Gavin sighed as he settled back on the grass. It had taken a while, but a crumpled, battered envelope had finally made its way back from the front. Blossom snorted softly as she scraped the dirt at her feet. It had dried a little in the past few days, but was still soft enough for her to leave hoof prints. Gavin tore his eyes away from the address long enough to give her a smirk. She raised and lowered her head, letting out a gentle whinny as she noticed his gaze. He clicked his tongue softly, remaining where he was on the grassy slope in front of the tree.

"You've already had three, you greedy mare! These ones are for Goliath," he added as he patted the apples at his side. He chuckled as she gave a snort of disagreement. She couldn't get any closer because of the reins. Gavin shook his head, still laughing as he returned his eyes to the letter. "You wait your turn! Eat some grass or something." Blossom settled and did as she was told, though her tail swished in annoyance. Pulling the letter out, he found it had been dated the month before. Prior to his package being sent. Jeez, that took a while...Things were probably hectic. As far as he knew, they were still taking heavy losses.

The usual greeting was waiting for him. My dearest Gavin. He never tired of reading that. Warmth flooded his stomach as he hunkered down with the letter, eyeing Blossom as she snorted. Don't you phcking judge me! Thank you for the picture. It was a most welcome surprise. I never imagined I would see you so dressed up. You're right about the cane. It looks extremely elegant. Elijah made a good choice with the gilding, and the addition of your name. You'll be pleased to hear that Connor agrees. He sends his best. Gavin huffed softly. He was pretty sure Connor must have been there watching him write. His smile fell somewhat as he continued.

Sadly, the camp is in a similar state to when you left it. That wasn't good. When he left, they'd just suffered a mass of casualties, and a fever swept in soon after. He frowned a little. Is that what he's trying to say? He couldn't outright tell him that things were shitty. The higher-ups wouldn't let shit like that get through. Luckily, no one knew what the camp was like when he'd left, or if they did, they'd decided that any enemy who got their hands on this wouldn't have a clue. My few healthier patients are in good spirits. Few...That meant he had a lot who were fucked. We're hopeful that new men will be joining us soon. If they were hopeful, that meant they had no news of it, but they were fucking desperate.

A chill ran through him as he considered that perhaps those men hadn't turned up. What if the enemy made their move, and they were still under-manned? If things were as bad as Nines had hinted, cryptic as it was, then they'd be royally fucked. He gripped the letter tighter as he continued. I'm touched to hear that you think of me often. Believe me, I think of you, too. I have many fond memories that keep me company at night. Gavin snorted at that, grinning as he turned on his side. I'll carry your picture with me and keep it close at night. I miss you more each day, and love you more than I can say. All my love and most intimate desires, Nines. Gavin felt his cheeks heat at the salacious sign off. Pretty scandalous to put that in writing...Especially when he knew others would read it. Gavin couldn't help himself as he reached down to palm himself, biting his lip as he felt his cock twitch and stiffen.

"Oh, come on! I haven't done this in like a week!" he exclaimed as a disapproving whinny sounded from above. He sat up a little and scowled as Blossom scraped the ground and snorted. "Well, turn around and stop being such a pervert then!" He continued to pout as Blossom did just that, tail swishing as she did so. "Don't you even think about it!" Gavin let out a small sound of disgust as she raised her tail and manure plopped to the ground with a wet thud. Gavin grumbled to himself as he rolled over and grabbed his cane, though he quickly reflected that he was lucky she'd gone there and hadn't stepped any closer.

He moved further along and sat beneath a second tree, where he couldn't smell the pile of fresh manure. He groaned and sighed as he stretched out his legs and settled back in the grass. Moving had pretty much killed the mood, but at least the weather was warm. Despite the warmth, he could see grey clouds creeping in the distance. He sighed at the thought as he closed his eyes. The past few nights had been way better, but he still found it hard to sleep alone. On his worst nights, Elijah or Chloe stayed with him. They usually walked by to check if the light was still on beneath his door. If it was, they invariably checked in to nag him.

He stretched with a groan, raising his arms above his head. He could still feel his skin rub a bit against the prosthetic, but it was a lot better than before. Sun beamed down from above, breaking through the light clouds and warming his skin through the shady leaves. A light breeze played with his hair, tickling the bridge of his scarred nose. It wasn't as strong now that summer had started, but he could still smell the lingering sweetness of flowers, especially those last few blossoms in the trees as the apples came through.

A lot of the apples were still pretty small at the moment, but they were just ripe enough for the horses to enjoy. Gavin had bitten into one, but found it too bitter to eat. He wasn't sure if that was down to the ripeness or the type of apple. He didn't know shit about apples. All he knew was that Blossom was happy enough to chomp on them, so they were good enough. They were barely the size of plums yet, so she'd eaten them in one mouthful. He turned his head a little, listening to her gentle snorts as she nosed the ground.

He wondered what Nines was doing. Hopefully, the weather was as nice for him as it was in England. It sounded like he needed all the positivity he could get. He remembered how gloomy it could be in the resting camp after an assault. Sick and injured men groaning and writhing in agony. Those with the most serious injuries being packed up and shipped out. Healthier men getting in their final meal before returning to the fray. He'd been there more than once. He remembered the last time. Nines had taken him to the forest and told him not to make jokes about dying. Fuck, he regretted that now.

