Chapter 5: Prisoners of war
Dinky, Blau and Katja stayed silent as they were brought on a truck, too scared to say anything as the soldiers kept their weapons trained on them.
They had no idea where the truck was heading, they feared the worst, like a lab, trembling the entire time.
The children had lost count how long it was before the truck came to a halt. “Get out!” One of the soldiers yelled and they did as told.
Before them was a compound, secured with fences and guard towers, making them realize what it was supposed to be: A prisoner of war camp.
Once led inside, one of the guards walked up to them. “We have three rules here. Rule one: You attend roll call every morning and evening. If you fail to report as required, or you enter an illegal area at any time, you will be punished. Rule two: Stay clear of the perimeter fence at all times. We have order to shoot prisoners who stray over the line on the ground. And rule three is to obey all the rules. Complains, a day or two in solitary confinement should change your mind.” He spoke without emotion and they just nodded.
Dinky watched the guard until he was far away enough and took a deep breath. “Well, it could be worse, we’re still alive.”
“Y-yeah, but…they have brought us here for a reason and I doubt it’s good…” Katja said with a stuttering voice.
In response, her brother gave her a hug. “Shh, calm down, sis.”
Before she could give a reply, a new voice sounded in their ears. “I have seen a lot prisoners, but children? In a prisoner of war camp?”
Dinky, Katja and Blau turned around to see a bald man with blue eyes in a brown officer uniform, his voice featured an Irish accent, looking slim in his appearance. “I don’t know why they brought you in here, but as long as you stay out of trouble, you will be fine. Get to know the routine.”
“Thanks for the advice, sir.” Dinky replied, “What’s your name?”
“I am Sergeant Sean O’Brian. And you?”
“I am Dinky Hooves, and those are my friends Katja and Blau Streifen.”
The man smiled weakly. “Nice to meet you. If you are wondering why I am so calm about speaking ponies, your presence during Operation Husky got around quickly.” Before they could reply, a banging sound ringed in their ears, sounding like metal. “Dinner time already? Time goes fast.”
They walked to the mess hall, sitting down at a table. There were some vegetarian menus and they tasted quite well before the evening roll came.
A German officer walked up the prisoners, looking also slim, his eyes green, the hair brown. “Good evening, gentlemen. I hope you all had a pleasant day. Dismissed.” He said in a friendly voice, the other prisoners didn’t’ seem to care or bother much, having neutral expressions.
The siblings shared a bunk with each other while Dinky had one for herself. They slept well but hoped it would end well for them.
Dinky and her friends woke up yawning as the rolling call came, seeing on the clock that it was 7 AM, feeling still tired.
“Good morning, gentlemen. I am delighted to see you all so eager to face the day. Dismissed.” The same officer said in the same voice, earning neutral reactions.
“So, what could we do to pass the time?” Katja wondered.
“Hey, children.” A familiar voice said and they turned around in surprise.
Before them, were Hans, David and Tim, but Konrad, Karl and Matteo were not among them. “Glad to see you’re okay, though I wish we met in more comfortable circumstances,” Hans added with a weak smile.
The three children smiled at them in return, happy to see them alright. “You’re okay, we had feared the worst. Where are the others?” The young colt asked.
Hans sighed. “After the plane crash, we got separated in the heat of battle, haven’t heard of neither of the three. After we came too, a patrol found us and we serve as guards of this prison camp.”
“I see. Then we can only hope for the best.” Dinky concluded.
“Yes. If you need sine entertainment, I got a ball if you like.” Hans said and held it up, with the three young friends grinning.
“I’d love to!” Blau exclaimed.
And so, the children together with the soldiers, threw the ball to each other, laughing all the while, enjoying it to the fullest, until it was lunchtime.
While eating, Katja looked at the Irishman. “Do you mind telling us about yourself?”
“Not at all. I was captured by the Krauts in Africa in late 1942, together with Clancy over there.” He pointed to a man in a tan colored uniform, his build was average, his eyes blue and black hair, barely paying them attention. “He used to be a real feisty one. He’s been through so many escape attempts he gave up.”
“Really?” Blau asked, not able to believe what he just heard.
“Aye. I supplied him with the tools and the like for his escape plans. I wish you could have seen him back then. Scourge of the guards he was.” Sean said with a smile of pride.
“Sounds like you are quite good friends.” The colt replied, earning a nod.
After eating, Dinky saw the officer walked up to them. “May I speak with you in my quarters?” He asked friendly and they nodded, somehow knowing they had nothing to fear.
