Religion.
? We arrive at the yard, where the warthog will give us instructions. There's around 4600 furs from several species. I looked around, still panting a little, while Liontari looked serious and inpatient.
Something wrong? - I asked.
No - he answered, with a very sober voice, as if he had no feelings at the moment, even if his face shown the opposite.
We were waiting for the warthog, who was in front of us. All the furries were organized in forty lines. The warthog was supposed to give us the first set of instructions for the first battle. The war would start soon. My diaper was tenty under my robe. I was still hot from the fun earlier and needed relief quick. Liontari was successful in supressing his cubphile tendences so far, but I felt that he would soon lose it; you can't deny sexual preferences (or urges) for too long. Maybe it was the reason of his nervousness.
- Okay - started the warthog. - My name is Verrugoso and I'm in control of the Fort Greyshell.
The furries paid attention.
- The first battle will start soon. We just need to rest after the long walk to here. First off, let me explain what each fur will do. Half of the land furries, the bigger ones, will advance to meet the opponent and kill as much as they can. The smaller land furries will stay here to operate heavy weaponship and defend the fort. Half of the featheries will give support to the front line using large range weapons, such as bows, arrows, crossbows. The other featheries will also defend the fort in a similar way. Water creatures will heal wound furries. That's all.
"Was fast, I thought it would be more complicated", I thought. Maybe it was because it was just the first battle and we didn't know the opponent so well. We would engage our first battle and certainly a lot of us wouldn't come back. I was starting to wonder if I should stay in the fort of go with Liontari, who is probably one of the integrants of the front line. I also didn't asked how I was involved, if I was also a soldier. I had to ask.
The soldiers were going to the basement; there were more rooms, enough to acomodate them all. I followed Liontari. The sky was slightly red due to the sun down. We were in the yard. We walked down to the basement, which was a dungeon. Not a dungeon like "prision", but more like maze. It was done by ants and several rooms were built after the ants were expulsed from here. It's a large place, so there's rooms to acomodate soldiers in pairs. Me and Liontari picked one and entered. There no doors, though, nor water, just some lamps on the ceilling of the rooms (not on the corridors). I sat down and so did Liontari, on the opposite wall. We were facing each other.
Liontari, I have some questions - I said.
Me too, but you ask first - he answered.
Am I a soldier too?
No, you are my partner on this trip, but not really a soldier - as he spoke, I lowered my head. - You don't need to fight if you don't want.
If I decide to go with you, will we go to the front line or will we defend the fort? - I asked, then blinked once and sniffed. That place was dusty and it was irritating my muzzle.
Front line - he answered.
Why?
Yure, I may look okay, but I'm a troubled furry. When we go to these wars, we talk to a priest about our problems. Then he advise us to choose defense or attack.
Why he told you to pick attack? - I asked, now looking at him.
Because he said that I'm too troubled. He told me to pick attack because it increases my chances of dying...
My eyes went wide. He continued.
- If I die in a war, I'll be rewarded in the future life. Death will free me from my troubles. It's what he said.
I was speechless.
Liontari, you know that's bullshit, right? - I asked, in disbelief.
Yure, I fear doing something to you - he said. - I can't take it much more, I have these desires since I can remember.
But you shouldn't trade your life for comfort when you can have both - I said. - What if the priest is just trying to make furries go to the front line because no one wants to die first?
Silence. It was night, probably. Time to little animals, like me, hide in holes. Stars were outside, waiting for someone to watch them. Poor thing we are underground.
I was starting to wonder why the priest would suggest death as an exit for problems, what kind of disturbed religion he supports? But I was, indeed, right. The badger's job was to convice people to choose the front line if the army lacked furries to attack. On the other paw, if we lacked defense, he would try to convice furries to defend the fort.
- Listen, let's just sleep and forget it, alright? - said Liontari. - We need to be okay for the battle when it starts.
I nodded.
- Liontari, what is your religion? - I asked.
He laid on the floor and closed his eyes.
- I don't know - he answered.