Fire Emblem: Awakening

Chapter 3ーThe Shepherds

Before I begin, I'd really like to thank everybody. Nearly 200 views and already 9 votes!! Really, thank you so much, I'm honored. I'm also very sorry Chapter 3 took so long. From now on, I'll be splitting the conversations and battle scenes.
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"Here we are! The Shepherd's Garrison! Go on, make yourself at home!" The juvenile teenager exclaimed, gesturing towards a derelict cabin. Warily, I traipsed forward, the old cabin's wood abraded from years worth of weather. Opening the doorーit emanated a creak, augmenting my hypothesis of it's ageーI was astounded to see the place so elegant. Many bunks aligned the wall, occupied ones adorned with a person's mementos.
"Lissa, my treasure! Are you all right? I've been on pins and needles!" The sharp voice bought me out of my reverie, the wielder of the prim voice a slender female with achromatized blonde curls, pink ribbons holding them together. She clad brown leather riding boots and pink attire, including pantaloons. Huh. How... Outgoing...

"Oh, hey, Maribelle!" Lissa bellowed, raising her hand in a wave to the worried caretaker.
"'Oh, hey' yourself! I've sprouted 14 gray hairs fretting over you!" Maribelle fretted. I'm pretty sure she was exaggerating. She was no more than my age!

"Aw, you worry too much. I can handle a battle or two! ...Although I could do without the bugs and the bear barbecue..." The princess muttered, averting her gaze away. I'm surprised Lissa can be so patient with this girl. She seemed to be quite a nuisance along with Frederick.
"Hey, squirt! Where's Chrom? I bet he had a rough time out there without ol' Teach and his trusty axe!" Another voice bellowed from north of us three girls, a man's head coming from what I presumed to be the men's dorm. This man had blond spiked hair as well, and wore heavy armor from his waist down. His torso? Uhh... I guess you could say it was very muscular.
"Oh, so you're 'Teach' now, Vaike, is that it? Hee hee! And here I thought people were just born lacking wits. It can be taught?" Lissa bantered, causing a chuckle to escape my lips.
"Ha! Never doubt the Vaike! ...Wait, was that an insult?" Lissa and I shared a glance, stifling our laughter. Maybe joining these "Shepherds" wouldn't be so bad after all.

"Beg pardon, but when might we see the captain?" Another voice inquired, her's subtle. A brunette ambled out of the women's dorm, adjusting the clips on her magenta armor.
"Poor Sumia. She's simply been beside herself with concern... Her eyes were scanning the horizon all day during training. ...She might have earned fewer bruises fighting blindfolded." Maribelle stated, her eyes averting to the girl names Sumia.
"Aw, Sumia, that's so sweet of you to worry about Chrom." The cleric replied, a swoon to her cherubic voice.
"Worry? Well, I... He's our captain and our prince-of course I'd worry!" The maiden exclaimed, making excuses. I thought it was quite cute.

As if finally taking notice of me, Vaike turned his gaze to me before turning back to Lissa to interrogate her. "So, who's the stranger?"
"No one's stranger than you, Vaike... But allow me to introduce Sapphyre! She just joined the Shepherds." Lissa continued without any breath. I was astonished that she had so much energy. "Chrom's made her our new tactician. You should see all the tricks she's got up her sleeve!"
"Oh yeah? Can she do this?" I cocked my head to the side, inquisitive about his motive. He emitted a strident burp, the waft causing me to scrunch up my nose. It took moments before anybody spoke. Which was me.
"I'm sure I have much to learn in the belching arts, 'Teach.' In any case, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintances." I stated, stifling any animosity I had for these people. If Chrom trusted them, so will I.
"Ugh, Vaike! That was abhorrent! Must you baseborn oafs pollute even the air with your buffoonery? And you, Sapphyre! Don't encourage him! I'd hoped you were cut from finer cloth. Hmph!" Maribelle complained, a scoff elapsing her facade before she left, muttering curses under her breath.
I bore my own scoff, rolling my eyes at her petulance.

It was Sumia who first noticed my enmity towards the troubadour. "Don't take it to heart, Sapphyre. Maribelle warms to people slowly."
"Or burns too quickly!" Lissa giggled before continuing. "But yeah, just give her time."

Ostentatious footsteps pervaded through the building, causing the remaining of us Shepherds to glance it's way. Chrom was striding to us, causing Sumia's face to become a hue of rose. "Ah! Captain! You've returned! I was- I mean, we were so-" She stumbled, imperatively running up to meet the captain. Slovenly, she fell, tumbling face first on the cement. I grimaced. Yikes. That must have hurt. Despite this, she stood up again, as if nothing had happened. I truly admired that.
"Sumia! Are you all right? ...Those boots of yours again?" Chrom inquired, his face austere and showing no signs of any particular emotion.

