EBC: Marching to War

The endless sound of marching paws, clinking armor, and heavy breathing. The looks of sadness, excitement,fear, determination on the faces of those all around me. The feel of grief and tension. The smell of my Empire-mates, and of strangers who have joined for a single cause, a single purpose.... War  

Apart from the things my physical senses tell me, I can detect is something deeper. My heart grieves for my comrades who will not be coming home. For I know we will not all be coming back. When you go off to fight a battle, there is always someone who doesn't return.The grim shadow of death follows us, I can feel it in my soul... and yet we march on anyways.

How did it come to this?

I don't want to go. I don't want to fight. I don't want to risk the lives of those I have come to know during my time here. This is what it means to be a Gladiator though, I have pledged my life and service to the Ice Empire. The empire that took me in as a lone cub, lost in the world. This is my payment of the debt I owe and I am willing to pay without even a hint of doubt or resentment. Surely this choice has weighed heavily on the minds of the Empire leaders, and if this is what they truly believe to be right, then so be it. I will follow them to whatever end they lead us to....

I am not afraid to die. Death has never held any particular terrors for me. It's not like I have a mate or cubs waiting for me to come back home like some of my comrades do. I'm hardly old enough for that. I haven't even been a Gladiator for that long. Quite frankly though, in light of what is about to take place, I am sort of relieved that I don't have a family right now. If something does end up happening to me, at least no one will be too greaved. Not that I am eager to die, I want to live and continue serving my Empire. I am just trying to keep things in a logical perspective. Keep my emotions from getting entangled in my thoughts. They would only slow me down right now.

A deep rumble of thunder echoes across the land as we march and soon a heavy rain beats down on us. It soaks through my mane, making it heavier. Still I hold my head up, keep my eyes forward. Now is not the time to let discomfort or weakness show. We must all be strong, in mind and spirit as well as in body. There can be no room for doubt, no room for hesitation. I tell myself over and over, that no mercy will be shown to me and therefor I must show none to our enemies.

As we get closer to the spot where the Healers are going to set up their places, I am assigned as a bodyguard to a couple of the cats chosen as scouts. I see the logic in this choice. As a lion/jaguar mix, I am not quite as tall as an average lion, but I am still broad-shouldered and strong. I swear to myself to keep the felines I have been entrusted with protecting safe from harm... or I will die trying.

I look towards the horizon, towards the city I will soon be rushing into. This place... I have heard nothing good about it, and the sooner I can leave it behind, the better. Still, I know I am getting ahead of myself. Before we can go home, we must brave the storm of battle that awaits us all. May Sator watch over us all... Another loud rumble of thunder breaks through the air.

So it begins....