Rango © Gore Verbinski

OC's © AssassinsxTwist

Bad Company

Echoing in the distance was the ominous tolling of the old grandfather clock in the main room of the shack. An antique Don refused to let go of even til this day. Each deep ring was like a minute of Shoshona's life. Catching onto the chiming and diminishing off into the distance. Disappearing into nothingness, until she felt devoid like the ebony midnight sky. Her emerald optics closed waiting for death to come and steal her soul to the netherworld. Yet the malevolent reaper never appeared. She lived on and when her eyes finally reopened the chaotic scene before the rattlesnake unfolded.

"Come out with your hands up!"

"Give up now!"

Swiveling spotlights illuminated the area. The lights colored bloody red, a pallid white and oceanic blue turned everything that was once dull into an orchestra of colors. They were bright and when Shoshona squinted just enough there were clear contours of humans. Many of them - atleast two dozen that the snake could count from where she lay on the wooden surface. They were yelling and holding their guns pointed at the building. Inside she noted the voice of her human Don made out from the other yelling from the others. He was mad and he was swearing. Out of the blue a gunshot rang the air and silence occured, then some more gun fire.

"Take cover, their firing!"

"We're gonna need backup, stat!"

It was hard to hear through the gunfire but all that Shoshona needed to worry about was getting out of there an save her own hide. Gently she rolled onto her side, feeling the blood slip on out and the stinging of the fresh knife wound. The blood was pooled around her, covering most of her midsection and spine. Gradually the snake got to edge and fell to the ground. Hissing in pain "Ahh.. damn.."

The twisted body of the rattlesnake recoiled and slithered through the people. Getting past all the gun fire and the back and forth cussing war. Shoshona worried for Don and wondered if he could make it out alive. She tried not to think of it with her own injuries to worry about. But he was a father figure to her and even if one of his men had tried stabbing her she still worried.

"Men down! Damnit!"

'He'll be fine..' Even the thought was comforting for the first few seconds dread over took the snake when one of the officers shouted.

"Shoot to kill!"

The words pierced her heart like a bullet to the chest. Shoshona knew he was going to die and if not then he'd be gone forever. For the first moments it all sank into her mind. Her life was changing now and there was nothing she or anyone could do to undo it. There would be no more rats fed to her, days resting in the shade of her favorite rock in her tank, reality would all come into play and the worst of it - no more Don.

Hastily she shut her eyes, oily tears running down her cheek, turning away she slithered off as quickly as her body would carry her. There was no looking back to the blood bath unfolding at her old home. What was once cherished was lost and soon she found herself wandering into the horizon as the moon began to disappear and the sun began to arise..


It could've been years, months, weeks but in reality it had been a day. For a day she had wandered with no trace of no one, nothing but herself and the local cacti that grew. The sun was hotter than ever and the bleeding had only stopped temporarily thanks to a couple dried leaves to bandage them. Now Shoshona was still alone. A tumbleweed giving her a feat feeling of companionship in the great sandbox of the Mojave.

After the day went by and brought the moon Shoshona was thankful. At night there wasn't a worry for the rattlesnake. It was cooler and the hawks weren't out stalking their prey. But it made traveling the harder since one could barely see in front of their own snout.

"Y'ouch!," Shoshona spat, angirly. ",Damned cacti!"

The sharp hookish needles from the cactus caught a hold of her wound. Ripping it open and letting the blood flow some more. The leaf by now was sodden with old blood and served no more purpose to her. All she could do was hope she'd find another plant and use it's leaves. But for the next two hours she slithered along. Head slung over, panting like a thirsty dog. Shoshona wouldn't have it in her for another go. Another day would do her in if no water, food, or even something to stop the bleeding wasn't found. The lack of blood made her tired and weary and pale to the scales. The land began to darken some more but the beautiful light not to far kept her going.

The light was fire and the crackling felt all to comforting. Where there was water, there might be people and with people came supplies like water, food and medicine! Gliding across the sand, she came closer and closer to the fire. Her eyes hazy with sleep, hunger and lack of blood made her less wary of the presence sitting on the opposite of the fire. Making her look as if in a drunken stupor.

His copper gaze looked the on comer over, brow slanted down angrily, gun pointed and ready to fire.

"One more move an' y'all be leakin' lead."

"Hn?"

"Ya heard me!"

Panick began to take over now as she coiled up and hid away. The gun was loaded and the continuous clicking and shuffling around of it made her even more unnerved by the males presence.

"D-don't shoot..! Ple ple-ase d-don't!"

"Heh.. heh.. scared are' ya'."

"I'm n-not here to hurt anyone..."

"Jus' you an me here, ain't no one else."

Shoshona uncoiled and slowly creeped over when she noted that his gun was on the ground away from her.

"I-I'm no-no threat to you.."

"Think' I can't see that? Cowerin'.. heh...yer' to much of a' coward."

"I am...," She admitted ",Please.. I need help."

"An what make's ya think that I should help?"

Shoshona had no more time for games. Her body couldn't take the struggling anymore and it didn't matter to her anymore. Fearlessly she spat blood at his face, her lip curling in disgust.

"Good enough for you? Gunslinger.."

And with that she collapsed onto the ground.


"Humans Talking" "Animals/ Shoshona Talking" 'Hearing others talk' Thoughts


A/N- Thanks bunches to hidansgirl1234, and ninjadragon5 for the reviews, and to everyone that added the story to their alert or faved. And thanks to everyone who will favorite, alert, review, etc!