Laff's point of view:

The young man that we "saved" last night is currently still asleep. I can't even guarantee that he will make it another day. The injuries are definitely life threatening. Julio has asked me multiple times why I haven't simply killed the teen, but I can never find an answer. The question remains in my head every single second, why didn't I just leave him to die? He is the enemy after all, it isn't normal to help the enemy... He didn't seem like he wanted to fight anyways. Probably because Pika forces men to fight, they don't let people volunteer. I'm not going to make it a requirement that every man over 18 becomes a soldier, that's just wrong. I've had a lot of woman volunteer to fight with us as well.

"What're you planning to do with this kid?" Hayden asked. I didn't even know he was inside of my tent at the moment.

"I'm not quite sure, but I'll figure out soon. How's it going with the rest of the army?"

"They seem to be just fine, medics are helping out the injured."

Hayden sat next to me.

"What do you think happened to Pika? They definitely had less soldiers than we thought they would."

"I have absolutely no idea... It doesn't make sense that their army simply got smaller... Maybe they lost some in an attack against another kingdom."

"You could be right, but what army could take that many soldiers away from them other than Willow?"

"I'm not sure, but I guess we'll figure it out soon enough."

There was a small moment of silence.

"Well, I'll leave you be then. You have fun with this child," he said pointing at the teen. Then he left the tent.

It was probably 9pm at the moment, we had set up a campsite to stay for the night. I couldn't sleep, I was watching the almost dead teen in front of me. I really needed his name. The kid's stomach was wrapped up, it was all the medics could do at the time. I looked around my tent, then up at the starless night sky. Today had been a long day, I was honestly glad it was all over. I looked back at the probably 19 year old, who was shivering. I covered him in the one blanket I had, then laid on the ground. I felt myself drift off to sleep not too long after.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

Joocie's point of view:

So cold, so dark. It's like I was awake but I wasn't. I couldn't open my eyes, but I could hear the crickets in the distance. I also heard soft snoring, where was I? I tried to think of what had happened the night before.... I couldn't remember much. Wait... The memories began flooding back. Surprise attack, running away, being stabbed straight through the stomach... As I remembered that there was an extremely sharp pain through my stomach. After a while I became used to it and fell back asleep.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

I was finally able to open my eyes, but I immediately closed them. The sunlight was brighter than ever, and everything hurt. I was able to see where I was. It was a tent, but one I didn't recognize. Wait a minute... Why am I still alive?

My eyes fluttered open and I stared at a figure standing in front of me. I remembered the man from the battlefield, he was an enemy.

What does he want me for? He should've killed me earlier!

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

Laff's point of view:

"Get up," I said to the young man. He looked horrified, I didn't blame em, I would be afraid if I woke up in a stranger's tent.

The boy struggled to sit up, it was better if he didn't anyways.

"W-why am I here? What do you want from me?"

"Information."

"I don't know anything!"

"Who are you, and who do you work for?"

"I-I can't answer that..."

"Answer the question, or you won't be able to answer another question ever again," I threatened, drawing my sword.

The boy was terrified.

"F-fine! I'm... I'm Joocie. I work as a bodyguard and soldier for the king of Pika..."

"You don't seem like you enjoy that job," I said putting the sword away and sitting next to Joocie.

"Of course not! Nobody likes be forced to do something just because you live somewhere. I hated living in Pika!"

"So you're from Pika..."

"Who are you, and why did you save me?"

"Hmm.... I suppose it wouldn't hurt to tell you the truth. I'm king Laff, of Makaes. Being honest, I don't why I saved you."

He looked at me, his facial expression said everything.

"Ok, why not kill me now!?"

"I'm afraid I can not do that."

"Why not? You don't need me, I'm useless!"

Joocie once again tried to sit up, this time succeeding.

"I can find use for you. Why don't you leave Pika, join me?"

"They'd kill me."

"They're going to probably kill us all at some point, it doesn't matter."

"No they won't. Over half of Pika's army is sick with some unknown virus. And... I've said too much."

"An unknown virus?... So that's why Pika's army was so small yesterday...." I mumbled to myself.

"Yeah.... What even happened yesterday?" Joocie asked, definitely very confused.

"Your king and a few of the remaining soldiers ran off, the rest were all killed. Except for you. You had a pretty bad stab wound through the stomach."

"Sounds about right.&"

Solid silence.

And then there wasn't because Hayden and Julio walked into my tent to check on me.

"Good morning king, random kid that we saved," Hayden said.

"Oh, this is Joocie," I explained to them.

"Hello there Joocie. It's nice to meet you! Sorry for uhm.... Stabbing you though the stomach with a spear, hopefully you can forgive me for that," Julio said.

"Happens all the time," Joocie responded.

"Well, we only came in here to tell you king, that our soldiers are all prepared to go," Julio explained.

"Ok then let's get going."