Ice Always Melts

Chapter VI

"There she is!" Kinnick Tybout said quite loudly, his companions also turning to grin. "Heard you're gonna be staying with us for a bit, huh?" Luna smiled softly, watching as Armius left her to the other men. She took a seat on the earth in front of her own tent. Armius had taken her to the unit's designated chef, who heated her up leftover meat stew. The water and food helped her regain most strength.

Kinnick and his friends were working on folding up their tents and putting up their belongings. The fire in the center of a group of tents had been put out, and the hoards of men that had gathered earlier had disbanded. The carefree atmosphere was replaced with a working environment. "Luna Rose, this is Darren Ager," he pointed to a short, chubbier man, with short curly, black hair, "and Bordan Vallin." He gestured to muscular, tan man with wavy brown locks.

They both said hi to the child, packing their belongings in matching yellow, purple, and brown bags, with the Anglasia symbol on them. "What are you doing?" Luna asked, her sore throat bothering her less. Frost sniffed at the two other men, and Darren Ager petted him without a second thought. Frost didn't argue.

"We're packing up." Bordan Vallin said, tieing his bag shut, and working on folding up the tents. "Gotta head back to Anaglasia City." He said the matter as if it was routine, and judging by how orderly pack up was, it more than likely was.

Luna couldn't believe they were already moving. If this was what it was going to be like from now on, moving from camp to camp, city to city, she would never have a place to call home... Even when her Papa left from job to job he had a home to go back to...Luna didn't now. The fact that Elwynn itself was gone didn't hurt her as much now...It was the fact that Elwynn the people are gone that made her gut clench.

Kinnick looked at the younger girl oddly. He and his friends were new recruits, barely trusted with anything so far except marching. But he was the one who found her dying body in the river by following a wolf pup. He was the one who brought her to the general, and who set a tent up so she could regain health. The way Armius left the girl once she was in his care made him wonder if he or his group would be the ones to look after her, not that she needed it.

To be honest, he liked everything about this girl. The way she stood up for him against Armius, who Kinnick feared completely, and the way she yelled at the men for taunting her wolf. She had a very mature attitude, and he admired that. "Want to help packing up, Luna Rose?" He asked, grinning naturally.

She nodded, and watched as he explained everything packing wise. She pet her wolf, as the noonday sun started to slowly make it's way back to the ground...

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Luna had never walked more in her entire life.

The entire camp ate dinner, and was off before the sun set. Then was perfect for traveling. The night air was cold, and they were hidden from attackers.

Luna walked beside Kinnick, Bordan, and Darren, Frost at her heels for most of the way. There were several times he'd run off to chase a rabbit, before returning with a disappointed gaze, nothing caught in his jaws. Having the little girl there, and her wolf, was a huge motivation for the entire unit. They all felt like their work taking care of Anaglasia was showing in this girl they saved and were taking care of.

Kinnick, who was carrying his tent, as well as Luna's, was almost like a big brother the way he scolded some of the older men, who were having a bit too much fun marching and let some words slide. He watched as Luna walked on the side of the path, waving a fern around as if it were a toy. Frost was eagerly yapping and yipping at some of the soldiers, racing after the ones playing around with him. They didn't ever march in a line or formation, so walking was always fun for the men, but it was even more so with Luna Rose.