himself lest he awake the pretender that still clung to him. She softly raised her eyelids, looking at the occupant she shared her bed with in the dawn's blue light. He clutched her arm softly, a gesture well practice since coming to this city. As she cracked her eyes open, she couldn't help but notice his free hand had found its way to the metal haft of his polearm, and wondered if he had grabbed her, or his weapon first. As if he seemingly sensed her thoughts, he released his grip on the glaive, resting it back against the wall it had leaned on.

She moved in her fake sleep, yawning and pretending to wake up. He turned his head to her, apologizing and greeting her softly. "Good morning, Hana. Sorry for waking you."

Hana shook her head, signaling how everything was right in the world during this moment.

"Did you sleep well?" She asked, certain of the answer. On their travels he had acted normal, but now that they were in the city of Takotsuri, he had been waking suddenly and out of breath. Hana wondered if it was because they had a real bed to sleep in for this week, and hoped he wasn't getting battle fatigue. Her company couldn't afford a commander who was tired of war.

"Yeah." He spoke softly, hesitating at his own thoughts. "What time is it?"

"Early. We've got time." Hana promised, following with silence as the world started to come alive outside their window. After a small while of her lover mindlessly stroking her skin, she looked at his cold eyes, the focused glare gazing at something intangible. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Talk about what?" He responded, his ghostly face contorting in slight confusion.

"Whatever's bothering you? I don't know, moron." Hana joked, moving her fingers to touch his warming face. He scoffed as he turned from her, trying to hide a poorly concealed smile.

Hana laughed as she remembered the moment when she had fallen in love with this face.

The autumn ocean's tide was rivaling the sounds of battle that day, deafening the glorious charge that she had been part of with boys and girls much younger than herself. That charge had been a mistake that every assault squad had made, save for one small platoon of thirty-two individuals. The majority of their company's melee infantry had overextended in their haste to slay a routing enemy, and didn't pay heed to the singular craft that was rising from the seas to reinforce their fleeing allies.

At the time, she had wondered why the retreat horn was being called by her commander. Caught up in her and everyone's bloodlust, Hana hadn't actually see the submersible cage coming to shore. Only when she began ordering her platoon to fall back to safety, did she truly grasp what was about to happen to them all, and how they would die.

Sharks, beasts of monstrous strength and unending hunger had come to shore. Against such creatures, what could she, or anyone else do? Their enemy had released a pack of three of the deadliest inhabitants of the ocean upon them! Their muscle-bound legs would catch up to any running Inkling, no matter the terrain. The entirety of her company would be the food of such creatures, those spared by the walking pits of ravening would only be butchered by the mob that followed them.

As she ran for her life to the rallying forces of her company on the nearby hill, Hana had glanced back to see Toshiaki be the first to fall to the wicked talons of hammerheads. Her youngest squad leader, and his retreating squad destroyed in the first few moments. She had watched two fellow platoon leaders fail to hold the creatures, the beasts not even breaking pace as their claws entered their flesh and tore Hana's comrades apart.

Fear had moved her in that moment. Fear of death, and of being consumed as chum to such monsters. Fear consumed anyone who ran beside or behind her. Anything alive would cower at the mere thought of being near these striding monsters. Being chased by these primordial creatures was a common childhood night terror that could be laughed off, but now that she was living that horror dream? Hana could only sprint for all she was worth from the terrors that would consume her.

Fear didn't devour the one in front of her, however. Hana would remember that moment for the rest of her life in such detail, as if it had been burned into her very soul. The blood drunk and his glaive. How he stood motionless around fresh corpses, staring even greater death in the face. Hana had crossed his line of vision for a full stride, but he hadn't even glanced at her, as if she wasn't there in the first place.

She had seen this warrior in the platoon meetings prior, but he was never truly there. His mouth would make words that would fill the room's ears, but they were dispassionate and slurred. His eyes would never light up until they were near a place of battle. As if this strange, pale creature's entire existence was dedicated to shedding the blood of his enemies. This warrior had stumbled his way through the ranks of their battle company several times, and always found himself at the same station as her. Initially, Hana hadn't paid much attention to this one Inkling, finding him somewhat repulsive by his gore stained armor that he never cared to clean. But in that moment of panic and fear, she had almost been transfixed by his suddenly unclouded vision.

