{"sf1_id":273350,"sf2_id":"1VY5llDn","title":"Hawkstone Road","author":"GingerBear","words":637,"posted_at":"2011-08-01T18:49:00.000Z","tags":["Blind","Contest","War"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/273350-hawkstone-road","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/1VY5llDn","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/0d/e2/0de2c120-a73a-4fac-b11b-0249c7b2be0f","description":"","content":"\u0026nbsp;\n\n_Thirty years ago, I was a marvelous fighter. A warrior, you could say. The battle field was my playground and everyone knew that. Oh, but that fateful day... the bomb that took my sight._\n\nFLASHBACK\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\n\nA bright young dragon dawns his camouflage jacket and retrieves his gun. His bright red scales shimmer in the sunlight of the hot Arab dessert.\n\n\"Sir, the enemy is closing in, Sir.\" His voice is steady and confident. He has no fear of the opposing side.\n\n\"Very well, Sargent. Fall out with your troops. Meet back at base if more than twenty men are lost,\" The commanding officer's voice is gruff, but steady. \"And remember, Hill, we take no prisoners.\" At that last statement, the commanding officer grins his wicked smile, his sharp teeth glistening with saliva.\n\nThe hardy red dragon gives a smiling salute, and then trots to gather his men.\n\nHe reaches their tent and gives the commands his general had given him.\n\nOne of his men, a very strong bull, walks to him, giving a salute. \"Permission to speak, Sir.\"\n\nThe dragon nods, giving permission without words.\n\n\"I've got your back, bud\" the bull lays one hand on his friend's shoulder \"no matter what.\"\n\nThe friends smile.\n\nHill had joined the army with his best friend, and now, even though he's become a higher rank, the two friends still cover each other in times of need.\n\nWith that, the strong dragon spins a one-eighty and swiftly walks from the tent, feeling his troops follow at his heels.\n\nStopping at a sand dune, Hill crouches into the sand, his men doing the same. Looking through the sight of his gun, he locks onto an Arab enemy.\n\n\"Remember\" the bull whispers \"don't pull the trigger until you can see the whites of their eyes.\"\n\nHill grins at this statement and pulls the trigger, the enemy's head exploding into a thousand bloody fragments.\n\nWith the first shot fired, his troops charge out, their guns firing wildly at the opposing side.\n\nHill and the bull stay behind, their tactic is to hit from a blind side.\n\nWith their guns high, the two friends aim at one of the Jeeps headed their way.\n\nJust as Hill fires, something small and green falls at his feet.\n\nThe bull throws the dragon out of the way and dives onto the object.\n\nHis body ruptures, spraying gore all over his best friend.\n\nThe flash from the grenade makes the world go dark for the dragon.\n\n\" **NO\"** his voice calls. He feels a hand on his shoulder \"Sir, we need to fall back!\"\n\nThe voice is dull compared to the loud gunshots and screaming.\n\nHill nods and orders his men to fall back, retreating.\n\nNow he lies in the medical tent, he can feel gauze patches over his eyes.\n\n\"You're one hell of a man, Hill.\" His commanding officer's voice flows into his skull. \"One hell of a man.\"\n\n\"Well thank you, sir, but I believe that Reichen was the real hero. He saved my life.\" The dragon's voice shakes.\n\nThe general places two small pieces of metal into Hill's blood covered hand \"they were able to find his dog tags. I want you to keep them with you. Never forget this war, your troops, you're your friend.\" Then, there's a breeze and the dragon can tell that he is alone in the tent.\n\nHe slides his claws down each etched letter in the dog tags\n\n**_Private Reichen Pratt_**\n\nHis eyes water, emotions flooding into his head.\n\nHis best friend was dead... he had saved him from certain death.\n\nEND FLASHBACK\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\n\n_You see, while he had ended his life, he had saved mine. He lost his very breath, and all I lost was the ability to see. The bond between friends like that can never die._\n\n  \n  \n\n"}