Branth ran through the field, trying to escape from his brother with their sister Meera in tow. As they parted the long grass, Meera giggled, revealing their position to John the whole time. After a few meters, Branth plucked Meera off the ground and dove behind a large rock, shushing her with one finger to his lips.

She tried to stifle her laughter as they his, but that was almost worse than outright giggling. John leapt onto the rock with a war cry and brandished a stout stick “Gotcha!”

Fresh peals of laughter erupted from deep within Meera and the boys, in turn, succumbed to the hilarity of the situation.

Branth looked up at the late afternoon sky and judged the approximate time from it “Come on,” he said, “it’ll be time for supper soon.”

He shook his head and the sunny field of long grass and wildflowers was replaced by the harsh reality of a barren landscape marred by the signs of the diminishing battle. He dispelled the mirage and regained his senses “John! Meera!”His hoarse voice feebly called out for his brother and sister, searching vainly for any sign.

His sword and his buckler hung limply from his hands as he stumbled around, blood slowly dropped from the gashs across his face and chest. In the war against the Baaman Empire, he and both his siblings had enlisted and he had sworn to himself to keep them safe. Tears mingled with the blood on his face and the salty water burned his wounds.

“Branth!” He heard a call from his right. There, a Baaman soldier was battling with a man. He ran with what strength he could muster and impaled the man from behind. John took the opportunity to aim his own short blade and cut his throat. Even as the body fell, John was kneeling next to the prostrate form of Meera. Branth knelt next to him and began to examine her. She appeared unhurt though unconscious, and John explained “She’s okay. That soldier knocked her out, but I stopped him from killing her.”

“Good,” Branth said. John splashed some water from his canteen on her to wake her. Meera’s eyes fluttered open and she gazed up at her brothers, a smile crossed her face.

“You alright?” John asked.

“I’m alright.”

Branth smiled and laid on the dirt next to his baby sister, silently passing as his adrenaline subsided and he succumbed to his grave wounds.