The motivation to find the best spot lit a fire beneath her. From her training she knew that it was critical to find the right nest. At the very least, she could hope for some measure of comfort should the pickings be slim. The lake was vast, stretching on for miles and miles. Every damp den, every dark hole had the potential to be home to pulsing sacs and writhing larva, a place where fallen bodies could become vessels for nasty parasites. Casualties would be high, and each soldier that fell in battle would become prey if not disposed of properly. She imagined the more violent the war became, the more opportunities they would have to replenish their own forces. With that in mind, she came to the conclusion that it would be a good while longer before they were on a jump jet, heading back to the compound. Ava pushed herself up after the door shut behind the commander, leaving the letter on the bed as she swiftly moved to where her boots rested on the floor. Tugging them on and lacing them tightly, she began to gather their things, all the while winding her long hair into a bun atop of her head. It was a bit haphazard when she finally secured her dark strands, and yet flattering in an effortless way though her current appearance wasn't of particular concern. It would have been once upon a time.<br/><br/>She slung her bag over her shoulder, sagging a bit under the weight of her own equipment. Snagging the commander's bag in her other hand, she stepped into the light of day, the sun higher in the sky than she anticipated. She carried their things to the slowly descending jumper, moving rather sluggishly with all that she was carrying. There was some kind of pride to be had in not having to make a second trip, even if she was moving at a snail’s pace. The thrusters caused the blades of grass in the field beyond camp to sway and ripple like a green sea. She pushed against the gusts the generated, pausing a ways from the aircraft as it settled onto the ground. The hatch lowered, and two men hurried down the ramp to relieve her of their belongings. In the quiet hum of the engines she waited, wisps of her hair swirling around her face. At the sight of the commander's silhouette in the distance, she moved up the slant and found a seat to strap herself into for the short ride to the resort.<br/><br/>From her seat by the window, she could see the soldiers hurrying out of their tents, gear hanging from their arms and bags on their backs. She was glad to see that she wasn't the only one graceless to rise, though she was awakened in a far less abrupt manner. “How much of a head start do you think we’ll have?” She asked when the commander joined her finally, smirking up at him. She assumed it wouldn’t be very much realizing that it wouldn’t be very much with how the soldier’s hustled despite their exhaustion.