Peace Within The War (Silentmalu x SilverRain)

[Silentmalu]

A child was born several decades before with white hair and ice blue eyes. He was a marvel and loved from the moment he was born. He was a genetic oddity but was cared for by the entire village. When another child was born a few years later with the same qualities, the village thought themselves blessed. However, it was the very beginning of a racial war that would rage for years to come. Those first two children had children of their own and so it continued until the differences were not only in looks but in beliefs and thoughts. In the minds of those who lived through those times, it was as if a spark had suddenly been ignited and no one knew or understood where the hatred had come from. In reality, it had always been burning slowly until it could no longer be ignored.

The war continues to on to this day, each side attempting to cut down the numbers of the opposing side to eventually wipe them out. Young boys became men with the kill of the opposing city and many women and girls became widows. Armies were created for the sole purpose to extinguish all who existed. It was brutal and cold war. What had been forgotten were those who were simply born into conflict and had nothing against the other race, but their voices were timid and weak.

One such silent girl was named Nila. Like those before her, she was born with ice blue eyes and white hair that was currently stained with mud. Nila wanted an escape. She had spoken up to a commanding officer which looking back was utterly stupid. However, in the moment she had condemned him for murdering a young boy that had been caught from the opposing side. The beating that ensued was her punishment, but running away was punishable by death. Nila ran through the thick woods, doing her best to run silently and miss any branches that might snap and give away her position. Her heart was beating widely in her chest and her lungs burned for her to stop. Even now she could hear the hunters tracking her, unaware that she was running directly into the backyard of a newly created bunker for the opposing army.

[SilverRain]

Daniel was busily constructing the last pieces of the bunkers, hammering away at the support pillars. He and his brother knew this place well, which was why they suggested that this be the bunkers of the 8th Squadron. The place used to be that of a farmhouse, but after the land was farmed, it became useless and barren. Which made it perfect to use as barracks because the vast empty spaces could be used for training the soldiers and making weapons.

Daniel was high on a ladder hammering away and then stopped when he thought he heard the sound of footsteps running into his territory. Those footsteps... they sounded rushed and frantic with no definitive direction. Daniel and the other troops were trained to listen and recognise each other's footsteps from a distance. It didn't sound like that of one of the soldiers as they wore thick and heavy boots. It also didn't belong to an enemy soldier's footsteps.

Unless of course, it was a spy.

Daniel locked the front gate of the barracks and then silently walked to the place where he last heard the footsteps. He carefully drew his one of his two swords. The sun was high up and there was no shadow cast on the ground. Thinking back, the footsteps from before sounded strained, so most likely the spy was breathless. He tried to listen for his heavy breathing...

[Silentmalu]

Off to his left he could hear the combination of heavy breathing and frantic footsteps of the being he had first heard. To his right, he could barely make out the more silent and trained footsteps of trackers following the first individual. They were still a distance away but were quickly gaining ground. They were on the hunt and it seemed it was one of their own kind.

Nila ran, looking back over her shoulder in terror. When she turned, she slid to a stop when she almost hit the gate of the barracks. Her eyes went wide when she realized that not only was she blocked, but she was in enemy territory. Her feet slipped on the soft ground, causing her to fall backwards. Scrambling to her feet, she knew she had to hide if she had any hope of surviving this night. Her eyes scanned the fence, but seeing as it was new, there were no holes, no weak points to get in. The very fact she was contemplating it told her how desperate she was.

[SilverRain]

Daniel followed the sound of frantic footsteps as they went around the perimeter of the barracks. He climbed up the watchtower, but was unable to see who it was. However, what he did see were the men of another squadron giving chase. Ah, so it was them. The ones who didn't allow him and his brother to join their ranks, henceforth making them having to build their own barracks. Well, this could be a chance. Spy or not, if he could get his hands on whatever they were chasing, Daniel could steal the success from them. Maybe even gain a promotion if the target was significant. And if anything, he could use the target as barter. That was how the barracks worked.

And so Daniel climbed back down the watchtower and proceeded to the gate, where he opened it, grabbed the person and quicly kicked the gate shut.

