Chapter 32: On the Heart

* I was born in a tribe with very orthodox practices, in our people to be born with silver hair was a sign of misfortune and infamy so the child should be isolated from the rest of the population. The witch-like priestess guarding me was taking less care though. She had bulging eyes and had a certain tendency to walk around with her breasts open, which greatly frightened children or traumatized the old *.

-You shouldn't be ashamed of your body when you're as beautiful as me. * Did she say *.

* I learned some witch tricks when I was a kid until I was 6 years old when I was given as a sacrifice in the forest. That's where he appeared, the first thing that struck me apart from the fact that he was a rather young boy was that he was like me, he too had white hair, a child of the demon. When he brought me home I was really amazed at how he was treated and how the locals respected him. This boy is the one I consider my big brother. The one I called SEB. But it's all behind me, I learned to live with these people, I finally found my place. And there is no way Elysion will come and take our home *.

-How many are they? *Asked big brother Lars*.

* We were hidden in the undergrowth of the mountains, standing in the middle and ready to intervene *.

-About 2 battalions.

-2 Battalions? * He repeated *. This is the first that they come so many. And all of a sudden.

-It revolves around the 2000 easy men. * Said Dimitri, passing his rifle over his shoulder *. We're going to have to show them we're serious.

-Everyone at their position. I don't care if they're here to save the prisoners or to burn down villages you kill all those bastards.

-ROGER.

* It was teeming with activity in the thickets and everyone went to position themselves in accordance with the response plan. Lars came to me and put his hand on my shoulder *.

-I want you to join Blanka and his unit, you will eliminate all the officers and sow discord among the enemy. They must not know what is falling on them.

-Of course.

* I grabbed my rifle in my hands and was about to leave when he said one last thing *.

-And don't worry about him. After all he has done for us he deserves a little rest. * He said smiling *.

- Yeah that's right. * I answered with a smile *.

-Take care of yourself little angel. * Jessie told me who gave me a kiss on the forehead *.

-Yes you too.

-And don't get lost on the way. * Lars added *.

-I'm not a kid anymore.

* I had hardly left them when I almost forgot my mission. I do not know how Lars intends to respond against so many manpower at the same time, especially since we are less numerous and it will take time to bring the different teams together. I continued to run across the mountain towards the place where Blanka used to creche. But I was not alone, my Huskies were with me except Ezra who was surely watching over my brother's bedside. Blanka was a curious character, it was the last of his tribe who had been completely ravaged by the Elysians during the repressions. He found himself alone surrounded by people who did not speak his language and the population as well as ours as the Elysians put him aside. Only SEB tried to discuss with him. He taught him how to speak and recognize the Elysian but conversely he learned Sokris, his language. Despite this Blanka continued to isolate himself and to put himself apart, he only speaks in his own language and only certain people whom Seb and Lars understand him *.

-I'm there. * Say I'm exhausted *.

* With hindsight, I should have taken a horse with hindsight. Blanka lived in a small house out of sight. He had placed ritual objects and totems there to devote himself to his religion, I entered his hut without making any noise but lack of luck for me he was in full prayer *.

-Uuuh ... Blanka. * I say first in Elysian *.

* He remained in front of the altar making strange movements and reciting psalms. I took the opportunity to admire his body. He was tall and muscular with black skin covered in war paint. He also had dreadlocked hair that fell down his back since he hadn't tied it up. But enough of losing myself on her beautiful body *.

-Blanka .... Blanka it's me, Aisha. We're under attack Lars sends me to get you.

* Obviously he won't answer so I tried to articulate in his language *.

-We .... are, UNDER ATTACK.

* I think I cried too loudly because he stopped praying. He stood up and bowed to the altar before quickly putting on his shirt. He was in front of me and he was really tall and intimidating. Besides, his tight face did not bode well. Having said that, he said just one word in my tongue *.

-WHERE ?

* Blanka was not me. After donning his custom-made camouflage suit, he mounted his motorbike with his sniper rifle resting on it. I sat in the back and we rushed over to where we needed us. As expected by the path we use, we preferred to cut on the mountainside by roads that we ourselves have traced which allows us to go in a straight line, with some deviations of course, but through entire rows of mountains there. or the Elsyians would have to make huge detours. At the back I felt the wind carried through my hair that I cried out in ecstasy. Blanka was truly a driving god *.

