Not Just a Soldier

Chapter four: Ambushed

My head spins as Nate and I haul Jordan to his feet. Then, leaving him, Nate and I break into a mad dash for our rifles while Jordan fumbles with his, running blindly to cover as shots continue to ring down from the mountains above our tiny, exposed, isolated base.

"THE TALIBAN ARE SHOOTING AT US FROM UP THERE!" Nate yells, pointing at the jagged mountains above us. "THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS MONTH!" He continues screaming as I pull Roja tight to my side, clutching my rifle tight across my chest with the other hand. I think Nate talks when he's nervous...

I look ahead, I should be scared, at least a little, but I don't think my brain's caught up with me yet. Closing my eyes, (which seems like a very dumb thing to do) I listen to the marines shouting and Rojas quiet, calm breathing.

"WHY ARE YOU JUST STANDING THERE?!?" Nate screams again, grabbing my arm. I tumble forward.

My eyes snap open. Nate's running ahead of me, Roja dragging me after him. Soon, I pull ahead of Nate, slinging my rifle across my shoulder and back. I hear bullets whizzing by me.

Suddenly, Roja gives a large, sharp jerk on the leash that nearly tears my arm from its socket. Stumbling forward, trying to recover, my foot twists sideways when I put it down as I run. My stride is broken and I trip, head over heels, and crash to the ground. I gasp and hurry to pull Roja to me hearing a loud, horrifying whiz over my head. Gripping her tight I pull her against my chest, shielding her with my body. An explosion goes off to my left and me and Roja get thrown into the air.

I watch the ground rear up to my face and my stomach lurches. Pain pulses through me. I must've blacked out of a moment because when I look up, Rojas at my side, looking down at me, I look right back up at her, sprawled out on the ground, frozen. She's just saved my life. That explosion, it was a RPG, (rocket propelled grenade) and it would've taken my head off if Roja hadn't jerked me away.

I stifle a groan as I shift. My back and shoulder burn with pain, but that doesn't matter. Roja licks my face as I raise my hand to pat her head. I swear in my head, Roja, as long as I'm alive, you'll be safe, you'll be alive.

I feel a tug of my arm and close my eyes, wincing in pain. Someone is tugging me up, arm hooked around my own. I struggle to my feet.

"You OK?" Nate asks, still clutching my arm tightly.

"THINK SO!" I yell back, feeling blood trickle into my left eye. I wipe it away with the back of my hand and push him off. Dropping to one knee, I check Roja for any damage or wounds. I sigh with relief, she has a bit of shrapnel embedded into her shoulder, but it's not serious. I can look at it more when this battles done.

I barely notice Nate hit the dirt besides me as bullets continue to whiz overhead and I try not to wince when his finger dig into my wounded shoulder. "C'mon Hanna! For God's sake, let's get out of here!" He screams at me.

I scramble to my feet, tugging Roja and Nate behind me. I lead them to the sandbag wall for cover and push Roja down, lying over her and rising my above the wall, beginning to fire blindly at the mountains. Nate does the same.

I don't feel anything as I shoot, nothing emotionally anyway, as I shoot. My shoulder burning from the shrapnel and recoil. I just keep reminding myself that they are a threat to Roja, so I need them dead. I fire until I can fire no more, until my shoulder is oozing with blood. I simply cover my dog with my body... and wait for this battle to end.