“Why do you want to speak us, sir?” The young girl asked politely.
“Because, I have led this camp for quite some time, but never had civilians here, or children for that matter, not to mention talking ponies. I am curious, what brings you here?” He asked with a friendly expression.
“It’s kind of a long story.” The unicorn replied and she and the siblings told him everything, he listened patiently.
The commander took a deep breath. “Sounds like you went through a lot, I am sorry to hear that. But I will make sure you are treated well, children.”
“Thank you.” Katja smiled in relief and they walked outside, seeing Clancy leaning against a tree. “Hello.”
“Hi. I heard my friend told you about me.” He said with a disinterested expression.
“Yes. It is true what he told us about you?” The little filly asked, and he weakly smiled.
“Yeah… I tried going over the wire, under the wire, through the wire. Now I reckon I’m content just to stare at the wire. But in my heyday, I was near-invisible. Boy I was good. This place is just a temporary holding camp and a stop-off point for supply trucks. So, soon or later, we all will be transferred.”
That made the three friends look at each other with slightly scared expressions. If it was just a temporary holding camp, where would they be sent? How long would they be here before transferred? And why had they been captured?
“Hey, want to continue our game?” Tim asked, tearing them out.
“Huh? Oh, of course.” Blau replied and they played for the rest of the day until it was dinner time, followed by the rolling call.
“Good evening, gentleman. I am pleased to see you all are here. Dismissed.” The camp commander said and the children fell asleep fast, yet were slightly nervous about why they were here.
He then looked at the three soldiers. “Come with me.”
“Yes, sir.” Hans saluted.
They saw a group of other soldiers and officers in his quarters as he spoke up. “Listen up, I just received a message that a high ranking officer of the SS is visiting the camp, and we know there have been a few escape attempts in the past. We can’t tolerate this any longer.”
“But Herr Kommandant…” One of the officers replied.
“With no exceptions. We cannot afford any further lapses of security. If there is the merest hint of an escape during the visit of the SS-Obersturmführer...we will all become cannon fodder for the Bolshevik tanks and...her - myself included.” The commander said with fear in his voice, slightly shivering.
“Yes, sir.”
“I find this as painful as all of you. Let’s just do our job and hope for the best.”
As the three men walked out, Tim looked through the window at the sleeping children. “I…I fear this Obersturmführer is coming for the kids. Why else would an SS-member visit a prison camp of so low importance?”
“I think you’re right but…we can’t sacrifice our comrades here to be sent to the Eastern front,” David concluded.
“I know but who knows where the kids will be taken and what will happen to them!” The young private exclaimed before Hans laid a hand on his shoulder.
“Take a deep breath, Willi, we’ll think of something.”
Willi sighed in response, knowing they hadn’t much time.
In the next morning, it was raining, so the children stayed inside after breakfast, playing a round of Mau-Mau.
“I'm soaked to the bone.” A guard said outside and the children turned into his directed, pausing their game.
“Forecast says we got this for the next few days.” Another guard replied.
”Looks like they're right - for once. I don't get it why we have children as POWs.”
”Me either.”
”They are civilians, not soldiers. What did they do?” The first soldier wondered.
“Nobody knows, but I won't let them get harmed. They have their lives yet ahead of them.
Hearing this filled the children with relief that even the other guards seemed to care for them but what came next was beyond their imagination.
“Agreed. Have you heard the news about the Falkner Squad?” The first guard asked his comrade, who nodded.
“Not directly, I only know they fought on the Eastern front.”
“Well, I heard, the Sniper of the squad eliminated an entire battalion from his position.”
“No way!” His comrade exclaimed in disbelief, his eyes wide.
“One of the squad members eliminated an entire squad, just using his knife after running out of ammo.”
“Unbelievable!”
“And their leader, he did the same, fighting only with pistol and knife.”
Again, the other soldier couldn’t believe it, shaking his head. “You’re kidding!”
“That's what the propaganda says and some rumors. If they are true, I don't want to meet them.”
“Sounds like they really have been through hell...Why do you think is the reason that this SS officer is coming?”
“Not really, but I think it has something to do with the kids. The heavy rain makes traveling difficult though, so he’d delayed for a few days as far as I know.”
Katja shivered at the thought. “That really sounds like this Falkner squad saw the worst on the front. B-but if that’s true that this officer is coming for us…”
This time, Dinky gave her a hug. “Shh, don’t worry, Hans, David and Tim will be here for us. I just hope the others are okay.”
