[hider=What A Beautiful Day Looks Like][center][img]https://cambridgewords.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/landscape.jpg?w=640[/img][/center][/hider]


    Teddy thought is was a beautiful day. The sun was up, the air was crisp, and he got to ride with two beautiful girls. Even though he had no courage to tell them so he still felt somehow masculinized in their company, so he sat up straighter in his saddle and puffed his chest up in the hopes it made him look more handsome. Trooper Ulmer, Simone, was to his left, with her neat uniform and straight back riding; and Trooper Welser, Anja, was to his right with her blond hair, blue eyes, and general badassery. They were moving at a hard cantor and so the noise of their horses prevented conversation, but even so Teddy felt like part of a unit with these girls. They were almost friends, or something like friends. They had been riding together for about a month under Sergeant Hecht and seemed to be able to communicate well as long as there were orders to follow. During this last month of training in basic soldiery the group showed real promise as a team, anyone watching could see it was true. However, the Squadron hadn't seen any real action yet, and real violence changes things. For Teddy it was still as if the war was some abstract idea off in the future, but now, as they were riding to engage the enemy, everyone was starting to get nervous. Teddy was well familiar the fact that anxiety did not make for easy friendships. 
    
    But nonetheless, the day was still beautiful, and Teddy couldn't ask for better company, or a better horse. Sir Briggs might not have been purchased with the best pedigree but the charger had quickly affirmed its quality in terms of speed, strength, and the strange affection he had quickly developed with his young rider. Together they rode towards the smoke billowing off in the distance. The smoke spoke of a village, and a village spoke of a possible river crossing. Finding an easy crossing for their troops would put them in position to flank a large force of Tallion soldiers, and if Teddy could take credit for the find he would. As scouts the other two were allowed to branch off and ride for themselves but Teddy was focused on that village and the hope it presented, even if it meant three or fours hours of hard riding both ways. Two thoughts prioritized themselves: First, would there be a crossing that could support over 1000 troops, horses, and their heavy guns; and Second, do the folks in the village support the Empire or the upstart Rebellion? If anyone from the village reports to the Empire the location of Rhaetian soldiers then any hope of surprise would be lost and the regiment would surely be slaughtered by the larger force, discretion and speed were key. The thought of impending death gave Teddy a painful, cold feeling in his gut. 

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[hider=Summary] Teddy gave some exposition and he is heading to the village. He doesn't know if there is a crossing at the village that'll support the troops and he doesn't know if the villagers support the rebellion or the Empire. I'll post more after you guys.
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