Hey Spice and Wolf fans I'm asking for a favor. So I've been actively finding ways to improve my writing skills, one of which is to help the chapters read easier by removing repetitious words such as ;and, but, this, that and so forth. By restructuring sentences to accommodate that goal.

The help I'm asking is for more people to review this chapter if they've noticed a difference and if so, for the better or worse.

The more assorted feedback I can get, the better I can get at writing for y'all!

Sure appreciate ya!


Chapter 27

Wolf and the Mountaineers

The atmosphere which imbibed this campsite rallied itself with the discomfiture of uncertainty and contempt. There were the men witnessing one of their comrades held down by a knife, there was the man who was putting him at the forefront of death, then there was the woman who made her affiliation with him known by her antics. The absurdity of what was transpiring generated the loudest silence one would ever hear.

Holo was bristling with rage whilst Ranger unrelentingly kept Jeb nigh at death's door, the one being completely indifferent towards the other while being totally oblivious to their audience. It is also worthy of note to observe that her ears and tail were unobscured which brought no ire among the campers.

Any tone expressed felt prohibited, thus establishing the profound silence. It took an outsider, who was unaware of what was transpiring, and, who was unsettled by the sudden silence following the peculiar ruckus, to come from behind the open tarp of a nearby tent while saying in the same feminine voice that aforesaid addressed Holo the previous night, "Y'know it is normally when you arses suddenly lost the interest to speak is when…"

A woman, possessing a strong countenance upon her hardened face which was complemented with black hair that ruffled to her shoulders in waves. Far from age stricken who occupied a commanding aura and piercing gaze. She was dressed in a tunic girded with leather straps, gauntlets, boots and so forth. Wearing a large belt from which depended a cutlass which was difficult to perceive on account of her brown mantle upon her shoulders like a cape that drooped so low her heels would click against it at the apex of her stride.

Her eyes accounted the additional body, Jeb whom he was holding then to Holo who seemed acquainted with the intruder, then asked, "And what in the name of the Holy Mother is happening here?" from her robe she produced a loaded crossbow with the intent to kill but was intercepted during the incline from Holo's hand who pled, "Wait, Ho!"

The gruff woman inquired of her, "You know this man?"

Again she spoke with an unusual accent. This annunciation which laid intwined with her words produced a tone in tandem with those of the sailors who made port in the lands westward, where the sea crashes into the hills of rolling green.

Jeb, in attempts to defend his station, yelled to his better, "I caught this fool spying on us!"

Ignoring his predicament, Holo informed, "He is not a spy." yet intentionally put an emphasis in her statement as to insinuate his foolishness.

Ranger broke his silence and addressed the strange woman, "Is threatening to slay a lone wanderer a common practice among, whomever you are?"

"I don't know,' came the chagrin of the woman, 'it all depends on whomever be wandering to our bivouac."

Holo interjected harshly, "You fool! This is the expedition we were attempting to catch up with!"

The man, so dumbstruck that his eyes trailed off to the abyss, in which the woman, when noting it, called out to the other men who were becoming anxious and ready to strike, "Easy lads, I don't think this one means harm."

Taking advantage of Ranger's mental paralysis, she asked, "So tell me, are ye going to keep up with that romantic embrace with our man?"

When reminded he still had ahold of Jeb, relinquished it but glared upon the individual whom he stalemated with, "That jacket you brandish, it does not belong to you."

"Leave it!" cried Holo.

Jeb brushed himself off with a hideous sneer then demanded while extending his hand, "I'll be keeping this jacket, and taking back my knife."

Ranger extended his dagger towards him, but at the pivotal moment when the exchange was to take place, tossed it into the bushes and walked away towards the women. Once approached he said with resilience to the admittance of his error, "Apologies then, for mistaking your lackey as one with hostile intent."

"Don't mind him, he's as dumb as an ox and as crafty as a weasel.' then introduced herself with a bow, 'name's Agatha, Agatha McDubbland."

"Salutations,' replied Ranger less taken by her charm, 'As you may know, we have been attempting to find you since Trapper's loop."

Agatha girded some cheer, "Aye, so you're the one she's made such a fuss about."

He sloped his head in an inquiring crook, "A fuss?"

"Cher now, last night I overheard your little squabble with the natives which led me to this little lass who wanted nothing more but for us find you, and I can see why.' then turning to Holo, 'quite the hunk of man you fished out."

