Winter's battle

The stench of gunpowder and blood filled the air. Bodies loitered the snowy ground as a stream of white snowflakes covered them.

I looked across the battlefield, knowing the enemy is there beyond, but my vision blocked by the for of explosives. I look to the right, I see my brothers in arms, resting, preparing and weeping for the friends they’ve already lost, wishing to be home to their families and some crying for their mothers.

I look to the left, I see my real brother. My younger brother Jack and I ‘volunteered’ for the army, truth be told, after enemies came to our farm and killed our family, we did not have many options left. “Brent, when we finish this battle, we are going to go back.” Jack smiled, full of hope. I ruffled his head. “First we must survive the battle, so remember to always keep your head down.” He laughed. “You worry too much, and with the back up coming soon, all we have to do is wait.”

I looked at my brother, even after 5 years of constant war in our own homeland, killing people recruited by the enemy from our own lands, he still held unwavering hope for a tomorrow, I envied him, and feared for him.

Commander walked down the trench, gathering the soldiers. “So, listen, our support is arriving tomorrow evening.” He sighed. “They were to be here earlier, but since they are from the capital, they were too high and mighty to ride through the night.” Commander Cursed and spit. “So, we will have to last the next night on our own.” He paused to let everyone catch up and realize what is happening. “We have intel, the enemy will be marching in to attack under the cover of night. They outnumber us greatly, but if we do not hold this point, The war might extend for another year. They are on the backfoot, do not give them a chance to boost their morale by losing this spot.” Commander closed his Journal. “Any questions?”

Murmuring went around the group, nobody asking questions, till a young lad barely 18. “How are we supposed to keep them back? As you said they out number us.” Commander reopened his journal and scanned the pages. “Ah yes, we had a strange tactic brought forward by one of the forest brothers.” Forests brothers were an unofficial military unit that mostly covered the forest and uninhabited fields. They functioned more like forest rangers, but they were all military trained or military veterans.

“You shall be separated in two groups. Ones who will going high, one who will be laying low.” He passed out robes to people. “You will be wearing white to camouflage yourselves with the surrounding snow.” He returned. “Those of the ground unit will lay on their stomach in the snow in the field. You’ll shoot people at my command when and only when they are in clean shot range, no misses. You miss you reveal your location.”

“The second group will hide in the trees.” Commander pointed and multiple around. “You will use the moonlight, and the shift in the fog to aim for the enemies. Your task is less of killing them, more of scattering the.” Commander rubbed his nose bridge. “And please, don’t shoot your lying brothers, at least look where they lay and memorize it.” He pointed back. “You are free to dismiss and grab your final meal back in the main camp. It will either be your last meal of the war, or last meal of your life.” Commander left.

Jack and our platoon walked together to the kitchen. “Man, I can’t believe the war might end tomorrow.” Robbert, we call him bald bob, said. Jack rubbed his head. “Let me rub that shiny head of yours for good luck.” Jack chuckled. “With head as big as yours, you need all the luck you can get, they will see you from miles away.” Bald Bob struck back. “I would’ve liked to be the tree troops.” I added. “Brent, why go high, down here is where all the action is.” I looked at him irritated. “And also, where all the bullets are going to be.” “Hey, hey, shoot the enemy not your own brother.” He chuckled.

After dinner, we took our positions. Around third of the whole platoon went up in the trees, while the rest scattered around the battlefield. The fog covered our movements enough for the enemies not to see us, that was our one and only saving grace, for the night would be long and freezing as the winter was approaching its coldest night of the year.

The night fell. We each struggled to keep our bodies somewhat warm. Some rubbed their hands together, some tried to light a small fire while no enemies could be heard. I looked at my brother few feet away from me, he was so filled with adrenaline he could not feel the cold.

As we waited, an hour passed, moon was nearing its peak, when the crunching of the snow could be heard from far away. As they got closer, we covered ourselves more and grabbed a hold of our guns. Each step brought us closer to victory, closer to going home, but also it brought us closer to our death.

We laid there, waiting, trembling from cold and nerves. We waited for the shooting of tree team, they were the ones to signal us to open fire.

The steps kept getting closer. Figures wearing white cloaks could finally be seen not too far away. They kept creeping closer, but no gunshots followed. I saw one of them step on fingers of one man from my group, he bit his gun to stifle the scream. As he was about to scream out, a chorus of gunshots came from the trees, few enemies dropped right then and there.

They pointed their weapons up high, looking around, but as their eyes had gone up, shots came from below, each shot taking down a man.

We had hoped this would disorient them, make them flee, but they pushed forward more attentive. A single shot came from the trees, shooting a man down, and it followed with a whistled tone. Another shot followed, and joined in. slowly, one by one, the tree group all whistled the same tune we all knew.

Disoriented by the sound, we cleared more people from under their own feet. Slowly we joined in on the tune, and as we got braver, some joined in with the song itself.

Twin Doves racing through the sky.

Flapping their wings and flying so high

As the lone soldier limps back home

To meet his love and to hold his mom.

The dark, the dog made the song echo from every side. The confusion took hold of the advancing army, the low tone of the song, filled them with fear. As more gunshots came, more bodies dropped and the enemy army, while still large in number, flee to each cornet of the battlefield, stepping on some lost mines, or falling in some old pits.

Screams and groans could be heard. The enemy retreating shot wildly as to keep us at bay. Few bullets came in contact, but many flew past or flew high. I looked at my brother with a smile. We both had managed to survive. “We did it Brent.” He smiled and lifted his head. “N…” I could not even yell, as I just saw a splash of red suddenly paint the snow behind us. A sniper was still scanning for people.

Information of our location spread to other units, singing has halted, as the enemy pushed back once more, aiming low, looking for movement.

More shots from tree group came, people fell, we took aggressive move and rose from our hiding spots and charged them.

Still in disarray from what happened before, we managed to take more of them than they took of us. We rushed and pushed them back to retreat. As we saw their retreat, we retreated back to our trench as the sun was starting to rise itself. I passed by my brother, I dragged him off the battlefield.

Commander walked up. “He was a great soldier.” He placed an order on his chest. “He fought and died for his country.” I spat at the ground. “If the back-up had arrived as they were supposed to, he would still be alive.” I dragged my brother to the main camp. “I will take him back home with me.” I put him in the back of a truck that drove us around. “I’ll burry him with our parents.” Commander saluted me. “Your country thanks you for the sacrifice.”

As I drove off, I thought back. “What was this war for? 50 years of war to reach no change. Millions of bodies just because some snobs wanted more land.” I spat. “Screw those people, they can fight their own war next time.”

I was paid my and my brothers military wages, I got compensation for his death.

I spent the money, rebuilding the farm we had before and I opened a soldier’s retreat, and called it ‘Jacks Rest’.