The next day came around. It was filled with many different practices.
The weather held its coldness as Spring was due to arrive very soon. Although, the snow that was present on the landscape made this idea of it all seem unlikely.
These last few months had a lot of snow in store, and on top of that, it was Claire's very first time seeing something like that fall from the sky. Let alone it all piling up in small, white hills.
The cold was bothersome, but not unbearable.
The cold and the snow, it was practically nonexistent at home, in Arittoria.
But she was a soldier. After all, she knew she had to fight it through, be it whatever challenge was thrown her way.
Looking out the window, Claire gazed at the new wave of clouds that approached them. She noted the very few flakes of snow that fell, and she knew that more was to come.
Keeping her eyes out the window, Claire took in a deep breath. All the snow, the cold, it made her think of the airport. Her first encounter with how cold it can really get a season before Winter.
It made her think of Aides.
The city itself seemed colder than where she currently was. It made her think if it snowed more there than it was here, in the base.
And then, her mind thought back to home. Spring was already well underway back at home. If anything, within a few weeks, Summer was due to hit.
Finally, her mind wandered off to how the weather was where Garrett was.
'Is it cold there for him? Is it snowing there like it is here?' Claire thought to herself.
Then she smiled. Turning her head towards the table in her room, she looked at the numerous letters she received over the last few months of her being in Iarterre, all packed in their envelopes. 'He's alive and well... that's what matters the most.'.
With that, her gaze went back to looking out the window.
A strike of white caught her attention. Just as she expected, the snow outside increased in strength. Slowly, more and more snowflakes began to fall, twirling in the cold, Winter air before finding their way to the ground.
Then, the buzzing of a plane was heard. And through the whites of the clouds, there it was. The aircraft, appearing and disappearing as it rode, surfed through the clouds.
With a sigh, Claire leaned back in her seat, her orbs refusing to leave the window.
"I hope all of this will be over soon... and I hope I'll meet you again... I hope I'll see you in no time, Garrett," Claire voiced under her breath.
---
Some time passed, Claire was in the canteen of the base.
She got her tray of food and navigated down an empty bench. Sitting down, she waited for a second or two before placing a full forkful of food in her mouth.
The dish itself wasn't very appetizing, but for what it was in that current situation, and for the number of people it served, it sufficed.
She took a pinch of her bread, stuffing it into her mouth.
Swallowing the mouthful of food, she opened her mouth once more for another forkful of food.
Then, "Is this seat free?". Claire heard a voice from across from her. Immediately she recognized it.
Lifting her head up, she saw Danielle. She too had a tray filled with food in her hands.
"Yes. Yes, it's free," Claire replied.
As a reply, Danielle gave Claire a small, friendly smile.
First, she placed her tray on the table before taking her seat on the bench. From there, silence prevailed for a few minutes, right before Danielle decided to break it.
"Is your brother the reason why you are here right now, Claire?" Danielle asked.
Surprised, from her food, Claire looked up at Danielle.
When Danielle saw the look on Claire's face, she widened her eyes ever so slightly, thinking as to whether she should have even asked that question. "Of course, you don't have to answer my question if you don't feel comfortable," Danielle added.
But Claire smiled at Danielle's words of reassurance. Firstly, she shook her head. "No, it's fine. The question just took me by surprise.". With that, a pause followed. "But yeah, I'm here because of my brother. I mean, the idea sounds dumb, but... since I got invited, I might as well accept the call. I mean, what have I to lose?... Not counting my life.".
Danielle nodded understandingly, her face lowering ever so slightly. "What's his name?".
Taking in a deep breath, Claire replied, "Garrett.".
From there, another brief period of silence descended amongst them both.
"Why are you here?" Claire asked seconds later.
Claire looked at Danielle, spectated her and the way she remained quiet for the next few seconds that followed. "I'm here mainly because of my father. For my father. But also my friend that I told you about yesterday...".
"Your father?" Claire repeated, furrowing her brows ever so slightly.
Danielle nodded, slyly moving her gaze away from Claire. "He's a Major. And rarely ever comes home, that is ever since he was promoted a Major.". A pause. "Ever since I heard that the war began, he was on my head all day, every day. He is one of the most, if not the bravest, most fearless men in my life.".
