A day’s rest rejuvenated the rookie squads of Leifren and Avryn’s. They overheard stirrings from within the other troops. The major had a plan to host a celebration to boost morale. This particular stretch of months was uneventful. Soldiers stood guard on their posts. A hint of paranoia and being on edge made them jumpy. The major was seeing it.

  Preparations were made. The rookies took the brunt of the work. Much work was to be done to make the celebrations as best as it could be within these circumstances. Avryn and Leifren’s squad were amongst others that were sent to gather berries in the nearby forests. The nearby river gave a soothing noise amidst the silence.

  “At least this is better than walking around in squares,” Harver bent down, grabbing handfuls of the berries.

  “For once, I agree with you there,” Kiria replied.

  Avryn sighed, wiping the sweat from his brow,

  “Wonder what Leandros and his squad are up to.”

  “Probably hunting bigger and badder Corpses than the ones we’ve faced,” Leifren guessed.

  Tvira and Valoche wore a smile on their faces. The familiarity of berry harvesting gave them comfort. They remembered the times they helped their mother after every hunt, gathering snowberries. They were the first to fill their basket. They settled on fishing by the river as they waited for the rest of them to finish.

  The two squads finished up with bushels of berries in their baskets. They returned to the outpost now decorated for a celebration. The quartermaster has ditched his role for today to become the grillmaster. He was seen managing several meats grilling on the fire and even an entire hog on a spit. Several marinated meats were brought out in cooler boxes as well, ready for the fires. Avryn praised that man, envious of his talent.

  “Cooking would’ve been my second choice if the quartmaster thing didn’t worked out well for me,” he commented. “How’d you make your marinade?”

  “Sauces procured from a top secret level source,” he replied.

  It seemed the preparations were well on their way to being finished. Avryn looked around. It was rare to see such joy in a mostly miserable place. He smiled, knowing these moments should be taken in whenever they come. The people here laid their lives on the line every day. Having a day like this every now and again was good. Life shouldn’t be so monotonous and unpredictable. Life should be enjoyed however one can during moments of peace.

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  The squads were then directed to help prepare the plates for the grand feast. Avryn and Harver’s attentions were drawn to the clear arena circle where some of the vets were sparring in. It was some sort of bare knuckle fighting tournament, and the major was overseeing it.

  “Hey, you need to help us with the dishes,” Rinna called to them.

  “Oh, we can afford to let them go, just this once,” Jenilah supported them.

  Harver jumped for joy,

  “Don’t mind if I do,” he went to the makeshift arena.

  “We’ll pick up the slack from here,” Jenilah reassured Avryn.

  He looked to Rinna for her response. She simply sighed and gestured for him to go.

  “You can thank us by winning,” Leifren smiled.

  Avryn and Harver rolled up to the fighting circle. The veterans were in the middle of a sparring session. The fighters shirts were off and were fighting bare knuckle. They asked for the rules. The fight was until the ref decides if the fighter is unable to continue by way of technical knockout or when one party yields. Simple enough, the two nodded to each other. One of the vets asked if they wanted to join and the two nodded. Theirs would be the next fight.

  The fight was over quickly and now it was Avryn and Harver’s turn. They both took their shirts off. Their bodies of work now showing. Avryn’s body had some definition in his physique but his muscles were definitely there. Harver’s boasted better definition while still being lanky. They both assumed a fighting stance. This would be the first time they fight hand to hand.

  Avryn was the aggressor from the get go. He set the tempo up in the fight. Testing Harver, he laid out a couple grazing jabs against him. Harver weaved through them easy. Avryn turned up the speed. Harver was having a little more difficulty but he dodged all his blows. He landed a counter that stunned Avryn for a moment. He landed a couple more blows before Avryn took back the lead with a single punch.

  “Give me something to work with, man,” Avryn encouraged Harver.

  “I’ll give you something, alright,” Harver smiled.

  Cheers from the veterans echoed throughout. The crowd was split between the two. Major Shalshukein was looking on in silence, observing every minute detail of the fight. His eyes were definitely on Avryn’s performance.

  Harver landed a haymaker punch from above as he feinted low. It caught Avryn by surprise and rocked him. The crowd gasped. It seemed like Avryn was about to fall off his feet but he quickly regained balance and landed an equally mean punch as he almost fell. The punch landed squarely on Harver’s gut which knocked the wind out of him.

  “Son of a,” Harver gasped.

  He looked down and saw Avryn’s fist approaching at him with inhuman speed. It connected squarely on his chin and almost made him leave his feet. Harver attempted one last gasp effort and went for another haymaker. It landed on Avryn. The blow should have worked but Avryn’s bullish fighting spirit egged him on. He then landed a hook on Harver, which drove him to the ground. The referee checked on Harver and ruled him out of the fight. A couple soldiers helped Harver up.

  Avryn attempted to go and check on Harver but was interrupted by the major.

  “Fancy yourself a fighter? How about you and me go one round?”

  Avryn walked back and asked one of the vets,

  “How good is the major?”

  “Pretty good.”

  “Ah,” he came back to the major. “I’ll take you on.”

  The major then took off his shirt. There were several scars around it. He definitely had a few hundred miles on his tires. He assumed his fighting stance. It was tighter than most. He tested Avryn’s defenses by unleashing quite a flurry of quick punches. Avryn found the opening and punched him. Shalshukein barely gave any give. Avryn realized too late. He took a punch from the major but he countered just as quick, with even more force. That punch finally rocked the major back a few steps.

  “Hmph, I’ve seen enough. Must’ve been Fergus’s boy, huh?” he crossed his arms.

  Avryn nodded.

  “Good on you,” Shalshukein walked away.

  Avryn remembered and helped Harver back up. They continued to celebrate the festivities and enjoyed their time. There would be more missions to be had afterwards.