If Only, If Only - Unicorn Wars Fanfiction

Chapter Nineteen: Bound by Law

((I looked her up and down and said 'gurl you're lookin' fine', then she pulled out a p3n!s that was twice the size of mine.))

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Just before the bigger bear could actually slam the weapon down onto Azulin- there was a loud clang and the large sergeant went falling to the side- knocked out. The big body landing in the grass right next to Azulin, who was finally gaining some color back in his face.

A coughing fit soon followed, his body curling into itself as he put his shaking hands down on the dried grass- looking up to see Gordi standing there with one of the saucepans that Azulin had used earlier- a firm look on his face, despite how much he was trembling. "Azulin... you better... get to explaining why you drugged all of us and came up here..."

The blue bear had not known what to say at this point. What could he blame? He had to make it look believable. He needed to somehow get this situation to work out, especially if he was going to continue trying to fix everything for everyone's sake.

The bigger, pink bear looked highly disappointed- as well as flushed due to the stunned silence from the crowd. Gordi, by nature, was not seen as remotely violent or willing to harm anyone. So, upon knocking out the large bear over his brother- it was hard to process.

Azulin sat up, holding his hand over his throat as he looked around at all the stern, expectant faces. Much like a child would be scorned by their parents for getting caught with their hands in the cookie jar.

His blue eyes seemed to always find themselves averting- trying to avoid all of the confrontation and sour looks.

He wasn't intimidated by them, they were normal- so what was so different about being scorned now? Judged and analyzed? Was it because, this time around, he found himself caring about what they needed to say about him? He did care, but even so, you would imagine such things he was used to not being as much of an impact or resonating within him as much as it had due to the circumstances.

"You've been acting suspicious ever since you hit your head before looking into that mirror. We came on this bullshit hike and next thing you know, you end up turning yourself into some strange kind of messed-up prophet. Something has been up with you since the start and now that you are expected to say something that isn't one of your crazy, dangerous shenanigans- you have yet to say a word." Sargento walked over to Azulin, his piercing eyes gnawing into him, causing Azulin to avoid eye contact

Azulin looked away, unable to tell whether or not he was feeling shame or stubborn. Either way, he kept his mouth shut, eyes never leaving the ground. All of the other bears started to whisper around them, their voices growing louder and louder.

"Azulin- he is accusing you of first-degree treason! That is punishable by them! You may lose your position, get removed in your entirety or you could end up disappearing like the last guy did. Don't be a damn idiot!" Gordi frantically grabbed his brothers coat, tearing up as he tried to maintain his composure. "I don't want to have to put you in in the damn ground.."

Former soldiers went missing all the time. Especially if there was a concern among the three major generals.

They made sure other soldiers had disappeared before. Never to be seen or heard from again.

However, who was going to prove that? It only took one nights worth of sleeping units or bears too afraid to talk to let someone's undeniable death slide by under the covers. Because speaking up wasn't enough. It never was, and the grimly frightened obedience of young soldiers was utilized to the full extent for exploitation.

In their world, civilians and soldiers were both guided than the Military. Even if there were bands of bears specifically put in charge of the town, they were probably connected to the generals somehow.

Despite all of his mental ramblings about thoughts related to the possibility of ending up dead, Azulin had actually processed what Gordi had said to him. The pink bear was still tearing up, paws on his shoulder with a firm grasp.

Gordi had proclaimed he didn't want to put his younger sibling in the ground, and the blue sibling proclaimed that he would be fine going in the ground, as long as the others were alive after this venture. This claim was silent, but clear as can be. However, he needed to make his intentions clear to the rest of them.

Steadying his breathing, he stood up, not bothering to dust himself off.

"If I die, I die." Azulin closed his eyes. "Yes, I was near the unicorns. I wandered out here to find this camp- having seen this somewhere in my psyche before I actually got here. I followed my gut, on a whim and encountered the unicorns upon a path, leading up to the clearing. All we did was stare at each other, I didn't make moves to attack- how could I? I wouldn't have been able to move properly." Azulin started to stare down at the ground "There was no confrontation. They healed me and left."

All of the bears seemed to gasp a bit at the prospect of healing, before falling to silence again.

Azulin sunk down to his knees and looked up at all of them, his expression was unreadable. He just fell flat-faced, watching as the big bear that had been knocked down a couple minutes ago got back up- not hit hard enough to be down for a long amount of time. This lead to the big sergeant immediately getting aggressive with Azulin, though.

The second he saw him again, the big bear got aggressive and immediately grabbed the smaller blue bear by the face.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't rip you apart."

A hand on his shoulder stopped him.

"Killing a soldier without the say of a higher authority will ruin your reputation, and you will be stripped of your title, and place in the camp."

Sargento glared at the bigger bear, his light yellow eyes piercing through the other's.

"We are going to return to the Love Camp, and we are going to take him with us as a prisoner. An apt punishment will be dealt when we get there."

The bigger Sergeant seemed to contemplate this- before bearing his teeth at Azulin and walking ahead. "Don't just stand there, then. Secure him."

All of the troupe members in Sargento's group went to argue with with verdict- save for Padre who still had a look of disapproval.

Azulin was the only other bear not freaking out- his eyes distant as he stared at the ground- nearly appearing to have already given up.

"We are going to let the journey decide his fate."

((To Be Continued))