July 29, 1918: Soinnet

The cool light of dawn was slowly creeping over the hills, clear skies promising a beautiful, warm summer’s day. In normal circumstances, perhaps the inhabitants of Soinnet would be getting out of their beds, starting the day’s chores, baking bread, tending to animals, opening shops. But The Great War had put a stop to all that. The village was barely more than a pile of rubble, like so many other small hamlets on the Western front, and no one lived here now but the soldiers, officers and nurses who had set up their temporary headquarters in it.

The sun’s rays reached the sleeping regiment, and Tri, still lying at Aaron Fredericks’ feet, stirred. Surely it couldn’t be morning already? The light irritated his eyes and he tried to shut them tighter, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to fall back asleep now. Tri groaned tiredly and slowly opened one eye. Most of the soldiers around him were still dozing, and the only thing that could be heard were the footsteps of guards wandering back and forth at their posts. It was strange to experience this kind of silence. And while Tri’s almost constantly ringing ears appreciated the break, the stillness also made him feel uneasy. On a normal summer’s day the air would be abuzz with bees, butterflies, wasps and all manner of insects, and the would be birds singing at dawn; but this place, right now, was almost entirely silent. It wasn’t right. But, then, not much was right with the world any more… Tri heard someone stir behind him, and lifted his head to see who. It was Ginger, who had got up to stretch his sore legs.

”Mornin’.” he said, stretching out a hind leg in the air.

”Morning.” Tri replied, and yawned.

”Did ye sleep?”

”Like a pup.” No nightmares. No dreams at all. Just sleep. It was truly a mercy.

“Ditto.” said Ginger, and finished his stretches by arching his back, almost like a cat. Then he joggled the rest of the sleep away by shaking his head, body and stump of a tail as if he’d just got out of a bath. “So, shall we have a look ‘round?” He looked at Tri expectantly.

”Uuh…” Tri looked from Ginger to the village square in front of them, to Aaron Fredericks, who was still asleep. Perhaps he wouldn’t mind if the dogs took themselves out for a walk this morning. ”Sure, why not.” Tri got up - slowly. His body was stiff and aching... So perhaps a stroll to warm up the muscles wasn’t a bad idea. He glanced at Nell, who hadn’t moved, and back at Ginger. Ginger smiled and shook his head. She could keep sleeping - she’d probably only try to stop them from leaving without Aaron Fredericks’ permission, if she didn’t bite their noses off for disturbing her first. The artillery barrage had flattened almost every single house to the ground, and what few structures remained standing all looked precariously unstable. Surely it wouldn’t take more than a slight gust of wind to topple them over. As they walked, they started hearing guns firing in the distance. The fighting wasn’t that far away then… Tri hoped to all the powers that be that they wouldn’t have to move again today. His paws were covered in sores and everything was hurting.

Tri and Ginger trotted along, weaving in and out of narrow alleyways and climbing over rubble. The soldiers in their company paid little attention to them, as they were familiar with Fredericks’ dogs and also knew he would let them wander on their own sometimes. Here and there the two dogs were able to sneak a treat or two, but it didn’t really count as breakfast. They hoped they’d be getting some of that later, now that they had stopped marching - time for food had been scarce for the past couple of days. Tri glimpsed a big rat in a house doorway and for a moment considered chasing it, but he didn’t feel like wasting precious energy on such foul-tasting prey and decided against it. Ginger sniffed around on the ground, but didn’t find anything of interest. Suddenly they found themselves at the edge of the village. There were remains of an old city wall, but it did little good now except show where the border was. Both Tri and Ginger found themselves stunned as they gazed across the ground they had covered the day before. It was all so different in the daylight. Before them the open landscape stretched for miles and miles, from horizon to horizon. The open fields and meadows were reduced to mud, dotted with water-filled craters and shattered tree stumps that were sticking out of the ground like sharp spikes. The road they had been walking on was long and winding, leading back into distant rolling hills, where clouds of smoke were rising out of the ground. In the dark the utter destruction hadn’t been so… apparent. There truly was nothing left. The two dogs sat in silence for a moment, contemplating their fates. The world that had once been so beautiful and full of life - it was all gone. Nothing would ever be the same, even if they came out of this war alive. Was there even a life after the war? Both Tri and Ginger asked themselves that question this morning.

They returned into the village in silence, both in deep thought. Then there was a rustle from one of the alleyways. Both Tri and Ginger stopped and lowered their bodies into defensive stances, more or less in unison. The rustle got louder, and there was a clatter and a crash as rubble fell over, then the blurred form of a huge rat dashed past them, followed by another grey creature who sprinted after the rodent into the next alleyway. They both disappeared with a great racket, before the noise faded into the distance and all was quiet again. Tri and Ginger looked at each other.

”What was that?” Tri asked.

”It looked like a hunt, don’t ye think?”

”Why, yes. But… was it… was that… was that a rat... chasing a rat? It was huge, and I’ve seen some big rats before—”

Ginger threw his head back in laughter. ”Nah, ye silly farm animal! That was a dog.”

Tri blinked and looked down the alleyway where the hunter and hunted had disappeared. Ginger nudged his shoulder.

