First Day in Naam [Closed]

[Derek Smith]

Derek nodded down at her. The smile that appeared on Selena's face was a small comfort. He acted firm in this small instance but it was only an act really. Many of his men knew that he took insubordination very lightly, as long as it was justified. He taught his command to think, not to take orders. Everyone in his command was trained to be a general. For now, however, Derek would appreciate the small little victory. "At ease, Selena. You are going to meet my main squad, which you will be joining. They are a scouting and covert op unit. I know, 'why put a dragon in a covert unit, blah blah blah.' Actually I think you will be surprised about how well you can take use of power during missions that are to be in secret."

Once they got to the infirmary, Derek sighed looking at the number of wounds and casualties. Still recovering... and they are ready to send more. What will it take to end this damn war? He shook his head and then continued onward. to the door in the back. Just past it was a large wall, a memorial to all those who had been lost recently. Derek knew some of the faces up there. But it didn't matter if he did or if he didn't. Any time he ever visited a floor he paid his respects. He walked up to the scattered pictures and saluted. "Lieutenant Derek Smith salutes your valor, your courage and your honor. Thank you for all your sacrifices and may your souls earn the rest they most well deserved." He turned away and turned to Selena. "We have rules in Archer Unit, and this is one of them. Respect the dead no matter where they come from; ally or enemy, dragon or demon, no person in this war deserves death over another."

He turned back and walked through the infirmary back to the elevators. Derek would need to report to his own command about their newest addition. And he would have to hand Selena off to Arin for basic scout training. he liked Selena, but she had to know that he was her superior and did not have time to train her as an officer. Though they would be working together Smith was a busy man, and had made a small exception for her and her only. No more coddling, it was time to get to work.

[Selena Marks]

Selena was thrilled to be a part of the actual army now. And how surprising that she should be transfered on her first day; she definitely didn't see that coming (then again, a list of what she had seen coming would be much, much shorter). Selena obeyed his order to stand at ease, still smiling. Apparently, she was to be in the archer's main squad; scouting and covert missions. So, basically, she'd be doing under cover work... like a spy, almost. She could see how her talents would work well in that field; strong enough to back herself up while appearing small, petite and generally unthreatening. She couldn't help but feel so excited...

...until they turned into the infirmary. The grin vanished from her face and she bit her lip. The smell of blood was thick in the air, accompanied by strong-smelling herbs and fires used to heat the iron rods that- actually, on second thought, Selena didn't want to think about what those rods were for. Worse still was the moans and cries of the wounded and dying, those who signed up to serve their country and ended up getting the short end of the stick. Selena wondered briefly if she'd ever be one of those lying helpless in the beds, but her own cockiness immediately dismissed the thought. Selena was strong; she was a dragon. There was no way something like this could happen to her, right?

She followed Lieutenant Smith up to the wall past the infirmary, covered in black ribbons and pictures of the lost, some scattered wildflowers and dead petals scattered on the floor beneath them. Selena held her hands together in front of her, bit her lip and bowed her head as if in brief prayer, listening to Derek's salute. When she was addressed, she looked up to him quickly, smiling at the news. It was good to hear about their respect for the dead... except of course for the demons, but she chose to keep that much to herself.

She followed him back to the elevators and tried not to groan inwardly- more tight spaces, more claustrophobia. She'd only been here for an hour at the most and it'd already been a pretty bad day. Stifling a sigh, she looked up to Derek once more. "Thanks again for all of this..." she said, excited to prove herself and make it up to him.