It took us near two days to march back to our location with the army behind us. I was used to travelling light and fast to avoid detection, but I had to get used to travelling with an army now, especially if I was going to be leading one into battle. As we neared the cave that our group called home, Lestat and Vincent came forward to intercept me. "Where were you?" Vincent asked. I looked down at him before I hopped off my horse. I looked at him again. "Getting some help." I replied. Lestat frowned and cleared his throat, grabbing my attention. "Help for what?" He asked. I looked from Vincent to him. "For the war." I replied. It was all I needed to say. For my group and I both knew that a war was brewing. With the hatred for vampires growing amongst humans, they would soon start sending out raiding parties to kill us, wherever they found us. Then from raiding parties they would start sending larger battalions like several days ago. From battalions would come large militias. And from militias would come vast armies, all with one purpose: to find and destroy vampires. Vincent nodded. Although he wasn't a vampire, he was unkillable, and seemingly undead, so he was gladly accepted by all the others here. I stood amongst my fellow vampires.We needed to decide who would lead our army, and there would be debate amongst them, but I knew eventually they would come to a decision. "Someone needs to lead this army." Vincent said, almost as if he read my mind. "Agreed." James said, that word being the only word I had heard him say since he had joined up with us. "I think Marius should." Edward said. I smiled inside. Edward had been my captain ever since the first great war of Dreamland, during which we defeated the massive horde of creatures ravaging the land. Even then he never lost his loyalty to me though I had been removed from the military and he had formed the soldiers into the elite protectors of the land. Even then when the white armoured guards had taken power from him and his black armoured guards rebelled, when we met up again and fought the white armoured guards for control again he still swore his loyalty to me. Even now. I had a great amount of respect for Edward. "I have seen Marius fight the enemy battalion. He fights with a great amount of skill. And apparently he's led armies before. I will stand behind him." James said, looking at me with admiration. I smiled at him, and he nodded with respect towards me. "Well, Marius has been my friend for a long time. He should lead." Lestat said. Kirk stepped forward. I know that Kirk was a reasonably good leader, during the times in which he attempted to lead our vampire group for a while. "When I first knew you I called you enemy. And now I call you friend. I have seen you fight in battles, and one on one. Instead of friend I shall now call you sir." Kirk said, smiling and nodding in respect. I saw Inekwar grinning. His father, whom he had only known for a few days, was greatly respected among everyone he knew. He also knew his father was a formidable fighter from fighting him in battle, and now he would fight behind him in a fight for freedom. A gust of wind came through, blowing some of my hair into my face. "I won't let you down." I said loudly so all of the army could hear me. The guards, whom I now called my soldiers, set up their tents around the field. I took up residence in my own cave in the hills while the troops set up their tents. It was smaller than the one that my fellow vampires called home, but it would suit me just fine. I didn't have much anyways, save something to sleep on and my sword. I sat upon a rock shelf formed in the cave wall, and watched as Inekwar entered and sat down beside me. "When are we going to start fighting?" He asked me. I shook my head. "I don't know. I was hoping to avoid fighting this time around, but nobody will let me live in peace." I said softly. Inekwar nodded slowly. "Well, I hope one day you can have your peace father." he said, before he stood, turned and exited the cave. I watched him go, and layed back on the rock shelf. I saw dawn coming, so I layed back and easily fell asleep.