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The platoon's mission
　
The vital days leading up the mountains were awkward for Rhett, in those days of constant flying and almost complete silence, his mind was free to think of things he never wanted to think about. Rhett's wounds, thanks to Islay have healed dramatically, all his cuts now have scabs, which hurt like hell when his armour tugged at them. Yes they had been flying for three days and in those three days they had picked up fresh supplies, like new weapons, water, food, armour, and even a new recruit, his name was tom, he was new to the army but had already fought a dragon, so they enlisted him to replace Jink....there was no replacement for John.
　
Tom was 6ft tall, heavily built and skilled in hand-to-hand combat. He wore basic armour, helm, metal shirt, chest plate, e.c.t, until all his vital areas are covered. His weapons were a long sword on his back, this sword was huge! And a regular sword by his waist.
Rhett shifted in his saddle, the cuts on his thighs burning from the constant movement. Rhett was riding Tyrone as he was the biggest dragon around and could easily fit two on his back, for the last three days, Rhett and tom have been on his back. Seeing as two dragons had to stay behind due to injury.
　
Rhett saw the towering mountains in the distance, a small gray line on the ground resembled the Kanata wall. The steady thumps of wings were soothing in a way. Tyrone dipped down as he neared the mountain, Rhett held onto the spike in front of him, as Tyrone flew lower and lower. Soon they were flying with Tyrone's belly almost touching the trees tops. Rhett's brushed his hair out of his face with his hand, he looked behind him to look at the bulky figure of tom.
　
Rhett yelled to be heard over the wind, "We are near the drop zone."

"I know, lets hope this mission is over quickly so we can go home." Tom replied
Rhett looked away, for some reason, his gut said this mission would not go as planed.
One after another, all 12 dragons found a place to land by the Kanata wall, the wall was only a mile from the mountains. Tyrone laid down allowing Rhett to easily slide off his scaly back and to the ground. Tom was right behind him, but messed up on the landing and slammed on his side. "Ouch!" Tom winced as he got back to his feet. Rhett chuckled and surveyed his surroundings. The 12 dragons of different size and colour were packed into a small clearing by the grey Kanata wall. Forests ran down as for as he could see behind him, and mountains, tall and proud, soaring high until they were hidden by the clouds.
The dragons lined up like a rainbow, some still with scars of war, stood still looking straight at whoever had ridden them for the past three days. "Line up boys!" Yelled Captain Smith. Rhett lined up with the rest of the platoon, until everyone was in a single line. The calling of birds, and the steady breathing of 12 dragons were all Rhett could hear.
Captain Smith stood straight facing the platoon, face grim. "Alright men, this is it, this is where we lose our ranks and our strategy." Rhett frowned, confused, why are we losing our ranks? Captain smith started pacing back and forth "Today men, is our day, the start of the mission that will end the war. . . hopefully.... we wont be fighting men anymore, we will be fighting dragons, dragons that can see in the dark, dragons that can sniff you out like a dog, dragons...that can kill you." Smith stopped and looked to the sky and sighed "Today, we are not fighting in open fields, or on the stocks of walls we know so well, today we fight in dragon territory, in mountain ranges, this last outpost…" Smith pointed towards a tower by the wall. "…is were things change, you will be taking off your armour, and taking vital pieces only, you will paint your armour gray and black to blend in, you will be drinking a potion that will mask your scent." Rhett looked over, everyone was stiff and silent, taking in Smiths words. "Your ranks, won't matter after this, we work together and as individuals, its everyman for himself, that's how it works." Smith turned around and faced the dragons.
　
"Thank you dragons, for taking us this far, for shedding your blood and scales for us, this is where we return the favour, we will kill the pack leader, so dragons are no longer under his control. May your teeth and talons stay sharp, Platoon Salute!" Rhett quickly saluted, Smith put his arm down, Rhett followed, wondering what was to come. The red dragon, Raide stepped forward, his scales reflecting the sun like a red disco ball. Raide voice, deep and loud, "Well spoken Smith, I am glad for what you have and what you will do, but you are not in this alone, your guide Saphira, will be with you till the end, she knows this place like the back of her paw." Rhett glanced at the small white dragon, she was lying down in the grass, head in her forelegs, inspecting the back of her paw. Raide voice snapping Rhett's attention back to the front. "You humans are a hard race to understand... but you have logic, use it well, and may your swords stay sharp and your shields strong." Raide turned around to the other dragons and motioned with his head to move out, one after another the dragons left, Islay as she left, gave Rhett a uneasy look, then heaved her bulk off the ground and into the air, only one dragon was left, Saphira.
　
The captain looked at the white dragoness as she stood up and padded towards him, stopping in front of him. She said nothing, her blue cat like eyes staring deeply into the Captain, then quickly looked at Rhett, then without a word, walked away ever so dignity. Captain Smith raised his eyebrows, took a deep breath and turned around to face his troops. He cleared his thoughts. "Men...and lady, get ready for a fight to survive, change your armour to only necessary items, your packs, get rid of everything you don't need, like your tents for one, colour your armour, the report to me is that clear?" "YES SIR!" Rhett yelled in sound with the platoon, then looked over at Alex and Tom, both heading to some place to change.
