Back in camp a cool breeze was starting to filter through the canopy and many beasts were beginning to stir. The sun was heading on it's way towards the horizon as Strongpaw strode back to the officers fire. It had been a tiring day, due to the heat if nothing else. He approached Lilac, Leader of the Sentinels and murmured into her ear. "I think our new bunch of warriors are ready for a bit of out of camp training" Lilac nodded in understanding and called together the rest of the officers. They then discussed the movements of the members and the safety of holding war training at the particular time. Mattia reported that there were no Vermin in the immeadiate area and they shouldn't be bothered by any roving groups as the closest were a couple weeks journey away. So the plans were laid for the war game, the troops would find out on the day. It was to be a mock war between the vets and all of the newer members of the Sentinels to give them the experience and ability to work in a team. No-one would get hurt. They'd be using their training weapons. The officers would detail a few of the vets as to where their positions would be and what they would do. Then they would join the newer recruits and help them to 'defeat the enemy'. The fire had begun to burn low and most of the beasts were quiet except for the occasional stir of the sentries and the leaving of the officers and picked vets to make final preparations for tomorrow.
Sunfler woke to find all of the older beasts had disappeared from camp and that the officers were standing to attention in a line by the main campfire, Lilac at their head. Graduallly the other beasts stirred and awoke noticing that something was amiss and making their way over to the main fire. Lilac backed by a group of solemn looking officers stepped forwards and informed the remaining members of the war game. "True this is just a game, the weapons will be modified for safety, but I wish for you all to take this seriuosly, it will be a valuable experience to you all. Now, each of you, find your commanding officer and prepare for war!" She stepped back to a momentary stunned silence from the newbeasts - the officers were indeed taking things seriously - and then an eager rush to split up into squads, line up and get the game started.
Sunfler hurried off in Strongpaws direction to the warrior training fields with all of the other warriors quickly following step. They all lined up in orderly ranks as Strongpaw explained to them the position of the 'enemy' and their particular mission within the war. They were all then issued with padded armour and blunted training weapons as they followed Strongpaw to their next location. After this they were divided up into smaller groups, Strongpaw randomly selecting a leader for each one. Sunfler almost felt the pride over flow from her as Strongpaw reached their group and his eye landed on her. "You'll do Sunfler"
He then went around and detailed the groups individually while the others prepared their weapons properly. The vets had formed a force scattered through central mossflower and had 'stolen' an object of great value from the Sentinels camp. The object was secreted in the middle of the enemy camp and Sunfler's groups particular mission was to get it back while the others concentrated on defeating the enemy and capturing them where possible. The warriors now moved into their beginning postions. Strongpaw didn't lead a particular group but would be moving between them as much as possible. Now all they could do was wait for the scouts to figure out the exact positions of the enemy and give a better idea of the location of the object. They would wait for the messengers from the healers. Since there would be no-one in need of healing during this battle (hopefully) the healers and minstrels were acting as messengers between the groups. The archers also had their orders and had taken up their positions.
A minstrel bedecked in camouflage colouring appeared from a nearby tree to inform of the positions of the enemy and that it was safe to move out. "Alright, everyone, let's go, quietly now, make sure everyone keeps to their positions and we should make it through okay." Sunfler moved forwards and the group followed suit slowly. Sunfler had appointed positions to each member so all sides of their party could be watched and protected. Occasionly a scout, minstrel or healer would approach and the group would alter their course. After a while they met up with a small group of archers and scouts in a tiny clearing and continued towards their goal. All was going well. The scouts kept going forwards and the messangers appeared from time to time. One particular leg of the journey led them into a skirmish. The scouts had gone a little far ahead and were taking a while to return, while this had happened a renegade party had come up on their rear, taking out a few beasts. The beasts had had time to alert the party but had time for nothing else before the arrows clattered off their armour, they were out of the game. The rest of the party, quickly directed by Sunfler took cover, the archers firing as some of the warriors made for the flanks of the archer group. The warriors managed to get around to the enemy archers flanks and began to 'kill' them. Several were out of the game before the others surrendurred and headed back for camp. Then as the scouts returned and the party headed once more for their destination Strongpaw appeared. "Well done back there, that was a good job! But remember you HAVE to keep alert, look at the size of your group now, the others won't be coming back. Keep on ahead." With that he was gone again. Sunflers group finally made it just outside the main enemy camp and could see the object ahead of them. They then waited for the messengers to deliver that the others had got ready for the attack. It was a long wait, all the officers, everyone except Lilac(she was acting as centre of operations for the messengers) kept paying them short visits with words of advice and encouragement. Then the attck was launched, from everywhere beasts charged out at the enemy camp surrounding the beasts as best they could, the archers blunted arrows flying everywhere. As the fighting reached a climax Sunfler ordered her group forward and, covered by their archers, they gained the object. Picking it up Sunfler turned and they ran from the fray. They were almost home free when a smaller group of vet warriors appeared in front of them blocking their path. With much shouting, blocks and thrusts were being carried out everywhere. Her party pushed it's way through with Sunfler at the lead, roaring with all her might. Finally they broke through and made a charge for the cover of the trees. Once there they tore back to camp encountering the occasional skirmish on the way.
By the time Sunflers party reached camp it was considerably smaller. She set the rest of her group to guard the object while she found messengers and informed them of their success in recapturing the object. Upon doing that she ran to inform Lilac, who would in turn inform the other officers and then rejoined her group. Soon afterwards Strongpaw appeared and congratulated her group informing them that the 'war' had been won.
All the newer recruits stood in their groups in ranks before the officers and main fire once more. Lilac gave a detailed report of the days happenings and out marched a long list of 'casualties' from the battle. This in itself was a message of the damage of war. She then asked for the object. Sunfler stepped forwards holding it and then presented it to the Leader of the Sentinels. "Sunfler, you've done well, you have allowed us to succeed" At this Sunfler replied. "You can hardly thank just me, I was just the one to pick up the object and bring it back here, there was no way I could have done it without every other beast present putting their all into it." A hearty cheer arose from the other members and Lilac and the officers broke rank grinning. Shouting above the noise Lilac said " If there's only one thing that you learned today, what Sunfler just said was the most important of them all! Always remember that, you need to work as a team, that's what keeps the Sentinels strong!" After this, cheering erupted and the vets re-appeared to join in the festivites, everyone friends once more.
It was late evening and the main part of the revelry had died down. Sunfler sat by a low fire sharpening her sword. As it glinted in the light she caught the movement of a shadow behind her and turned to see Strongpaw approaching. "Sunfler, I'm proud of you, many a time beasts have had Lilac say that to them and have gladly taken all the credit for themselves. That was an honourable thing to do and you fight well too. You will make a great warrior some day" With that he left again leaving Sunfler the Fearless to stare into the ashes in wonderment.
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