{"sf1_id":241954,"sf2_id":"J1OKG4z1","title":"THE FRONT: PART 11","author":"Pellicius","words":611,"posted_at":"2011-04-18T22:39:00.000Z","tags":["Rain","Taking Command","Trenches","sadness","world war one"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/241954-the-front-part-11","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/J1OKG4z1","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/3b/06/3b06e7be-aeb0-4714-8de6-03253f8e8b37","description":"","content":"\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Nightfall came early in Passchendaele, the sky was overcast and light fled much earlier as a result. \u0026nbsp;Scott sat on the steps of an unoccupied parapet, feeling an intense sensation of sorrow go through him. \u0026nbsp;He looked over at the stripes pinned to his right shoulder and wiped them free of moisture. \u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \"Sir?\" \u0026nbsp;Asked someone from the darkness, Scott squinted at their dim form and saw that it was a new anthro who had arrived to replace Private Martin. \u0026nbsp;Scott struggled with the name for a second but then gave up, there was too much he had to do.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \"Yes Private?\" \u0026nbsp;Scott asked, trying to sound confident and calm. \u0026nbsp;The anthro tugged a boot free of the mud and shifted to a spot where the mud wasn't as deep.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \"You need to organize the watch, Mr. Wynter just asked me to tell you that, sir.\" \u0026nbsp;Scott nodded, the anthro had used Mr., the term for a soldier who had no official rank. \u0026nbsp;But thinking of that just made Scott feel even sadder, he was benefitting from Wynter's impending death, something that caused him intense guilt whenever he thought about it. \u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; But he couldn't just sit there and feel sorry for himself, he needed to be a leader, Wynter had given him his stripes after all, an officer didn't do that to just anyone. \u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Scott stood up, tugged his rifle strap over his shoulder and followed the anthro back to the rest of the squad. \u0026nbsp;They were bidding farewells to the four soldiers about to depart on the raid. \u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Wynter was standing well back from the three enlisted anthros, his hands clasped behind his back, and his tail dragging in the mud. \u0026nbsp;He looked bemused, he had made his peace, but didn't know if the others had. \u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Scott stood quietly for a second, then cleared his throat loudly, the squad immediately quieted, recognizing him as their new Sergeant. \u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \"First order of business,\" \u0026nbsp;began Scott, he tried his best to sound cheerful, but instead his voice came out strangely false, and a few of the anthros looked at him, knowing that he was just as scared as them. \u0026nbsp;\"The first order of business is organizing the watch, who is up?\" \u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; A fox raised his hand and Scott sent him up to the parapet, it was eight o' clock, the fox's watch would be done at ten. \u0026nbsp;Scott picked a few others at random, who hadn't had watch recently and was about to walk away when something stabbed him in the thigh.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; He winced at the pain, and reached into his pocket, the pin of his Corporal's stripes had come undone and stabbed into his thigh, drawing blood. \u0026nbsp;There was one more thing he had to do.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \"Which one of you has been here the longest?\" \u0026nbsp;Scott asked the assembled anthros, Private Baker immediately raised a hand.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \"If you don't mind me asking, sir, but why?\" \u0026nbsp;Scott showed him the Corporal's stripes in silent response. \u0026nbsp;Private Baker nodded and stepped forwards as Scott pinned them onto his right shoulder.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \"Thank you, sir.\" \u0026nbsp; Said Corporal Baker, and stepped backwards to join the ranks of his comrades. \u0026nbsp;A few looked jealous, but most looked relieved, they obviously liked Corporal Baker, and were happy that he was an officer. \u0026nbsp;Scott smiled weakly and looked at Wynter, who was checking a pocket watch. \u0026nbsp;The raid was scheduled for eleven, there were three more hours to go.\n\nTO BE CONTINUED IN PART TWELVE...\n\n  \n  \n\n","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/241641-the-front-part-10.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/242220-the-front-part-12-last-part.json"}