Sorry for the LOOOONNNGGG update guys! I had school to deal with and I had to re-watch Rango to get inspired to continue on with this story.

This one was complicated and I hope I did alright with keeping everyone in character. Also, the next chapter might not be up for a while as I have NO IDEA what to do next. If you have any suggestions please leave them in your comments.

Disclaimer: I DO NOT in, ANY way, own the movie "Rango" or its characters. I ONLY own this fanfic and my OCs.

Chapter FiveDestiny is Calling

As her vision cleared, Rihanna was met with bright blue sky and puffy clouds being swept away by the cool breeze. She looked around the vast sea of desert sand, both in confusion and awe. There was nothing except a few cactuses and tumbleweeds rolling by. In some spots where the wind had blown away the sand, the earth was cracked from being baked under the hot midday sun. The sight was truly spectacular.

However, something didn't quite seem right. She could see and hear everything that was happening around her, but she could not smell all of the aromas that came with the desert climate. Nor could she feel the warm sun hitting her scales.

"Am I dead?" She wondered aloud.

"No," Came a gentle voice from behind her. It almost felt calming and fatherly, making the snake relax a bit. ", But you tried your best, Amigo."

She turned and saw a wise and elderly looking armadillo. His soft brown eyes gave off a friendly glow and his smile gave off a calming effect. He wore an old, tattered, wide brimmed hat and held a staff in one of his front paws. Grey whiskers adorned his face, forming a mustache and short beard.

Rihanna watched this mysterious stranger in wonder before regaining her voice. "W-Where am I? What am I doing here?"

A rumbling chuckle resounded in his throat. "You have many questions, but all will be answered in time."

Rihanna frowned in confusion and tilted her head slightly to the side. She was about to open her mouth to speak when she was cut off by the showmen continuing.

"We are in Limbo or as many call it the other side. A place on the edge of heaven and hell where souls of the deceased are judged by what they did when they were alive. Although, some may have the choice to live once again."

"So you're saying that I have a choice in whether I live or die?" the snake asked, inching closer to the mammal.

"Yes Amigo. Your story is not yet over. You must complete your destiny."

Rihanna's confusion never wavered. In fact, it kind of grew with that last statement. Why was this crazy old coot talking in riddles? It was challenging for her to understand him. Still, one thing was bothering her.

"My destiny?"

The armadillo nodded. "Every creature born of this earth has a reason to their existence. Whether it is simply to raise the next generation or much more. Yours is very important."

"Well then, what is this 'very important' destiny?" Rihanna asked raising her brow and giving him an expectant face.

"Ah that is not my place to enlighten, but I can tell you that a person often meets their destiny on the road they took to avoid it."

More riddles. Rihanna had to keep herself from scoffing. "You sound like my father." She lowered her head and muttered under her breath in a somewhat angered and depressed manner.

"Yes," He said. "Delgado was a wise man."

Rihanna's head shot up. "You knew my father?"

He nodded and gave her another warm smile. "He was a very good friend of mine." He then let loose a quite chuckle. "The last time I saw you, you were nothing but a sliver of a girl."

Rihanna's eyes studied the sand particles as memories came back to her. She remembered back when she was a little girl, her father's friends sometimes dropped by. Some were nice to her some didn't pay her much heed. Still, she was curious of all the new faces talking with her father. Especially, one who visited the most, a weathered armadillo wearing a wide brimmed hat. His voice suddenly snapped her out of it.

"Our time grows short. Keep those who are around you close for they will help you discover your true calling."

Rihanna's vision started to darken around her. Oh no, not again! She thought. She looked back to the armadillo who claimed to be a friend of her family, when it suddenly dawned on her. "What's your name?" She asked.

His face brightened up. "You may call me Roadkill."

# # # # #

When she came to, she was met with the concerned and relived eyes of the friends. Her eyes were just getting used to the light when a pair of large, golden orbs blocked her field of vision, making her jump. Gah! I'm sure that's not what he meant by keeping them close! She thought.

"Oh thank god!" Beans breathed a sigh of relief as she ushered the young cactus mouse away from the rattlesnake. "We were so worried! We thought ye would be joinin' the spirit of the west."

Rango came forward and removed his hat. "How 'r ya feelin', Rihanna?"

"Other than gettin' the crud beat outta me by a flyin' demon, I'm just peachy." She replied, sarcastically.

"Snake is fine." Wounded Bird said rolling his eyes.