Just as she said this, the three men walked in. “How are you?” Hans asked with a smile.
“Apart from the weather, fine.”
“Glad to hear it. The Allied invasion of Sicily created quite some disorganization. Italy was thrown into chaos, as the Duce was arrested, with us disarming the Italians. It is likely that Matteo got arrested too.” He told with regret in his voice.
Dinky’s expression became slightly sad. “A pity to hear. I hope he’s okay.”
“We hope so too.”
None of them was aware that Sean and Clancy heard everything from outside. “That doesn’t sound good. We should try to get them out of here.” Sean whispered to his friend.
Clancy smirked. “Just like old times, eh? Just give me some time to think of a plan.”
“Sure, but we don’t have much time.”
The rain continued for the next days, so the kids stayed inside, chatting with Clancy, Sean or their caretakers to pass the time. Yet for a nice change, the rain stopped one day. “Finally! I thought it would never stop!” Blau Streifen exclaimed in relief.
“You tell me,” Dinky replied after the roll call and breakfast, seeing that Hans walked up to them. “Good morning!”
“Morning. I have been informed that a farm not far from here requests some help and I thought it could be a nice change for you.”
“Yes, it would.” Katja smiled, only for the man’s expression to become one of regret.
“Sorry, but the overseer showed particular interest in your brother and Dinky.”
In response, she looked at him in sadness. “But I don’t want to be separated from him and be alone.”
“Me neither,” Blau said with fear.
“Don’t worry, you will see each other at the end of the day.” Dinky assured them in with a weak smile.”
Blau sighed. “I guess you have a point. See you later, sis.” He hugged his sister to say goodbye and was led by David with Dinky to a truck.
Katja watched after it until it was out of sight. “What I am gonna do now?” She wondered.
Both foals couldn’t’ tell how long the ride was until they reached the farm, seeing allied prisoners working on the fields, watched by guards. “So you’re the foals I was told about?” They saw a man in officer uniform walking towards them, apparently the overseer.
“Yes, we are,” Dinky replied.
“Good. There’s plenty of work, help yourself.” He pointed to the field.
The two nodded and walked over it, helping to buck tress for the apples and pulled farm machinery where it was needed, with the other workers barely paying them attention.
It was a warm day and a welcoming change, enjoying the work, yet Dinky noticed how Blau had a slightly worried look. “Something wrong?”
“I’m just thinking how my sister is doing.” He said with a hint of fear in his voice.
“I’m sure she’s doing fine, think positive.” She tried to cheer him up, earning a weak smile.”
“Right.”
Hans and Tim got called by the commander to his quarters. “What it is, Herr Kommandant?”
“Important.” The officer sounded slightly worried. “I got another message. The SS-officer is will arrive tomorrow and I got conformed he’s coming for the children, as I got order to keep the presence of the foals secret. You should get them out of here to safety."
“Sir, with all due respect, we can’t risk that you and the others get sent to the Eastern Front for this.” Tim replied with concern.
“I know, as such I’ll take full responsibility and will stall him. Can I count on you?” He asked and both soldiers looked at each other.
“Yes, sir.”
Katja was spending the day playing cards with Sean and Clancy, she enjoyed it yet hoped her brother and Dinky were alright. “Say, do any of you have family?” She asked.
“No, neither of us, “Clancy replied, “I was driven by the will to fight for my country. But the Krauts aren’t stupid. They know some prisoners tried to escape on the trucks and guard them heavily, thus they made sure the only way into it is through the driver’s compound, and its door is padlocked. I gave it a go myself once. Got busted when a guard heard me going at the door with a crowbar. If I’d waited till he was out of earshot you probably wouldn’t be taking to me right now.”
“But it had been worth a try.” She replied and he smiled.
“Yeah, It was.”
The moment had spoken, David walked in, smiling at her. “Hey there. How’s it going?”
“I’m fine, I just hope my brother and Dinky are okay.” She replied with worry.
David thought for a moment and got an idea. “I was just about got pick them up, what about you come with me?”
The young girl slowly smiled at what she heard. “I’d love too.”
“See you later.” Sean called out as the two left.
Dinky and Blau Streifen had worked until the afternoon, resting in the shadow of a tree as they had finished their chores. “Time went fast, didn’t it? The filly asked her friend who nodded.
“Brother!” A female voice called out and they saw Katja running towards them, David close behind.
“Sis!” Blau Streifen exclaimed in joy and they both hugged each other.
