Date: 02/22/2014 - 07:43:16
Location: Washington, D.C.
Dean Walker
The sun was shining brightly, and there wasn’t a single cloud in the sky a perfect day for a birthday at the park. I had just turned six, running wild with my best friend Eric and some other kids from school. Laughter rang through the air as we played tag, darting around the playground like the world belonged to us.
Eric was ahead of me, panting, trying to bargain his way out of being tagged.
Eric: “Shoot, Dean! H-h-how about we talk about this? I’ll give you my Charizard card if you let me go.”
I grinned.
Dean: “No can do, Eric! You should’ve been faster. Now stand still and let me tag you!”
Just as I lunged, Eric ducked under my arm and took off toward the slide.
Dean: “Come back here, Eric! I’ll catch you!”
Eric: “No way! Go after someone else!”
His sneakers smacked against the metal rungs as he climbed. I was right behind him, fingers just brushing his shirt.
Then he threw himself down the slide, laughing.
I followed.
Too fast.
Crash!
We tumbled onto the ground in a heap.
Dean: “Ow.”
Eric: “Get off me.”
He shoved me, but when I looked at him, I burst into laughter.
Dean: “Hahaha! Look at your hair! You look like a Pomeranian!”
Eric: “Yeah? Well, yours isn’t much better, afro man.”
Before we could keep going, my mom called out.
Mom: “Dean! Your dad’s here with the cake! Come on!”
I jumped up, grinning.
Dean: “Finally! Let’s get some cake.”
Eric: “Heck yeah! You got the good cake, right?”
Dean: “Of course I did.”
As we ran toward the picnic table, something changed. The air felt... wrong.
A faint, high-pitched hissing sound.
Then—
BOOM!
The world shattered.
---
Smoke and Ash
My ears rang. My vision blurred. My head pounded.
I opened my eyes to an orange glow, the air thick with smoke and ash. My lungs burned as I coughed. I tried to push myself up, but a searing pain tore through my back.
I reached around. My fingers came away wet. Sticky.
Blood.
Mine.
Dean: “Mom? Dad?”
My voice was hoarse. Weak. I struggled to my feet, barely able to stay upright. The pain was unbearable, but I forced myself to move.
I limped toward where my parents had been just moments ago. My legs buckled.
The picnic table was gone. The grass was scorched.
And in the middle of the wreckage, all that remained was the necklace they had given me for my birthday.
I collapsed, curling into myself, sobbing.
Footsteps. Heavy boots.
I looked up.
A massive figure loomed over me, an anthro wolf soldier, his sharp eyes scanning the destruction. He knelt beside me, his expression softer than I expected.
???: “Hey, kid. You alright?”
Dean: “My mom and dad… they’re gone.”
The soldier’s face darkened. He picked me up, holding me securely. Another soldier a human was carrying an unconscious Eric.
???: “We’ve got you. You’re safe now.”
They carried us to a waiting Humvee. Medics treated my wounds. The pain dulled. Exhaustion took over.
The last thing I saw before passing out was the smoldering remains of my birthday party.
---
When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed. The beeping of a heart monitor filled the room.
A soft knock on the door. A female anthro deer walked in, dressed in a doctor’s coat.
Doctor: “Hey, kid. How are you holding up?”
I nodded weakly.
Dean: “Where am I?”
Doctor: “A military hospital. You were brought in after the attack. You’re lucky to be alive.”
I didn’t feel lucky. I felt empty.
She gave me a small, sad smile before leaving.
For a while, I just sat there, staring at the ceiling. Then, a voice crackled over the radio.
Radio Broadcast:
"We are at war. The entire world is. Half of the anthro population has revolted, claiming they have been mistreated. They have formed their own governments, their own armies, and they will not stop.
"But we the people of the United States, both human and anthro will not surrender. We will fight back. We will bring justice to those responsible."
I clenched my fists, my heartbeat pounding in my ears.
This war had taken my parents.
I wouldn’t let it take anything else.
I reached for my necklace, gripping it tightly.
---
July 12, 2034 – En Route to Baghdad Iraq
“Dean! Wake up!”
My eyes snapped open.
The inside of the V-280 Valor transport helicopter came into focus. My squadmates were around me Josh, Eric, Zoe, Luna, and Ava.
Josh was shaking my shoulder, grinning.
Cpl. Josh: “We’re almost at the LZ. You were dreaming again.”
I rubbed my face, exhaling sharply.
Sgt. Dean: “Yeah… Thanks, man.”
I sat up straight, adjusting my gear, checking my M7 rifle before loading a fresh magazine and chambering a round. The others did the same.
Josh looked calm as ever. Eric was fiddling with his lucky coin. Zoe’s leg was shaking.
Ava and Luna sat quietly Luna resting her head back, eyes closed, but I knew she was listening to everything. Ava was staring at her hands, lost in thought.
Sgt. Dean: “You good, Ava?”
She blinked, ears twitching slightly, before nodding.
Pvt. Ava: “Yeah. Just… ready to get on the ground.”
Luna smirked, her voice carrying that cool, unshakable confidence she always had.
Spc. Luna: “You say that now. Give it five minutes, and you’ll be wishing for the bird again.”
Josh chuckled.
Cpl. Josh: “Ain’t that the truth.”
I looked out the window. Fires burned across the cityscape. The sky was filled with helicopters and fighter jets. Explosions lit up the horizon.
Pfc. Eric: “Damn… Look at that.”
Pvt. Zoe: “It’s worse than I thought…”
I tightened my grip on my rifle.
Sgt. Dean: “Stay focused. We knew what we were signing up for.”
Josh smirked.
Cpl. Josh: “Hell yeah. This is what we trained for.”
The radio crackled to life.
General Jackson: “All units, prepare for hot insertion. Expect heavy resistance. No hesitation.”
I saw the rest of the birds breaking away only ours and one other Valor continuing on a separate path.
Our mission was different.
An hour passed. Finally, the Valor lowered.
The rear ramp dropped.
“Move! Move! Move!”
We sprinted out, rifles raised, taking defensive positions. The night air was thick with the distant echo of gunfire.
The war had begun.
And this time, I was ready.