Hana had been running for her life towards the theoretical safety of her commander's tent, and had passed the almost smirking warrior. She knew with every part of her being that this was the day the blood drunk would die, and knew without a shadow of a doubt that he would go out fighting against the sharks that pursued them. When Hana saw that those in his platoon were ready to share his fate, she had thought them all mad to go forward into obvious suicide.

When she had passed a group of arbalests, her company's crossbow infantry, Hana had paused. Thoughts of if this was merely another group willing to buy time for their kin, or something else entirely danced in her mind, but her fear would soon make her ignore such musings. Resuming her sprint to her commander, Hana turned to see the fifth assault platoon spread themselves in pairs while the arbalests formed a concave a distance back. Hana had watched these brave warriors prepare to die, willingly giving their lives for the remaining assault teams to form a defensive line atop the sandy hill.

But they didn't die. The blood drunk warrior hadn't even tried to fight the sharks and die gloriously like Hana had imagined he would. She watched in stunned silence at the minute-long battle between the combined numbers of forty some odd Inklings fight off creatures that could easily destroy the five hundred in her company. Hundreds of pairs of eyes watched like her, trying to comprehend what was happening in the confusing moment they were witness to. The warrior who had never shown any care for his fellows had walked through the show that was his young warriors dancing around the huge monstrosities. As arbalest fired bolt after bolt, the projectiles imbedding in their thick hide, he walked calmly as if nothing was out of the norm. The one warrior no one had seen anything but brutality and madness had then fought with six of the shark's keepers, slaying them with the assistance of a singular conscript before they could distract the arbalests from the bigger threat of the sharks.

When the final shark went down, the attack horn that came from her commander's guard sounded immediately. Hana had then charged forwards with the mass of warriors back into the fish tribe that had dared to invade their country's beach, and drive them from their shore.

As she crossed those they had abandoned to die, Hana saw the pale creature laugh and converse with a jovial tone, finding much humor in his victory. He laughed as he pushed around his victorious squads, shaking hands with the arbalest's platoon leader who had directly assisted him by burying a bolt into a shark tamer's neck.

He had shown emotion, and the ability to care in the moment everyone was about to die, and would be promoted for it. The pale one would become an assault commander, the platoon leader becoming an officer for his act of heroism. Hana had felt her heart beat skip as she passed him once more, the strange feeling in her chest a mixture of… emotions. Perhaps it was just because of her own weakness, or simply his show of strength that had made her hope that she could love such a creature.

Hana would spend her next week quietly investigating him, abusing the knowledge her scout company had given to her before she had joined with her current battle company. The newly appointed sub-commander would gain a bodyguard of seven warriors, learn the inner workings of the company, and would show capability of commanding all who could hear his voice.

The bloody warrior would continue to lead in combat, at one point dragging Hana's near lifeless body out of the mouth of a great reptile's dead maw. He would then casually go around in serious situations, forcing allied commanders to follow his world views, and gaining the respect and ire of his subordinates within a single battle.

Hana had tried to become part of his life in the few days of relative peace they had, but would always cower away until after her commander's sudden and untimely death. When the pale warrior would take the full command of her company, Hana had tried to persist through her embarrassment, trying to share the torrent of emotions that had been building up within her. It had taken a few tries, but she was able to express herself after a very awkward moment where she accidently ran him through with her sword.

They had become lovers shortly after that incident and would remain so for the month and a half to follow, eventually coming to this moment in time where all was right in the world.

"I've been insulted, yet feel so great. The things you do to me, woman." He said, warming her face with his own. Finishing their kiss of good morning, Hana would try to speak, only interrupted once before getting words out.

"Range, I'm worried about you. What's wrong?" Hana asked, trying to figure out why his sleep had been troubled for their week of peace.

