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I look off to the distance and see smoke coming from the Westgate. "How the hell did they already break through the main gate" a guard dog screams in anger.

Capt. Palvet stands on a large wooden box and says "Everyone listen up. We don't have any time to build the barricade. So instead all rabbits form up in front to make a shield wall. Then I want all the hamsters to stand behind them". I suddenly hear someone scream "why do we have to stand in front. Aren't the dogs better at holding the line".

I look over my shoulder and notice the rabbit standing behind me. It was the rabbit that I saw in the barracks. Capt. Palvet stairs at the rabbit irritably and says "because I don't want my guard dogs to be wounded from the charge. Instead you will take the full force of the charge in this way my guard dogs will be fully prepared to push back".

I was shocked with what the captain said. Did he want us to be a meat shield? I look around and notice that many rabbits and hamsters have started arguing with themselves. I suddenly remembered back at the field right before we entered the city. I remembered how those 500 guard dogs were slaughtered before they could even reach the enemy. Slowly I was overtaken with anger growing within me at the captain and how he was going to use us like this.

How could he just use us like we were nothing to him. I kept thinking over and over in my head until I couldn't take it any longer and shout "how could you use us like this, didn't you see that army of guard dogs that ran at the enemy outside the gate. They were slaughtered before they could even reach the enemy and now you want us to stand still while we wait for the enemy to slaughter us where we stand".

The area fell silent as everyone looks at me in surprise. The rabbits and dogs gave me questioning looks at my statement, but I could see some of the hamsters around me had also started to remember what happened.

The captain gives me an angry glare and says "well it appears this young hamster has a problem with how I lead my soldiers. Well then hamster since you know so much about fighting wars. Please tell me, how should I place my soldiers. Should we charge straight into the enemy or are you suggesting that we should abandon our defenses and make a beeline for the docks".

The captain was right I only knew the problem, not the solution. I look around at all the hamsters, dogs, and rabbits looking at me for any form of salvation from this terrible plan. I start getting scared from there looks and I slowly start backing up, but then I feel a hand on my shoulder. I look up and see dad with a determined look on his face which Was the same face she always gave me every time I needed to calm down and think things through.His determined face always used to calm me down and surprisingly it still does.

I pushed through the crowd towards the direction of the Eastern gate.The animals around me look at me surprised expressions as I slowly make my way out of the crowd. I look down the road off into the distance and see the smoke billowing out. We can't just stand here and wait for them to pick us off one by one and we can't charge them because most of us will be dead before we even reach them. There has to be another way. There must be a way to fight them. I took my eyes off the road and I start looking around for options. That's when it hits me.

"If you're done fooling around and wasting our time. Then come back here and form a line with the rest of the hamsters". Capt. Palvet says while pointing to the guard dogs to start forming up their lines. "Why don't we ambush them" I say looking back at the captain. "And how do you plan on doing that" says Capt. Palvet with a surprised expression on his face. "We hide in the houses and wait for them to reach us. Then we can attack them by surprise".

Everyone stood there in amazement at what I had said. Even the guard dogs with their straight faces couldn't stop from giving surprised looks at one another. But the best part has to be the look of captain Palvet is giving me. His eyes and mouth wide open in amazement.

Once the idea of a hamster making a good tactical battle plan went through the minds of the animals. They started talking amongst themselves with the looks of agreement to my suggestion.

The captain regains his composure and is about to say something but was silenced by the sound of explosions coming from the Eastern gate.

The captain turns to look to everyone and says "alright listen up. It appears this hamster knows a thing or two about fighting. I sadly have no choice but to agree with his plan so I want hamsters and rabbits spread amongst the buildings in front of us. I want all guard dogs to be spread amongst the buildings behind us. Once the enemy comes do not charge out of your buildings until you hear my horn". The captain pulls out a small worn that was held on his belt. "I will be sitting in the last building at the back, so that when the enemy has finally reached me. I will blow the horn and everyone will charge into the street all at once, is that understood"?

Amongst all the animals it appears that there is an overwhelming agreement to this plan. The captain seeing this smiles and pulls out his sword. "We do not know what weapons are enemies are using. We do not know who they are or where they came from. But right now they're on our side of the river. There in our cities, on our streets, and in our homes. Behind us stand our families and our livelihoods. Within us our God's proudly watch as their children are ready to stand and defend this land they gave us. So when this battle begins and you charge out of the house you're hiding in. Scream the words of DUNAMAI". Suddenly all the guard dogs unsheathed they're swords and shout "proudly we stand and never fall". The crowd of animals cheered as they heard the words of their God.

I run back into the group to reach Dad while I get rabbits and hamsters patting me on the back and thanking me for a better plan. I finally reach dad who was talking to some other hamsters trying to figure out which house they will hide in. Dad looks over at me in a great big smile grows on his face. He runs over to me and shouts "there is the great military general ready to destroy and conquer our foes.

He wraps his hands around me and lifts me up while saying "a father could never be more proud of his son".

He puts me down and I say "you can say that if we win this battle". "When we win this battle" dad says with an assured look on his face. A female hamster comes up to dad and says "hey we found a house with not a lot of windows and lots of room". Dad turns and says "lead the way".

