[CW: A heavier chapter with lots of talk about death. Mentions of self-destructive behaviors. No one is activity harmed on-screen, but it is implied. Alcohol and substance abuse is mentioned very vaguely and very briefly.]
The soldiers trudged through the thick undergrowth, forest floor hidden by every species of plant imaginable. The thick canopy blocked out the sun but trapped humidity and mosquitos swarmed the team at every step. Fantôme led the enteurage, gun grasped firmly in one hand while the other hung near the pistol and sword at his waist. Each soldier was armed to the teeth, bandoliers swinging roughly against their chests as they shoved aside leaves and branches.
Fantôme estimated it to be about midday. Upon reaching a clearing, he held up a hand, signaling for a brief rest. The soldiers spread out to search and secure the immediate area while Fantôme unloaded rations from the pack on his back. By the time he sorted out seven portions, the other had returned and were also unloading whatever they needed. Fantôme passed out food, exchanging a nod with each person as they recieved their meal.
As he settled down on a log, food in hand, he noticed a large red squirrel dart through the closely entwined branches above him. Fantôme froze, almost colapsing under the weight of the memory that surfaced.
"Look," Dalia pointed up at the tree.
Fantôme followed her finger to a gap in the leaves where sunlight streamed down, illuminating a plump red squirrel.
Dalia's mouth widened into a grin. "Sciurus spadiceus," she noted smugly. Fantôme rolled his eyes.
"Show off," he gumbled, lightly shoving her shoulder.
She laughed softly. The sound caressed his ears and he grinned in return. Fantôme swore to himself that he'd do anything to hear that soud again.
The squirrel skittered along the branch until it discovered something hidden among the crisp foliage. Grabbing it, the squirrel spent a few precious moments shoving the treasure into its cheek.
"I still dont understand how you remember the pronunciations for cientific names," Fantôme remarked absently. Dalia shifted her shoulders in a shrugging motion, bare skin rubbing against the soft earth.
"I'm just built like that." He could practically hear her smirk.
"Nobody says that anymore," the solider chided, laugher in his voice. Dalia simply snorted and didn't honor him with a response.
They lay in silence for a few minutes, watching the tree move with the gentle breeze that flowed over their exposed skin.
"Tell me more."
"Hm?" Dalia twisted her neck to look at Fantôme.
He gesturd vaguely upwards. "Y'know, tell me more. About the Skir... Scur... the squirrel."
His comanion gave him an exasperated sigh but nodded. "Let's see... the south Amazon red squirrel... one of the largest squirrels." She started waving her hands around, painting vibrant pictures in the air that no one but her could see. "You can tell this one is southern Amazon and not northern Amazon because the head is narrower and longer, and there's orange..." she continued on enthusiastically, not noticing Fantôme staring at her in adoration while doing his best (but failing) to pay attention.
The soldier snapped out of the memory, squeezing his eyes shut to block everything out. And to hide the tears that threatened to overwhelm him. He slammed his canister of food down on the ground and shot up, sharpy yanking his gun up along with him.
YOU ARE READING
As The World Ends
Ação"Classified? What are you, a secret agent?" "Something like that." She considered that. "How long before you leave?" "Twenty minutes." "Can I come with you?" This is just something I started writing a little over a year ago and I'm putting it on...
