"Pick a weapon." Aaron called from the other side of the field. "This weapon so stay with you. It will be yours, always by your side."
James was in full chain armor, trembling in his boots. Aaron was waiting patiently, tapping one hoof on the ground. The battle field was a simple diet battle field with rocks here and there. Along with the rocks there were hiding spots and barriers, like broken rubble like castle walls.
There were six weapons laid out before him. A sort of bat or trudgeon, a scythe, a sword, a bow and arrow, a staff, and a book. James frowned and stepped closer to the book. Aaron smirked, "If you really wanna learn magic and enchantments it's going to take longer. But it's efficient." James gulped and stepped away. He wanted this to be over as soon as possible.
The trudgeon didn't have much appeal, the scythe looked too heavy, he wasn't fast enough to use a sword, and the staff was the same problem as the sword. The bow and arrow looked nice though.
James stepped towards it and Aaron rolled his eyes. James quickly stepped back and kept thinking. So bow and arrow is out... what about the staff? Or the trudgeon? James picked up the bat sort of weapon.
"That's a trudgeon." Aaron explained, "typically for stronger brutes. You would fit the cut but... you've never fought, so it would take some training."
James huffed and set it down. Before Aaron could yell that he was taking too long, James picked up the bow and arrow. "I've used this before." He snapped. Aaron rolled his eyes once more.
"Yeah, well you don't look like a long range fighter." Aaron argued. "And you-"
James growled and marched up to him, "You don't look like a douche bag but look where we are." Dolly, who was off to the side with Charles, snorted and covered her mouth. Aaron huffed and picked up the staff.
"Learn the staff. Or the trudgeon. Even the sword is better than the bow."
"Shut up! I'm learning the bow and you're not gonna-"
Aaron swung the staff against James's side. James yelped and glared at him. Burr swung for the head, James ducked, and then Aaron tripped him and pinned him down.
He thwacked the staff against James's head. "OW!" James shouted, "OKAY I'LL LEARN STAFF JUST STOP-" Aaron swung again, aiming to bruise him up. It hit James's jaw and the boy yelped like a kicked puppy.
Dolly looked away and Charles walked over. "Aaron stop!" Charles snapped, "He's had enough, let him go." Aaron was distracted. James took this chance to grab the staff away from Aaron, thrust it against Aaron's chest, and shove him off.
Aaron stumbled a little, holding his chest. James swung the staff against the centaur's head, knocked him to the side, and then dropped the staff.
Aaron had fallen over, huffing as he struggled to get back up. He does have a weakness! James thought, He's part horse! James smiles maliciously and marched over. He raised the staff up and then-
"JAMES! STOP IT!"
James looked over to see Dolly, her face red with anger. She marched over, took the staff, and back handed him. Sam winced at the sight and quickly went to help Aaron. James held his cheek and actually wanted to cry a little.
Dolly was about to yell at him but Abigail- when did she get here?- stopped her. The shorter girl went quiet and looked away. Aaron slowly got up, pushing Sam away. He took the blanket from Dolly and wrapped it around his waist as he changed to his human fom.
The leader stumbled to James, his knees wobbly, and growled, "We're training you on staff, and if I had realized you were so well trained with hand to hand combat, I would have immediately put you with it. Sorry." Aaron shuddered at the last word and stumbled back to Sam. He leaned on him for support as he walked to the medical wing.
James awkwardly stood on the field, messing with his sleeves. He didn't realize he was crying until Abigail took a handkerchief out and wiped his cheeks. James covered his face. Dolly walked up, took his arm, and led him to the bench.
They sat down and James let her hold his hand. He felt like such a child, but the way she squeezed his hand cheered him up. She sighed and finally spoke, "You're good with a staff, and I don't blame you for going a little far." James looked at her. "You aren't the first person in camp to get pissed and kick his ass."
James sniffled and asked, "Who was the first?" Dolly smiled.
She replied softly, "Charles." James was shocked. Charles Lee looked like a sort of runt of the litter, not some kind of badass fighter.
"Charles?" James asked, "He doesn't seem like the-"
"SAM WHERE THE FUCK DID YOU PUT MY BONE YOU SHIT FACE!"
Charles was on the other side of the field, with a shovel in his hand. He marched up to James and Dolly, blinked, and asked, "Where's Sam?" Dolly smiled and squeezed James's hand again.
She sighed, "Jamie kicked Aaron's ass, so Sam is patching the poor centaur up in the medical wing." Charles nodded and marched away to the hole he was digging. He dropped the shovel, changed into a wolf, and dug faster.
James whispered, "He's smaller than the other beasts."
Dolly nodded and whispered back, "He's a runt of the litter. No control over himself. Sam is the only beast willing to take care of the poor boy. Plus they're gay in denial." James snickered.
"So he's a runt, huh?" James sighed. Before Dolly could answer, Charles ran at them and tackled James over.
"HEY!" He shouted, changing to human, "I'M NOT A RUNT!" The beast was going to continue yelling but his ears perked and he got off of the poor boy. He stood to attention and sniffed the air.
"Charles, what's wrong?" Asked Dolly. Charles shook his head a little and huffed.
"Gotta run." And with that he ran out of camp and into the woods. A few seconds later Sam ran through the field and into the woods as well. Dolly pulled James up off the ground and led him back to camp.
"Come on," Dolly mumbled, "It's getting late, and it's not that safe here at night." James nodded and pulled his arm away. They walked side by side back to the empty tents and cabins.
Dolly went to a pale blue tent and opened it up. After seeing it was vacant she led James inside. "This will be what you can stay!" She smiled, gesturing to the bed, desk, and empty dresser. "It's nice and cozy, and you can decorate however you want if you'd like. My tent is the light pink one with the flowers outside of it." After James stepped inside she sighed, "Try to rest, or do whatever. You can wander if you want, just don't leave camp. Bye!" Dolly shut the tent flap and ran off.
James sat on the bed, smiling a little at how comfy it felt. He laid down, stared at the ceiling, and sighed. "Day three, check. Wait, two? Aw man." James snickered to himself and shut his eyes, eventually dozing off in his new home.
YOU ARE READING
Survive the Monster (Hamilton fic)
Hayran KurguJames has one mission. He thinks this as he's killing a wolf with nothing but his bare hands and a switch blade. Survive the Monster, and live to tell the tale. The voice in his head gives him direction, and a sense of confidence. Meanwhile his frie...