“I thought you would be pleased if I take her with me to pick you up.” David said with a grin.
“And how!” The colt exclaimed, Dinky just nodded with a big smile of her own.
“Reminds me, as we pay our prisoners for work like this, what about some chocolate?” David reached for some chocolate in his pocket, with the children gladly took, enjoying the sweet taste as they drove back to the camp.
“How was it on the farm?” Sean asked as the returned.
“Pretty nice, actually, was fun and you kill time fast.” Blau replied.
“Glad to hear it.” Hans said as he joined with Tim. “I also have news for you.” His voice was one of unease.
“What is it?” Dinky asked in confusion and he took a deep breath.
“We got confirmed by the camp commander that this SS officer will be here tomorrow and is indeed coming for you. As such, the commander wants that we get you out of here. I’d say by hiding in one of the trucks.” He explained and turned to Clancy. “As you have the knowledge, can you lead them through?”
Clancy said nothing for a moment, then nodded. “Sure, it’s the least I can do.”
“Thank you.”
The children stayed silent, trying to process what they had just heard until Dinky broke it. “When would be the best time to get to them?”
“At night.” Clancy replied. “Just north of the mess hall, over the fence. There’s a guard tower in the middle and a total of three guards. Two patrol the main road but I noticed they tent to stop off for a chat each time they meet, so I got past them. The third one is patrolling outside the driver compound, had to hide behind some lodges to avoid that fella. Actually, I and Sean overheard you talking about that SS-officer earlier, so we decided to help you out, I also stole a crowbar from the tool store last night for the lock.”
“Good. See you later.” Hans left with his two friends.
“Are you ready to do this? It will be our only chance.” Sean asked the three children and they slowly nodded.
“Yes, who knows where this Officer will bring us.” Blau shivered at the thought.
“I’m ready too.” His sister added confident.
Time seemed to race as the prisoners assembled for the evening rolling call. “Good evening, gentlemen. I wish you all a pleasant sleep.” The commander said.
Once in the barrack, the children and men waited until the lights were turned off, the former were nervous, trembling slightly but were also ready as Sean opened the door.
The guards at the prisoner compound had their backs to them, so they had little trouble to get to the fence. Clancy and Sean helped the three kids over it.
It seemed their timing was well chosen as the two guards just had their chat, allowing the children and soldiers to sneak past them, towards the door of the driver compound. The padlock was still there and the third guard nearby, so they waited patiently, seeing how David led him away, engaging him in a chat to keep him busy, allowing Clancy to use his crowbar to remove the lock.
The American slowly opened the door, seeing a soldier sleeping in his bed. Dinky, Katja and Blau saw his friend putting his finger to his mouth to signal to be quiet, not to wake the driver, they nodded in response.
At the other door, he opened the door a little, noticing the searchlight was moving towards it, waiting until it moved away, then made a signal to move.
Just around the corner was a truck and they wasted no time to get in the back
Glad they had made it Dinky let out a breath of relief. “We made it.”
“Yes, you did great. Better get comfortable – it’s gonna be a long night.” Sean whispered in response and they all closed their eyes to catch some sleep.
In the next day, the sound of the engine getting started woke them up. “Looks like we’re on our way, keep low.” Clancy advised his young friends.
“Did you have any plan what you do when you made it out of here?” Blau asked him.
“Not really, I guess making sure you get to a safety place, then try to get back to my comrades together with Sean.”
Suddenly, a horn sounded and the truck stopped violently with squeaking tires. “You idiot! I should have you shot for this outrage!” An angry voice yelled, they assumed it was the SS-officer.
“Sorry sir, the sun blinded me.” Hans apologized in a calm voice.
“I don’t want your excuses! You’ll be digging trenches on the Eastern Front before the month is out!”
“We’ve blown it. I knew this was too good to be true.” Katja slightly panicked, fearing they would be discovered.
“Take a deep breath. We’ll probably be on the move again soon. If we have to run, there’s a forest nearby.” The Sergeant replied and she did as told.
“I hope your cargo is worth the trouble!” The other German yelled and walked to the back to inspect it, only to be hit into the chest by Clancy with the crowbar, falling over and the escapes made a break for the woods.
“Halt! Halt!” They heard the same voice. “Shoot them!” He added, but saw that none of the guards in the towers raised their rifles, so he took matters into his own hand.
A shot ringed in the ears of the children, followed by a cry of pain, seeing out of the corner of their eyes how the Irishman fell to the ground, bleeding from the knee.