The blush on Holo's face rushed up past her cheeks causing her eyes to raise, "We are not involved that way."

"Then ye don't mind if I take 'im for me self!"

A silencing sentiment of abashed sensation ran its course through her. Agatha, when seeing the impact of her jest laughed loudly then gave her a slap on the shoulder, "Be at ease lass, I won't come between ye."

Aiming to move the subject, Ranger said, "If you are done flattering yourself, I have news that your expedition would do well to be informed of."

"Let loose your tongue then stranger."

"There is a militia of Sawatti not too afar off from where you have pitched camp."

Agatha's mood shifted to one of a more serious injunction, "How far and how many?"

"Since before the dawn when I encountered them to when we have alas met up, I slew roughly over a dozen from what seemed an unending assault. They gave up the pursuit in the storm when I ventured to camp say a mile out."

"A dozen on your own? A storm you say? Did ye hit your head during yer course here?" she replied with humorous suspicion.

Holo then interjected, "He is as capable as he says, much of the carnage you saw last night was his doing."

Agatha's brow leveled out with a bewildered stupefaction yet maintained her establishment as the higher being among the camp, "Well that is good, seeing how you led them here, ye can throw them out without our expense."

A slight grievance suddenly past through Ranger's frame becoming the basis of him going faint slightly before the heroins. Agatha perceived it quickly and stretched forth her hand to stabilize him, "Easy now, it appears those dozen you've killed has taken its toll."

The dark cloud of his eminence began to pass through him before he could make a protest to her assist. Holo fancied herself to reinforce Agatha's attempts by supporting the other limb and was nearly dragged down by the density of his unbearable weight. His muscles went rigid like stone as he willed his strength to return and said, "I can manage."

Holo's mouth opened to speak yet the words that followed were not her own but of Agatha's, "No I say, ye have been through enough and it's starting to show. Best use what strength ye have left to waddle down to Doc's tent while ye can, before ye have to be carried off by the women and forever injure yer pride."

Hoisting his arms free he said with as much disdain for his compliance as their was for her reason, "Where would you have me go?"

Holo, becoming rapidly stupefied by assenting to the demand of she whom he considered an inferior like all others he contacted with, stuttered, "I do not believe it."

His pride, despite the call to have his fatigue accommodated, influenced logic and reason to accept assistance and made the pilgrimage on his own. Upon arriving, Agatha entered first while calling for the man whom she sought, returning again to the outside she addressed, "Doc seems to be out for the moment, accommodate yourself for a moment while I find where he's gone off to."

Holo took herself in first, then, as Ranger past through the open flap, had herself turned to face him. The nature by which he was addressed was no more apparent than by her irate outburst.

"Where have you been?"

Supporting himself on a nearby table, said, "Had anyone else possessed ears as such as yours, would know what I have already predisposed to Agatha."
Taking up mounds of ruffled hair in her clenched fists, she responded, "I heard what you said, it is just that-that..!"

"Speak!"

Adjoining her arms with melancholy she gasped with the despair one would have if they had found all hopes extinguished, "I thought I had lost you."

Sitting upon the cot and sinking her face into her hands, continued, "I looked everywhere for you, then when Agatha found me, a search party was formed in hopes to uncover what I had not. They went most of the night before finally returning to camp, and that is when I had nearly given up and thought you had perished."

He positioned himself in front of her, "Perhaps you would have felt responsible for my death."

Snapping her hands to her waist while looking up and away, she caromed, "Hmph! I am…"

"..Holo the wise wolf…" he finished for her with boredom.

"…and I would not take responsibility for what would not be my doing."

"I was tied to the man you slung off the cliff."

She crossed her arms then pouted with defiance. He set himself to make light of it by moving forward when she gazed up to his waist level with horror. Covering her mouth with one hand while seizing his left wrist with the other, exclaimed, "What has happened? Look at you!"

Her terror was provoked by the ghastly sight of his mangled hand, the sockets of his ring and pinky clotted and swollen a color most foul.

"Occupational hazard." he responded when pulling it away from her.

Being placed in a state frenzy she rushed from the tent looking in all directions while calling for Agatha. The success of these efforts were made manifest by the acceleration of the commute the relief party was taking. Holo repaired to her original position with a finger pointed to the afflicted individual exclaiming, "Come see!"