”Let’s return to the others.”

Tri nodded, and they jogged back to where they had left their comrades. Nell greeted them with a glare - how dare they leave their posts without permission? Tri and Ginger giggled awkwardly, but apologised, then quickly changed the subject.

“So, what’s fer breakfast?” asked Ginger.

“Who knows.” Nell replied. “Perhaps there won’t be breakfast.”

“Aww…” Tri whined. He kind of regretted not going after that rat he had seen after feeling his stomach rumble and realising just how hungry he was.

“He’s gone to see what he can find. He’s doing the best he can, but don’t hold your breaths.” Nell was stern, as usual, but Tri knew she was as hungry as they were - she was just better at hiding it.

“Well, perhaps we should go an’ help? Or, ye know, find our own breakfast?”

“We will not leave our posts until instructed to do so. Are you a military dog or not?” Nell glared at Ginger with narrow eyes. If looks could kill, Tri thought.

Ginger shrugged and sat down. “Yes, yes, alright. Yer the boss.” He grinned. Nell did not appreciate it.

Tri was going to chime in, but before he had the chance to say anything a small grey creature appeared seemingly out of nowhere and hopped in front of him excitedly.

“Salut!” it barked. “It is so good to see you! Bienvenue à Soinnet!”

The small grey creature was a dog, and probably the scruffiest, most raggedy dog Tri had ever seen.

“I must apologise, I saw you before in the alleyway, but I could not stop. Busy catching mon petit déjeuner, oui?”

“I… Uh, yes. Hi?” Tri stuttered.

“So who are you all?” Before anyone had the chance to respond, the scruffy dog continued talking, in a heavy French accent. “Ah, it is so good to see other dogs here! Notch and myself were just talking about how lovely it would be to have other dogs here. As you say, what is it... the more the merrier, oui?” And she smiled from ear to ear. Tri noticed she was missing a canine tooth, and her wagging stubby tail was crooked, as if it had been broken at some point.

“I am Sprint, a member of this 4th division.” She continued. ”Ma spécialité is catching those pesky rats, so I’ve been helping les soldats with that for a little while. My whole life, in fact!” She stood up tall with pride as she said this. Or, well, as tall as she could be at her size. ”Et toi?”

Ginger looked dumbfounded. He didn’t speak a word of French, and had to concentrate hard to hear even the English words through the thick accent, so mostly was puzzled and confused at this little dog. Tri likewise. Nell, on the other hand, spoke up.

”I’m Nell. This is Ginger, and Tri.” She gestured towards her companions. ”We are with the signalling unit that arrived here last night. Royal Engineers. It’s very good to meet you, miss Sprint.”

”Ah, bon! Very good! I have heard so much about the messenger dogs. It is my honour to meet you.”

Sprint looked at the trio with wide, sparkling eyes, clearly in awe. Ginger seemed oddly awkward about the whole thing, squirmed a little and said ”Well, it’s a pleasure, but we need ta’ go an’ find ourselves some breakfast now, right?” He looked at Tri with almost pleading eyes. Right? Tri in turn glanced at Nell, who gave him a narrow-eyed look and a minimal shake of her head.

Sprint lit up. ”Ah, you must be going to the kennels then! I will take you there, suivez moi!” And she trotted off merrily.

”She said what?” Ginger asked,

”I think she wants us to go with her.” replied Tri, and looked at Nell again. She seemed to be contemplating whether to stay at her post or follow the small grey dog. After a moment she sighed and rose to her paws.

”Very well…” she said, and loped after Sprint. Ginger and Tri followed suit, pleased to be moving and slightly bewildered at Nell’s breaking the rules. Now things were really getting weird.

The kennels weren’t far, and, as is happened, Aaron Fredericks was already there. The men helping him set up the trio’s crates laughed and commended Fredericks’ well-trained dogs, who didn’t even need to be called to show up on cue. By the usual three boxes that Tri and the others stayed in, there were two other smaller kennels. They were being set up in an old garden. Most of the flowers were wilted, but there was some semblance of green grass in the corners of the stone wall that lined what had once been a lawn. Tri instantly liked the spot they’d been given. It felt safe somehow, and it was possible to imagine what the garden had looked like before. One could dream away here… Aaron Fredericks had managed to find the dogs some food, and even had enough for Sprint as well. She wolfed down the meat in what seemed like a single mouthful.

No one bothered tying up the dogs to their kennels any more; Aaron Fredericks knew they wouldn’t stray far, so they were welcome to roam around. And Sprint was more than happy to offer a tour of the village.

”I hear you are all going to stay with us now, so you must get to know this place!” she said. ”Soinnet is a beautiful village. Allons-y!” Sprint bounded off down a narrow street, not even looking back to see if anyone followed. Tri looked at Ginger.

”Let’s go?”

Ginger didn’t seem convinced. But Nell gave him a nudge.

”Let’s go.”

Tri raised his eyebrows in surprise, but a pleasant surprise. Nell walked after the little grey dog down the street, with Tri close behind. Ginger hesitated, but at the prospect of being the only one staying behind - as if he was afraid - he let out a grumpy sigh, and got up to follow the others.