Only to find out that it was a girl? What in the blazes? The enemy must have gone stupid, sending a girl as a spy. She didn't even have the qualities of one! Or maybe she was just that good a spy... you can never really tell with these things. Whatever, Daniel clasped his hand over her mouth and dragged her into the bunkers. And then he stuffed her into the closet before slamming it shut and blocking it with a barrel of tools... Daniel folded his arms, triumphantly grinning in that he had caught the person that the others wanted. Okay, now what was he going to do? Daniel sent a kick into the door for fun.

((OOC: Sorry if I've controlled too much - let me know if its a problem. The stuff just seemed to flow out of my mind))

[Silentmalu]

Nila cried out when she was suddenly grabbed and pulled in through the gate. Her cries were soon muffled as she was dragged, kicking with all her might, down into the bunker and shoved into a very small, dark closet. Nila moved to the door, trying to get it open as she called out. Nila banged on the door until it was kicked, making her jump back until her back was against the wall. She didn't know what was worse, being captures by her own people or being captures by the other side. Sinking down to the floor, she curled her knees to her chest as her mind raced with what to do.

Meanwhile on the other side of that door, just after Daniel decided to kick it, the voice of his older brother echoed in the room. "Having a fit, Danny?" His tone wasn't that of humor and when Daniel turned, he would find the slightly taller Zach with his arms crossed over his chest. His look alone would tell his brother to not respond to that rhetoric question. "Please tell me you have a good reason for pulling one of them in here. And it had better be a damn good one."

[SilverRain]

"Ehh?!" went Daniel as he suddenly heard his brother's voice. It sort of made him jump. Daniel did always look up to his brother, who's voice commanded authority and control. Whilst Daniel himself did have his moments at times, it never really matched the ones that Zach had. He didn't expect his brother to appear and admittedly, he was having fun scaring the poor girl, wanting to see if she would scream or cry. Well, not that he was that cruel, but it was kinda fun. There were the serious reasons too of course. Yeah, that's it.

"Well... *ahem* The other squadron were chasing her. I don't know if she's a spy or not, but she's definitely something of value to them. If we hand her in, not only do we reap the reward, we are also showing to the General that the other squadron failed in their duties of keeping the land free of intruders. We could gain praise and maybe even a few gold coins"

Daniel turned to face the closet for a moment before he realised that the air inside probably wasn't going to last forever. Using a bit of strength, he opened the closet door a tiny bit so that fresh air flowed in.

"And since, we could probably make her tell us the enemy's secrets. With that, we could probably lead a squadron there. Or use her as hostage. She looks like the gentle type" said Daniel as he peered through the slit and then turned to look back at Zach.

[Silentmalu]

Zach eyed his brother with that continued look that he held so well. After a very long silence, Zach spoke. "So, you wish to use her as a bargaining chip for us to enter into a squadron who would rather kill us and take the glory than accept us. Not only that, we aren't even sure she is worth anything to our side or why she was out this far to begin with. And the fact that you want to sell her is utterly disturbing, Danny. SHe's still human...even if she is one of them." He chided his brother before moving around him to the closet.

Pulling the items away from the door, he opened it, having a feeling the girl wasn't going to make a mad dash. He was right as he peered in to see her looking away from the light. She was muddy and bloody. If she had been captured by their side and escaped, she would have had the marks to prove it. Zach was ashamed of the fact that their side made a habit of branding those they caught, if they lived long enough for it to matter. Since her cheeks were not marked, he knew she had never been caught.

He knelt down at the door way. "You were running from your people, weren't you." Nila looked back up at him, trying to make out his features, but he was back lit and it was impossible. When she nodded, Zach nodded in return and sighed. "She won't be worth anything, Danny. She's an outcast just like us."

[SilverRain]

"Well... not exactly that squadron. I hate their guts. But maybe handing her in can get us some favourable points from the higher ups at least" said Daniel who was find it harder and harder to justify his actions. Okay, so he would probably admit only to himself that the girl was kinda cute and he thought it would be fun to have her as company. But no one needs to know that right? "Look, I'm not wanting to sell her. I'm not those people. But if she is from the enemy territory, then somehow she has to be handed back. I don't want to be thought of as a traitor.

