The Mercenary Life

I wander through the forest. My unit follows me weary of what needs to be done. I turn to them with a stern look as the journey has exhausted me as well, but we were too far in. "Look, we are right on them. The bandits aren't far and they are weak. We have been following them for days, they are just as exhausted as we are."

They look at me with both relief and stress. We have not eaten for a few days and they hunger. I sigh in realization that I too could use some rest. "Listen, we will set camp here an-" With groans of relief, the all collapse on where they stood. "I know, I know!" I whisper yell. "But no fires! Set up the camp and rest for tonight."

Pup, the youngest of our group and the least experience walks up to me. "Captain . . . we are exhausted and need food in our bellies! Bread, raw vegetables and water isn't going to fill us for tonight! We need meats and other ingredients to help us." With that, everyone nods in agreement. They are excited to smell the charring of deer meat and the bubbling sounds of stew.