# THE FRONT: PART 11

Author: Pellicius
Tags: Rain, Taking Command, Trenches, sadness, world war one

&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Nightfall came early in Passchendaele, the sky was overcast and light fled much earlier as a result. &nbsp;Scott sat on the steps of an unoccupied parapet, feeling an intense sensation of sorrow go through him. &nbsp;He looked over at the stripes pinned to his right shoulder and wiped them free of moisture. &nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; "Sir?" &nbsp;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. &nbsp;Scott struggled with the name for a second but then gave up, there was too much he had to do.

&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; "Yes Private?" &nbsp;Scott asked, trying to sound confident and calm. &nbsp;The anthro tugged a boot free of the mud and shifted to a spot where the mud wasn't as deep.

&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; "You need to organize the watch, Mr. Wynter just asked me to tell you that, sir." &nbsp;Scott nodded, the anthro had used Mr., the term for a soldier who had no official rank. &nbsp;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. &nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; 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. &nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Scott stood up, tugged his rifle strap over his shoulder and followed the anthro back to the rest of the squad. &nbsp;They were bidding farewells to the four soldiers about to depart on the raid. &nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Wynter was standing well back from the three enlisted anthros, his hands clasped behind his back, and his tail dragging in the mud. &nbsp;He looked bemused, he had made his peace, but didn't know if the others had. &nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Scott stood quietly for a second, then cleared his throat loudly, the squad immediately quieted, recognizing him as their new Sergeant. &nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; "First order of business," &nbsp;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. &nbsp;"The first order of business is organizing the watch, who is up?" &nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; 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. &nbsp;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.

&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; 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. &nbsp;There was one more thing he had to do.

&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; "Which one of you has been here the longest?" &nbsp;Scott asked the assembled anthros, Private Baker immediately raised a hand.

&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; "If you don't mind me asking, sir, but why?" &nbsp;Scott showed him the Corporal's stripes in silent response. &nbsp;Private Baker nodded and stepped forwards as Scott pinned them onto his right shoulder.

&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; "Thank you, sir." &nbsp; Said Corporal Baker, and stepped backwards to join the ranks of his comrades. &nbsp;A few looked jealous, but most looked relieved, they obviously liked Corporal Baker, and were happy that he was an officer. &nbsp;Scott smiled weakly and looked at Wynter, who was checking a pocket watch. &nbsp;The raid was scheduled for eleven, there were three more hours to go.

TO BE CONTINUED IN PART TWELVE...

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/J1OKG4z1

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