"I'm fine. Really." Range would say, his eyes telling how he was thinking through the real reason of why he couldn't sleep. Hana could easily see the signs when Range was lying, as subtlety wasn't his strong suit.

"What happened to telling the truth more? I thought you had a brand-new philosophy you were implementing of not lying to people's faces." Hana stated, digging her fingers into his exposed chest muscles. He groaned in a mix of fake and real agony, choosing to flee rather than fight back as he crawled away from her and off the bed. "If you don't tell me, I'll do that for the rest of my life."

"I believe… I have become hesitant. This mission we are tasked with smells foul, along with this entire city. The first snow falls are at best, two weeks away. If we can't locate the missing company quickly…" He eventually said, trailing off as he dwelled on his words. Range would continue his silence as he started to dress, slowly pulling the rubber-mesh leggings of his under armor on.

"But you've been preparing us for that! We've got carts filled with waterproof canvas and preserved food. At worst, we bum around a village until the snow slows, then we can resupply at Takotsuri. We're ready, Range." Hana promised, still seeing reservation on Range's face. Hana removed herself from the comfort of their bed, and embraced her lover, not knowing any other way to steal his concerns. They stayed like that for a small while, enjoying their isolation as the blue light of dawn steadily increased, fully illuminating the room.

As sounds started to grow from outside their dwelling, Hana broke the hug and began to dress herself as well, picking up her own scattered under armor along with her garments. As Range began armoring himself in his steel plate, he asked her what she would be doing after she left.

"Well, we're leaving today, so… I'll gather my scouts and find Akio." Hana said as she fixed her own smaller breastplate to her chest, adjusting the small straps on her shoulders and waist. She smirked at how much her lover was struggling to equip himself, perhaps still getting used to the mass difference between his commander's armor, and a simple conscript's chest piece that only guarded the front of the torso.

Range grunted, annoyance filling his throat at the name. Akio had been quite the nuisance recently, and a major problem starter when it came to Hana's platoon training that Range had ordered when he restructured the company.

Originally, the entire company was split between shooters and stabbers, but when Range gained the commander rank, he had ordered that his eight platoons of melee infantry to be diversified and reequipped everyone as he saw fit. The first two platoons received thicker armor and larger weapons, while the next four gained spears and shields, and then Hana's and Akio's platoons were given camouflage cloaks and kits along with the heavy knives of the scout companies. Hana, the only actual scout in the entire company, had then been given the monumental task of retraining all sixty-three other Inklings. Akio, who was supposed to support her in this task had done anything but, getting in the way and purposefully undermining her efforts to the impressionable, and usually cooperative conscripts they led. They both were certain that it was Akio spreading the rumors that they were a couple as well.

"Is that bastard still getting in your way? I've warned him several times, and I'm about to make good on my threats." Range told her, biting the end of his gauntlet and fixing it on his hand.

"I think he's calmed down a bit since your last warning. Maybe he's realized he's screwed up?" Hana offered hopefully, going to retrieve her sword and the heavy war knife.

As she fitted the scabbards on her hips, she glanced at the glaive on the other side of the bed, hesitating as she thought of grabbing it for her lover. Hana stared at the great weapon for a few silent seconds, before shaking her hesitation away. It wasn't as if the weapon could differentiate grasps, or would attack hands that weren't its owner's. It wasn't as if it had a mind of its own. It wasn't as if the wicked crescent was watching her, daring her to use it.

She moved around the bed, picking the heavy haft up and, in surprise, wondered how Range could swing this weapon one handed. Inspecting the weapon in more detail than ever before, she could see the hundreds of scratches on the full metal shaft that led to the dull looking blade at the top. Supposedly, this weapon had been all around the country, slaying for multiple generations in Range's blood line. She been told by Range that his father had passed the heirloom off to him on his first deployment, as his grandfather did for his father and so on.

