He stares at the sky, cut open and bleeding, left to die among the rot and decay around him.

You were never nothing. Even when I hated you, I knew that.

There is a pressure in her side that grows sharper and stronger as she begins to wake until she jerks with a shuddering breath.

The sounds of the night draw his attention, but they can be easily dismissed. Fluttering wings, chirping bugs, and the hoot of an owl can be ignored. The Empire’s soldiers announce themselves with the sound of chains grating against each other and the snapping of metal armor as they march.

“General Evie,” General Redbeard calls from below. She spots him in the crowd easily. His grin is feral, its why she nicknamed him the mad dog. “I was wondering how many more would have to die before I finally got to you.”

The forest starts to smell like fresh water, letting her know she’s approaching her favorite reading spot.

What a wonderful morning.

Not every soldier gets to come home, not really.

Warning: This story contains mature topics such as PTSD and violence that soldiers can experience when deployed.