9. Camp Rabi' (fourth camp)

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Jazakallahu Khair for reading ZAYYAD❤️

The camp was surrounded by bricked walls and iron; large tents were arranged intricately, with spaces between them. The width was very large in the middle of the desert. On the gates was a artistic inscription, written, "Camp Rabi'"

Sand flew around as Ustaz Ali and the five soldiers arrived on the horse. The new arrivals were surrounded with dust already,  not minding the new one. 

"You arrived before the due time. The first test passed. We'll go in now." Ustaz Ali complimented. He rode to the gates and shouted the Salam in a loud voice, and mentioned his name. 

The gates were opened and Zayyad and the others could see the inner camp. Since it was almost time for Magrib, the soldiers inside weren't much active. 

An old soldier in armor came out with three escorts and shook hands with Ustaz Ali.

"Your group arrived first and are save, Alhamdulillah." 

"It's our duty, General Ya'qoob," Ustaz Ali said respectfully. The general nodded and turned to the newbies. 

"Assalamu Alaikum brothers."

"Wa alaikumussalam." The group returned.

"Masha Allah. Welcome to Camp Rabi'. I am the commander of this troop, general Ya'qoob." He introduced them, makinsurprisedurprised. To think that the main commander came out to welcome them. 

The general added, "I know you must be tired from the week's walk, so you will be allowed to rest and pray before anything else. Fawaz!"

"Na'am general," one of the soldiers behind him answered. 

"Escort our new soldiers to their camp." General Ya'qoob instructed. 

"Na'am!" Fawaz nodded and gestured inside the camp. 

"Go on," Ustaz Ali smiled at them.

The group followed after Fawaz.

"We've arrived," Husein whispered excitedly. Zayyad looked behind at the vast desert before turning back to the camp. This will be the first place and first step in his fight against these enemies. 

Ustaz Ali watched them leave and entered together with General Ya'qoob. They walked together toward their camp and Ya'qoob mentioned something that made Ustaz Ali surprised. 

"The three groups will soon arrive but one of the escorts from Ridiyya came back first with an injured man." 

"An attack?" Ustaz Ali gasped. 

"A surprise attack and it was from an archer. They used a bowstring arrow," Ya'qoob replied. 

Ustaz Ali frowned. The Kafir states knew they were recruiting new soldiers, so the various camps sent their best soldiers to escort the newbies. The routine they took could protect the soldiers from different sides, even against archers. But recently, a new weapon was used in the peninsula. A bowstring. It was faster and more dangerous than a bow and arrow. Much harder to evade. The Muslim camp was also training archers with bow strings now but who knew an expert will arrive now?

Since the soldiers sent could be taken by surprise, the archer must be an expert. 

"They attacked only once, and the person escaped quickly on a red horse. The escort there went after him but had to come back because of the newbies there. " Ya'qoob said. 

"Fast horse, a bowstring? We have information on this man. He must be a new weapon trained by the Kafirs. We will try to find info on him." Ustaz Ali promised. "How is the injured man doing?" 

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"The medics took care of him," Ya'qoob answered. "Have you seen any good seedlings from the recruits from Amatra?" 

"There are many young men among them and four teenagers too. One of them is even eighteen." Ustaz Ali replied. 

"Eighteen? His parents agreed?" Ya'qoob was slightly surprised. 

"Yes. I saw him at the Masjid first and his bearing took my attention. From what I heard around the village, he is calm, quiet, and calculating. His mother is said to be a widow and gave birth to him in Amatra. I thought he was going to wait for the next recruitment but he joined this time." Ustaz Ali explained. It wasn't easy for a single mother to let her only son, leave her at such a young age. 

"I see. I hope we get surprised more." Ya'qoob chuckled. 

"General. There is something that I need to report too." Ustaz Ali stopped and said seriously. Ya'qoob nodded and told the soldiers to leave them. 

Ustaz Ali said, "The boy's name is Zayyad and as he grew up, no one knew his surname nor his mother's but when he submitted his form, he added it." 

Ya'qoob listened carefully seeing the solemn look on Ali's face.

"His surname is El-Hayat." Ustaz Ali added. 

"El-Hayat?" Ya'qoob was aghast.

……

Meanwhile, Zayyad and the others arrived at a new camp with Fawaz. There were six large tents in it. 

"Since you arrived first, you can take two tents from here. This will be your home for now. " Fawaz told them. 

"It's almost time for Maghrib, so when you hear the Adhan, follow the sound to the camp Masjid for Salat. Any more information will be related to you then," he added. 

"Jazakallahu khair, " the oldest among them said. Fawaz nodded and left them. 

"Let's take the two at the right." The man suggested and everyone agreed. Just like what they did on the way, the two groups formed took one tent each. Inside was wide with wooden beds arranged in two rows. Each bed had a lantern beside it. The newbies chose their beds quickly dropping their luggage. 

Zayyad and his friends naturally stayed together, taking the far-end beds. 

"I'm so exhausted, " Hussein collapsed on his bed, mumbling. 

"Quit complaining. Alhamdulillah we arrive safely. " Adnan reminded. 

Zayyad carefully kept his bag and walked past them to go outside. 

"So obsessed with cleanliness," Husein chuckled sitting up. Zayyad, as they knew him hated even the smallest dirt. One can only imagine how he felt on this journey. 

"Cleanliness is part of your Iman. Get up , we need a bath." Hassan scolded. 

"Let's enjoy the bathroom before we start sharing." Adnan stretched his hands. The twins went after him as they went to the bathroom. 

There were ten well-covered bathrooms in each village. Zayyad, who went out early, was in one already. His friends got another while the rest was occupied. 

Hussein felt a gaze and realized it was the man that drank the water on their first day. The man's name was Anas, and since that day, he hadn't spoken to them. Good for him, he didn't do what he did again. 

"What are you looking at?" Husein, being impatient asked. 

"I just want to remind you kids to be more careful in this camp. Let your ego down because you will surely meet many better than you." Anas sneered. Their group was the youngest but the smart move they used made the group arrive first and they were complemented by others. Even back at Amatra, Anaz knew just how good the youngsters were which made him uncomfortable. 

"What? Are you jealous of us now?" Hussein scoffed. 

"Don't dream too big." Anas harrumphed. 

"Jealousy is poison in a Muslim heart, so just stop it," Hassan said and pulled his brother's hand.

"Ignore him." He said and Husein nodded. 

Zayyad soon came out and the others took their bath. They changed into fresh clothes when the Adhan started. They performed wudu quickly and rushed to the masjid. It was an open field with skin mats arranged to form rows. 

Many soldiers were there already so they joined them. Before the Salat started, another dust-filled group arrived. They only got a chance for Wudu and joined the rows. Everyone has arrived now!

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