Roudan sulked in silence until Yoshida took charge and led the team to a large metal Connex container. Inside the container were small crates of battle gear. They each retrieved four large duffle bags, scuba gear, and paddle boards. Then the Alpha squad scurried with their equipment to the other side of the beach, where they made camp for the night. 

Farouk’s tired eyes glazed over roaring flames from the bonfire. He had never been so exhausted and knew that Savoi must have been even more so from having to carry him on her shoulders to capture the flag. He watched as Roudan and Yoshida stood together, bare chested with their scuba suits pulled only to their waists. Neither seemed drained of the day’s activities. They chatted calmly, going over strategies for the next part of the exam. It surprised both when Savio, peculiarly animated, friskily slapped them simultaneously on the buttocks.  

“Look alive, you two!” she kidded.  

Roudan nor Yoshida took offense at her gesture. Instead, they playfully attempted to return the favor. 

“She really has no shame,” Shevchenko groaned, as she plopped down beside Farouk on a straw beach mat. 

Farouk sighed at having to once again listen to her whine. 

“You and I are fortunate to sit in the presence of greatness,” he nodded.  

“How so?” Shevchenko scoffed. 

“The three are the true heroes of our team. They outperformed every single squad in our graduating class. No doubt, Hell’s fury will greet us before dawn. We should allow them to freely take whatever liberties necessary to cope,” he replied with a mouthful of jerky. 

An overcast brought on a chill in the evening. A strong gust of wind nearly quelled their fire out. There was no more dry wood left to cast into the pit. The team frantically searched the area for items to use.  

“We’re going to freeze to death tonight if we don’t find something to burn soon,” Farouk scowled. 

“I have an idea,” Savoi chimed, as she dug inside a duffle bag and pulled out twelve large map scrolls. 

Before she could toss them into the fire, Shevchenko attempted to yank the scrolls from her arms. 

“Thomasa, stop! Just what the hell do you call yourself doing?”  

Savoi smirked. 

“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.” 

Shevchenko refused to let go, and it became a tug of war with the scrolls. Neither Savoi nor Shevchenko was ready to back down. Savoi’s over-bearing brass irritated Shevchenko. She withdrew her arm back and slapped Savoi across the face as hard as she could. The sound echoed across the beach. 

Shevchenko’s temper took aback by Savoi and the rest of the team. Roudan and Farouk tried to intervene, but Savoi stopped them. 

Savoi gripped one hand over the bundled scrolls and the other on her cheek in agony. 

“It’s ok! I’m ok!”  

There was a tremble in her voice that reeked of pain and humiliation. She turned to Shevchenko with a pleading look. 

“I studied and memorized all of them. I assure you, these old maps are of no more use for the rest of the exam.” 

Yoshida snatched the scrolls away from both of them. The scorn in his eyes sliced through Shevchenko’s soul. 

“Except for right now when we are at the mercy of the wind with no wood to burn,” he said. 

Shevchenko took a deep breath and looked around. There was nothing else in their possession that would suffice. The air chilled to the bone, and the sky faded to black by then. She sat down as the others tore the scrolls and took turns tossing the bits into the flames. Fortunately, the parchments were perfect for burning. Shevchenko excused herself, citing illness, then retired to her sleeping bag. The rest of the team followed suit shortly after. 

After only a mere hour, Savoi tossed in her sleeping bag until she grew annoyed and sat up. Her eyes searched the perimeter and saw Roudan seated alone on the shoreline. She quietly joined him. They were silent as the ocean waves ministered to their weariness. 

“I’m worried about her,” Roudan confessed with a faint smile. 

Savoi leaned her head on his shoulder. 

“Worrying will only weigh you down,” she whispered. “That’s a mean right hand she’s got.” 

Yoshida awakened to the sounds of giggling between the two. He waited for them to finish before he came over. His heart melted when Savoi signaled for him to sit beside her. She had her bare feet buried in a sand pile, so he submerged his inside as well. 

Roudan leaned back onto his elbows and sighed. This would be one of the last times the three of them would fellowship as they did under the overpass at the academy. He envied Yoshida and Savoi’s connection. They kept their friendship and romantic feelings separate but intact, without allowing distractions from the war to become an obstacle. He wondered where things went wrong with Shevchenko. 

“The Bravos will come at us with vengeance,” he spoke sternly to break up their playful game of footsy beneath the sand pile. 

Yoshida stiffened himself and gave Roudan his full attention. 

“They didn’t seem like much trouble earlier. I mean, they might have a bone to pick,” he replied. 

Roudan stood, skipping pebbles into the water. 

“That’s because you pissed them off with your taunting,” Roudan sneered. 

Savoi cackled, but quickly hushed herself as not to wake Shevchenko or Farouk. 

“You called them chickens to their face.” 

To Yoshida’s dismay, she stood and began skipping rocks as well. He had no choice but to join them. 

“Awe come on; they were taking too long to fight. I just prompted them to get on with

it.” 

~The Waring Robins~