"Alright everybody," Doc started herding people out the bedroom door. "Out. Rihanna needs 'er rest."

The snake chuckled quietly to herself. It was quite amusing to watch a group of adults, minus Priscilla, being driven out like a bunch of children in grade school. A few minutes had passed since everyone had left and the snake felt her eyes start to grow heavy. Just as she settled back into her pillow, a sudden rattling noise made her eyes snap open. An amused voice sent shivers through her, aching her tender injuries.

"My how te tables have turned."

Rihanna sat up and turned to the door eyeing one amused Rattlesnake Jake leaning casually on the door frame. His eyes could just be seen under the brim of his hat; the pools of liquid fire lit up as he gave her a smug smirk. She was amazed to see that his bandages were gone, leaving the still sore looking wounds to breath. The female snake was grateful that she didn't have as many wounds as he did; a portion of her upper body was wrapped as the hawk grabbed her just above where her heart was. Still they were pretty bad.

"If ma memory serves, I was in yer very same position 'bout a week ago. Talk 'bout ye irony." Jake continued chuckling as he slithering closer into the room, next to the bed.

Rihanna fought the urge to roll her eyes at him, partly because he had a point. Then Roadkill's words echoed in her head. A person often meets their destiny on the road they took to avoid it. She had a vague idea on what he meant, but she still didn't understand it. Oh well, she'll figure it out later.

"What do you want, Sharp Shooter?"She growled, looking at the outlaw straight in the face.

"That's a mighty fine thing te say te someone who save ye miserable hide." He replied sarcastically, using the same tone she used on him not too long ago.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, so what do want?" Rihanna asked a second time, her anger starting to rise. She was very close to forcefully wiping that sly smirk off of his face, but remained where she was since she didn't want her cuts to re-open.

"I just came by te see how ye were faring, Darlin'." He answered, giving another sly smirk.

"Well, that's awfully nice of you, but I'm fine. Thank you from savin' me from that hawk, there's the door." The female snake said, nodding towards the open door.

"Alright, no need te get testy, I'm goin'!" Jake exclaimed, rolling his eyes and slithering out of the room before pausing just at the doorway. He looked back to her. "See ye 'round, Darlin'" He said as he gave her a nod, then disappearing through the door.

"The sooner he's outta here, the better." She thought as she lay back down and let the sleepiness envelop her senses.

# # # # #

Later that day, Doc came to change her bandages. He unwrapped the gauze to reveal the jagged cuts in her side. She grimaced. They were already starting to form a thin layer of puss and beginning to scab over. Normally, Rihanna had a strong stomach for something like this, but seeing this on her own hide made her insides do back flips.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Doc pull out something from his medical bag. Rihanna's eyes widened a little in realization. It was a bottle; a bottle which contained alcohol. She knew where this was going. When she was a little girl, whenever she got a scrap or cut, her father would put alcohol on it to clean it out. It stung like hell!

"Brace yerself, Rihanna." Doc warned as he opened the bottle. "This may sting a 'lil."

'A 'lil' was the understatement of the year. It stung the whole fricking ten yards! It felt as if liquid fire were coursing through her body.

"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow! Son of a..." She hissed as it took most of her strength not to writhe in pain.

Doc watched her with remorse. "I'm sorry Rihanna, but there may be some sand left in there."

"Hey Doc, how long was I out?" Rihanna asked, trying to take her mind off of her pain.

"'Bout three days." The rabbit replied casually as he dabbed away the access alcohol and proceeded to rewrap the snake's injuries with fresh bandages.

She gasped. "T-Three days? What the hell happened while I was out?"

"Well," Doc started. "We hauled ye back 'ere by cart and I started te fix ye up. The whole town was worried sick 'bout ya, especially them who saw it happen. Includin' that dang outlaw."

"Jake?"

"Yep. He might not admit te it, but he seemed purdy riled up when we got back te town. Probably still worked up 'bout that hawk." Doc replied as he put away his supplies.

"Yeah...that's it." Rihanna said, somewhat distant.

Well, ye should be able te move around once them cuts 'ave healed up a bit. Until then, try not te move 'round too much." Doc informed, closing the bag and picking it up.

Rihanna sighed. "And how long will that take?"

"'Bout three or four days." He said casually, hearing an audible groan come from the snake. The rabbit gave an encouraging smile. "Don't ye worry; they'll go by faster than ye know it. I'll see ye tomorrow." With that, he waved good bye to the snake before walking out the door.

