The Bear Tribe soldiers weren’t sure how to interact with her, (a girl in the military, oo, so scary,) but Callida didn’t mind. Actually, she preferred it. This way she didn’t have to try to explain herself or repeat all of her standard introductory information over and over again. And she could brood. She had plenty to brood about– lots of heartbreak to process.

“Erm, Ms. Animo?” Callida turned and recognized the pair of blue eyes looking back at her.

She nodded. “Bern?”

“Mn,” he muttered and then continued the walk in silence. This puzzled Callida. Why would he initiate a conversation only to end it once the introductions were made? She decided to roll with it, glancing at Bern occasionally out of the corners of her eyes.

“Get some water, gents,” Keit’s warm but authoritative voice sounded from somewhere in front of her.

To Callida’s surprise, Bern stuck by her. They refilled their water bags together, sat under the same tree together, and rejoined the group together-- all in perfect silence. They spent the entire day walking next to each other without speaking more than a dozen words between them. As the sun began to set, Keit ordered the group to set up camp.

“We could set up next to each other, if you want,” Bern suggested a little awkwardly. Callida nodded, and Bern smiled at her, leading her to join a group of four other soldiers. She recognized them as the same soldiers that had reported on her encounter with Duoqing, and Callida felt a renewed twinge of embarrassment. “Animo, this is my squad,” Bern said, dropping his pack to pull out his bedroll. Callida nodded to the group and followed Bern’s example, laying out her own bedroll next to his and sitting on it.

“Well, I guess I’ll start the introductions,” one of the squad members broke the silence. “My name is Buhne. This is Spahen, Ablenkung, and Erkunden.” The guys each waved in turn. “And, collectively, we are Squad 14.”

“Why fourteen?”

“It’s a generational number.”

“What does that mean?”

“Squad 1 was the first squad trained in our particular skill set about thirteen years ago when the Bear Tribe got sucked into the war against the resistance. Every year, they train up a new group. We’re the fourteenth group, so we are Squad 14,” Buhne explained.

“What do you mean by ‘particular skill set’? Or did I witness that skill set first hand a couple nights ago?” Buhne winked at her but didn’t answer her question directly. She got the hint. “Well, you already know that my name is Animo,” Callida said, and Buhne confirmed with a nod.

“Do you prefer Callida?” the soldier Buhne had introduced as Spahen asked.

Of course they know my full name, she grinned to herself. “I respond to both.”

“So what do you want us to call you?” Spahen clarified.

“Animo when I’m on duty. You can choose outside of that.” Once again, the conversation extinguished once the introductions were completed. Callida busied herself getting a fire started to cook dinner over, finding these silent interactions strange but not wholly unpleasant.

Erkunden stood up, collecting a bow and quiver on his way into the woods. Callida looked at Bern quizzically, who simply said “hunting dinner.”

“Do you take turns?”

“No. Erkunden was a hunter before joining the military,” Buhne explained.

Her interest piqued, Callida got up to follow Erkunden into the woods. “Can I watch?”

Erkunden looked back at his squad seeking direction. When none was given, he shrugged. “You can if you’re quiet.” Half a dozen steps into the trees, Erkunden stopped and turned to look at her.

“What?”

“Your feet.”

“What about them?”

“You’re stomping.”

“Stomping? I’m just walking!” she exclaimed.

He shook his head. “Walk like this.” Erkunden showed her how to walk soundlessly, stepping gingerly with the balls of her feet. Callida copied his movements and Erkunden seemed satisfied.

It took only a few minutes for them to locate a set of fresh tracks. Callida couldn’t see what Erkunden was looking at even after he tried to point it out to her, but obviously he was right because after following the invisible tracks for a few minutes, they found a small herd of deer. Erkunden readied his bow. To Callida’s confusion, Erkunden targeted one of the deer furthest away from their position. It was thin compared to the others too, and therefore a counterintuitive target. Callida waited until after the kill was made and the rest of the deer scattered to ask him about it.

“Why did you pick this one?”

“It’s a young buck,” Erkunden replied, slinging the carcass over his shoulders.

“Even though the others were fatter?”

“That's because they were does. It’s birthing season.” Callida nodded her understanding, and Erkunden began the walk back to camp. It was getting dark.

The rest of Squad 14 were waiting patiently for their return with knives and a skillet ready to help butcher and cook the kill. The squad worked together like a well-oiled machine, a very, very well-oiled, silent machine. As soon as they removed enough meat to feed the group, they offered the rest of the carcass up to the soldiers at the next fire over. While the guys cooked the meat, Callida removed a handful of potatoes from her pack to add to the fire.

