Cold winds gently hovered above as a bright light burned and defied the darkness of the forest around it.
It was a calm winter night, and it was the perfect time to finally rest and enjoy some time away from all the fighting. Soldiers - friends - huddled around their humble fire talking, making jokes, and sharing stories while having a small feast of canned rations and smuggled liquor. Although the vast majority of the Equestrian army was made up of ponies, there were a number of other races from around the world that have joined the ranks of the army's very own foreign legion, and this group of friends is among them.
A soft breeze flew past, and the night grew colder, but the sounds of good company did not stop.
A griffon cackled at the latest quip his new earth pony friend had uttered. A deer absentmindedly ate his food and stared at the fire's hypnotic dance. A unicorn stallion beautifully played a tune with his guitar as a pegasus mare sitting beside him sang some war song about love in Severnayan. Whether it was because of money, dumb luck, the promise of adventure, a sense of duty, or revenge for a loved one, these people were drawn together in the middle of the largest and most horrific conflict in the world to date.
Eventually, the fire was put out as some retired for the night while others stayed and kept watch.
More trials and tribulations awaited these friends as the war was finally about to be brought onto changeling soil. However, worries about the future were put aside. For the moment, all was calm, and none wanted to ruin what precious little peace they had left to enjoy before the storm came.