Prompt: Use a random quote generator. I...lost the quote. :P

Rating: SC for Scary Captain.

Santon twisted his hands behind his back as he approached the black buck. "Captain." He saluted. "I'm requesting permission to take a team of bucks north of First Warren."

The Lord Captain pursed his lips as he continued to scan the reports in his hand.

Santon shifted his weight. After a whole minute of silence, he spoke again. "Sir, I request—"

"I heard you the first time." Helmer's eyes still did not move from the papers he held.

Santon pressed his lips together and waited. After another minute, he said again, "Sir?"

"What?"

"May I…take the bucks?"

"No."

Santon's heart sank. "But sir—"

"Why?"

Santon blinked. "I'm sorry, sir?"

The buck sighed, almost patronizingly. "I said, 'Why?' Why do you want to go north?"

Santon swallowed and saluted again. "For scouting, sir."

"Where?"

"Up the River Flint, sir."

"Why?"

Santon twisted his fingers together. "Sir, with all respect, I already told you—"

Helmer finally raised his head and stared at him so hard that Santon felt as if his insides were being squeezed to joice. "I asked why you want to go scouting, Corporal."

Santon licked his lips. "I—sorry, sir," he stammered. "I didn't mean to disturb you." He began to turn away.

Helmer put out a hand to halt him. "Stay," he ordered. "I want to hear your reasoning."

"I—it's nothing," Santon faltered. "Sir."

The black buck glared at him. Santon suddenly thought that this was the type of rabbit one would have nightmares about. "I asked for your reasons," he snapped.

Santon gulped. "I—" He stopped and drew a deep breath to steady himself before starting again. Just the facts. "I had thought, sir, that although we have many scouts around First Warren and beyond, we have not secured the River Fay, by which wolf armies could sail to meet us." Santon stopped and stared at a blade of grass by the captain's feet.

"Corporal," Helmer snapped. "Eyes up. Look like a buck in the army instead of a youngling in trouble."

Santon snapped upright, his heart hammering. "Yes, sir."

"Now," Helmer said, "what do you plan to do if an army of wolves sails past?"

"Send a buck back with the alarm," Santon replied unevenly.

Helmer raised an eyebrow. "Do you know a buck who can run faster than a ship going with the flow of a river?"

Santon opened his mouth, then shut it.

"You see?" Helmer shook his head. "Therein lies the flaw of your plan and the reason I refused."

Santon lowered his eyes and nodded, then straightened quickly at a growl from the Captain. "Sorry, sir."

"There is no conceivable way to warn us from that distance, especially when racing a ship. A blast would not be heard. Smoke would not be seen. Runners would not be fast enough. Do you see Corporal?"

Santon nodded. "Yes, sir."

"There is also no way to take down the ships on the river," Helmer said. "You could not fire a blastpowder barrel accurately enough to take them down. There are no other weapons able to be brought such a great distance."

Santon nodded. "Yes, sir. I understand, sir."

"There is no conceivable reason to make such a journey," the Lord Captain continued, "therefore it is insignificant." He turned back to his papers. "You are dismissed."

Santon saluted. "Thank you, sir."

Once outside, he wobbled and leaned against the wall. "What happened in there?" he murmured to himself. The Lord Captain was not one to ask favors from, that was certain.

Reply to Ann: Here's a nice long one for you, as far as the rest are concerned anyway. :) I'm so glad you liked it! It was one of my favorites too. ;)

And thank you for your review on Our History of Heroes! I'm glad you liked that one. That is an excellent idea! I'm putting it on my list right now!