“How are you settling in?”

Callida turned to see Keit standing next to her. “Fine.”

“I see you found my squad.”

“You’re squad?”

“I’m their trainer, yes,” Keit smiled and sat down on the ground next to her. “How about it, boys? Is Animo here a good fit?”

“She’d work,” Buhne answered on the group’s behalf.

“Work for what?” Callida asked, confused.

“We’re short a squad member,” Ablenkung offered.

“She’s curious, and a quick study,” Erkunden gave his endorsement.

“And she’s comfortable with silence,” Bern added.

Keit chuckled, “a true prerequisite for this group. Well, Animo, the squad has spoken.”

“Hardly,” Callida teased wryly, and Keit broke into a full belly chuckle.

***

“Yes, General,” Germanus stiffened, preparing for whatever came next.

“Have you thought this through?”

“Yes, sir.”

General Laoshi flopped into his chair. He was getting too old for this. “What would your parents think?”

“They would probably come with us,” Germanus replied flatly. A guilt trip? Laoshi must be feeling desperate.

Laoshi sighed. Animo was one of the best captains in the Wolf Tribe military, if not the best, and his sister was on the short list to be similarly promoted as soon as an opening appeared. After serving for years with their parents when the family moved to the Wolf Tribe twenty-one years ago and watching and feeling deeply invested in their upbringing and training, Laoshi took the Animo siblings’ resignations personally. He really only had one question: “why?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Then have a seat and explain it to me. Consider it my last order as your commanding officer.”

Germanus accepted the chair. “General, I can’t go into detail. My sister recently escaped a complicated relationship with a powerful person here in the Wolf Tribe, who, on multiple occasions, has tried to force her back into the relationship. Without the possibility of mounting a counterattack, and surrender not an option we are willing to entertain, the only strategy left is retreat.”

General Laoshi considered this statement in silence for a moment. He was aware of the rumors that Callida Animo was romantically involved with the youngest prince. Assuming this rumor to be true, Germanus’s statement not only made perfect sense, but Laoshi felt compelled to agree with him, albeit unwillingly. “This was a last resort decision?” Germanus nodded, his expression neutral but his eyes full of bitterness. Laoshi couldn’t fault him for that. He sighed defeat. “You will be missed.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“When do you leave?”

“Tomorrow morning.”

“Would you be willing to deliver something to General Gutig for me? Since you are heading that direction anyway?”

“Certainly.”

“I’ll prepare the letter. Just come by my office before you leave.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And give the Bear General my best when you meet him.”

***

“Alright, Callida, it’s time for that rematch,” Keit grinned as he joined her on the practice field, the rest of Squad 14 observing from the sidelines. “Let’s show the boys what you’ve got.”

“They didn’t watch the tournament?”

“Their attention was elsewhere.”

“Of course it was.”

Keit chuckled. “Are you ready?”

“And waiting,” Callida grinned.

Keit charged, barreling at her at a dead run. Callida merely side-stepped him, letting his momentum propel him beyond the mark, slashing at his back and spanking him hard with the broad side of her practice sword.

“What in the world was that, Keit?”

“I thought I’d try something unexpected,” Keit shrugged, massaging the forming bruise on his lower back and glute. “Obviously, it didn’t work.”

“It was certainly unexpected,” Callida conceded, “and incredibly stupid.”

“Fair, but it was worth a shot.”

“I hope that’s not how you approach real fights,” Callida scowled.

"Of course not," Keit rolled his eyes. "In a real fight, I'm more conservative."

"That's a relief," Callida teased.

“Alright, for real this time.”

“Let’s have it, Captain.”

This time, Keit engaged with a little less gusto and a lot more skill. Like the tournament finals, Callida waited until Keit stepped back to reevaluate before going on the offensive. Once there, she didn’t relent, and once again, Keit found himself scrambling. It was all he could to keep her from hitting him.

“Don’t you ever get tired?!” Keit asked after nearly ten minutes of relentless assaults.

“Eventually. It’s been a while since someone could keep up with me though, so I’m enjoying it.”

“I can’t imagine why!”

“No?”

Keit’s response was lost to another rapid flurry of attacks that knocked him backwards and broke his stance. Callida didn’t hesitate to take advantage of this.

“I think that’s match, Captain.” With her sword at his throat, Keit had little choice but to agree.

