Warrior of the Stars- Book one of the Jay Shang Chronicles

Chapter 13-Journey to the Winter Camp

Chapter 13 - Journey to the Winter Camp

The camp was abuzz with movement and stressful shouting as both soldiers and workers alike packed up camp in preparation for the coming expedition into the mountains for the winter months.

Three months had passed since Jay's strange encounter with the god that claimed to be Tropine, and he still wasn't sure what was real and what had just been a dream. Between that and the events from the night of his initiation, Jay was worried he was losing the ability to tell fantasy from reality.

He supposed some of what he had seen must be true. His archery skills were still impeccably and unexplainably years beyond what his skill level should be. His other training, however, was not progressing nearly as well.

Although his body was getting stronger and more able with each day, his abilities remained at a beginner's level. His peers were advancing without him, resulting in Jay being shunned and bullied. If it weren't for Damon and Serena, he would have no one to talk to.

Damon's shaved head popped through Jay's tent flaps, making him jump. "You still aren't done packing?" he exclaimed in exasperation. "Everyone will be leaving soon!"

Jay rolled his eyes. "Relax, I'm almost done. Help me roll my tent up and let's go."

The boys worked together to stuff Jay's tent into his rucksack, and they ran off to join the other novices. Despite being ranked expert in archery, he still had to live in the novice barracks because his other skills were too poor.

He shot a secret smile at Serena as he passed her and the other kitchen workers loading up the carts with supplies. She gave him a tiny wave that drew the attention of an older woman who began yelling at the girl for being lazy. Jay gestured an apology and hurried after Damon.

"Wait up!" he called, tripping over himself in his haste. "I still don't even understand why we are leaving this camp. It's not as if it doesn't snow here, why do we have to leave for winter training?"

Damon huffed as he ducked to avoid the blow of an older soldier accusing him of being in the way.

"Because, you nitwit, the winters in the mountains make the winters here look like a day at a spring festival. It doesn't just snow there; it ices. It's so cold that people lose fingers and toes. This training is how they get rid of the weak trainees. If you aren't strong, the mountain will kill you."

Jay watched as his almost-friend left him to join the formation. At the shouted reprimand from a superior officer, he quickly took his spot amongst the boys as well.

***

If Jay had thought that any of the previous ruck marches were long, they now seemed like a pleasant stroll along the beach. If Jay had thought his feet had ever hurt before, now that pain seemed like he had stubbed his toe on a flower.

If Jay had ever even remotely have thought that nature was beautiful, now he had never seen anything uglier. With each mile they crossed, the landscape around him became more barren and gray. Trees and grass gave way to rocks and boulders and then more rocks. He felt like he was going insane.

It had been nine days since they had left the river camp, with barely any breaks for rest. The novices got the least amount of sleep when they stopped because they were in charge of gathering wood for fires or refilling water skins every time they halted their journey for the night.

Damon said they were trying to get the younger trainees to a point of exhaustion, and then some kind of test would be sprung on them. Every year the test was different, and almost always involved severe injuries, and sometimes death. The other boy had warned that the test could come at any point, so Jay fought through his pain and exhaustion to make sure that he was prepared for anything.