Two men, whom we have not yet been introduced, arrived through the flaps with Agatha in tow. One, appearing well seasoned, took all of Ranger's countenance into effect as he made his assessment, "Give the man his space."

He moved past Holo while instructing the warrior to place himself upon the cot.

Agatha, when given the space in conversation to make an introduction, said, "This is Doc and his apprentice…"

"Assistant." corrected the man.

"Assistant, Ottis." she finished.

Both men where already upon Ranger, asking questions while attempting to remove garments. He fussed and resisted greatly and beckoned harshly, "Can a man not have his leisure?"

Doc, though normally in fair temper, forfeited his usual demeanor when his profession demanded compliance from the one whom he was treating, "Missing fingers, bloody leg, bruises and contusions galore. Atop all this, it was told of me you had gone faint. No man in your station is at liberty to say if he is in a good way. Sit, and be silent!"

"Where shall we first begin?" sounded Ottis.

The good doctor pulled away the glove and gauntlet to examine the hand more fully, "We'll need to stitch this, but first, open my bag and withdraw the mallet, chisel and file."

"Your means of convincing me I am in good hands can use fortification." criticized Ranger when processing the natural uses of such tools as the mallet and chisel.

Doc looked strongly into his face, "Normally I would stitch and cleanse this, however the bone is protruding too far and is jagged. If I stretch the tissue over as is, the edges will cut through rendering any binding useless. I must break away the excess bone to the level of your skin, then file it down until it is smooth."

Holo's heart swelled and plummeted in her stomach when seeing Ottis bring forth a miniature lengthwise table with two leather straps seated on both ends. Then withdrew the and laid them tools near Doc.

Ranger glanced over to Holo who only stood there with hands to her chest and beckoned beckoned with her eyes a sleuth of courtesies. One wishing for Him to comply and allow himself to be treated and another for Doc to find another means of ailment. At its conclusion, Ranger lowered his head, laid his hand upon the mini table, looked away then said, "Do what must be done, and do it quickly."

Ottis re positioned his arm then synched the points of his wrist and elbow with the straps so strongly that it sapped all color from his skin. Below the platform, mounted into the legs was a step for him to hold it down with his foot.

Doc had been pouring alcohol into a dish and lavished his hands up to his elbows with it, then took up the hammer and chisel. Holo became frightfully pale once he had positioned himself appropriately. The cutting edge found its resting spot right where the bone ended and the tissue began. Angling the handle to his liking, Doc raised the hammer, then let it fall swiftly and powerfully.

The mallet struck the butt at top dead center with enough follow through to move it down four inches. The clap rang loud enough to produce an echo outside, a piece of osseous matter shot forth from the socket. Ranger, though sustaining himself adequately for the time being, lost all strength, let out a weak gasp and began falling forward.

"Ottis!" cried Doc as his body, when falling and flipping over, began shifting the operating table.

Ottis put all his effort into holding it up, but the body which commanded the arm was too heavy to support. Both men then let off, repositioned him supine upon the cot of which he was sitting then resumed their stations to continue their work.

Holo, when seeing his pale, diaphoretic skin, clenched eyes and listless body, was overcome with grief, covered her eyes and turned around to exit rapidly. Subdued with queasiness, the strength in her legs fleeted creating a stumbling step that was caught by Agatha. Holo embraced her with heavy tears flooding her oculus chambers and wept, "It is my fault!"

Turning her to the opening, she said, "Come now lass, let us take you away from here."

As they retired the scene, Holo could hear Doc say, " Come let us work on the other finger."

A few moments followed then the same clatter produced by the mallet bolted an echo. Her ears, shortly after, detected the gruesome grind of the file sanding away the bones and marrow. Covering her ears, she came to a stop and threw her head down in hysteria and dropped to her knees.

Agatha, being endowed with feminine compassion and masculine brutishness, hauled her back up while encouraging to stimulate her spirit, "Come now, he's merely fainted. Doc is the best field surgeon in all the land, ye have nothing to fear little lass."

Applying the cuff of her sleeve to her dripping eyes Holo cried in despair, "Is there no end to the suffering?"

The thuggish woman took an inquisitive gaze upon the wolf goddess then said as she was walking her over to a camp fire, "Why don't we sit for a wee moment, eh?"

The fire, of which they were directed towards, was encircled with a series of wooden stumps used for one to take sit upon, a place designated for the social aspects of the site. There were a few men, one of which wore a bandage covering his left eye, already stationed there making merry over ale. Their gleeful banter became tranquil when seeing the two, one of which bearing a terrible weight, invade upon their abode and sat beside them.