“That was quite a show, Captain Tragen,” a soft voice said from the sidelines.

“General Gutig, I didn’t see you there,” Keit saluted.

“At ease, Captain,” the Bear General nodded before turning to Callida. “And who might this impressive young swordswoman be?”

“Callida Animo, sir,” she introduced herself with a respectful bow.

“As in the Lion General Animos?”

Callida nodded, “General Animo was my grandfather.”

Gutig smiled. “I knew your grandfather. He was a good man. He’d be about my age were he still alive.”

“Regrettably, I never met my grandfather. He died before I was born.”

The Bear General shook his head. “It’s sad to realize that this war has been going that long…. Well, Ms. Animo, what brings you to the Bear Tribe?”

“That would be my doing, sir,” Keit said.

“Oh?”

“I poached her and her older brother from the Wolf Tribe military at the tournament. Her brother will be here in a week or two.”

“You seem awfully proud of yourself, Captain,” the general observed.

“Yes, sir,” Keit grinned.

Gutig turned back to Callida appraising her with a little more intention. “For Captain Tragen to be so self-satisfied, you and your brother must both have impressive resumes.” Callida flushed a little, not really sure how to respond to that. “Tell me a little about your military background?”

“The short version is that I was basically bred, born and raised to be a soldier.”

“How about a slightly longer version?”

“I got my first practice sword for my second birthday, saw my first battle when I was eight, joined the military officially with provision and parental permission at fourteen, and those provisions were removed when I turned eighteen last month.”

“You forgot taking second overall at the tournament,” Keit added, “but she should have won, General. What you witnessed just now was a rematch.”

“You’re only just eighteen?” Gutig was stuck on this point.

“Yes, sir.”

“Your swordsmanship is excellent!”

“I hope so. I’ve had sixteen years of almost daily, intense training.”

“Is your brother as good as you are?”

“Yes.”

“And what does his resume look like?”

Callida smiled. “It’s fairly similar to mine, but he’s ten years older and has command experience.”

“What’s his current rank?”

“Captain.”

“Captain Tragen, I can see why you’re so pleased with yourself.” The general’s face mirrored this sentiment. “As their recruiting officer, did you have specific assignments for them in mind?”

Keit smiled. “As you are aware, I’ve been looking for a sixth member for Squad 14. I’d like to request permission to claim Ms. Animo here for that position.”

“Granted. And her brother?”

“I thought he’d make a good training captain, and possibly a good replacement for me when I leave on my apprenticeship this coming year.”

“A good suggestion… which leads me to the reason I’m here. Which apprenticeship did you accept, Captain?”

“Lion Tribe, as did Ms. Animo.”

Gutig pushed down a proud smile. “Very, good, Captain. I will see to it that things are in order for your absence.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Well, as you were,” the general took his leave.

“Callida, as you are now an official member of Squad 14, we need to initiate you properly.”

Callida’s eyebrows quirked with confusion. “Initiate me?”

“Come join us, boys,” Keit said, waving the rest of Squad 14 over.

“I didn’t realize that you had such a lengthy resume, Animo,” Buhne said with a wink, and Callida blushed.

“First, Callida Animo,” Keit continued once everyone had settled into a circle, “will you accept an oath of silence?”

“Meaning?”

“Whatever you do or learn as a member of Squad 14 is highly classified, and you will not repeat it to another person beyond your fellow squad members and the Bear General.”

“Not even my brother?”

“Not even your brother,” Keit confirmed solemnly, “though he may become a member of Squad 14 as a second trainer, at which point you could tell him.”

“I see,” she frowned and looked around the circle at each of the squad members, considering her answer carefully. Keeping her mouth shut wasn’t really the issue, but Callida got the feeling that accepting an oath of silence would come with a much bigger commitment to Squad 14 and their “particular skill set”, which most likely meant a transition from the foot soldier she was accustomed to being into a spy. That would mean lots of specialized training, high stakes missions, and a tight knit military family. It wasn’t the trajectory she’d planned for herself, but, then again, neither was joining the Bear Tribe military. “I accept.”

“Excellent,” Keit flashed his teeth in a broad smile. “Well, then there is little left to do beyond telling you the full name of Squad 14.”

“Something relating to spies, no doubt,” Callida smirked.

“You nailed it,” Keit nodded approvingly, “Welcome to the Special Forces Reconnaissance and Intelligence Squad 14.”

“Let’s maybe stick with ‘Squad 14’,” Callida teased, making Keit laugh.