West POV

I was with Maria and Veronica, walking to a close village about 10 miles from the village, to my surprise, there are no men there, I'm not gay, just saying that I would be happy to see males for once instead of the hot villager girls.
"How much longer are we walking ?" I asked Maria, "it's only other this hill, besides, I'm more worried on how the others are doing, Alice lived in one of the other villages so they will listen to her, but what about Julie and Amber because they are moving all the weapons to the cave, as well as half the village" Maria replies, looking at me.

I have my sword, my Assault Rifle and Magnum, with several Frags, Maria has Marine armour, but no helmet and the armour had a captains rank marked on to it, she also carried a Battle Rifle and Alice also had Marine armour, that had a corporal's rank marked on it, wearing a combat helmet, and had the plasma pistol I took from the grunt, that was 2 days ago, since then, we had found more weapons, ammunition and even a ton of UNSC marine armour.

Alice also had a shotgun, I showed her how to use it and how to reload it, but even after explaining that there are easier weapons to use, she insist on using the shotgun, she was about 5 metres ahead of me and Maria, "hey, Corporal Alice, you okey ?" I say, "huh ?, yeah, I'm fine, just hope that everything will be alright, besides, I'm giving you and Maria some space, you two lovebirds." She says, Maria blushes and I laugh, "you sound jealous, what's the matter ?, you want some of me too ?" I say in a teasing tone, then Maria blushes brighter and Alice started to turn red, "n-no... Maybe" Alice says, saying the last word really quiet, but I heard her.

The village came into view after we walked over a small hill and a few people ran up to us, one holding a sword and one with an musket like weapon, well, they have some type of guns, but they are old and will be extremely ineffective against the Covenant.
"Maria, is that you ?" One of the female villagers asked, she looked about the same age as Maria, but had a darker hair colour and blue eyes.
"Samantha, I need to talk to you, it's important" Maria says, then Samantha looks at me, "who's she ?". I nearly laughed and shouted, but managed to keep my cool. "Well..." Maria said but I cut her off and spoke in a respective manager.
"With all due respect, I'm not a woman." I say, and then placing my weapon on my back, "prove it" says Samantha, so I remove my helmet, "what ?, just because there is a lack of men for a lot of reasons, doesn't mean that all males are gone, now do you doubt my sexuality ?" I said, only for Samantha to shake her head, "no. No. I believe you. Come in me-I mean come with me t-to my house, we can speak there." Samantha stuttered. This happens every time, I swear it.

Inside the house, I explained what I am and how I came here, then told them about the Covenant and then Maria explained the plan, as she did this, I decided to go outside and walk around for a bit, "I'll be back in a bit, I'm just going for a walk." I say, then walked out the house, I saw a group of women staring at me, and gave me a look that Maria gave me the night we... Never mind, but I know what they are thinking, "hey pretty boy, come here and we will show you how a real woman can care for you" one in the front says, I smile and put on my helmet, "thanks for the offer but I'm already taken and it's time for me to disappear." I say, then activate my camo the second I finished talking, "where did he go ?" One of the girls asked, "I don't know, quickly, we must find him, let's go." The first girl says again and ran at me, with the group in close pursuit, so I ran out the way and let them pass.

I walked around until I saw Maria with Samantha and Alice, I walk up to them and turn off my camo, "I'm here, sorry about the camo but there are some who want me as much as you do" I say to Maria as Samantha looked shocked, "wait, you... And him are..." Samantha stuttered and turned a bright shade of red, "yeah, he is really good too" says Maria, blushing but it looked like Samantha and Alice would faint, but a light, gunning sound cut them out of it, it was getting nearer, "what is it ?" Asked Samantha, I heard that sound before, "get you're people to hid, is there any shelters underground ?" I asked, "yeah, the old mines, we go now, but what is it ?, what's that sound ?" Samantha asked, I turned to all 3 of the girls, "it the Covenant" I say, and right on cue, a couple of Phantoms flew over us, I nod to Samantha and she runs to the main village houses, getting people underground, Alice cocked her weapon and moved I front of me, "Alice, help Samantha, protect them from any of the Covenant till there all safe. Ok ?" I say, "OK, but be careful" alice says and runs to Samantha, "Maria, you..." "No, you listen to me, I'm fighting with you, got it ?" Maria says, cutting me off, "got it" I smile at this, there's the girl that took my heart.

The Covenant were dropping by the edge of the village, I counted about 20 Grunts, 7 Elites, 10 Jackels with shields, 2 Sniper Jackels and 5 Grunt Engineers, 2 of them had Fuel Rod Cannons. 44 hostiles, that's a basic fire fight, "we better end this and get out of the village, or more will arrive and we wouldn't last long" I say to Maria as one of the Phantoms left but the other remained, probably to provide fire support.
This is going to be a hell of a fight.