They stopped in shock, looking at him. Come on, we need to go!” Clancy yelled at them, but they couldn’t leave Sean behind.
“Go! Leave me! Save yourselves!” Sean yelled as he looked up with a painful expression, the SS-officer slowly walking up to him.
Still, they just stared at him, frozen on the spot. They wanted to go back for him, but that meant they would be recaptured.
Bang!
The children flinched, blood splattered from Sean’s head as he fell lifeless to the ground in a puddle of the blood, the officer slowly looking up.
Now the three friends started to run, knowing there was no turning back now.
“Who’s responsible for this?!” The SS member yelled in anger and the Camp commander walked up to him.
“I’ll take full responsibility, sir.” He said, ready to face the consequences.
“You…” The other officer pointed at him, taking a deep breath. “I’ll deal with you later. And you,” He pointed to Hans, “Your superiors will hear of this! I will take on getting them back myself.”
Konrad couldn’t remember much. He passed out from the plane crash and woke up several days later in a German base, getting informed his squad mates had found back to their lines and severed as guards in a POW Camp, Karl was deployed at a German outpost, but couldn’t find out anything about the children, which made him worried.
Right now, he was called to deploy a SS-Obersturmführer in finding escaped prisoners in a forest, hoping it would be over soon.
As far as he knew, the officer had the name of Steiner. He was a friendly and polite man on the outside but when it came to tasks regarding the war, he was very serious to get it done.
Steiner’s hair was short and black, his blue eyes having a calming effect, his build was slightly athletic and his face and chin broad. Unlike most officers, he wasn’t clean shaved but had very short stubble.
Steiner took a sip from his flask. He offered Konrad it who took a sip, only to cough from it. The SS-Obersturmführer chuckled. "Too strong for you, Sergeant?"
"Yes, sir." Escher replied as he never was much of a drinker.
"Now, you can feel the warmth spreading in your chest?"
"Yes, sir." Konrad replied as quite a cold wind was blowing today.
The officer looked at the forest. "Those tree here, the lay of the land, it reminds me of home. Good hunting country." He grabbed Konrad's rifle and took aim. "Look around. Deer. Wild Boar. Wolves. Bears. Everything. Have you ever hunted before, Sergeant?”
"No, sir." Konrad replied truthfully, it had never interested him much.
"No?” His comrade asked in surprise. “I doubt you realize then when a hunter makes his first kill, he is anointed with the animal's blood." He made a gesture on Konrad's forehead, they both shared a short laugh. "So we begin. Come on. Our prey will not wait. We must find their spoor."
"Yes, sir." The Sergeant didn’t know why he laughed too, he never liked the SS, maybe it was just to avoid trouble.
Dinky, Katja and Blau ran through the forest for their life. They wouldn’t spare them, they knew it after they saw what they did in Bitanti and to Sean.
"Halt!" A voice yelled, it was the SS officer, firing his Luger but missed. "Shoot. Shoot him." He ordered and Konrad took aim.
Seeing that three of the prisoners were the children, his hands started to shake, his breathing rapid, not able to fire. "Shoot him!" The SS-Obersturmführer ordered. "Give me that." He grabbed Konrad's rifle. Taking aim, he shot an allied soldier, an American by the look of the uniform, who tripped into the head, Konrad watched in horror as he fell to the ground.
Steiner gave the rifle back with a disappointed expression. "You've let yourself down." He inspected the body. “Sergeant, come closer. Look at our first kill of the day. Such a good clean head shot." As he wanted to anoint the blood on Konrad's forehead, the Sergeant took a step back in fear. "What? Are you shy of a little blood? My god, what where you before the war, Sergeant, a choir boy?" He asked with a slight hint of anger.
"No, sir." Konrad quickly replied, still a bit shocked.
"What must you do know?"
Escher know exactly what, although he disliked to say it "Find the others, sir."
"Yes, very good, Sergeant, you will find us our second kill and then you will kill it. What was the matter with you?"
"I couldn't see. It was too dark under those trees." Konrad lied, he could never bring himself to kill children.
"Darkness had nothing to do with it. You failed to act. It was your duty as a soldier to obey my direct command." The SS-Obersturmführer pointed at him with a dark tone.
"Sorry. It's only three prisoners. We've got thousands of them." Konrad countered.
“Doesn’t matter, the principal is the same, it's our job to hunt them down."
"They'll be dead of the cold soon." Konrad quickly replied out of instinct, although he didn’t wanted them to die of anything.