-Yahoooouuu, that's great.

* But seeing him cool reminded me that I had to stay focused. Moreover by cutting between the mountains we had a bad surprise when arriving on the asphalt. Just to our right, the meeting lasted only a moment as my gaze met that of an Elysian officer. He was really young about 18 and he was staring at me. We exchanged a one-minute glance in that interval of a second and Blanka pressed the accelerator until he disappeared into the forest. The other soldiers barely had time to understand that Blanka reappeared on the other side of the road *.

-Shit a rebel scout. * Said a guard *.

-Caputre him.

* I saw Elysians on motorcycles and others get into cars and follow us *.

-Hey, palm them in foreshortenings.

* But Blanka obviously had other projects because he continued to drive on the Elysian route and not on ours. These well wound up followed us eagerly, some not slowing down in tight turns. What was Blanka planning? When we were ready enough, some Elysians drew their rifles *.

- Shit they pull out their guns.

* Blanka suddenly veered into the forest forcing the car to stop. The bikers continued and some hit trees while 2 of them managed to follow us. I hissed and my Huskies came out of the woods to devour those on the ground. One of them with a gunner in the back tried to aim at Blanka, but suddenly he hit the brakes. My driver skidded by making a full turn on himself. Tour during which he draw his rifle with one hand and lined up against the enemy motorcycle. The shot was fired and the bullet passed through the driver's heart to lodge in the shooter's liver. This one opened fire and but missed his shot which passed a few inches from my face. Our motorbike finished turning on itself and Blanka continued on his way through the woods *.

-Haha you're so awesome. * I was shouting in his ear *.

* Our last pursuer did not give up that said and continued to chase us. This one had no shooter in the back but a vaguely accurate revolver through the woods *.

-Good looks like it's my turn.

* I took out one of my disposable knives and threw it against a tree. A trap or rather a claymore was activated and hundreds of nails wounded the soldier who had to stop on the way. He had really hard skin, he wasn't dead from it, but he still had a bad head. But hey, we had managed to sow our pursuers and we reached the place of the ambush *.

-Yeaaaah.

-You didn't kill him. * Said Blanka *.

-Hey ? ... So like that you can talk.

-Compassion will cause your downfall.

-He has stopped following us, no need to finish him off. And then my Huskies have my 6 six so it's okay. And then if it's to become sucker, I still prefer it when you don't say anything.

* We ended up joining our positions where the Sniper squad led by Blanka was waiting for us. The Lynx unit, the pride of my big brother and a great tactical aid in the field. Everyone had this camouflage outfit, "the Ghili Suit", I found it ridiculous at first but once in the background it is really impossible to spot them. I wish I could have been a part of this unit but I'm too young to really fight so I play the role of messenger *.

-Well I'll let you go, Lars surely needs me.

* Before leaving Blanka called out to me and grabbed my gun. He looked at it and then gave me a new one that seemed to have been modified by him *.

-You'll shoot better with this one.

-Come back quickly or you'll miss the fun. * Said a girl from the unit *.

-I'll do it for sure.

* I walked away once more ... I turned around and they motioned to me that I could retrieve one of their horses. I stink so galloped up to Lars with my new rifle in hand. It was in appearance similar to the previous one with some runic engravings around the edges. I guess the settings are internal. Once with Lars', he then finally put his plan into action *.

-It's time.

-What's the plan? * I asked him *.

-Divide and rule. * Said he smiling *.

* A convoy of enemy vehicles entered a meadow towards an intersection, we were hidden in high shrubs. Lars gave the signal with the mirror light and simultaneously across the valley Maggie's demolition team set off the explosives. I saw great trails of smoke rising in the snow. There were 3 points at the same time, everyone had their guns and rushed towards the trucks *.

-From ... A simultaneous attack?

-2 battallion is 3 regiments of 800 men each. When you separate the two that makes 2400 men and when you separate them into 3 ...

-That's 800 men. *I said*.

-800 men isolated from each other in a perfect ambush position. Even if there are fewer of us in groups of assaults, Dimitri's men are experts.

-Elysion comes back to us every year with the same refrain. * Said Tribe *. Their supply vehicle always has the same place in the melee convoy as their officer commanding, their radio and so on.