We follow the female hamster through the crowd of animals which by now was half the size because of everyone going their separate ways. I run forward up the road past a couple houses noticing other hamsters and rabbits running into their chosen house.

The female hamster slowly stops turns left and ran into a large wooden house. I stop and look up to inspect the house. It was 2 stories tall with a gable style wooden roof. The 2nd floor had 2 large windows with their wooden shutters closed.

Surprisingly the bottom floor had no windows and well-crafted double doors. The building itself was made completely out of wood and looked well-made but its age was showing. The wooden walls that touched the ground had already started molding from the lack of sunlight and you could also notice in some parts of the building there were cracks and splinters throughout the walls.

"Are you coming or what"? A look at the front door noticing the female hamster holding the door open for me with dad looking over her shoulder wondering why I stopped. I make a mental note to stop being distracted so easily while I run through the front door.

I look around and notice the lack of light thanks to the lack of windows on the first floor. The entire first floor was completely open thanks to the strong beams supporting the center.

On the left is a large wooden table with 6 chairs surrounding it. At the back there is a long wooden staircase going up to the 2ndfloor and on the right there are bookshelves along the walls and a large carpet in front. A top of the carpet is a large wooden table with one chair facing it and has lots of stacks of paper all over. I notice there are 12 hamsters and 3 rabbits already sitting down in the room talking amongst themselves.

I notic dad as he walks towards the table with a single chair and follow closely behind. I run over to him as he is now shifting through the papers on the desk. "What are you looking for"? He stops looking through the papers and heads towards the bookcases while saying "well I was wondering who owns this house". I come up to him and ask "any clue"?

"Well my best guess would be that the owner of the house is a cat".

"Why would you say that"?

"Because on the desk is a pile of papers mostly doing with taxes on some of the ships on the docks and the shelves are filled with books about economy and money exchange rates with the City States of the endless lake ".

"Hey kid thanks for the great idea". I turn around and look up facing the rabbit who was arguing with the captain back on the street. I suddenly realize he is at least a foot taller than me.

The rabbit holds out his hand and says "the name is Eros Gelto".

In response I grab his hand and shake while saying "nice to meet you, my name is Marco Volmet". "Thanks for showing the captain that dogs aren't the only ones who have brains for combat".

I smile and nod my head in agreement. "Oh I see that you have made a new friend". I turn around and see dad walking away from the bookcase towards Eros. "The name is James Volmet, father to this military genius". They both laugh while I chuckled at the thought of me leading an army into battle.

Suddenly the doors swung open and a hamster runs in shouting "their coming down the road". Dad looks over and says "Marco come with me".

I follow dad to the wall on the left side of the main doors and put my side against it facing towards the doors. I notice Eros putting himself behind me and dad sitting in front of me. 2 rabbits place themselves in front of the doors and everyone else formed of half circle behind them.

Only till everybody fell silent and waited for the sound of the horn did I realize how old the wooden floor is. Just moving my weight would make unbearable creeks and groan.

Dad turns around and looks me straight in the eyes. "Marco if things don't go right and you are unable to get to the docks. Get out of the city by going through the Southgate and run into the forest to get to your uncle. You still remember where your uncle's village is right"?

I nod my head but ask "do you think we're going to lose this battle"?

"It's better to be safe than sorry".

Suddenly I feel an overwhelming fear coming over me. I place the spear against my chest holding it tightly as if it was the only thing keeping me alive. Dad must've noticed "You'll be fine I promise nothing will happen to you".

I smile and nod to dad which in turn he smiles and turns back to facing the door. Sadly what dad said didn't help much.

"Don't worry Marco I got your back". I turn around to see Eros with a determined look on his face and making a slight nod.

The look on his face gives me some solace knowing someone else was also watching my back. I smile and nod in respect turn to face the door, but now the only thing I could think of is what could go wrong.

What if instead of moving through the streets they choose to start sacking the city. Going house to house looking for valuables. If they do that than by the time the captain will have realize what happened. Half of the houses were hiding in wood already been attacked. I shake my head in frustration and clear my thoughts. There's no going back now. I hope that I haven't made the greatest mistake my entire life.

I look up and notice that dad's ears are focusing to a sound behind us. I try to focus it myself but I can't hear anything.

Then suddenly I hear this low murmur of sound like pebbles being thrown at a wall. Then slowly they get louder and I can hear faint sounds of heavy breathing and shouting.

Now I can clearly hear footsteps and some of the enemy soldiers speaking to each other. But suddenly the front of this column steps passes us and I hold my breath hoping that the door in front of us doesn't open.

By the sound of their footsteps and shouts I can tell there are more of them than us. I slowly move my spear from straight up to facing towards the door and take a deep breath.

I try to stop focusing on the footsteps of the enemy soldiers and instead look at other animals in our half circle. I look up to their faces and see nothing but fear and doubt.

I immediately recognize my mistake and look back at the door. I hold tightly onto my spear as my palms start to sweat. It feels like hours are passing by as more and more of enemy soldiers are running past us.

Then suddenly I hear it in the distance, a horn.