Renegade War Veteran (private)

[-Isabella-]

"What if I treat her too much like my army friends?" Renegade was asking Bella. "Could that be it?"


"He is so nervous . . ."
Bella nickered. "Well, I doubt that is it. Maybe she isn't sure if you care for her the same way she cares for you. But . . . I am hardly the mare to ask."



"But. . . aren't you seeing someone?" He asked. "How does he treat you?"


"Why did he have to ask?"
"Just fine, but . . . everyone is different. Just be yourself, she should like you just as you are."


Renegade talked to Bella a while more then went back to the field by the fence to find Veteran.
"Huh, maybe I should take her advice," he thought.

[ɩɴɗσℜαρτσʀ]

We Were Soldiers | Veteran | Artillery Stables

Veteran smelled his brother's scent getting closer. He stood and shook some loose grass from his coat and made his way over to the fence that border their fields. He gave his brother a nicker in greeting. Veteran's tail swished and swatted flies, but he wasn't irritated.

[-Isabella-]

Renegade greeted his brother with a whinny.
"Hey!"

[ɩɴɗσℜαρτσʀ]

We Were Soldiers | Veteran | Artillery Stables

The stallion tossed his head and bumped his brother playfully. "Hey yourself, youngster."

[-Isabella-]

"He is not that much older than me!" Renegade snorted. "You aren't that much older than me, Veteran!" He paused. "I asked Bella for some advice concerning my . . . dilemma."

[ɩɴɗσℜαρτσʀ]

We Were Soldiers | Veteran | Artillery Stables

"Sure, sure. Whatever you say, kid." Veteran gave Renegade a small wink and chuckled. "Oh, you spoke to Bella, huh? How is she? I heard she might have...hooked up with someone." Veteran was showing a characteristic here that was completely unlike him. Rather than being concerned for his brother, he seemed to be concerned about the mare he once spoke to.

[-Isabella-]

Renegade looked shocked. "Seriously? You aren't going to pester me about my love life, or my life in general? You sick or something?" something seemed to dawn on him then and he said, "Oh, yeah. I guess maybe. She was kind of vague."

[ɩɴɗσℜαρτσʀ]

We Were Soldiers | Veteran | Artillery Stables

"Oh." Veteran's voice was barely audible. His face was emotionless and he took in a deep breath. My own fault for letting her slip away. No use crying over spilt milk. "What advice did she give you? And if I may say myself, it would probably be better if you would be yourself. It is possible to become a better stallion without altering who you are. She'll love you for who you are. Firefly's a sweet girl. She's had a hard upbringing. Just be a little softer, ok?" he bumped Renegade's head again. "There see? Not sick. I'm as healthy as a human."

[-Isabella-]

"You should have seen the human down here coughing yesterday," he muttered. "Bella said pretty much the same thing."

[ɩɴɗσℜαρτσʀ]

We Were Soldiers | Veteran | Artillery Stables

Veteran rolled his eyes. "So what are you asking me for? Why don't you go grow up and figure it out." he looked away from his brother and tried his best to control his feelings. He was generally better at co trolling himself than Renegade, but something was definitely off.