If Only, If Only - Unicorn Wars Fanfiction

Chapter Twenty-One: Food for Thought

(("P-A-R-A-K-E-E-T" . . . "PENGUIN!" :D))

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The dense forest ahead of them was so much darker at night. Coco still couldn't walk, but he had a weapon ready just in case. Now that Azulin was gone, everyone suddenly felt considerably less secure than they were before. The Mimosin brothers carried the younger troupes but huddled close to each other, looking around with obvious expressions of paranoia.

The sounds of the wild animals moving about made them turn their heads in every direction- unsure of whether or not someone was going to come running out of the bushes at them.

Gordi looked saddened, but a bit more determined than usual. His pink eyes concentrated on the ground as he kept his fist clenched. His nails dug into his palms. He couldn't help it, he didn't know whether or not his brother was okay, and due to the circumstances, they were unable to check- unless they wanted something to go askew.

He nearly let out a loud grunt of disapproval, but kept it to himself.
"We are going to get him back. We just weren't in the time or place to do anything to him to make sure things worked out in our favor." Sargento sighed, before glaring. "Otherwise I would not have left him with that freak up there."

Pandi looked over to Sargento- before tilting his head. "You know him?"

The bigger, rounder bear let his eyes fall to the ground- using his machete slash through several of the leaves and vines in the way.

"Regrettably. It seems he may not remember me, though. When we both were young, he was notorious for mutilating small animals and neighborhood pets." Sargento shook his head. "He was deranged from the start."

Gordi was suddenly right next to the sergeant, his pink eyes narrowed.

"Then why the hell would you leave Azulin with him, bound or not?! We already saw how he overpowered him the first time, what if he is already dead and we just don't know it...!"

Sargento tilted his hat down, before huffing.

"I didn't like the idea- but we needed to start getting back to camp. On top of that, Sergeant Scruff is close to one of the generals. We would not be able to beat him and get away with it, especially if we left marks. There was little other options and I didn't want to. Azulin has a razor blade- I am confident we can put it to good use. I have been doing my best to make sure we don't get too far ahead either...."

The risk Sargento took was calculated and well thought out. That didn't stop the lingering fear that something would, however, go wrong- just as it had been several times during this trip.

This did not comfort Gordi in the least- making the pink bear start pacing with the medical supplies and a stern look on his face.

"My bother BETTER be okay." Gordi started, his timid nature almost completely melting away for a second. "If Azulin dies. I will not let you live this down." Gordi and Azulin may have been twins, but Gordi only being slightly older made a big difference to the pink bear- especially if it concerned a situation that could very well walk a line between life and death.

Normally, Sargento would have made some kind of snippy remark back to someone who was trying to intimidate him. However, in this situation, there were three notable things stopping him. 1, he understood where Gordi was coming from in terms of protectiveness. 2, it was too serious of a situation for them all to start quarreling, especially now. 3, Gordi was actually intimidating when he showed no fear. His normally sweet, tentative nature being replaced by dead-serious malicious intent.

So, with a hesitant nod, Sargento looked around the group, before gesturing for all of them to stop.

He knew very well he said they would all be taking no breaks- but none of them were doing well. Carrying already ill soldiers, dealing with intense emotional stress, some of them being injured themselves in one way or another. None of it was going well at all.

Nearly all of the men collapsing immediately not even worried about the shade or any possible substance to eat.

During this time, Gordi went to start treating all the wounds he could, with his limited medical supplies. Noting that almost the entire troupe of the Lone Owl were critically underweight. It would explain why they were easy to carry in the first place.

Sonrisas was standing off to the side, keeping watch with Pandi- who seemed to be lost in thought. Gordi was still treating the injured and unwell. Padre was off in the corner, looking at the book dedicated to his faith with a bit of a far-off stare that could only be dubbed as unusual. Coco was sitting on the grass, seeming to contemplate a cigarette before putting it away. Achuchones adjusted the little yellow necktie he liked wearing, seeming to also be pondering something. The Mimosin siblings were both hugging each other, seeming to be in the middle of an emotional breakdown.

In short, even if he did not say it it out loud- he was immensely worried for the rookies. He didn't hate them, he never would. But being hard-in-teachings and gruff with the newbies was something he was by default. Being in the military was no joke and while he wished there was time to learn and pace having fun or taking breaks- he probably would have found a way long ago.

If his troupe got special treatment- he would be out of a job. If they didn't learn the dangers of battle and build up all of their senses- they would be let go, or die in the field.

This, being their first major mission, proved that.

The bigger bear found himself at a loss of what to think. He had no way to help, beyond leading them back. They hadn't even been in the field long enough to read a proper forest manual yet, to gain knowledge on survival tips, and the safeties of outdoor consumption. It was as if they were all sent out here specifically to die for no reason. There were plenty of other troupes with more experienced soldiers.

"Sir- we are ready to go-" Blackie interjected, the Grizzly bear leaning against the tree as he finished walking over. "I haven't heard Azulin or that sergeant around for a while... do you think it's possible we went too far ahead?"

Sargento Caricias narrowed his eyes in the direction they had walked from, watching as it only got darker due to the time. "I know we are too far ahead. Knowing Sargento Scruff, he is not letting Azulin rest. The only thing I do know is that I will owe him a huge apology and compensation when we all get back to camp..."

"I hear shouting in the distance..." One of the soldiers from the lost Lone Owl Troupe mumbled, partially asleep. "Are we almost to... the camp yet?"

((To Be Continued))