Hana had wondered if that story was true or something that he had conjured up to impress her, but now holding the weapon in her hands for the first time, she could feel the history behind it. Range softly walked to her and his weapon and took the glaive from her grip with a singular hand, his other busy trying to finish adjusting his sword belt.

"What are you up to today?" Hana asked, facing him in his entire commander's regalia.

"Well, we are leaving today, so…" Range lightly chuckled at his mimicking words, "I'm going to talk to the biggest scumbag in the entire city and see what he wants now."

Range was referring to Shigeo, the governor of Takotsuri. Though she had never met the individual herself, her commander had expressed such disdain towards the creature that she was forced to believe the slander.

"Then we'll meet at the parade grounds and go wander the country side until we wind up at Fort Ishigaki." Range promised, sighing to himself. Hana put a hand to his cheek, stroking it softly to comfort his troubled brow.

"It'll be fine. We'll beat the snow and keep heading south before you know it. Then we'll get mud and sleet as opposed to ice." Hana promised, making him laugh at the prospect.

"Alright, alright. Now out the window, before someone sees you." Range romantically ordered, gently prodding her towards the opening that led to the most direct route outside.

Hana knew this was childish, frowning at the absurdity that their mornings had been for a week. Range's main concern was that she would be treated differently and excluded if everyone knew for a fact that they were an item, his other worry being that everyone would fight him on all deployment orders that involved her. Hana knew her own standing would greatly diminish in the eyes of her peers should they know of their relationship, so accepted the ridiculousness of sneaking around during the night.

With a kiss goodbye, she vaulted over the windowsill, landing with a dull thud on the dirt as her fall stopped. Hana was quick to abscond the borrowed manor's grounds, where only bodyguards and officer were supposed to be. She quickly clambered on the tops of boxes that stacked all the way to the top of the rimmed wall, finally free of the property. Keeping her cloak rolled into a ball, she quickly fled to the packed buildings of Takotsuri and began heading towards the inn her platoon had spent their nights at.

Hana stopped just short of the building where her would be scouts stayed while they waited in the city. She had visited this building once a day since their prolonged stay in Takotsuri, but couldn't help but feel intimidated. Hana was the first to admit she wasn't great in social situations, and walking nonchalant through the doors of a full building was the last thing her scout company taught her to do. Adapting what she learned into different situations? No problem.

She defaulted back onto the training that her scout master had bothered to teach her, the art of becoming one with the world. Tether yourself to the moment. Find five things you could see, four things you could hear, three things you can smell, two things you can feel, one thing you can taste… Think with clarity. Breathe, then go.

So, she went, using an absurd amount of force as she slammed open the door. Inside, Hana spotted her squads still waking up where they lay, which was mostly on the ground or on the impromptu beds that were supposed to be tables. Some of the more awake scouts stood as she entered, suddenly aware that their direct superior had entered the room. Hana quickly did a head count, and started looking if one of her squaddies had grown an extra head. There was only supposed to be thirty-one warriors in here, but she had counted thirty-two.

Hana quickly looked for the extra that had wound up in her platoon, lifting faces with her sword's wooden scabbard. The mystery addition soon revealed himself as everyone in the lower floor awoke, Katashi, of the second scout platoon.

"Good morning." Hana stated as Katashi blinked several times, awakening with a questioning look on his face.

"You aren't Akio." Katashi returned with a mixture between joy and despair. With a sense of newfound clarity, the Inkling unleashed his beliefs of his own character, getting a nod from the platoon leader before him. "I'm retarded."

Hana was certain that Katashi wasn't as incompetent as he acted, but was just lonely. The barely adult had been shuffled through multiple platoons during Range's restructuring of the company, and had ended up in the position of squad leader in a platoon full of strangers. During the nights when their daily training had been completed, Hana wouldn't mind that Katashi would linger in her platoon, as she herself snuck off. But staying the night was a bit much, as he was still expected to lead his own squad of eight warriors.

"I'm fully aware of that fact. Go on, get out. Maybe you'll get there before Akio wakes up. If you hurry." Hana added, basically throwing him out of the building they were posted in.

