by L. M. Alcott
First published 2022
Four soldiers stand guard beneath an ancient tree, its bark scarred by lightning strikes and twisted by years of wind. The October moon casts clear light on their solitary post, illuminating the gray moss that drapes the weathered trunk like battle ribbons. The tree itself resembles an old warrior, marked by countless campaigns and nearing the end of its long service. In this quiet moment of duty, the guards maintain their vigil in the pale moonlight. The scene captures the tension between the peaceful night and the vigilance required of those who protect others. Alcott places these sentries at the heart of a story about duty, sacrifice, and the weight of responsibility that falls on those who stand watch while others sleep.
Genres: american-fiction, historical-fiction, military-fiction, 19th-century
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: duty, responsibility
Period: 19th-century
70 pages · Paperback · Independently published