18 - Rebel Camp Stories #1

*Murphey's POV*

I stood watching the younger recruits as they attempted to master basic self-defence techniques. Their clumsiness and lack of focus were both frustrating and mildly amusing to him.

"Alright, boys and girls, this isn't a dance at the ball!" I called out as one of the recruits tripped over his own feet, nearly taking his partner down with him.

Typically stern, I decided to approach this morning's training with a light-hearted attitude, thinking perhaps a bit of levity might help ease them into the daily grind.

"Oh, James, if you want to impress with your footwork, you might want to aim at not knocking your partner unconscious," I joked, eliciting a few chuckles from the group.

The session continued with me demonstrating a particularly complex manoeuvre.

"You see, it's all about leverage and balance, not brute strength," I explained, effortlessly taking down a volunteer with a smooth motion.

As the training progressed, I couldn't help but notice Nemesia standing at the edge of the clearing, watching. I waved her over, a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Care to show these young wolves how it's done, Nemesia?"

With a reluctant smirk, Nemesia stepped forward, her presence immediately commanding the attention of all the recruits. She paired up with the most robust trainee, who looked both excited and terrified to be practising with the infamous warrior.

"Alright, let's keep it friendly," Nemesia said, her voice calm but authoritative... And believe me when I tell you, that it sounded all but not 'friendly'—poor kid.

The spar began, and it was immediately clear that Nemesia was holding back, allowing the recruit to get a feel for her movements before gently pinning him to the ground.

"Never underestimate your opponent, and always be aware of your surroundings," she advised as she helped him up, her tone friendly but firm.

She stepped back in a correct moment, and James, the one who was her 'victim', fell forward into the stack of hay, making everyone laugh. I got worried that his pride would be hurt, but when he got out and looked around, he had a huge grin and was laughing together with everyone. Seems he enjoyed the experience and they were all in good moods.

The rest of the session was filled with laughter and light-hearted banter, a rare break from the usual intensity of their training. I found myself genuinely smiling, pleased to see my troops bonding and enjoying themselves.

As the training wrapped up, I clapped my hands, gathering everyone around.

"Great work today. Remember, the strength of a wolf is the pack, and the strength of the pack is the wolf. Let's look out for each other out there."

The recruits dispersed, chatting and joking among themselves, a sense of camaraderie filling the air. I caught Nemesia's eye and nodded in appreciation. Today had been a good day, a reminder that even in the midst of difficult times, there were moments of peace and laughter.

*Random Rebel's POV*

The sun was high in the sky, casting long shadows across the camp as I gathered tools for the afternoon's task. Our main shelter had suffered some minor damage during a recent storm, and it was my duty to oversee the repairs. As the camp's unofficial carpenter, I took pride in keeping our living quarters secure and comfortable.

Grabbing a hammer and some nails, I whistled a tune, the mood in camp buoyed by this morning's lively training session. I was joined by a couple of other rebels, their faces flushed with the excitement of being part of something as mundane yet essential as this.

"Looks like the northwest corner took the brunt of it," I pointed out, examining the frayed edges of the canvas and the bent support poles. "Let's straighten these out first."

As we worked, the sound of laughter and chatter from the nearby cooking area drifted over. The smell of stewing meat and fresh bread made my stomach rumble, but there was work to be finished before we could indulge.

"Hey, do you think Murphey will let us off early if we finish this in record time?" joked one of the younger recruits, struggling to hold a support beam in place.

"Only if you stop talking and start hammering," I retorted with a laugh, handing him a handful of nails. The camaraderie among us was palpable, a far cry from the tense early days of recruitment when everything was an order followed by silence.

As we patched up the shelter, a few more rebels drifted over, drawn by the promise of lending a hand or perhaps just avoiding afternoon drills. Either way, their help was welcome.

"Careful with that hammer, Theo! We want to fix the shelter, not rebuild it from scratch," I called out, as Theo, a young boy who's way too eager sometimes, nearly missed the nail and hit his own hand.

"Maybe we should've let Mrs Nemesia handle this; she seems to be good at nailing things down," another chimed in, prompting a round of hearty laughter.

The work continued, accompanied by playful banter and the occasional mishap that resulted in nothing more serious than a bruised thumb. As the shelter began to look more like its old self, a sense of accomplishment filled the air. We stepped back to admire our handiwork, the structure now sturdy and ready to withstand whatever the wilds decided to throw at it next.

"Looks like we're done here. Great work, everyone!" I announced, wiping the sweat from my brow. There was a collective sigh of relief mixed with satisfaction.

"Let's clean up and head over to the mess hall. I heard there's apple pie for dessert today," suggested one of the rebels, her eyes twinkling at the prospect of a sweet treat.

Tools were promptly stowed away, and we made our way towards the centre of the camp, the setting sun casting long, golden rays through the trees. The laughter and light steps of my comrades were a pleasant reminder of the bonds formed not just in battle but in these quiet moments of shared duties.

As we approached the mess hall, the aroma of dinner grew stronger, mingling with the scent of pine and earth around us. It was moments like these, simple and peaceful, that made the hardships of rebel life bearable. We entered the hall, greeted by the welcoming noise of our fellow rebels already enjoying their meal. The atmosphere was warm, a stark contrast to the cool evening air outside.

Sitting down at one of the long wooden tables, we served ourselves hearty portions of stew and fresh bread, not forgetting to save some space for the promised apple pie. The conversation flowed easily, topics ranging from recent missions to plans for the upcoming festival. It was during these meals that plans were formed and friendships were forged, strengthening our resolve and our community.

As the pie was finally served, a cheer went up around the hall. The sweet, tangy aroma was irresistible, and as I took my first bite, I couldn't help but think that, despite the dangers and uncertainties of our cause, moments like these, filled with laughter, made it all worthwhile. We were more than just rebels; we were a family, bound together not just by our fight but by these shared slices of joy.