"Yes ma'am. Good morning!" Katashi shouted to everyone in her platoon as he left the building. With the first problem of the day taken care of, she quickly turned to the hung-over scouts that were supposed to lead the entire company out of the city today, a calm expression plastered on her face as she prepared herself.

Hana would spend the next half hour shouting and yelling at her platoon, ordering them into proper dress. Being a bitch was very taxing on Hana, but the role was needed for most of these non-children. Hana had tried giving them slack during the first days of the retraining, but she was at her rope's end and killing them with kindness was no longer an option, as they were leaving the city today.

It had been over a month since they had gotten their new equipment, and only a few of the warriors had managed to properly dress themselves despite barely having more than a conscript's fundamental kit. The only real difference between a scout and a conscript was just a knife, cloak, and whatever tools they could convince their commander or logistic officer to get them. Briefly, Hana wondered if it was somehow her fault for her warrior's lack of taking their new responsibilities seriously, but kept the likely answer from the forefront of her thoughts.

Helping kids fix their cloaks and weapon belts, Hana ordered everyone into two single file lines. Only when Hana was content with the inspection would she lead the group outside of the shanty building they had spent their nights during the week. All hoods were down as they walked through the city, passing hundreds of waking warriors from other companies or the city's garrison. Hana made sure to keep alert to any Inkling that dared to come close to her scouts, checking to see if they were a threat as she kept the pace of the group for no other reason than to practice threat assessment.

Hana didn't like how Takotsuri was a complete architectural mess. Forced to lead her scouts through dozens of narrow alleyways and back streets just to get to where Akio's platoon was located, she couldn't help but feel the designers of this city's layout were physically or mentally ill.

Takotsuri was the last big city close to their enemy's heartland, the Octrian's Valley. The city was supposed to be a vital staging ground to move supplies to the nearby border fortresses, yet there was no order to the roads and the gates to the city. Storage buildings were put into residential areas, while forges were spread all around, creating potential fire hazards wherever Hana looked.

The river, which her platoon was currently crossing by bridge, was filled with refuse and waste. Hana was no hydromancer, but she was certain this section of the river wasn't supposed to be a murky brown that bordered on black. So polluted was the water that one could only expect to catch trash if they went fishing.

Only after crossing the body of water did she find Akio's own inn, dangerously close to the flowing murk. Katashi was standing silently in full kit with his squad, nodding lightly at the appearance of her own platoon. Others were slowly filtering out of the doors of their building, but where Hana had spent minutes aiding her warriors in dressing to look decent, it appeared only Katashi had made his warriors equip themselves correctly.

Hana groaned inwardly, as to not show her increasing anger to those watching for her reaction. Her stare bore into those under Akio's command, who were quickly trying to get their gear on their bodies correctly.

Suddenly, as if now aware that his command ability was being judged by a fellow platoon leader, Akio himself stepped outside of his building, his cloak wrapped around the large two-handed club he had looted at a previous battle when he had been with the first assault platoon. Shit eating grin plastered across his face, he snarled at Hana a good morning.

The urge to brutally murder her fellow platoon leader had been swiftly repressed as Hana returned the greeting without as much as a hint of her true feelings. Akio had seemed pleased at her reaction, and quickly marched in front of his platoon to start berating them and their dress, not understanding the irony.

After a minute of watching the debacle of Akio's attempts at getting his platoon in order, Hana interjected.

"Platoon leader Akio. If you are done entertaining these spectators," Hana started, refusing to gesture to the dozens of bystanders watching from open windows or doorways. "We are ordered to the marshalling field."

Akio paused, then looked at her as if she had just insulted his mother. "I am fully aware of where, and when we are ordered. You are not my keeper, platoon leader Hana, and if I wish to reprimand my squads, I will."

