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My heart skipped a beat as the cloth parted. I stood completely still, unable to move. I knew my time had come. I knew, that soon, all in the area would hear a shout. And I knew that the blade that I held in my hands now would be the tool used against me. I closed my eyes tight, waiting for the yell. But it never came. A human had entered the tent and had gone right to the sleeping human, passing me by. I stood and watched as the person shook the sleeping human to consciousness. I could only wait against the side of the tent as the new person began to speak.
�Sir, I have good news.�
�What could possibly be good news at this time of night?� By now I had figured out why I wasn�t seen. Humans don�t exactly have the best eyesight when it came to the dark. I listened as the two continued their conversation.
�We have located the resistance along with the escaped beasts from the farm close by here.� My heart sank at this. They found them! I have to warn Ziara! But, at the moment, there was nothing I could do.
�Good. Go and get others. Prepare them. We will attack at dawn while they still sleep.�
�Yes sir.� The person turned and headed towards the entrance. I remained still. I was convinced I was safe now. But before I could relax, the passing human suddenly stepped on my tail that was lying across the floor. My eyes widened and tried the hardest I could not to yell out. But instead of yelling out I ended up dropping the sword on the ground and it landed with a loud clang. Both humans looked in my directions and I stood stock still, holding my muzzle shut. My heart pounded against my chest as death seemed imminent. I shut my eyes, waiting to be run through with the very blade I had held in my grip.
�What was that?�
�I don�t know. I think it came from outside, sir.�
�Well go look!� I opened my eyes to see the two humans rushing out of the tent. I breathed a heavy sigh of relief, grabbed the sword, and bolted out of there and into the bushes as quickly as my legs would carry me. I grabbed the satchel and ran as fast as I could, not stopping for anything. I had to warn the others. I had to make it back first.
Two hours later I came running into our camp. Most of the other animals were still asleep. I had been running almost continually for the two hours it took me to get back.
�Ziara! Ziara where are you!?� I yelled out. She must have heard me because soon her and others that lead the group were running over to me. I dropped down on the ground, exhaustion coming over me. I winced as I fell onto my back, landing on the sword that I had strapped on while I ran. Ziara pulled me up by my shoulders and looks at me.
�Renard? What�s wrong? Did you get the stuff?� she asked me. I nodded and handed her the bundle of papers. She smiled at me and clapped me on the back.
�Ah I knew you could do it. Well done, Rena-�
�Ziara!� I cut her off, catching my breath. �The humans. The humans know we�re �ere an� they�re gathering to attack as soon as they can. They�ll be �ere shortly. We �ave t� move!� I told her. Her ears flattened and she looked around at the others.
�You heard the captain! Gather your things and move out!� everybody that was awake started moving and waking up the one�s that weren�t. Some did it because I was the captain. The others that were ranked above me did it because Ziara told them to. She looked at me.
�You were the right animal for the job, Renard.� She patted my shoulder then ran off to gather important things.
Jewell came up beside me and looked at me.
�Renard, what�s going on?� she asked me with a worried look.
�Humans are coming t� attack us. We need t� get moving immediately.� I told her. She looked at me then turned and ran off to tell others that looked confused. I sighed and looked around. I thought to myself Freedom isn�t exactly like I planned it� I shook my head and started to help pack things up.
It wasn�t even an hour later when we had most things packed up. I looked around, trying to find Damien. I always tried to find him when I was nervous or afraid of something. I spotted him talking with Ziara and I ran up to them. Damien was yelling at her about something when I ran up.
��. Don�t care! You don�t just go off sending kids into dangerous places! He�s only sixteen!� Damien yelled out. I knew they were talking about me.
�He�s also a captain of the ASAF! I don�t care what you think is right. He does as he�s told or he loses the position! I gave him the option to go on it or not and he chose to! So don�t you come around here yelling at a superior animal about something you can�t win!� she said, snarling. He narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth to yell at her when there was a noise to the right of us. We all turned to look as one of the other captains that was standing nearby suddenly dropped to the ground; pierced through the chest by a longbow arrow. I immediately turned towards the forest to see our tormenters. There was a row of humans at the tree lines. Some of them had bows and arrows, others had clubs, and some had swords. The ones from the camp I went to were there also. The leader was standing in plain view, scanning over the group of us with angry eyes. His gaze fell on me.
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