"Bye Doc." Rihanna said to the disappearing form of the Jack Rabbit. After a few seconds, suddenly something clicked in her head. "Hey Doc?" She called through the open door way. Within a few more seconds Doc appeared in the doorway.

"Yes Rihanna?"

"I just wanted to thank you, all of you, for everything you've done fer me. You let me into yer town an' gave me a place to call home. And ye saved my life. I can't even think of a time when I was this appreciative."

"It ain't a problem, Rihanna. Ye shown on multiple occasions, that ye care 'bout this town an' everyone in it." Doc replied with a pleased expression.

Rihanna smiled. Doc returned the smile with a light bob of his head before exiting the room once again. Rihanna watched him leave with a joyous expression. She was lucky. Lucky, not only because she lived through the attack, but lucky because she had found a home filled with friends, who she considered family. Friends, who would stick by her, help her in a time of need. Yes, she was indeed lucky.

# # # # #

"Hey boss, ye in here?"

"Yes, what is it?"

"I did what ye told me te do." Bolton replied, taking a nervous step towards the large silhouette. He was visually wobbly in the knees as he approached the serpentine form.

"...And?" The shadow questioned with an impatient growl.

"I found out that she spends most of 'er time at the saloon; she has a job there ya know. And she lives in small two floor house just outside of town." Bolton said, relaying the information he had gathered over the last couple of days. Of course, he had almost gotten caught by the female rattlesnake multiple times, but that was nothing compared to what would happen if he had failed his job. Just the thought of what could happen sent shivers down his spine.

The large snake bobbed his head as the smaller lizard spoke. Yep, that sounded like her. She was the same as always, only time had changed. He looked up when he heard Bolton cease talking. "Anything else?"

"Uh...just before I left, the posse came back from patrolin' and, apparently, she had been attacked by a big ol' hawk. Last I heard she was held up in 'er room until 'er wound heal up." The chuckwalla lizard replied.

"Thank you, Bolton." The snake sneered. The eerie sound of rattling filled the room as the serpent coiled up. Bolton panicked. "That will be all."

With that the head of the rattlesnake shot forward, and before Bolton could yelp in surprise, he was caught in the mouth of the mighty snake. Large sharp fangs pierced his body, injecting the lethal venom. Through his drunken state, he felt a wall of scales wrap around him. This was his last recollection before he was met with the pink fleshy inside of the snake's maw. Within a few seconds he was gone from sight.

"Johnson!" The snake bellowed as he worked to re-adjust his jaw.

A few minutes later, a male black and white California king snake opened the weathered wooden door. He wore a classic tan cowboy hat with a darker brown band around the bottom of the crown. His eyes were a dark brown grey, which made his large black bands on his hide more vibrant. Johnson was a young snake, maybe in his late twenties to early thirties. He was one of the younger members of the Colorado Clan and also the one their leader depended more on as he would never try to disobey an order.

"Yeah Boss?"

"I want ye te get the boys together. We're goin' on a treasure hunt." He said with a devious grin as he moved back behind his desk.

"Yes Sir, I'm on it." Johnson replied as he left the room.

The black snake grinned, flashing his fangs which were still dripping with Bolton's blood. It wouldn't be long now.

# # # # #

Jake sat in his usual spot in the dark corner of the saloon. He was still figuring out where he had seen her before. So far it was driving him crazy! It was on the tip of his tongue, but out of his grasp. He growled silently in frustration, making the bartender who was refilling his glass jump. He turned his attention to the toad. It wasn't Buford as he looked to be a few years younger.

"Did Rihanna ever say where she's from?" Jake asked, trying not to make the bartender any more scared than he already was. Although it didn't help.

"U-Uh I heard her mention te Sheriff Rango that she used te live in a place called Sandstone Creek." The young toad replied.

"Appreciate it." Jake said with a light bob of his head as the bartender moved on to another costumer.

Even though he didn't get all the information he needed, he knew he was close to finding the answer. Of course he wanted to leave this damn town, but the feeling he knew her would still be nagging at him. So, he decided to stay. Just for a little while. At least until he found out the answer to his question.

The last part is kinda bothering me a bit, but what are ya going ta do?

Last weekend I went to go see 'Happy Feet Two' and might I say it was AWSOME! The music was even better with Alecia Moore (Pink) voicing Gloria.

P.S. If you have any suggestions for how to change this chapter to make it better or any suggestions on what you think should happen in the next chapter, please comment!

PEACE OUT! XD