Hana didn't know the name of the feeling she had in her chest when it came to Akio, but was certain it was a mixture of disgust and annoyance. It was obvious to everyone in the company that he wasn't platoon leader material. The only reason he hadn't been demoted back down to a squad leader was because Akio had managed to hide his lack of leadership ability from everyone who could affect his rank. The moment a logistic officer or their commander would appear, he would quickly shut his mouth, and be as polite as possible. With no call to action, Range couldn't justify demoting the platoon leader, and Akio got to continue being a pain in the ass to any he'd come across.

"Good. While you reprimand your half-dressed scouts, don't forget to dress yourself correctly either. In the meantime, we shall be going ahead." Hana stated, her brow furrowed at the sight of Akio, who seemed to understand that his own passive aggressive speech had been ineffective.

Hana, wasting no more time on her fellow platoon leader, led her scouts towards the eastern mustering field where the entirety of the Tenth was supposed to be gathering. It took Akio a second, but he too ordered his warriors into action as the first scout platoon left them behind and quickly jogged to catch up.

"Hey! Hana!" A voice called to her as they neared the gathering of warriors. Hana turned to the voice, seeing one of her few friends standing by a giant Inkling with the company's banner.

Hana quickly gave orders for her scouts to prepare for deployment, giving them permission to break ranks and socialize with the few spear warriors that leaned on carts filled with their company's supplies.

Emi, the fourth spear platoon's leader and one to call out to her, leaned on her weapon next to three other Inklings. These three stood silently as Hana neared, each eyeing her and nodding their greetings.

The first and largest of these additions was the so called 'Banner Brute', who oversaw carrying the company's colors into combat. If Hana wasn't mistaken, his name was Masaru, and passed off as a functional mute. Masaru was easily the second biggest creature in their company, but Hana quickly repressed the image of the first that popped into her head.

As Hana closed the distance, Hachirou stood up from his sitting position, shifting the large signal horn he was tasked to carry. This warrior was a few years younger than the ones that surrounded him, but he didn't look uncomfortable or out of place.

Unlike the previous two, the third one wasn't part of Range's command squad. Naoki, the first platoon leader of the company, shifted in his heavy armor, still not used to the extra weight after years of fighting in armor more like Hana's. Naoki was the most senior of all the platoon leaders, and was respected by everyone in the company, even Akio.

"Emi. Naoki. Hachirou. Masaru." Hana greeted, hearing an echo in the form of Akio, greeting his peers.

"Did you sleep well?" Emi whispered, ignoring the males who stared at her as she embraced Hana in an uncomfortable hug. Hana hesitated as she returned the gesture, still not sure if this was appropriate for two platoon leaders of a battle company, let alone those of the same sex.

Emi had saved her life during a siege battle, and Hana returned the favor a few moments later. Having their backs pressed against the same wall as they fought the same enemies had made them friends, or so Emi had explained to a very confused Hana the morning after. Friendless for most of her adult life, Hana had been perplexed on how to proceed with Emi, unsure if it ended at sharing a drink together once a week and quietly talking in the candle light.

"Uh, yeah. You?" Hana whispered back, feeling as if she was a cornered animal as the others stared at their prolonged hug.

"Mhm." Emi breathed, breaking the embrace. "Everyone should when they're about to go off to battle."

Emi suddenly broke their awkward embrace and turned to the observing males, staring at Naoki the longest before she asked a 'what?' that made each pair of eyes dart away.

As Hana didn't tell Emi who she was sleeping with, Emi too had kept her love life a secret, albeit poorly. Emi didn't seem to understand she talked in her drunken sleep, and had told Hana who it was she shared her nights with, again unintentionally. Naoki coughed once, gaining his voice.

"Well then. Good morning to you both. I hope you won't mind if I don't hug either of you." He said, gesturing to Akio and Hana. Akio barked a chuckle as he moved closer to the guys, apparently feeling awkward standing behind the two girls. "I'm sure you all know what we will be doing today."

"Vanguard detail, right?" Emi asked, quickly concluding that the scouts usually led the way for the company, Naoki and his warriors never far behind.

"You sure are. But we still have time until Range shows up." Hachirou stated, scratching his scalp.

