#sargento

(((Chapter Twenty)))

((Never gonna give you up- never gonna let you down never gonna-))

~~

Both of the sergeants went off to the side to talk to each other, seeming to get into at least three short-lasting arguments. However, the smaller of the bears just couldn't do anything to get things to go his way. Sergento Caricias came walking back to the ground, a dejected look in his face as he looked down at Azulin. 

He didn't trust the bigger bear one bit- but there was a lingering threat of termination, and the threat of punishment in the terms of helping aide one who hath committed a crime against the troupes in the first place. This was not minor offense- this was treason. He couldn't do anything to stop the bigger sergeant unless he wanted to jeopardize every other soldier under him.

Before the bigger bear could turn around, though- Sargento walked past Azulin, slipping the blue bear a small razor with a brief whisper. 

"If anything goes wrong and leaves you threatened before we get there, use it. Don't make me regret siding with you..." there was a stern look on his face, before he turned around- taking a deep breath as he made his way over to the troupes. These including his own, and the injured party that belonged to the follow sergeant.

As it turned out, Sargento Caricias was going to take both parties of troupes ahead, and monitor the injured, while keeping a 'safe distance' between the 'Blue Traitor' and the rest of the soldiers. 

As put, 'It starts as one, and they always multiply. Never let the contaminated stay with the populous, lest you want more and more turned against you. Eventually, the number will get out of control.'

Azulin was pushed down to the ground by the big sergeant and the bigger bear grabbed some rope from one of the nearby tent posts- easily trudging over the grim scene that still lie in wake of the campsite. He didn't seam the slightest bit bothered by all the maimed, bloodied corpses and even went through and stepped on one of them- crushing the fragile, dilapidated body of the once-younger bear to collapse in on itself.

Walking back, the smell of rot followed him- and the disgusted looks of all of the troupe with Sargento Caricias either looked on at the bigger bear in disgust, or fear.

The young bear that Azulin had encountered earlier going as far to squeak in panic, before hiding his face behind Pandi's head.

Coco glared in the direction of the sergeant of Troupe Lone Owl- ready to go walking forward and give him a piece of his mind- despite his already damaged  leg. He only flattened his ears back against his head when Azulin was shoved down to the ground again- this time getting his arms tied behind his back in such a way that a loud popping was heard from one of his shoulders. 

Azulin, trying to comply, only closed his eyes and grit his teeth from the pain, glaring daggers at the general over him. This only caused the man to sneer in his direction, before raising a fist at him- making an obvious threat. This threat was discarded, and he only stood up, grabbing Azulin by what bit of hair on his head he had due to his blue coat.

Sargento Caricias, already getting fed up with the antics of the other sergeant, cleared his throat. "If you punish him yourself, you are just as bound for punishment as he is, and that is also by law."

The glint in Sargento's eyes were a warning. With that, he tweeted his whistle, and all of them went marching. Most of the troupe and Gordi looking back toward Azulin to try and confirm whether or not Azulin would actually be okay. To this, the blue bear nodded his head toward them, and looked back to the ground, resigning himself to docility unless his life depended on it. 

~~~

Several hours later, in the blistering heat, Azulin was dragged along behind the sergeant- who's name finally came out as 'Sergeant Scruff'. Quite the underwhelming name for the man. The blue furred bear coming to detest the alternative sergeant over Sargento rather quickly. He refused to speak, and wasn't allowed to drink, sit, sleep, or eat. 

Many hours went on like this- and at several points, the blue furred bear nearly thought he was going to drop dead where he was due to heat-stroke. He probably would have if it weren't for the fact that he had a razor blade poking his hip- and because he was still in just his tank top, uniform pants and boots. If he had his coat, he probably would have been dead already. Even Sergeant Scruff wasn't taking warm rays of sunshine too well.

"Keep walking worm. You are getting slower and slower with each yard." Scruff snarled at Azulin, giving him a livid side-eye expression. 

All Azulin did was form his lips and teeth into a snarl in the others direction- making it clear that he was struggling to stay complacent. He only hoped that the others were not too far ahead- He didn't know if they would even want to see him after this was all over- and he regretted drugging them- but the unicorns were near the camp- waiting last time. 

This time.. the other ones were no where to be found, and they weren't the causes of the deaths in the other band of solders they located. 

That puzzled him, and now that he was stuck, miserable and dehydrated- he had not much else to think about. 

His mind wandering to current events that he had just experienced and revisiting the old ones he was trying to prevent this time around. It was all a massive migraine. That's the only thing it provided. 

Just as he had effectively spaced out to a point where he had not mentally had to think about anything- he was cruelly interrupted by a harsh tug on the long rope-leash tied to his neck. The sergeant walking faster just to mess with him. This caused Azulin to fall forward- face first into the ground. 

Scruff laughed, continuing to walk despite the smaller bear being downed. It was essentially just choking him, with extra steps. Azulin was forced to scramble back to his feet from where he fell- and continued walking, getting dragged along for a solid half an hour.

   Você sabe do que eu tô falando... Aquilo lá que tem levado suas forças, lhe tirado noites de sono, até lhe feito chorar algumas vezes. Aquela coisa que fez você abrir mão de estar com seus amigos, às vezes abrir mão de estar com sua família. Ora, você sabe! Aquele sonho em que você já pensou em desistir algumas vezes, mas não consegue, pois ele não sai da sua cabeça. Se pergunta “Quando vai acontecer?” “Vai se realizar?” ‘Até quando tenho que lutar?” “Será que vai valer a pena esse tempo todo que eu tô investindo?” “será que Deus quer isso pra mim?” Ei, Ele quer. Respira, Ele quer sim. 

   Uma vez eu escutei uma história, falava de um menino que estava alimentando os peixes no aquário e notou que os mesmos tinham medo dele. O menino virou para o pai e disse “Pai, por que os peixes têm tanto medo de mim que os alimento?” e o pai respondeu “Porque você é diferente deles, é maior.” e então o menino disse “Acho que se eu fosse que nem eles, eles não se assustariam.’ Pois bem, meu bem, um sábio uma vez disse que “As pessoas usam uma máscara para se esconder, Deus usa uma máscara para se mostrar”, você está esperando um SIM gritado em seu ouvido. Uma revelação vinda diretamente dos céus. Não é assim que funciona, Deus não lhe assustaria desse jeito. Mas pensa comigo... Lhe faltou tempo? Mesmo entre as obrigações da vida sempre teve aquele tempinho ali, não foi? Lhe faltou papel? Lhe faltou caneta? Você sempre teve aquilo ali. Em algum momento as coisas ficaram permanentemente impossíveis? Não, não foi? As coisas ficaram difíceis, puxadas, às vezes até mesmo sufocantes, mas nunca impossíveis. 

   Pois bem, é aí que você encontra Deus, Ele tá fazendo a parte Dele. Está lhe garantindo seus meios, mas meu bem, Deus só faz o que é impossível aos homens, nós temos que fazer nossa parte. Temos que correr atrás e pegar o que queremos. Você tem que ir lá e pegar o que você quer. Seja sofrido como for, VOCÊ quer, então PEGUE. Só você poderá fazer isso por você. 

Te garanto que Deus está sim na torcida.