"No! I mean, yes! I mean..." Her voice drifted off, a sigh escaping her mouth.
Chrom brusquely nodded, turning his attention towards the rest of us. "All right, listen, everyone: in the morning, we'll be marching to Regna Ferox." I had never heard of a location as that. Then again, I'd only ever known about Ylisse.
"Regna Ferox?"
"A unified kingdom to Ylisse's north. Inhabited by barbarians, or so it's said." The brunette implied, shaking her head.

"Warriors are what they are, and we'll need their strength to quell this new menace. Typically, the exalt would request such aid in person. But given recent events... Well, the people might worry should my sister suddenly leave the capital. So the task has been passed to us." The captain exchanged glances with his conscript solemnly, as if a trainer taking pride in it's apprentices.
"Now, this mission is strictly voluntary. So if, for any-"
His words lingered in the stagnant air as Lissa interrupted him, her hand valiantly shooting towards the sky. "I volunteer!" She exclaimed, eagerness etched on her facade.
In succession, Vaike volunteered just as eager. Sumia, however, staggered upon the request, unsure of her abilities.
"I...I...Um...." The bluenette averted his gaze towards the knight, an inquisitive expression upon his normally callous facade.
"Yes Sumia?" Chrom inquired. I'm not sure if it was just me, but I heard a twinge of admiration in his tone.

"It's just that... I'm not sure I'm quite ready for a proper mission just yet. I'd probably just get in the way..." She fretted, diverting her gaze away from Chrom. He looked quite shocked, her claims blasphemy for he had seen her skills before. Debating upon his reciprocation, he decided to begin subtle.
"Well, you could stay behind the main group, and if a battle is met, just watch and learn? Your choice, of course. But some lessons can only be learned on the battlefield."
The lord nodded, deciding that it was a decent reply.
Sumia's face became a hue of a light incarnadine before she replied, still unsure about her station. "W-well, if you think it wise, Captain."
"Just stay by me and you'll be fine." Chrom proclaimed, a bit uneasily if you ask me. If Sumia wasn't already crimson, I'd say Chrom was capricious.
"Oh, yes! I mean- Yes, sir, I'll do that!"

With the remark, the Shepherds began to sheathe their weapons, preparing for the imminent battle ahead. As we left Ylisse behind for the fecund moor, the mediterranean heat contradicted with zephyrs brushing past our faces. This gave the terrain quite a chill, despite the climate.
"What are we missing?" Chrom muttered, truncating the cryptic silence.

"W-wait for me!" A voice bellowed behind us, vaguely audible. A brunette man slovenly ran our way, a piece of bread hanging from his mouth. He was clad in emerald green armor, waving his hands quite stridently.
"Stahl?" Chrom spoke aloud, as if in a soliloquy. The man named Stahl stopped, leaning down to catch his breath.
"Why am I...the last to hear....about this expedition....to Ferox?" He huffed in a raspy breath.
"Huh? Vaike was supposed to..." Lissa narrowed her eyes, cutting a brusque glare at the haughty man. "Vaike! Did you forget to tell Stahl about our mission?" She inquired sharply.
"The Vaike never forgets! ...I just don't always remember, is all..." The warrior muttered under his breath. The remainder of us Shepherds exerted a sigh, Lissa shaking her head with disapproval.
"Ugh... I swear, you'd forget your own name if you weren't constantly saying it yourself! Speaking of which, are you SURE you remembered your axe this time?" Her azure oculars locked on his, their frigid glare enough to make him flinch. I hadn't know the fragile princess had that capability.

"Hey! That was one time! ...Okay, twice, but training sessions don't count. Anyway, I got it right here. Teach is loaded and ready for action! Glad to have you along, Stahl, ol' buddy." He placed his hand on the handle of his ax, reassuring himself that he did have his blade along with him.
"That makes one of us. I was in such a hurry, I had to miss breakfast! There were muffins, and cakes, and... Well, I can tell you all about it while we march..."
Not wanting to be rude, when we began our journey once more, I had to ask for his name.
"Hey, your name is Stahl, right?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, Sapphyre. This is Stahl, one of our finest." The captain gestured towards the cavalier, and the brunette dipped his head in response.

"Hello, Sapphyre. Miriel told me we had a new Shepherd. Er, Miriel's one of our mages. She should catch up soon." With that remark, I nodded, and the Shepherds continued their stride to Ferox.