"So... How goes the retraining?" Naoki asked Hana and Akio, treating both of them fairly despite how the real scout had rarely spoken to him outside of leadership meetings. Hana said nothing in return, only looking at a stuttering Akio who was quickly trying to impress the only person he probably cared for in the entire company. Naoki smiled and nodded to the younger warrior, who had once been a squad leader in his platoon.

"Well, you know, we can only expect so much from the kids. Some can't even get dressed correctly in the morning!" Akio tried to joke, demonstrating his inability to recognize irony once more.

"Just give them time, Akio. They'll get it together once we're near combat. Do you guys know where we're going exactly?" Naoki asked, diplomatically getting people into the conversation who would normally stay silent.

"Ishigaki. A border fort that guards the Octrian's valley. Supposedly, that was where this missing company was last seen around." Hachirou stated as if bothered, getting stares from those not in the know. "Certain it is somewhere east of us."

"It is." Hana confirmed, pulling a map from a pocket that was sewn into the rubber lining of the cloak. "Commander Range has asked the scout platoons to find an alternate route a company might have gone through."

Emi leaned closer to look at the map as Hana began sharing information with those near her, outlying the plan Range had formed with her several days ago. "The commander will probably explain this, but we're certain these maps are inaccurate." Hana stated, getting confused looks from all those around her, including Akio who had been in the scout meeting with their commander when they had come to this conclusion. Akio's reaction didn't surprise her though, as he had been too preoccupied trying to find any hint that Range and Hana were having sex through their conversation.

"Inaccurate? Why?" Emi asked, unaware of how to maintain personal space.

"This area is old, and these maps have only recently been made. There are also inconsistencies with the ones we brought from Fort Chai. We're unsure of the reason for this, but only the few routes that lead to the border fortresses have detail around them. Fort Ishigaki's is the vaguest, even though it is the closest to the city by proximity." Hana stated, getting curious looks from those who listened to her. "Either way, we won't be taking them at face value until we're on the road ourselves. What we are sure of, is that it will be heavily forested."

"I see. So, this is just as much of an exploration mission as it is a rescue one." Naoki summed up, scratching his chin as he leaned closer to see the map. Hana, not wanting someone copying Emi, simply handed the piece of folded parchment to the platoon leader. Naoki thanked her quickly, then studied the paper with quiet solemnity.

"About the missing company..." Hachirou started, getting everyone's attention. "Does anyone actually know who they are, or why we're sent to find them? It isn't every day our mysterious leaders at Strategic Command order a battle company to find another."

Hachirou only received silence in return, each person with their own theories on the subject sharing glances with each other. Range hadn't even spoke the name of the missing company during their pillow talk, and hadn't stated how he intended to find them. Hana had theorized that the missing company might have simply gotten lost in the woods, as these maps weren't the most detailed in the world. Why Strategic Command had sent the Tenth to find the lost company was probably just due to proximity, or so Hana had thought before entering Takotsuri. When she found out there were at least six other patrolling battle companies preparing for the snow months in Takotsuri, and some had been here for more than three weeks, she started to have her doubts. If it was a matter of proximity, couldn't a battle company that had been staying in the city be sent out? Why had the Tenth Company been picked for the task while there were at least three thousand Inklings ready to be deployed, closer to the mission's area?

Everyone seemed to have similar thoughts of apprehension, sharing worried looks with each other until Naoki spoke up.

"It doesn't matter who they are. We have our mission, and we'll accomplish it, just like the other times. Don't worry about things that we have no control over! One step at a time, right?" Naoki passionately proclaimed, attempting to motivate everyone as he handed Hana her map back. "All we have to do is follow our orders, and trust in our commander."

Emi was the only one to applaud Naoki's speech, and it seemed he would have gone further if other platoons didn't start to show up. Further talk about the mission was delayed as these new arrivals started to share their own tales of what they had been doing the previous night, and all conversations were quickly transitioned to light banter and jovial speeches.

The fun lasted until a few hours had passed, and Commander Range had shown himself to his company, moving quickly with a scowl on his face.