Into The Forest...

[Kelly Sanderson]

*The Barracks had finally quietened down. A lone figure was stood outside, leaning on her halberd, staring ahead. Her eyes were glazed and manic, her face extremely pale and lacking any expression. She stood for hours it seemed, barely moving a muscle. This was not necessary at these hours - she did not have to be here. All was silent.

The figure dropped the halberd, standing straight. She began to pull off her armour piece by piece, dropping it onto the grass with loud clangs that may have made a few in the building behind stir or wake. She took off her boots and placed them besides her uniform neatly, folded to precision.

Finally she pulled off her sash, placing it on the floor, her badge gleaming upwards. She was still staring ahead, almost in a manic fashion. Beginning to walk away, she did not feel the stinging freeze of the grass her bare feet treaded on. She did not know the time. She did not know the day. She could not remember how she had gotten here years ago, and much of what had happened in the years between.

As she approached the first line of trees, she did not hesitate nor stop. A small pouch was released from her grip, landing with a quiet thud on the ground behind her. Although the temperature was harsh, she began sweating profusely. She halted suddenly, looking around her. Panic washed over her as she stared around into the dark forest. Many times she had wandered these trees in the dark, yet she clutched her head with both hands and shrieked in fear.

Cuts were already forming on her feet from her wandering. She began to run, sprint through the trees. She did not know where she was going, nor did she know where she would end up. Moving further away from the place she had for so long called home, she did not once have a single thought of why she was going, where she was going or how she was going to live.

The pile of garments and uniform lay deserted on the steps of the Barracks without their owner. She was somewhere unknown, unknown even to herself.*

[Bersi]

Junior Angalae was standing and eyeing the armor pieces laying in the dust near the barracks when Bersi approached and saluted harshly.
"Whassit Junior?" asked he after Junior Angalae returned the salute.
"Someone's uniform, Sir. Apparently, Ma'am Sanderson's one. Here's her badge."
"An' where's she eh?"
"Haven't seen her around."
"Fer Avatar's sake..." muttered Bersi and took a though for a moment.
"What should we do, Sir?"
Cadet produced a dusty bag from somewhere in his backpack and tossed it to Angalae's feet.
"Collect teh armor pieces an' place 'em to teh armoury. Nae good to let thieves an' other scum get 'em. We'll keep 'em safe in case Sanderson returns."
"Anything else Sir?"
"Yeah. Inform someone from Grenadiers or Keres himself. We'll need to patrol around an' look fer teh Sergeant."
They saluted each other and returned to their duties.