I did not see you
In this long sleepless night, specks of light flicker with an undying spark in the vast forest. Torch in one hand and carrying a vigilance of a soldier in their heart, all imperial guards comb along the eerie darkness.
There was the ruffling of trees, and then a dead silence, stretching their senses to a taut.
"Ah!" Someone cried, distracting the tension.
"What is it?! What?!"
"Something touched me! There was something! Snake!"
They waved the torches in his surroundings only to see the lush vegetation.
"..."
"..."
"Phew. That scared me."
And so the poor young guard was bashed on the head.
"Brat! You should fear going back empty-handed instead!" Berate by their senior.
"My dinner." One of them sighed. His first order was actually finding some dandy, good-for-nothing, and prodigal sons.