The voices droned on in a continuous sequence. Marching on the men were tired and hot, but they kept going. Each foot was aligned in pace with everyone else's foot as they kept in a rectangular formation.
      "Left, left, left, right, left..."
      In front of them their captain led their chant. He donned the official blue clothing of a captain, and a small cap that identified him.
      "Hey, Captain Jack!" one of the soldiers called.
      Stopping, his dark blue eyes glanced back.
      "How about we take a break?" the familiar soldier asked. A week ago they were both soldiers together. They even shared the same bunk.
      "Can't, you know we have to complete the routine." Jack answered.
      "We're preparing quite a bit for peacetime!" the soldier laughed. A few chuckles followed.
      "Yeah, I know, but still. Orders are orders, and I'm the one who has to keep you guys in line now." He smiled. He liked his group. Since he became their captain they tried to smooch their way out of training, but he didn't blame them. It wasn't as bad as boot camp but they still did hard work carrying huge packs and marching their hearts out.
      In a dignified manner that told the troops 'And I'm not going to change my mind' Jack tucked his blond hair neatly into his cap.
      "Jack!"
      Their attention moved. One of the officers ran up to them holding a letter.
      "Sir!" Jack answered.
      "Sir!" his troops followed suit.
      "Listen..." the officer stopped as he came near Jack. He was just as sweaty and hot as all the other troops from running.
      This worried Jack. He expected letters from his family, but they were never anything urgent.
      "What's wrong?" he asked.
      "Listen, I'm sorry kid." He handed the letter over to the young captain.
      "What...?" Jack asked again as he started reading the letter. It calmly stated that his brother was currently missing. That he'd been kidnapped in the port city Kobo.
      "What's... going on? There has to be a mistake. Kobo is way out of Remus' region." Jack replied as he read.
      "That's what it says. They say... They say that he was trying to borrow a ship from a seaman for something, he was being urgent and then when he was on the ship the vampire popped out of nowhere and grabbed him. He grabbed him and, to quote, the vampire said, 'As for the mailman, you won't be receiving anymore packages from him...'. He sailed off and..." the officer shook his head.
      "What?" Jack demanded.
      "They found the ship wrecked kid. It was burnt and torn to shreds." He answered, "Sorry."
      "This can't be right..." Jack shook his head, "Remus had no reason to be out there. He's always... Damnit! I told him not to hang out with the wrong people." Jack stumbled over to a tree and punched it as hard as he could. His knuckles started bleeding but he didn't care.
      "Hey, kid..." the officer patted him on the shoulder, "Take the day off..."
      The officer stepped back towards Jack's forgotten troops and nodded toward them. With very swift gestures he hustled the group back together and started them marching again, leaving Jack alone.
      "Damnit Remus..." Jack clawed at the poor tree. As far as Remus went he wasn't a bad guy, but he was the black sheep of the family when it came to following rules, "Why couldn't you just listen..."
      His stomach curled inside of him. Groaning he felt uncomfortably like vomiting. They had to have the wrong person, Remus wouldn't be out there. Painfully he wrapped his arms around his churning belly and staggered off to find his quarters.