Our second world- Book two: War is coming

Chapter 23

~Haren~

"Well... this looks like a good spot to set up camp for the night," Elise said loudly. stopping the group in their tracks.

"Thank the goddesses. I'm hungry." A few of the soldiers groaned and grumbled as they threw down their packs and set up their tents.

They had good reason to be tired. Not only did they have an early start, but they had just walked almost two days distance in half a day through deep snow. Even Haren, with his above average stamina, was starting to feel fatigue.

"Alright! Dinner! Come get yer food!" Elise called loudly from the large campfire in the middle of the circle of tents after a half hour.

Her five squad members scuttled out from their tents and hurried over to where she was waiting. Grinning, she passed out spoonfuls of the soup she had finished cooking over the fire.

"Thank you for the meal!" They chimed together as they sat down to eat.

"You too, guys!" Haren called to his own squad," Come out and eat."

"Yes Sir!" The triplets shuffled out of their tent over to Haren. Silver and Radelia following a few minutes after to join them after a brief scolding for being late.

They got up as the sun was rising the next morning. Each squad packing up their tents before all of them discussed more detailed travel plans over shared breakfast.

It was decided that the most efficient means of travel would be to wake up before the sunrise, or close to it, and have breakfast. Then, pack up and walk. They would rest breifly around noon, then continue travel until sunset when they would set up camp again. Repeating the process the next day until they reached their destination.

The morning progress was slow going as it was dark and difficult to see in the dim of the misty forest. They were going to be passing through the thickest part of the forest for the next few days.

In this part of the forest, the morning fog hung low over the melting snow and the thick spruce trees made a thin canopy above them that blocked most of the feeble rays of the winter sun. Though spring was approaching in less than three months, and it was warmer now than it had been, snow still powdered the forest floor. Luckily for them, the thick covering of trees allowed little snow to pass through the branches of the trees, so the ground was clear of snow for the most part.

"Let's break here for lunch!" Rose called from the front, glancing up at what little of the gray sky shone through the trees," We'll take ten minutes."
From his squad in front of him, Haren heard a few groans as they found as dry a spot as possible to sit and rest their feet.
After passing around water, August padded over with Mary on his back. He let her hop off before laying down at Harens feet.
"Hey there. Tired of walking already?" Haren teased. Adjusting ShadowBlight on his belt so he could sit more comfortably.
"Ha! You wish!" August snorted," Being a wolf actually makes walking easier."
"But I bet carrying Mary doesn't." He said,ruffling the messy hair of the short girl.
"I kept tripping over tree roots burried in the snow," She puffed her cheeks and the tips of her ears turned red. With a huff of annoyance, she crossed her arms with a pouty frown.
"Times up! Let's keep moving!" Elise called.
"Comming!"
The group continued this process of walking and stopping for two weeks before they reached the edge of the forest and only had about a day and a halfs distance through a deep snow covered field to the base.
They stopped about halfway through the day when they left the forest to set up a camp. They would be walking through the night across the field to avoid the possibility of a night ambush while they slept. Because of this, they would all need extra sleep tonight to make the whole distance.
When the sun began to set, the soldiers of their squads had long since fallen asleep in their tents. Haren, August, Elise and Claris were the only ones still awake to enjoy the moon rise. It was an amazing sight to see the almost full moon rise amoung the stars on the horizon. Turning tje deep powder of snow on the ground a soft blue that glittered under the reflection of the sky like thousands of shards of shattered glass.
Elise sat by Haren on a low hanging tree branch with her legs dangling back and forth as she hummed softly to herself. August lay at the base of their tree with Claris nuzzled down between his shoulders. Her bright orange clashing vibrantly with his deep obsidian black.
"Hey Elise." Her hum stopped and she looked over at him," what are the words to that song? Will you sing it for me?"
"Sure."
She lifted her head and shuffled around a little to make herself sit up a bit taller. Taking a deep breath, she began the first line of the song.
~Sleep for me, my little darling.
Sleep for me when night has come.
Sleep for me, my little darling,
Sleep for me when day is done.~
She furrowed her brow in thought. As if she couldn't recall what came next. From below them, Claris' voice floated up. Carrying the next line of the song, to which Elise joined back in. Their voices, like liquid gold, merged together in a hauntingly beautiful mix.
~My Darling, My darling,
Lay down your head.
My darling, sweet darling,
Lay down to rest.
For morning will come, and dreams will be done,
when the sun comes on the horrizon.
Sleep for me, my little darling,
Sleep for me when night has come.
Sleep for me, my little darling,
Sleep for me when day has come.
Sleep for me... when night is done~
When the song finished, the sound of their voices seemed to echo off the snow as a lingering final note.