(𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐞: 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐫)
𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐧
The flying fortress jittered in the unforgiving night sky, it was supposed to be dark— yet the unmistakable flames of fire and shrapnel caught the moonlight, creating an image of what could almost be described as the sky on the 4th of July.
It’s quite beautiful. Edith thought, however the thoughts were soon knocked from her head as the plane she was boarded on jilted sharply, causing her to stumble into the soldier infront of her.
“Hey, watch it Anderson!” The man turned, giving her a hostile look.
“Whatever.” Edith snarked back, that man always knew just how to get on her nerves, and to think she was supposed to trust him with her life- she scoffed to herself- she couldn’t trust him as far as she could throw him.
The girl’s frown was cut off quickly when she heard the shout of “One okay!”, she suddenly remembered where she was, her stomach began churning once again– the feeling of imminent doom circling her body.
Would she even make it out of the plane? Could she make it to the ground without being hit? Or would a German capture her as soon as she landed? surely then she would be tortured.
By the time Edith’s invasive thoughts had concluded, it was her turn to check Robert’s equipment.
She felt Archie Cox tugging at her equipment from behind her, ensuring it was safe and ready— “Seven okay!”
I’m here to help people. The young girl thought, how can i help anyone if i’m waiting on my own demise?
Before Edith knew it, she was at the door, the only thing blocking her and the sky happened to be Robert. She had never been so thankful for him. She felt the vicious wind whipping her face, tinting her cheeks a deep red as the sensation stung her— the deafening roar of gun fire whacking from plane to plane began bursting her ear drums, the sounds getting closer and closer the more she thought about it.
Then, her blockage jumped, now it was just her facing the sky, except she wasn’t just facing the sky. Edith was facing her future. She would be jumping into her new life, something she wasn’t sure she was prepared for- but she had to do it.
And so she did, she jumped.
It had been 4 gruelling months since Edith had been assigned to Fox Company, 4 months since she had started training that pushed her to her limits— however, she wouldn’t change it for a second.
She had to admit, although it was hard and testing (both physically and mentally), it also opened a door to a new opportunity for her. Edith knew she was incredibly privileged, as a woman, to even get a chance to be on the front lines along with her fellow paratroopers. She also knew many women would kill to get the same chance as her— so she didn’t take it for granted.
There were plenty of moments she enjoyed, but the ones she relished in most were the ones where they were all able to be young and forget the weight they carried on their shoulders. In a year’s time, each soldier would be changed forever, whether that be by death or trauma; but the nights that they forgot that were the best. When they would dance carelessly in the pubs of England, drinking as much as they could before the sun rose and duty called, those were the moments that mattered.
“Hey Edie!” A voice hollered from behind her.
Edith halted her pencil on the page, turning her head to see who had called her.
“Oh, hey Archie,” she smiled as the soldier approached her, “you okay?”
“Yeah, just thought i’d come check up on ya’. Haven’t seen you around all day.” Archie told her.
Archie was the definition of sweet, he’d be the first to check up on someone if he noticed something was wrong, and he was always there for those that needed it. He would be a great leader one day, Edith thought as she scooted over for him to sit beside her.
“I’m okay, just thought i’d come relax by the good scenery for a while, hopefully catch something good to sketch.” She nodded at him, a smile painted on her soft lips.
“Mind if i take a look?” He asked politely.
“Sure!” Edie passed him the sketchbook without missing a beat, she knew he enjoyed it.
Archie had mentioned once that Edith’s sketches of nature reminded him of his wife back home, Lizzie he had said her name was. He mentioned once that she was an avid nature and art enjoyer too— when Archie had first shown Edith the photo of Lizzie, Edith immediately knew why the man’s wife reminded him of nature.
She had beautiful blonde hair, bright blue eyes and a smile to die for. Her pure spirit practically glowed- even through the off-coloured photo. Since the first time he mentioned Lizzie, Edith had been sketching photos of her surroundings for Archie to send home.
“Here, i drew this one for Lizzie, actually.” Edith said, taking back her sketchbook and flicking through it until she found the sketch she was looking for.
Her drawing was of a beautiful lake she had discovered in her free-time. A short dock sat in the shallow water, slightly rotted but a perfect example of nature. It had wild flowers curled around the wooden beams and ancient trees that surrounded it. The sun shone through the small gaps between tree branches, creating a perfect reflection of the still landscape.
Edith tore the paper out and handed it to Archie, the man taking it eagerly and scanning it.
“This is beautiful Edie! Lizzie’s gonna love it!” Archie chuckled lightly, happy with the sketch.
Edith’s legs buckled beneath her— she was tired, hungry and very lost.
She knew it had to have been at least 12 hours since she landed. The sky was clear and bright now, and there was no sign that war had brimmed the skies just hours earlier. The only issue Edith had, however, was that her rations had been lost while she fell through the sky rapidly— well that, and she was all alone.
I need to find someone, Edith thought. She wouldn’t last much longer on her own, especially with no food, water or company. The medic tried to find someone, anyone, but there was no luck— no sign that anyone had ever been where she was.
If Edith was being honest, she was scared. All she wanted right now was to be at home, gossiping about boys and doing her hair with her bestfriend, Ruth. Oh, how she missed Ruth, her bestfriend was just about the only one that understood her in this godforsaken world.
