As he listened to marching drum of rain pounding against the roof of the tent, the sudden warm, wet feeling on the tips of his fingers shook him awake.
Looking down from his cot he expected to find a prank by his platoon mates, but instead two dark brown eyes stared back up at him framed in fur. He had no idea how it had gotten into the camp, must've snuck in with a logistics truck was his best guess. As the wet nose and expectant face stared back up he couldn't help but think of his son back home, holding his new pet in his arms as he watched daddy board the bulk lander. Slumping his shoulders a little he acquiesced.
"Alright, you can stay for a while..." He said ruffling it's fur as it heartily grumbled
"...but if anyone asks you were a gift from the captain"
His new little friend yipped happily in response.
Thunder ground through the air like a wave and the artillery regiment responded in kind. Stuck between the two in the trench he lit a lho stick up and made sure the straps on 'The Beast's' armour were tight, funny how nicknames stick. You would think it was because the fluffy little thing was ravenously hungry but you'd be wrong. One time going over the top the cheeky little buggar had followed them all the way from the camp. He didn't notice himself till he saw a blur fly past him and latch itself onto the throat of a cultist and just start shaking until he didn't move anymore. Earned himself a good meal that day.
Sitting there in the trench with him curled up at his feet he looked peaceful. The smokey battlefield loomed over the top of them as one of the lads hummed a tune. By noon the sky had started to clear but the artillery fire abruptly ended. The platoon stood up as one reflexively, knowing what came next. Giving his lasgun one last look-over he knelt down and gave 'The Beast' a gentle pat.
"One more time little guy, then we can go home, promise."
With a short bark he agreed, tail wagging happily.
The Commissars whistle blew somewhere in the distance, and as one they crested the edge of the trench. Saying a prayer to the Emperor the pair marched off into the smoke one last time.
Apologies if there are any mistakes, this was a spur-of-the-moment thing and I'm half-asleep.
Edited by Lazarus Primus, 11 February 2020 - 01:26 PM.