-If I summarize your plan. *I said*. It's doing what we usually do but on a 3-fold scale.

-Hey that's a little reductive of my genius.

* A bullet gets lodged in the tree above us *.

-Hell shit we'll talk about it later.

* It's like Lars had said the Elysians no longer knew where to turn. With Blanka's rifle I opened fire and hit an officer in the chest. He collapsed to the dry ground. I saw Jessie come down with a squad and clean a truck with grenades. Some enemies responded and killed several of our own. But for every man in our area that they killed, 5 in our area were killed. Also each ambush point had a Lynx unit with them and I could admire the efficiency of these guys. Every time they shot someone would die on the battlefield. I decided to do the same by imitating them *.

-Die dirty dogs.

* Ha I wonder what the blonde would think if she saw her compatriots die like this. She would hate me for sure, her fine speeches are nothing but wind. After a while I had killed more enemies than I could count. Surely ten or twenty. The attack lasted for 15 minutes, we threw everything we had of the pomegranate and claymore at them. Having a high position was highly to our advantage and the remaining Elysians seeing that they had no more chances ran into the forest *.

-Look at them slap these motherfuckers. * Shouted Tribe *.

* A cry of victory rose in the valley and I too howled. I was more than happy to see them run away like this *.

-Tribe. * Said Lars *. You know the procedures. Move vehicles still functional and collect weapons and ammunition. Burn the bodies.

-Yes boss.

-Dimitri you know the drill. Reinstall new traps and make a machine gun nest opposite the first location that should surprise them next time.

-Aye boss.

-Wow I see you've become a real little boss. * Said Jessie *.

-And you a fury. Throwing yourself like that in the melee is reckless.

-Hey calm down.

-And you Blanka ...

* But Blanka was already gone. Lars' plan was brilliant, it had succeeded so well that one wondered if it was not a little too easy. I joined Blanka's team with which we tracked down the survivors. SEB does not take a prisoner or leave a survivor precisely because the Lynx make sure that no one survives. And there I had a little taste *.

-What I told you, they always go through this pass is essential. * Said a girl from the squad *.

-We must have trapped a dozen like that. * Replied a guy *. We can see who kill the most?

-Stay focus. * Said Blanka *.

-Yes boss.

* Throughout the battle I saw the Lynx shoot down officers and kill soldiers at key moments preventing any response from the enemy. That said with my binoculars I found the young officer from earlier. The lucky boy had survived and not only a little, a bullet intended for him hit one of his men, another a vehicle, a piece of wood and a radio. But his luck had run out, the Lynx were killing his men one by one. And me too I was doing a hit, it was my umpteenth target of the day which collapsed to the ground. I then saw the young officer who turned and gave a desperate look in our direction. He had understood that from the start he had no chance and he had resigned himself. He waved, maybe any shooter, then touched his heart before opening his arms. I aimed at his face and was about to blow the brains out of that bastard Elysian but Blanka was faster and he fell to the ground like the rest of his men. At first angry I turned to Blanka for explanations *.

-Why ? It was MY target ...

-If you had done it before me it would have been your target. * He said, ejecting the cartridge from his rifle *. We do not play with our prey retains it.

* That said despite my frustration he was right. Somehow I felt sorry for all these poor guys who had just died *.

-We really gave them no chance to defend themselves. And his gesture, why he wanted us to shoot his heart? * I asked *.

-To be recognizable once his corpse has been identified. * Replied a Lynx man *.

-Too bad for him. * Said the girl *. Dimitri and his men are going to burn his corpse.

-Haha ...

* It's like I said ... No chance. After this fiasco the second battalion tried to force a passage against us. They took the same path as their predecessors. But this time it was different, this time we had something more. As they rushed at full speed they came to the first ambush point where a landslide had forced the regiment to stop. We had placed the enemy trucks as a roadblock to stop them but on the road, only on this road was standing, a man holding a sword and a rifle while giving them a murderous look *.

- Who the fuck is this guy?

* This man was SEB. We had managed to defend the valley without him and now he was here *.

- Kill them all.

* The tarpaulins which covered the trucks immediately gave way to heavy machine guns while our enemies were surrounded on both sides of the mountain. The deluge of bullets started and it was like music *.

*To be continued*