“A toast, from my house and company to yours,” The mouse said.

"Would that I could thank you properly but that is not the case. The group of you have done us a great service, and as such I will say that this coalition, this very regiment is only as strong as each paw or claw inside of it."

"Here here!" A gruff rabbit's voice said.

Muk had introduced the rabbit as his adjutant, but nothing further. They were all in his large command tent, which kept supplies, rather than the larger supply tent which is where he held his offices.

The signage was supposed to defer attacks. They would come to the supply tent expecting all sorts of good things, and be flummoxed when it wasn’t there. Nothing was there except for some chairs and tables they’d borrowed from second platoon.

Now even the great houses were in the war. So next to the chairs was one desk with a stack of paperwork from well-wishers.

"Some of these people send clams. I can't do much with clams out here," Muk said, indicating the pile of correspondence," but you brought me something better."

Freya held her mug nervously. Her cover, her secret identity was in danger if she said something too familiar. Earlier in the day, she'd kicked herself when she realized that she'd fallen into her old back and forth with him. As a private, she really shouldn't be speaking with an officer that directly or frequently.

Then there was the matter of if Muk looked into her background and Rivers' secret identity as well.

River could act with the best of them and Crenshaw would keep his mouth quiet about them, but with no official houses to claim their identity and only River’s experience acting and spying…Freya didn't want to slip up and say something she didn't know.

Her default was now to hope she wouldn't be called upon. That and a pretense of being to wrapped up in her creation of dozens of stable arrows. She would leave a few with some of the better archers once they could calm themselves down.

"We did nothing more than what you would do," Crenshaw said, "We are not heroes, just creatures doing our duties."

He made it sound official and practiced. Grandpaw and Stone both toasted with their tea as well.

Freya and River had intentionally taken a spot as far away from Muk as possible. Their intent was to minimize the interaction there so neither would leak something she wasn't supposed to know. River was surprised then when one other fox Sergeant sat down next to them.

This newcomer looked ready to fight. Possibly due to his tea being too bland, Freya didn't know. The first fox she’d met in the company had -savagely- put his tea bag into the tea and then immediately poured sugar into it.

Freya had to hold back a gasp at his manner, because even though they were on the edge of a war that didn't mean that they were uncivilized.

"Sergeant Yates," Freya said, "it might taste a bit better if you allow the tea to steep longer. Pouring sugar in stops the process of steeping."

The fox gazed up not at her but nearby. He had been introduced earlier but said precious little since.

"Oh, uh thanks," he said, "I'll consider that."

His entire demeanor changed from gruff fighter to tired warrior. He slouched in his chair, after looking around. He’d apparently seen that no one had their attention on him.

"Are you quite alright Sergeant?" River said.

She was the closer of the two blue jays. Their pairing of two blue animals and one red would normally have been a bright ensemble, but in war, they were all wearing equally drab uniforms.

"Oh, me?" He said absentmindedly, "I'm heading back on the next return trip. I'll be right as… Well, I'll be good soon. Unless he asks me to go back again."

“He’d ask you to return to the front?”

“The quartermaster wants us all to rotate back and forth but… I’ve seen things.”

Freya froze. She was supposed to be a low-ranked Soldier. She’d never been a part of this kind of conversation between warriors.

She searched for something to add to the conversation but reflected back on what she would have wanted to hear.

“That must be difficult for you,” she said, trying to settle on a neutral tone.

“War is war, no matter where you go little jay,” Sergeant Yates said, “This is your first tour, isn’t it?”

He brightened briefly, his whiskers perking up. Then it returned to his previous dour expression.

“At least I have your company, and that of my peers, and,” he said, taking a swig, “this company is really all you have out here. Take care of the creature to your left and right and you’ll make it back. Don’t think about any medals either, just do your job.”

Freya pondered the path that had taken the fox to where he was today and decided that she didn’t want to look too closely. It was just as well, as Muk was making his rounds around the gathering.

“Sergeant Yates,” he said, “Private Kay.”

“First Platoon sir!” Yates said, standing to attention.

Freya stood up a second later, wishing she’d had the experience to know when to stand and salute and all the other customs and courtesies her brother had laughed at.

“Sir!” She said.

“Please, both of you be seated,” he said, “I was just talking to Woda over there, he was my swordmaster while I was training in the academy. You know that I’m corresponding with his granddaughter, as of course society decrees.”

“To a potential union!” Sergeant Yates said, raising his mug.

Freya weakly raised one.

“Anyway I don’t want to bore you with the details, because society talks, but I imagine you have someone at home Private? Perhaps a sparra or another blue jay? I honestly don’t understand some of the choices that the aviary makes.”

Freya masked her face, clearly not ready to say something, while at the same time, she wished she could.

“I, have a suitor or two at home,” she said, trying not to smile.

“Ah, but to miss the season,” he said.

“Hear hear!” Yates replied, “For I’ve laid eyes on a potential mate as well. Are you thinking to return and start a family?”

Freya’s mask slid and a blush appeared over her face. She couldn’t be certain that they weren’t seeing her sweat, but she felt every pore begin to prepare.

“I… haven’t made up my mind yet,” She said, honestly.

Muk smiled, but it was a different smile than she was used to. He was being casual with her and she appreciated his ease with words. It would have been different if she was a private in his company, she knew, but after what she’d done…

She put the thoughts out of her mind.

“It’s going to be quite a season, private, and when you return? You should have your pick of the nest.”

Freya’s face warmed significantly.

“I should hope so. Well, it’s either that or seeing about life as a ranger. I have heard good things,” she said, trying to throw him off her trail.

Muk paused, his paws pressing his mug together. He appeared relaxed, but something was off about him.

“For the right partner? It would be worth it.”

Sergeant Yates smiled a goofy grin.

“What about yourself, Lieutenant?” She asked, trying to get something concrete about how he felt about her.

“I’ve got one mouse, in particular, that has my eye, and we’ll see when we return,” he said, his eyes glazing over.

Freya returned his smile, hoping that he meant her.