The Shot Heard Around the World (Countryhumans American Revolution)

The Fight Continues

August 6, 1777

Kanien'kehà:ka sometimes wondered how he got into these situations. He knew why he was fighting and knew what Britain had promised him and his people, but he found himself growing tired of war. Especially this war, which had done so much damage to his family and friends, with Rotinonshón:ni dealing with his people choosing opposite sides in this war.

Kanien'kehà:ka wished Skarù:ręˀ and Onyota'a:ka had chosen to fight with him. He hoped that this war did not risk Rotinonshón:ni's life. At least his son had enough sense to maintain neutrality and refuse to fight, not wanting to divide them any further.

Still, Kanien'kehà:ka had decided to fight in this war, so he couldn't be one to complain. At least he was being led by Thayendanegea and not some British general. Kanien'kehà:ka had long grown familiar with how they saw him, and he wasn't a fan of it.

He knew they saw him as lesser, as incompetent, and stupid, and he hated it.

True, there was some British leader whose name he didn't remember with them, but for the most part, Kanien'kehà:ka was surrounded by his people.

They had been preparing an ambush for the rebels in a small ravine where the trail they knew the rebels were traveling on crossed a stream. The thick undergrowth hid Kanien'kehà:ka and his people as the British blocked the path, ensuring that the rebels would stop and get caught in the trap.

If they stopped the rebels here, it would allow for the British general currently besieging the rebel fort a few miles away to capture it, thus allowing them to gain another victory over the rebels. Despite not being as emotionally invested in this war as the British, Kanien'kehà:ka hoped to win it, knowing that the sooner the war ended, the sooner Rotinonshón:ni could be at peace and they could work to repair broken relationships.

So when Kanien'kehà:ka saw the rebels arriving, he let out a low breath, tensing as he prepared for the ambush. Once the rebels ran into the British, he and his people would swoop in and decimate them, preventing any reinforcements from arriving at Fort Stanwix.

However, before the rebels had reached the British, some of Kanien'kehà:ka's men fired, alerting the rebels to the ambush. Angry, but knowing there was nothing that could be done about that now, Kanien'kehà:ka raised his gun to fire at the rebels, taking note of the people that were alongside them.

He knew they must be Skarù:ręˀ or Onyota'a:ka's people. The thought made him angry. He didn't want to fight them, but at the same time, he felt that they had betrayed him by joining the rebels. What had happened to Onyota'a:ka's neutrality?

As much as he wanted to target them, some half-hearted, petty revenge, Kanien'kehà:ka looked away from them. There was no use making things any worse. They had picked their sides. Now, they must learn to deal with them.

The battle went on until a thunderstorm began, and everything seemed to ground to a halt. Kanien'kehà:ka sighed, knowing that the battle would be over soon if the rain continued. No one could fight in this weather, and it was better for them all to head home if it didn't change soon—no use sitting around and waiting for good weather.

While the rain eventually began to subside and fighting half-heartedly resumed, Kanien'kehà:ka's people eventually began to withdraw. Kanien'kehà:ka didn't blame them.

He was tired of fighting, too.

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August 16, 1777

Vermont had never felt more nervous than when he had been given his gun. He knew he had decided to fight against the British, but being given that weapon made it all the more real. He had to fight in this battle against the British, as they were planning to attack Bennington, a town in Vermont's country.

This was his chance. He wanted to prove not only himself as a nation but also as a son who would be loyal to his father, the United States of America.

He had answered General John Stark's call for additional forces alongside many people from his country, like Colonel Seth Warner, and had certainly surprised the man, who did not expect a nation-child to arrive. But General Stark, a hero and veteran soldier who had met Vermont's father, quickly adapted to the situation and welcomed Vermont into his army.

It had been raining non-stop all day, but as soon as the weather cleared on the afternoon of the sixteenth, Vermont and his father's army made their move to attack the British at their encampment.

General Stark began to rally the troops, talking about how they were fighting for their natural-born rights as Englishmen. Vermont may not have been American, but the words rallied him, too.

"There are your enemies, the Red Coats, and the Tories. They are ours, or this night, Molly Stark sleeps a widow," General Stark then proclaimed. Vermont tightened his grip on his weapon, both wishing he had more experience and yet still eager to fight.

He was confident they would win this battle, however, as Vermont knew that General Stark had sent Americans disguised as loyalists into the British camp to gather intelligence.

When the attack finally began, Vermont was surprised by how personal it seemed to some of the people he fought alongside.

Then, he remembered how many loyalists had been called in to fight for the British. How many of his people were fighting against family and friends? If he was not only a few months old, a person who had barely left Westminster, would he be fighting friends, killing people he once knew?

Vermont tried to force the thought out of his mind as he continued to fight his way through the British defenses. The battle was loud and chaotic, and there were a few times when Vermont wanted to throw down his weapon and flee, feeling far too young to fight a war.

But he stayed. If he fled, not only would it damage his personal standing with his father and his army, but it would hurt the reputation of his own country, as they would have a countryhuman that was such a coward. This wasn't just fighting for his father's army. Vermont was fighting to protect his own people.

He had to stay and fight for them, the people that brought him into existence.

But as the sun began to set, Vermont and the Americans managed to surround the British forces, which surrendered. Vermont had won his first battle, and he couldn't help the elated grin that spread across his face at that.

He had won.

Bennington was safe.