He remembered the day the order had been called to make the charge. He remembered standing on the parapet ready to go, holding up his arm and yelling for his men to hold. His eyes had darted to Captain Allen, waiting for his signal. The first group had jumped with a deafening cry, rifles clutched to their chests as they'd jumped and sloshed their way out into no man's land. Gavin had taken a shaking breath, anticipation knotting his stomach. It was a mixture of fear and eagerness. Excited terror. It was an odd combination, but he couldn't afford to acknowledge the dread. He'd told his men to hold.

The second team had jumped, boosting over the sandbags and into the sludge. The smoke was blinding. He could see flashes of light and hear cracking gunshots and terrified cries mingling with the boom of shells. The first team was out of sight. The second wave rushed to join them. His heart pounded as the chatter of machineguns started. He looked at Miller, jaw tight as they both swallowed their fear. They approached the fire step at his yell to get ready, waiting to heave themselves over. He was already on the parapet, crouched and ready to drop as he waited for Allen's signal.

Allen raised his hand. Gavin yelled for his team to make the jump. He hopped down and started running, diving through the coiled wire, clutching his rifle as he went. Miller caught up to his side as he slowed to glance back, making sure his men were with him. They shared a grim look, jaws set as their eyes returned to the smoky wasteland ahead. He always felt secure knowing Miller had his back. He roared as he ran. If he didn't roar, he'd cry. He'd already jumped fresh bodies from the first and second wave. He dropped into a muddy crater as bullets tore the boggy ground ahead. The enemy were firing blind, just like they were. He coughed and gasped against the lingering smoke, giving Miller a nod.

They broke cover and kept going. A man on his right fell with a cry, taking a bullet to the gut. Gavin couldn't stop. If he stopped, he was dead for sure. They had to reach the other side. If they could get over the enemy barricade, there was a chance they could overwhelm them. They wouldn't be so prepared in the trenches, and their machine guns would be useless. He held in a terrified cry as the ground ahead exploded in a shower of thick mud. Phck! They're shelling us! He roared again, jumping and dodging through sludge and broken bodies.

A deafening explosion sounded to his left, right where Miller had been running alongside him. Searing pain tore his side and leg as he was tossed through the air like a rag doll. He hit the ground with a pained grunt, whimpering as rain pelted his skin. C-cold...He turned on his side and curled up, pain lancing through his leg as he hugged himself. The rain was cold as it pelted his skin. His heart started thrumming as he remembered the thick, cloying mud on his face. Sinking. Choking. He coughed as he opened his eyes, groggy in the darkness. Cold. He shivered as he pushed himself up, dizzy and confused as he found himself alone on a grassy slope. The phck?

"Chris?" All he could hear was the pelting of rain as it hit the ground and rustled in the trees. That wasn't right. Where were the battle cries? Where was the crack of the gunners? The groans of the dying? The boom of falling shells? His heart pounded as he got to his feet. He cried and fell as he put weight on his injured leg. It was fresh and raw. What was he thinking, trying to stand on it? He whimpered and searched the ground for his rifle. It had to be there somewhere. He found it, at least, he thought he did. He gripped is tightly as he pushed himself up and stumbled. A tree? He gasped, trying to calm himself. He almost fell as he heard a loud whinny. "Blossom?" What was Blossom doing there? It wasn't safe for a horse in no man's land! Out-out-we need to get out!

He called for her softly as he stumbled through the darkness, slipping in the wet mud on the slope as he made his way over. His clothes were already soaked through and heavy as he found her. A loud boom sounded, making him flinch as a flash cut through the darkness. He stepped back a little as Blossom reared and kicked out fearfully. They were fucking shelling them! He couldn't leave Blossom there like that. She'd be killed! He held his hand out, feeling his way up and stroking her nose. She nudged his chest, snorting urgently as he found her reins with trembling hands.

"Alright girl, it's alright...I'll get you loose, and we'll get out of here." He hoped he could get her free before the shells hit. The rumbles were so loud, he was pretty sure they'd be on them at any minute. Another blinding flash lit the darkness. The wreckage looked creepy, like a forest. He couldn't stop the panic rising in his chest as another boom sounded overhead. His teeth chattered with the cold and fear as he fumbled the leather. "Shit, come on, girl, come-here..." He could barely breathe as he hauled himself up. He sobbed at the pain in his leg. It seared right through his shin, like the whole thing had snapped and torn in half. It fucking burned. Gritting his teeth, he gripped the reins and searched the darkness. He didn't know where his men were, but he had to get back. He had to find Nines. Nines is supposed to be here! He was supposed to come! Did he get hit? Phck!

He let out a spurring yell as he tapped Blossom's sides and got her moving. She neighed fearfully, putting her head down as she galloped through the darkness. Gavin leaned low over her shoulders, gasping fearfully and holding on for dear life as the rain pelted him from above. He yelped as Blossom jumped, gritting his teeth as she touched down and kept going. His good foot slipped, forcing him off balance as he held on. He wrenched the reins, trying to pull her to a stop. Another cry escaped as she made a turn. The move forced him off balance.

He grunted as he hit the ground hard. Everything fucking hurt. His hands burned, his wrist and elbow ached, and his hip throbbed. The worst pain was his leg. His leg was in agony. Fresh and raw. He let out a deafening cry as he curled up and sobbed. It hurt. It hurt so fucking much. The rain was still falling, making the ground soft. Soft and sludgy. He whimpered. Where's Nines? Nines would find him. Nines always found him. He was supposed to find him! There was a screeching neigh in the distance as he raised his head to look dazedly through the darkness. His head fell down again with a slosh, eyes closing as he shivered and sobbed. Nines...