Claire's eyes began to twinkle ever so slight to Danielle's words. She thought the same of her father too. Brave. Fearless. And not to mention her brother.
"I'd have hated myself if I chose to stay at home. Because I'd be doing nothing. I'd be with my mother, watching her cry over my father. Hearing, listening to her prayers, praying for him to make it back home.". Another moment of silence settled between Danielle and Claire.
Looking at Danielle, Claire had no intention of breaking the silence, she looked at Danielle as she whipped away an odd tear that rolled down her cheek. With the sniffle of her nose, a small, sheepish smile appeared on her lips. "I didn't make it any easier on my mother, I know that because look at me. I am here now, amid a war. But I told her not to worry. I promised her that I'll be back with my father. I told her that both he and I, alongside many others, will end this war.".
With that, she took a forkful of food into her mouth, chewing it down before swallowing the food.
"How does it feel?" Danielle asked, looking back at Claire.
"Hm?" Claire answered.
"How does it feel having a sibling? Having a brother?" Danielle repeated her question, another sheepish smile growing on her lips. "I don't have any siblings...".
Claire couldn't help herself but stop for a brief second, allowing for Danielle's words to settle within her. At first, she thought the feeling was peculiar, the surge of sadness she felt building up in her chest. But the more her mind dwelled on the thought, it began to make sense. She felt sad because she put herself in Danielle's shoes. She imagined a life without Garrett in it. Or Garrett's life without her in it.
Quickly, she shook herself out of her trance, gathering herself together as best as she could. "How does it feel?" She repeated Danielle's question.
Danielle replied with a nod.
"My brother is older than me, so it feels... it feels nice. Having someone beside you to keep you safe.". A pause. "I'd hear many stories of where siblings simply didn't get on with one another, but that's not the story with my brother and me.". Claire swallowed whatever was in her mouth. "When we were younger, but more so now, my brother was and still remains so protective of me. So caring of me. He is one of the best men I know in my life.".
A smile appeared on Danielle's lips. She showed contentment with what she heard. "That... that actually sounds really nice.".
From there, once more, silence descended among them.
Then, looking down herself, Danielle extended her hand to one of her pockets on her bottoms. From there, she produced a picture, folded.
Unfolding it and placing it on the table, then turned it before sliding it towards Claire. "That's my father and me.".
Examining the photo, Claire saw a man in khaki, camouflaged clothing holding a small girl in a blue and white polka dot dress. He looked no more than 20 and she, about 3. With the girl's hair being in two ponytails, one looked at the other, smiling.
"It's beautiful..." Claire's voice trailed off as she kept her gaze on the photo.
"But very much outdated," Danielle commented, causing them both to let out a giggle or two. "Even so..." Danielle began, the smile on her face slowly receding. "Even so, it's very much dear to me.".
"He actually thought to me that love is the strongest weapon out of them all... Ironic how I am here now, in a war, where everything is shown but love," Danielle added seconds later.
It was those words of Danielle's that stuck within Claire. 'Love is the strongest weapon...'.
Then, footsteps were heard. Claire looked up, only for Danielle to follow her gaze and look behind her. They both eyed Gabriel as he walked down the main aisle of the canteen.
Looking to his left, there he saw Claire and Danielle. Though out of the two, he only knew Claire, he sent a smile to them both, looking at Claire first, before looking at Danielle and then, finally, gazing back at Claire.
A second passed and he let his eyes fall from Claire, down to the ground as he continued walking.
It was seconds later when he stopped. Managing to get more of people's attention, the room slowly quietened down.
"Alright..." Gabriel began when the room became quiet enough. "Over the last few months we were here, I saw some great work being done by you all." A brief pause followed. "But I am going to keep this straight with you all. Tomorrow, we are going into mayhem! In the early morning that is to come, we will be heading out into the battlefield. What I want from you all is to use all skills, if possible, that you have acquired throughout these last few months of training... Because it will heighten your chance of survival. Not that the chances are all that high anyway.". Gabriel cleared his throat. "Is that understood by everyone?".
"Yes, Sir!".
Gabriel nodded, a small smile appearing on his lips. "Alright! Then, let's all go to sleep. Come on, we have an early morning to tend to and a long day to follow it.".