The sound of light footsteps was caught by the trees as they landed on the soft forest floor, a little later being followed by a group of much angrier and heavier footsteps. The sky was grey and it would soon be turning dark, it hung above them as if it was a huge mass of smoke.

His heart was in his throat as the lonely pine tree branches marred his tanned and tight face. The leaves slapped against his helmet as he tried to fly underneath them, making sure not to stumble and fall, yet they managed to scratch him underneath his eye.

As they panted, clutching their rifles and keeping heads low, they could hear the dogs barking in the distance, angrily trying to herd them like sheep to butchering. William slowed down, his chest going up and down at a fast pace. It wasn't that he was getting tired, it was more likely the fear fueling his anxiety. He realized Theo was falling behind. "Come on, come Theo!" he gasped out, still stumbling forwards, the clothes and gear suffocating him as he tried to jump over a deeper part of a muddy moss, fearing his heavy equipment would make him stuck.

Yet he flew swiftly over the grounds, trying to shake them off.

But Theo was falling behind, and William would not allow it. He halted, gasping for oxygen and waiting for the taller male to catch up. He grabbed his shoulder, pushing him forward as he kept glancing behind anxiously, seeing the dark forms in the distance and the perked up ears of furious German shepherds as they flashed their teeth and angry eyes.

“Shut up and shoot them!” Theo gasped out, trying to load his rifle as he was running blindly. William grabbed it from him, knowing it was just slowing him down. ”I got it, go, I'm right behind you.” William said, and Theo ran.

He tried to even his breathing, eyes wide as he pulled the trigger to shoot the ground the dogs were running over. They whimpered, halting for a second as Willian started running again. He could not see Theo anymore, which was probably a good thing.

He could hear bombs going off in the distance, making him believe that they were attacked. It was no use trying to mislead them, so, not knowing which way Theo had ran off to, William headed towards the camp.

He yelped, falling headfirst into moss that seemed to swallow his whole foot. Theo's rifle flew from his hand, landing with a clink against a rotting tree. He groaned, trying to pull his foot free from the sticky surface. He gritted his teeth, groaning under his breath as he tried to crawl out.

The footsteps got nearer and knowing they were closing in on him, made William snatch one of the small, stolen knives that were tucked into his belt. He turned his body into an awkward angle and with all his might, threw three knives at the heavily armoured bodies.

They fell with a thud, the loud sound of firing bullets making William snap his eyes shut. He waited for the pain that would alarm him of an injury, but it never came.

“You're such a git. Come 'ere you bloody idiot.” John growled under his breath, grabbing William from his shoulders and hauling him out of the muddy pit with a grunt. John panted, cheeks red underneath the dark layer of dust and grime. His brown curls stuck onto his forehead with the sweat that glistened on his skin. “Th-thanks John.”

“You get me some of that moonshine you keep secretly drinking and we can call it even.” he said, his lips quirking upwards. “I have no idea what you are on about.” Will shrugged, picking up the second rifle. “Of course, and I am Ella Fitzgerald.” John said with a sarcastic undertone as his eyes scanned the forest around them.

“What are you doing out here in the forest, isn't the fight there, Miss Fitzgerald?” William changed the topic, starting to move towards the green field, John close behind. They seemed to be moving like orbits, moving in circles around each other, watchful and alert. “Was takin' shit when I heard the shots, even left my shovel behind. Have no idea what's going on on the field but this was not planned— fuck, bombers  are here.” the older cursed, hearing the plane engines in the distance as they kept getting closer and closer. Williams breath hitched as the trees got thinner.

“Oh fuck me, it's a massacre!” John said, eyes wide as he looked at the destruction before their very eyes. “You-you kiss your mother with that mouth?” they snapped towards the strained voice, William immediately recognising the dark-skinned man sitting against the tree, clutching his bleeding side. “Fury!” he said, hurrying to his aid as he slid the rifle off his shoulder. “You need medical attention, you–” the man coughed, doubling over as blood dripped down his chin. John took a hesitant step closer, still feeling wary and protective over Willian. “Lance corporal Fury.” he nodded towards John, a fellow soldier.

A bomb went off near them, making them all crouch down and cover their heads to avoid head injuries. The blow was warm and the ground shook. “Just leave me the extra rifle and get out of here, I came to warn you from battalion seventh, it was a German set up. But I was too late. Just run, kid.” he said weakly, sliding down the rough tree bark. “No, come on, get up.” Will commanded, sliding his hand around his torso as he flinched in pain.

“No, no, let go of me, let go.” Fury cried out, the blood soaking his clothes. William removed his hand, furious at being so helpless. “Will, we have to go.” John said tightly, the sound of screaming men making his skin crawl. John was worried, they were surrounded and the Germans were just killing them off like flies. “They are herding you to the river, but you have to make them all turn back, the German are waiting there, the forest, you have to get to the forest.” Fury said, aiming the rifle towards the tanks that appeared in the distance. “Come on.” John said, starting to jog towards the river in the distance, they needed to save as many as they could.

Fury nodded and turned towards the enemies, making Williams heart even heavier as he realised they couldn't go into the forest either. “John, John!” he caught up with him, sweat running down his neck as the heat seemed to fry him. “We can't go into the forest!" “And why not, hey, Elliot!” he roared, making the startled and bloodied soldier snap his gun towards John and William. “There are nazis there, their base, me and Theo were sent to spy there!” Will explained hastily, his hand landing on Elliot's blood-soaked shoulder as he dragged the man along with them.

John waved towards the forest, trying to get his voice heard over the sound of guns and bombs. Some saw and dove into the forest, while others blinded by rage and hate kept running. John halted, making William run into him ann both men stumbled onto the ground. William was ready to hear the complaints but was caught off guard when he saw a tank heading towards the nazis. And firing from the too of the war machine was no one else but Hoare personally.

“Where did he get that?” John asked, rolling aside as a group of soldiers who were out of breath tried to get out of the clearing. “Oh please watch over him...” Elliot murmured, eyes wide as he looked hopelessly as their leader was heading right towards the enemy.
The sun was being shielded by the smoke that seemed to follow the nazis before death emerged.

John pushed himself up, starting to run towards the abducted tank as Elliots and Williams firm grip held him back. “Let go, let go!” he roared, trying to shake the two off as his heartbeat got faster and faster... His shoulders shook, the rifle on his back almost going unnoticed as the grass and soil underneath his feet shook, the ground was groaning and the trees seemed to bleed.

He couldn't believe the destruction before his eyes, hundreds were dead or fatally wounded, ammo tents blown up, food tents ruined, all was gone.

“God if you are there, have mercy on us.” Elliot whispered as all three froze for a mere second, craning their necks as they heard the familiar sound of a nearing plane. “Please be ours, please be ours...please be ours” William murmured, tears leaking down his pale cheeks as he aimed his rifle towards the nazis in the distance, shooting almost blindly.

But he knew, that one was not one of theirs.

They were thrown on the ground by the force of the bomb that had fallen upon the tank Hoare was in. The earth screamed, the red embers that flew in the air were the furious tears, the bloodied handprints on the trees were the scars and the sound of Johns scream was the pain in it's rawest form.

All seemed to be underwater as Will and Elliot tried to keep John away. They had to go. It was over, within a couple of minutes, all had been ruined. Everything was gone. They had no idea where to go, who to seek.

Blindly, the three soldiers ran.

***
It is SO bad and I am SO SoRRY but it's like a filler okay? Just bear with me 😦😥