NationStates Jolt Archive

A small raindrop hurtled through the sky, blown by the winds and followed closely by a few more. It landed in the puddle, sending a ripple through it, destroying the image of the soldier. He looked up, his face muddy and destitute, his uniform carrying the same level of neatness. There stood a dog, standing still and silent. He waved his carbine at it, "Shoo". It barked. "Get out of here". It continued to bark. The soldier stomped his foot on the ground in an attempt to scare it. "Go on, be gone". The dog looked behind itself pausing, then whimpered. Turning back, it began to bark again. The soldier walked up to it, and it stood its ground, urging him to turn back. Its eyes were troubled, and looking deep inside you could see the dog was deeply distressed.

The soldier knelt down, running his hand along the dogs fur. "Cute little fella aint ya?" He stood and the dog headbutted him, urging him to turn back once again. The soldier was curious, he stepped past the dog towards the village. Suddenly, there was a pull on his left trouser leg. The dog was clinging on with its teeth. The road he had come down was much less inviting than the village. He stood on tiptoes to get a clearer view over the nearest houses, stone with thatched roofing. A fire raged beyond, encircling a house, its roof ablaze. Not one person was to be seen. A gunshot was heard, followed by another.

Readying his carbine as he went, the soldier ran towards the village.