The Boss road up to Joseph’s side, “What are you doing, you need to stay with us. Especially after what just happened. That man may try to get revenge on you.”

Joseph stopped and looked to the Boss, “I’m not worried about that man. Besides I want to be the first in battle. I want to see what I’m truly capable of.”

The Boss berated Joseph, “It’s not about that man! It’s about who he could know. How many he could know. You have to consider the consequences of your actions, Joseph.”

Joseph sat with his thoughts for only a second, “Is it a possibility he could kill me?”

The Boss nodded, “that is always a possibility when making enemies.”

Joseph turned back to the now one-legged man, “I’ll have to kill him then. I can’t die.” Joseph readied his massive sword.

The Boss drew his sword, smacking Joseph on the back of the head with it. “Ow, what was that for Boss?”

“You’re not killing anyone on our side, that’s how you get strung up before the battle even starts.” The darkened man put away his sword. “Now, listen to what I say. You’ll have plenty of time to fight later.” The Boss formed his camp away from the soldiers in an effort to stop Joseph from killing any of them.

***

All the men awoke and readied themselves for battle, but Joseph had been awake for a while now. Joseph stood on the battlefield looking in the enemy’s direction, “I’m sorry to the men and warriors I must use as stepping stones. I give my word, only those who choose to fight me will die. Any who don’t wish to may leave.” Joseph reached down and grabbed White’s head, bringing it to his face. “Listen, I want you to stay out of this. Understood. I know you can do this, and that’s exactly why I need you to let me do it alone.”

White shook Joseph’s hand off her head, snorting in his face.

Joseph stood up, “This isn’t the time for this White!”

She lowered her head to the ground ready to attack.

Joseph crouched down, getting to his position, “I can’t believe you’re making me do this right now.”

The Boss looked around, “Where is Joseph? Any of you men seen Joseph?” They all shook their heads. “This better not be happening.” The Boss ran into the army which had almost completed its battle preparations. “Have any of you men seen a tall man with a young-looking face with a scar on the side of it.”

“Yeah, you mean that crazy boy with the wolf?”

The Boss looked towards the voice and found a man facing him, “Yes, where is he?”

The man pointed to the front lines, “He’s already fighting up there.”

The darkened man took off running, he had already finished his battle preparations before going out and looking for Joseph, so he was ready for anything. “How is he already fighting when the battle hasn’t even started yet?” Pushing his way through row after row of men he finally made it to the front lines. He saw White on Joseph’s back. The wolf had bitten on Joseph’s back panel armor to hold herself there while she scratched at his lower back. Every claw left a trail of blood, though the wounds weren’t nearly as deep as they would have been on a normal person.

Joseph reached around, grabbing White by the scruff on the back of her neck and using it to throw her off his back. She landed on her back but quickly rolled to her feet and charged at Joseph. She went for his leg but Joseph shoved his arm in the way at the last second, causing her to clamp down on his gauntlet. He then swung her around, slammed her into the ground, and bit her neck.

Joseph spoke the best he could having bit down on White’s neck. “Are you done!” White barked at him, acknowledging her loss and he released her, already starting the process of spitting, and wiping the hair out of his mouth. She strutted off into the distance, headed for the woods, probably to eat her fill while Joseph fought. “Still a sore loser I see.”

A horn went off, the signal for battle. The Boss looked back towards Joseph to see him already staring at him. Joseph gave the Boss a thumbs up and waved him off. The darkened man nodded, turning and fighting the tears that threatened to form on the edges of his eyes. ‘There’s nothing more you can do for him. You’ve shown him everything you can. Now it’s up to him.’

A few men covered in glistening armor road up to the front, they all looked towards Joseph prepared to draw their swords. One of the foot-soldiers informed them, “That’s the kid the rumors are about.”

One of the sets of armor asked the soldier, “why is he already injured?”

The soldier replied hesitantly, worried he might insult them somehow and have his head removed, “He just fought the wolf that came with him, after he won the wolf ran off into the woods over there.”

The suit of armor yelled at Joseph, “Get in formation boy, we are about to do battle!”

Joseph walked over to his sword that he had stuck in the ground, pulling it out to reveal its true length. “Sorry, but my sword is a little too big for your formations.”

The glistening men gasped at the sight of the unwieldy weapon, “A sword? Boy, that’s closer to a club than a sword, what are you, part troll?”

The men laughed and Joseph couldn’t help but shake his head, after all they were right. “I suppose it is, I shall call it my weapon instead from now on.”

The suits of armor began to mutter amongst themselves but were quickly cut off by the thunderous sound of the army approaching. They quickly stammered out, “Al-alright men! Do battle!” Before riding off to the side of the army. Only two men on horseback remained.

The two men yelled out and gestured in directions, the army quickly moving into their practiced formations. Afterwards they rested their eyes on Joseph, “I don’t wish to see a boy die in battle up close, move to the back of the army” one said.

Joseph smiled, “I won’t be dying today!” He pointed his huge weapon towards the enemy army.

The other man spoke, “Suit yourself, but if you hit me with that thing I’ll take you out myself.”

Joseph began walking towards the enemy army, ‘I guess I don’t need to warm up now do I. Don’t tell me… no, there’s no way that’s what she was thinking.’ Joseph put his thoughts to rest and focused on what was in front of him. “I hope you’re watching up there! It won’t be long before it’s you who is within my reach.”