Cold sunlight filtered onto the churned snowy expanse. Though the sun shone on the ground it did nothing to warm the chill of the wind that whistled through them. The sound of footsteps filled the otherwise silent air. Nothing changed. Nothing new. The only sounds in the barren landscape was that of the whispered secrets of the wind and the drumming of feet, churning the blank snow.

Suddenly, the all too familiar thuck-thuck of bullets split the silence with a crescendo of sounds.

Fear.

Who would die this time? All that the men could do was return the rudeness with that of their own. The whispering whoosh of a bullet whizzed past one ear. Red hot pain erupted throughout the skull as the metallic smell of blood filled his senses. Hit. Silence, all save the screaming of one of the men at the front. This was not a drill, this was war. All had changed. All was new.

No longer did the deadly lead hail plummet down on the quivering forms. Red stained the snow. Silently, more men ran forwards carrying their wounded comrades from the field of battle. Something akin to horror darkened their wild eyes.