I awoke to alarms just like I did every day, me and John sat tied in first place on the leaderboard. It had been a month since we arrived and today we were to be tested, we ate in the cafeteria as usual before we were herded into the large room we arrived in. I sat next to John and my friends as usual, the commander stood up the front talking to someone before he turned to us.
"Today you will all be assessed, you will each be given a segment of map which you will then use to find your way back, last person to reach the pelican has to walk back, and trust me it is a very, very long walk," the commander sneered at the end, John and I looked at each other and the rest of our group and nodded. No one would be left behind today, we all stood and headed to the docking bay where we got onto a pelican. It soon took off and we were each given a small segment of a map, I studied mine as John passed the message around to meet up in one area that was on every single one of our maps.
It didn't take long before we were all dropped off, about an hour later we all managed to meet up in the snowy forest.
"Alrighty so give me you bits of map so I can put them together that way we can all get to the pelican," John ordered, everyone handed him their maps including me and he began to study them. We were soon making our way through deep snow towards the spot where the pelican would be sitting, I hated walking through snow as it made my legs numb. We were walking for about two hours as our pace had to slow because some of the weaker members had fallen behind, finally I spotted lights up ahead. I also noticed four guards keeping their eyes out, I hid which caused everyone to find cover. I looked around for some sort of weapon I could use, John picked up a few stones so we each grabbed a handful and began to pelt them at the guards who held their arms up to try and block. While they were distracted I ran up to one and jumped on his back, he thrashed about while I choked him. I heard a gun move behind me and jumped off as a paintball hit the guard in the back of the head, I spun around looking at the last remaining guard who began to shoot aimlessly. John and another boy had taken out the other two guards who lay unconscious beside each other, I dodged but a paintball hit me in the leg making me trip and fall. The guard walked over when the stones stopped hurtling at him and I turned onto my back, I gave him a smirk as he aimed the gun at me. Suddenly John was shooting him with paintballs from the other guards gun, the guard fell to the ground unconscious like the rest of his squad. One of the commanders walked out of the pelican clapping his hands, I looked around at the others while holding my bruised leg.
"Good job cadets, but one of you still has to walk back," the commander congratulated us, I put my hand up before anyone could react.
"I will walk back sir," I say, John glares at me and walks over.
"I will too sir as she will need help with her bad leg sir," John added, the commander nodded as the others thanked us before walking onto the pelican. We began to walk back, well I more so limped back. The snow only made my leg worse but I didn't mind it, John had to help me walk at one stage as the cold had made me lose feeling in my leg. It took us the rest of the day to walk back and snow had started falling by then, once we arrived back and got into the warm base I collapsed unable to walk anymore. Doctors rushed to my side and picked me up, John followed me as far as he could before they told him he couldn't go any further. I waved at him weakly as I was taken through doors and into a Med bay, I laid on the bed for what felt like forever before feeling came back to my legs. The doctors finally let John come to see me, his face was filled with concern.
"It's ok John I'm fine," I giggled, I punched his shoulder softly and he chuckled.
"Next time I will be the one walking back, you could have caught frostbite," John over exaggerated half meaning it, I gave him a smile.
"Nah where's the fun in making you do all the effort," I teased, I shut up quickly when the commander walked in.
"That was very brave of you two, offering to walk back to save the others the stress and risk of getting sick, Caden that was very foolish and risky to attack the soldiers like that but we will ignore your stupidity and we dismiss you from Med bay," the commander explained, we both nodded and happy that I was dismissed from the Med bay. My limp was gone thankfully but my bruise wasn't, I would have that for a while. We headed for the cafeteria to tell everyone the good news, once we arrived the whole cafeteria exploded into a array of clapping which took us both by surprise. We sat down at our usual table when the commander walked in, he held a clip board in his hands.
"Alrighty Cadets it is time to announce the winner........ well what a surprise we have a tie, please make sure to give your team mates Caden and John a pat on the back for becoming your squad leaders!" The commander announced, everyone began clapping and walked over to shake our hands and pat us on the back. Finally we headed back to our rooms where I climbed into bed, I took my shoes off and soon fell asleep.