A female stranger, all alone at the station

Theron and Sofia both scrutinized the figure stepping out onto the yard.
As the voice implied, it was a younger woman, definitely not older than twenty-five, and probably not even twenty yet. So, the woman was probably the least experienced one of those deployed at this station, which made her a likely candidate for staying there rather than to go out on patrol. Officers and greenhorns, that’s what you usually found moping about on their arses while those who are actually of some bloody use was out getting their very own issues of the previously-mentioned body part shot or chopped off by some unwashed, frothing-at-the-mouth bunch of raiders.

Still, the way in which the young woman had laughed at his description of Captain Truian’s mole implied that she had at least been around long enough to learn that most officers were self-important twerps, which was an important lesson, to be sure, but undoubtedly one that was quickly learnt and taken to heart.

Oh well, at least the lass was a pretty one; brown skin, long black hair that gleamed in the weak moonlight, large blue eyes and a pert little nose above a pair of wide, red lips, and a body that rivalled Sofia’s; a flat stomach and a pair of large, firm breasts hidden under an ecru tunic, and long, well-shaped legs clad in tight brown hoses and black boots.

As for armament, the girl was holding a crossbow in her hands, currently aiming the weapon straight at Theron.

Theron let out an internal sigh when he noted that young ranger had no sword in her belt.
Going out to face two potential threats with a one-shot weapon is not a good idea, because if you manage to shot one of them after they’ve turned out to be dangerous, there’s still going to be a second one around, who’ll probably not too thrilled about having seen his or her partner go down with a crossbow bolt around, and who will most definitely not be prepared to hang around and keep calm until you’ve managed to pop back inside to reload.

“It’s a good thing that you’re pointing that over-sized slingshot at me and not Sofia, seeing as how she’s a lady and all that, while I’m just a bloody commoner, and thus expendable.”
“I’m not planning on shooting any of you!” The girl cried out.
“Well, seeing as how you’re handling that weapon with such masterful lack of expertise or experience, I’d say that I’m in more danger than if you actually were planning to shoot me.
And if you had actually managed to hit me, whether by fluke or by accident, what the hell would you have done about Sofia? Tried to scare her off by threatening to plan not to shoot her either?”
“I… I don’t” The girl, visibly taken aback by the manner in which Theron was speaking to her, failed to formulate her response before Theron cut her off.

“Alright, what’s your name, girl?”
“Annis.”
“Alright Annis, I’m Theron, and I’m bloody appalled at poorly trained you’ve been. Now, where’s the rest of the people hanging around here? Since I’m a civilian now, I can actually say what I like to your fucking commanding officer. And that,” here, Theron stopped speaking for a short while, as to imply how true the following words were to him, “is a pleasure that I’ve been longing hard for.”
“They’re not here,” Anis replied, adding “sir”
“That's fucking cheeky, calling me sir, I used to work for a living!” Theron rebuked Anis, before narrowing his eyes at what she had said, “And what, by all the hells and heavens that those crazy, delusional bastard gods have managed to conjure as of now do you mean by them not being here? Are you actually alone here?!”
“Y…yes.” Annis stammered out, “One of the patrols failed to report back in three days ago. Yesterday, the Captain had had enough and set out to find them.”
“Well then I’ll just have to track your captain down and then tell him what a horribly stupid arsehole he is!”
“He’s a she.” Annis replied.
“Oh,” Theron actually paused at this, but soon found his rhythm again, “and how many men did she take with her on her little search.”
“Two.”

It figured, Theron thought, the standard garrison was twelve rangers, enough for two patrols of four each and then three greenhorns and a captain who stayed at the station.

“Have you had a lot of action out here recently?”
“Yeah, even the captain’s says that it’s a lot more than usual, and she’s usually pretty damn level-headed.”

A “damn”? Good, that meant that Annis was recuperating after being subjected to his tirade.

“And as for the two rangers which your captain took with her, were they as experienced as you?”
“Roughly, yes.”
“Oh, fuck…” Theron muttered.
“Excuse me,” Sofia cut in, with her usual air of class and stoicism, “but wouldn’t it be better if you continued this discussion inside?”
“Yeah, you’re right about that.” Theron agreed, and the trio steered their way into the station.