　
Rhett headed towards the wall, finding an unoccupied room, his mind was heavy with Smiths words. Rhett undid his back and dumped its contents into a pile on the floor. Shifting through it he found a paint brush and paint. Rhett slowly took off his armour, being careful of his wounds, soon all his armour was off. He stood there, wearing only his boxers in the cool stone room. Rhett looked down at his reflection in his armour. His face looked tired, weary...and sad...Rhett snarled and grabbed his paint, hastily dipped it in the can and slathered the paint all over the armour covering his reflection. Rhett continued to paint until all his armour was now painted to help camouflage with the mountains. Rhett then grabbed his newer uniform, this one was also multi coloured, gray and black. The new uniform was warm and water proof, also a little bit of heat resistant. Rhett slipped on his armour, only using the pieces he needed, he then slipped his two swords on his back, and buckled on his belt. Then grabbed his bag and left the room leaving everything else behind.
　
Rhett was the last one to get out of the Kanata wall, the rest were waiting patiently by the gate. Rhett walked over to the captain, his armour not making a sound, which pleased him. "Here you go Sgt," Captain Smith said, handing Rhett a cup filled with strange blue water. Rhett gulped it down and shuddered, it tasted terrible, leaving a bile taste in his mouth. "Argh, that's nasty what's in it?" exclaims Rhett, grabbing his canteen and taking a swig.
　
"I really don't know, now please stand with everyone else and organise your stuff eh, I'll be back in a min." With that the captain picked up his gear and left, heading towards the wall. The sound of swords banging on swords made Rhett flinch, he instinctively reached for his two swords on his back. Only to sigh and turn away when he saw that it was Frank and Nate sparing, testing their skill. Rhett joined Alex and Tom, who were sitting by the wall, backs against the cool hard stone. Rhett sat down and looked at Alex, her composer was relaxed, if not tense. "Are you alright?" Rhett asked. Alex looked at him then turned away. "Yes I'm fine, just wondering how we are going to kill a king that's all".
　
Before Rhett could answer, Captain Smith walked out of the tower, coloured as well, he took a swig from the cup shuddered the turned around. "Alright people form up in a single line to get your rations, pack them then form up!" Yelled Captain Smith, grapping a pack from a wagon parked by the wall full of identical MRE's (soldier food) "Yes Sir!" Yelled the platoon as everyone got up and ran to the captain, Nate, although losing the sparring match, took his chance and hit Frank in the head with the flat side of his blade. "Ba ha! I told you I could at least hit you once!" Yelled Nate with joy before sheathing his blade and sprinting away with an angry frank chasing him down.
　
Rhett snarled at their child's play and yelled after them "Stop it you two, or do I have to get your mommies to give you all a time out and a spank on the bum." Rhett fell in line with the rest as they got MRE's from the Captain. One after another they all got a pack of MRE's, placed them in their bags and stood by the wall. As Rhett approved the platoon to fall in, he noticed how well the cameo worked, if they all stood still by the wall and you were far enough away they would all blend in with the wall. Rhett placed his ruck sack on the ground and stood silently in front of Alex. He looked behind him and whispered. "Why are you tense Alex, we know we can kill a dragon, we just have to do it again." Alex gave him 'the glare' and said through her teeth. "You think its easy to kill a dragon, well I got news for you, IT'S NOT!" Heads turned his way as Alex started yelling "We don't just have to kill one dragon, oh no, we have to kill hundreds of them just to even get close to the king, then we have to face a wise one as well, one that will be protected from the very thing we are about to do." Alex stopped for breath, she went red as she saw everyone watching. She looked at her feet and said nothing as the platoon started muttering to themselves.
　
Rhett's mind was blank. She was right, this is not going to be easy. Captain Smith raised his eye brows at Rhett and Alex, Rhett shrugged and looked into the distance. Captain Smith looked everyone over as it went silent again, dusk was approaching, and birds chirped singing their tunes as the winds ruffled the trees. Smith finally spoke. "I'm going to say this once...this will not be a walk in the park, no we can't just walk in and kill the king, we have to get there first, but we will let fate decide who will survive and who will die." Rhett heard some gulps from the platoon, Rhett was not going to die until two dragons were killed, the pack leader . . . and Jynxy.
　
"Let's get a move on!" Smith yelled up to the tower, slowly the giant doors creaked open and the foothills of the mountains were visible. "Alright platoon, move out!" Rhett looked to the sky as he saw Saphira take off and circle above them. Rhett bent down and picked up his rucksack, now weighed down from all his MRE's. Together they marched out through the gate and into the foothills, Rhett only just realising what his platoon will pay in blood, to kill a king.