The Water Phoenix

Chapter 3: Nighttime

And so we started marching. Minutes turned to hours, and hours into days.
We rarely stopped. My feet were killing me, my vision became hazy. A few kids couldn't go on. They were abandoned on the road.

Finally after three days of walk, we stopped at a camp.

Water droplets were painted everywhere. It was deserted. It had probably been left for us.

I wobbled towards the General Kasumoto and the captain of before.

We were all huddled around them.
"Welcome to the training camp, Brats!" The captain hollered.
I felt my head churn.

"You will be partnered up with the person you walked with towards here. Choose a random tent and get in!" He said.

There was a general flurry of movement, as everyone searched for their partner. I scanned the area for the kid. I found him to the side. He was panting loudly, and his face was white as a cloth. The marching must have exhausted him. I hoped we found a tent to make him lay down.

I put my hand on his shoulder. "Well, little soldier, we're together in this." I said. The boy smiled exhaustedly.
"My name is Futoshi." He said.
I smiled. "I'm Meilin."

I turned to look around us and realised we were the last ones outside. We entered the tent at the north side. Luckily it was empty.

Futoshi collapsed on one of the two futons in the tent. Instead I started looking around.

The tent was medium sized. It was cream coloured. A simple table was in the middle. Two futons to the side and that would be it.
I walked to my futon and sat on it.

Futoshi was already in the lands of dreams. I chuckled softly. Since we were in the tent, I took my armour off and piled it at the feet of my futon. I checked no one was coming and that Futoshi was sleeping. When I finished checking, I took off my shirt for a second. I tore off the bandages that had been itching me since two days ago. They were dirty and sweaty. I'd change them later.

I threw them under my futon and slipped my shirt back on. I then laid down on my bed and felt sleep pull me in his arm.
The last thing I saw was the water droplet sewn on the door.

I woke in the middle of the night. Futoshi was looking at me. His eyes wide. I rushed to his side.
"What's wrong Futoshi?" I asked.

He started rocking back and forth. "I hear strange things. Help me Meilin!" He sobbed, throwing his arms around my neck. He laid his head on my chest.
I winced when I realised I hadn't put the bandages back on.

Futoshi realised and looked up. Questions clouding his eyes.
"Meilin...?" He asked.
I smiled in the dark.
"My real name is Keiko. And yes, I'm a girl." I whispered.

"But...but..." He stammered. I nodded gravely. "I had to." I whispered.
Futoshi shook his head. "Don't worry. I'll shut my mouth." He said. I smiled and tucked a strand of hair behind his ear.
"I will just go and put something to cover this and then we can go back to sleep." I said. Futoshi nodded.
I took my shirt off, Futoshi looked to the side. A blush seeping on his face.

I took some new bandages from my helmet and wrapped them around my chest. I then cut the edge off with my teeth and slipped my shirt back on.

Just as I was about to say all the noises were just animals, a general yanked open our tent. His face was terrorised. I raised an eyebrow. Futoshi started shivering.

"The rebels...they're attacking us!" He panted.
Futoshi yelped. I felt my eyebrows knit together. It would have been okay if we'd all been trained soldiers. But most of us, including me, had never handled a sword. The general pulled back.