Teddy heard the canon explosion and then heard the screams after. Then came the smell, a sweet smell of Sulphur and copper. Teddy took a step towards the door and flinched, he looked down at his should and saw a small, round spot of dark blood on his green uniform. [i]Huh! it's like... Christmas.[/i] he thought. The shock of his adrenaline rush hadn't worn off yet and so he didn't feel any pain when he had reloaded his rifle, but the pain was going to come soon, very soon. 

    When He walked out the door he was greeted by a blood spattered Sir Briggs, whinnying happily as if being surrounded by guns firing was the most natural state of the world. The horse came over and nuzzled Teddy's face. Teddy reflexively raised his hand and patted the horse, his eyes wide with surprise. Across the street he saw the Sarge had run down the hill next to the bridge and was firing at the Tallions who were trying to reload the big gun. [i]Big guns draw fire.[/i] Teddy said in his head like some sort of school lesson. 

    Captain Krauss rode by with a mass of Rhaetians yelling and firing at the Tallions on the other side of the bridge. Sir Briggs neighed and bolted after them in full sprint. "No! Wait!!" Teddy yelled, but the mad horse had a mind of its own, Teddy took off running after. The horse got to the stone of the bridge which was covered with blood and viscera, and slipped... the horse fell right over the side into the river! 

    "BRIGGSS!!!" Teddy screamed and ran to the edge of the bridge. Gun fire was dinging off of surfaces all around him, he could see the retreating yellow jackets running into the woods beyond the houses close to the bridge. The Captain was swinging his sword and conducting the slaughter like a maestro directs an orchestra. Teddy looked into the water, "Briggs!" he said weepily. He couldn't see his horse, the water couldn't be that deep. He scanned the water and there, closer to the other bank, Sir Briggs had swum across the river and made it to the other bank, then, it laid down. 

    Teddy's eyes went wide and he ran across the bridge and down the opposite bank to his horse, who was breathing heavily. "OhmyGodohmyGodohmyGod!! You g#ddam stupid f#cking horse! What the hell is wrong with you?" His hands were gliding over the horse's body, pushing on muscles, tenderly checking joints, looking at his shoes, as if by a miracle nothing was broken, but the horse was covered in nicks, scrapes, and one stab wound that didn't look too deep. The horse let out a raspberry, "Was that a laugh?" Teddy asked, the horse whinnied and nodded his big head. "Jesus Effing Fudge sickle! Where did you come from?" Teddy had put his leg under the horses head and cradled it in his lap. 

    Captain Kraus came over, covered in blood and breathing hard but otherwise unmolested. "You need a room Trooper?" He said grittily, but Teddy say he was smiling under his mustache. The Captain didn't wait for a response, "Get over to your Sargent, and get your shoulder looked after. Tell Hecht we saw a couple Dragoons make it into the woods on horse, he'll know what that means. Go. NOW!" He commanded.

    "mah.. my horse though?" as if on cue Sir Briggs got himself up, not briskly but steadily, and began walking towards the bridge. The Captain was smiling, "I swear that horse is a better soldier than you Trooper. Now get!" Teddy didn't have to be told twice, he got up and ran after his horse.