"We can't take that risk. We must all answer to our superiors, and now I'm afraid that that the colonel will have no other choice to shoot you and your men. You and your incompetent men will be blamed for this. A demonstration to show what is soldierly duty." His comrade said with a hint of disappointment, yet Konrad had only one thought, saying it quietly.
"You'll be dead by the Green Knight anyway."
"What?" The officer turned around to face him.
"Nothing."
Dinky, Katja and Blau Streifen wandered lost through the forest after having lost Clancy, not knowing where to go, he had been their guide.
Suddenly they spotted two soldiers in the distance. They quickly noticed they wore green camouflaged uniforms, realizing that they belonged to the Waffen-SS, they walked backwards before turning around, running for their lives as the soldiers gave chase.
Dinky heard a shot, then pain in her hindleg, falling to the ground with a cry of pain.
The siblings stopped and ran back to her, grabbing their forelegs to help her up before they got hit by the butt of a rifle, falling over.
Seeing the soldiers were now next to them, they crawled backwards against a tree, one of the soldiers wearing a cap, appearing to be very young, held them at gunpoint. "No, please! Don't shoot!" Dinky pleaded.
The other soldier ordered, "Kill her." The unicorn froze in fear, the siblings held each other for dear life, the young soldier trembled, sweat ran down his head, not able to pull the trigger. His comrade shook his head. "Coward." He reached for his rifle, taking aim at the terrified children who closed their eyes.
Dinky and her friends flinched as the shot ringed in their ears, but they felt no pain. Slowly opening her eyes, she and her friends saw that the cap wearing Waffen-SS soldier had shot his comrade, the body in the foliage. He lowered his rifle and took his cap off, thinking about what he had just done.
It took them some time to process it "What are you waiting for? Go." The soldier tore them out of their shock before he walked deeper into the forest.
The young unicorn groaned in pain as her left hindleg was bleeding with Blau examining it. “Just grazed, you were lucky." He said and took a bandage out the bag of the dead soldier, bandaging her leg and helped her up.
While Konrad carried on searching, the officer stopped. "We...no, you have lost her.” He pointed at him. “All this happened on your watch. To be honest, you couldn't even do the simplest of duties. This is now your punishment."
"I’m sure she went... this way." Konrad pointed into a random direction.
"Oh, now you are sure. Now that I have my boot in your backside, suddenly you are sure." Steiner taunted.
"I'm sure." Escher replied hastily and moved on.
The children were exhausted from the running, leaned against a tree, panting, trying to catch their breath, with Dinky trying also to overcome the pain on her leg
The officer drew his Luger. "I could of course save the army a lot of time and trouble, and shoot you right now. Give me one good reason not to. I warned you. You knew there would be more than just trouble, if she escaped. I suggest you go, now. At least you'll have a sporting chance. There is still time to show to show your skill and mettle."
"Spare my men at least." The young man begged, not waning any of them to die.
"The thought of the gun at the back of your head, is such a leveler. Such a great witness to be profound truth of the human soul, isn't it, Sergeant?"
Dinky, Katja and Blau still tried to catch their breath as they heard the sound of boots. A Wehrmacht soldier and an SS-officer were coming closer but they all were too exhausted to run and Dinky’s injury made it almost impossible to do so.
"There they are, Sergeant. Shoot them." the officer ordered. Dinky and the siblings recognized the soldier, it was Konrad.
Even if she knew there was no point in pleading for mercy, Dinky knew Konrad could never do something like this. "Please! You promised to help us! Don't!" she cried, Konrad aimed but hesitated, his hands shaking as the officer yelled,
"What did I tell you? Shoot her."
Dinky had lowered her head, sniffing, tears dripping down. "Why...How could you...I thought you were our friend..." Katja and Blau hugged each other instead, also crying.
"Shoot!"
Konrad switched his aim from the crying children to the officer. He showed a light surprised expression before Konrad pulled the trigger.
Dinky looked up, still crying. "K-Konrad?" He took her on his arm, patting her back.
"Shh, calm down. You know I would never, ever do this to you."
"He's right, Dinky." They heard a new voice and saw a green unicorn stallion joining them, happy to see that they were alright. “I was about to put an arrow in the officer anyway. Now that I'm here, let's get out of here."
"As the legend says: Wherever they might be, the Green Knight is near." Konrad replied with a smile as Fletcher took Dinky on his back.
The Forest was endless, endless. From horizon to horizon. You could hide an army there, you could hide a man there, a child, a knight. The thing you couldn't hide was the truth.