Her ankles ached as her knees began feeling heavy from carrying not just herself, but all of her equipment too— which began feeling like 1,000 pounds the longer she carried on.
As Edith stumbled further on, all that raced through her head was thoughts of her company, where were they? were they all dead?
Edith began losing more hope with each step she took. As the last of her faith was about to fall, it rose right back up.
The meeting point— or so she hoped.
It could be Krauts, popped into her mind before she had the chance to think of anything else, but what chance did she truly have? It was either die of starvation, or get captured by the Germans.
Neither of those choices exactly appealed to Edith, but she knew being captured was her best bet. The Germans would be make her a prisoner of war, yes, but she also knew they weren’t allowed to harm POW’s— and they would eventually send her back to the States.
Edith pondered for a quick second, or it could be the American’s. She thought, but she knew she couldn’t think for too long, or she would collapse.
So with that, she headed forward.
The closer she got, the more springy her steps were. She was feeling hopeful— and Edith’s hopefulness was validated when she heard the familiar accent of American’s.
“Oh thankyou God!” Edith shouted to the sky, a disbelieving laugh falling from her dry lips.
Edith ran like she never had before, the pain in her body being long forgotten as she rushed through the gates.
Her rapid eyes darted around the place, paratroopers were everywhere. Maybe her company was too.
“Hey, have any of you guys seen Fox?” She gasped at a pair of men that had walked past her.
“No… Sorry.” One of the men answered, staring in confusion at the woman stood before him. Edith knew what he was thinking, what the hell is a woman doing here? Not that she could blame him, that was usually every man’s reaction when they first saw her.
Edith sighed as she carried on, passing them swiftly. She needed to find her company.
Finally, she spotted Colonel Sink— a familiar aged face.
“Sir,” Edith saluted, out of breath, “Have you seen F company, sir?”
The Colonel looked down to a tattered piece of paper infront of him that had writing scattered all around it.
“Well, sorry Anderson, doesn’t look like anyone but you and Robert Bennett are accounted for from F company.” Sink offered a sympathetic look, “Why don’t you go join Easy? They’ll take care of ya’, and that’s where Bennett is too.” He finished, nodding toward the direction of Easy company.
“Thankyou, sir.” Edith nodded, walking in the direction he nodded.
Robert? While Edith didn’t like the man, she couldn’t deny she was a little happy to hear a familiar name, even if it was his. Her heart thudded slightly as she dwelled on what Colonel Sink had said, “no one in Fox company is accounted for.”
Surely at least a small group of them would’ve made it back by now.
A dull ache presented itself once more in Edith’s body as she trudged to find Easy. Her eyes scanned, looking for the face of Robert. Then she found him.
A breath of relief left her mouth.
“Bennett.” Edith said coldly as she approached him.
He was sat infront of a broken tree stump, and he looked just as rough as she did. He was surrounded by the men of Easy, most of them talking amongst themselves, but some of them sat silently, staring blankly ahead— thinking of what they had witnessed.
“Anderson.” Robert replied, clenching his teeth before a sarcastic smile slid onto his bloodied and mud covered face.
“Hey, who’s this Bennett?” A soldier nudged Robert, his face curious.
“Edith Anderson, our medic, unfortunately.” He introduced, mumbling his dig at the end.
“A girl, on the front lines? How the hell’d you manage that?” The man asked, not out of malice, but out of genuine wonder.
“Trust me, it wasn’t easy.” Edith scoffed.
“Yeah I bet, i’m Hoobler, Donald Hoobler. Nice to meet you!” The man greeted, moving forward to shake the woman’s hand.
“Edith, nice to meet you too— but please for the love of god, call me Edie.” Edith returned the handshake, smiling lightly, her and Hoobler were going to get along.
“Men!” An authoritative voice shouted, causing Edith to turn. She saw a red headed man, his face painted with black and green stripes, helmet tucked under his arm.
Each man from Easy turned their attention to the man.
“I need volunteers, we’re making an assault, taking some German artillery guns.” He shouted once again, making his voice clear to those around him.
While there weren’t many of Easy there, the ones that were put their hands up— eager to take some Germans down.
She felt a hand go up beside her, Robert.
Edith sighed, knowing she would volunteer— after all, she was a medic, and if a team was making an assault, they would no doubt need a medic.
Before she could raise her hand, the red head nodded and walked away into a broken shed building, no doubt to make a plan.
“Shit!” Edith cussed at herself, stepping back to chase the man down.
“Sir, Sir!” She called as she stumbled through the entrance of the shed.
The man turned, eyebrows raising slightly in surprise as his gaze fell on the female medic.
“I’m Edith Anderson, sir, F company.” She started.
“Lieutenant Winters, Easy Company.” He nodded, although one of his eyebrows remained quirked, silently asking her what she was wanting.
“Let me come on the assault, sir, i’m a medic— i can help.”
𝐀/𝐍: 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫! 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐞’𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫!
𝐢’𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐰 𝐰𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 @rosiecheekswindswepthair 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬, 𝐢 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦!💕
(dividers from @uzmacchiato)