"An outcast?" said Daniel. He wasn't too sure how to feel. Not long ago had he been feeling triumphant when he caught her. Then he felt guilty when Zach said things. And now... now he felt compassion? The term 'outcast' was all too familiar with him. He felt that he never really belonged anywhere and was always considered a reject by his own kind. He didn't run though. Or maybe he was just pushed away. He would stand his ground till he could stand no longer. Till his body failed. And yet there are times when running is the only option.

War. It was like an unstoppable demon created by humans. Entire nations wiped out, people paralysed and living without an arm or leg. Daniel joined not because he knew how to fight, but because he was somewhat forced to. Everyone 'had' to join. And yet, deep down, maybe Daniel joined because he wanted to fit in somewhere, to feel like he had worth. Zach was a wonderful brother, yes, but Daniel wanted to accepted by those outside of his family. And then there was the free food and shelter as well.

Daniel sat down and then rested his back onto the wooden board behind him and then looked up with a sigh. "Then what do you suggest we do Zach? Our General isn't exactly into orphanages and returning her isn't an option. The townsfolk will see her as a newcomer and raise questions"

Daniel then glanced to the girl in the shadows. "Look, I'm sorry for scaring ya back then. What's your name kid? And why were you running in the first place?" asked Daniel. It would be better to find out how serious things were before deciding on the next steps. And if there was a hidden agenda to Daniel's question, it was to hear her voice. There were many things to be told from one's voice and look in the eyes.

[Silentmalu]

Nila glanced between the two brothers as they debated about her fate. It seemed the older one had a better grip on the state of the world though she didn't know how he had come to discover so quickly her specific situation. It was unheard of for someone to be running towards the other side due to their own side's persecution.

Her eyes darted between them as they sat down before the door way. She had a perfect view of them both as they were lit by the main room. Nila, however, felt trapped in the tiny closet and though their voices had finally calmed and the one who had grabbed her apologized, that terror did not abide. They were from the other side and they were known to do horrific things to her kind.

Despite this terror, Nila thought that if she told the truth, they would spare some of the pain and torture. "My name is Nila...I disobeyed my commanding officer." It was quick but she wasn't sure if the truth would make her current situation worse or better, if there was such a thing as better.

Zach followed his brothers line of questioning. His voice was soft as he spoke. "What do you mean disobeyed?" That could mean a wealth of things, all of which would change the outcome of this moment. Nila swallowed as she eyed the brothers, her eyes always moving between them.

"I spoke out of line when he killed one of your people. I did not think that was right." Nila stated softly. Zach's eyebrows rose just slightly as he hadn't expected this. It was one thing to go against drills or ration sizes...but to completely disagree with the fundamental goal of both sides was...shocking.

[SilverRain]

"As touching as that may be Nila, I don't exactly... how should I put this... believe you. You're going to have to tell us more. For all I know, you could be fabricating a story just to get out of here alive. There are some who do that" Daniel's face was grim. He knew he sounded bitter and mean. But then what could he do? Daniel he thought back. There was a time many years ago, when he was a cheerful guy full of laughter. He was naive, he trusted everyone, he was happy in his simple world. But that was all behind him now. Once he placed a lot of trust into a person, confiding in them his deepest secrets. It wasn't anything romantic - they were just neutral friends. But that 'friend' betrayed him. His whole life went tumbling down into the gutters just because of that one person. From then on, Daniel felt that trust was one of the hardest things to earn. And it never truly existed outside of the immeadiate family. But back to business. If whatever this 'Nila' said was true, then his side could get more of a reason to attack the enemy. Not that they didn't already have enough though.

"And so you were running away right? That's how you ended up here. But let me be blunt here. Where do you really intend to go? Any particular town? How are you going to survive? What skills do you have and are there any relatives of yours close by? You look as if you left unprepared" asked Daniel. Running away was one thing, but survival another.