Agatha waited for Holo to become more invigorated whilst her eyes peered upon her with investigative scrutiny. Once more accommodated, she addressed the she wolf, "Perhaps now, ye should explain yerself in greater detail."

"I am sorry?" roused Holo.

"I mean to say, that when you were first found out on the road, ye claimed to be a mere merchant out on yer own. And now, we find your a wolf spirit in the Godforsaken wilderness accompanied by a man whose apparently a friend to no one whose been tracking us the last day or so. This makes the rest of us uneasy seeing how you rally more questions for yourself than answers."

With discomfort in her already vulnerable eyes, Holo peered around to find the audience of the two men afore mentioned listening intently thus stifling any attempt to avoid her history. "Where do I even begin?" came her overwhelmed tone.

The eyepatch kept his scrutiny upon her while Agatha encouraged, "The greatest stories start at the beginning, in yer case ye can start in the middle."

Confronting her predicament she huffed, "I understand your reasons for distrust, seeing how I initially misled your troupe two days ago, however, I am sure any and all would believe that this is the land I was born in."

"I can't think of wolfen's like yerself hailing from anywhere else."

"You are aware then, of the pagan gods?"

"Well Cher now, the life of a cutthroat, though harsh and brief, tends to take ye from one end of God's green earth to the next. I have done much, and seen more."

"Do know then, that the success of my plight depends on my secrecy to it. You will need to be contempt with only knowing of what I will speak of, and trust in me when I say that we are your allies."

"You speak, I judge."

Running her fingers through her hair she annotated, "I am looking for someone who was taken from me and in the process of this journey, formed an alliance with the man who sits upon your sickbed. Through our efforts, we have discovered that those responsible for my situation have sanctuary near the Ketchiwa mountain, off the banks of the Siakluk river, and that is where I will find who I seek."

Her story, though concise and believable, left Agatha wanting, "The man you're with, what reason has he to throw his lot in with you? I've never seen someone go through as much abuse as he over something as trivial as an alliance, unless he's taken a fancy to that pretty little face of yours."

Shifting herself back to composure, Holo responded, "I can assure you he houses no such type of attraction to me. However I will say that we share somewhat of a common goal. The one who stole from me, is also someone he is hunting for reasons of his own."

Raising her finger to quell the conversation, Agatha spoke contemplatively, "So it is revenge you seek?"

"Say of it as you will, but those are the details surrounding our plight."

The man wearing the eyepatch, now sharpening his hatchet, loomed over them with that irresistible urge to put forth his own thoughts yet was compelled by his own wisdom to hold his peace.

"I do hope,' continued Holo, 'that you can understand the necessity for me to disguise myself when your men had me first encountered."

From behind, another voice spoke, "Speaking of that you still owe us the clothes on your back."

They turned to see Jeb, who was in bad humor, stepping through the terrain, brandishing Lawrence's jacket, advancing towards the fire pit. They observed him with disdain as he took into his possession, a stump for himself, then set it down beside Agatha.

"Even still,' he continued, 'if your partner is too imbecilic to take a fancy to that face of yours, then maybe I will."

That remark roused so much ire that once his leg bends were bringing his gluteus to their resting place, Agatha rose up her foot and kicked the stump out encouraging a fall on his behalf. A chortle could be heard among the others when he collided with the earth in humiliating fashion.

"Mind your words." scolded the woman.

Holo, now completely in a state of fury let out a growl that took the pit by ear in astonishment. Agatha, in attempts to quell her anger, rubbed her on the shoulders while stating, "Don't mind him lass, he's just another scallawag who thinks only with his pecker."

With nostrils flaring, Holo replied, "He can try to have his way with me, however I can easily separate from him from that which defines him as a man. For it is most likely bite sized."

A cheer came from the other men while Agatha rocked back in hilarity. Jeb, who was in no mood to be made such sport of, could only muster pitifully while attempting to arise, "You're not my type anyway."

Chuckling, Agatha followed up, "Would she be, if say she resembled a goat?"

The eyepatch, who had been fairly restrained during this time, could not resist dropping his head and chortling to himself. Snapping to his feet, Jeb warned, "Ms. Dubbland, I would choose my words more carefully if I were you."

"For heaven's sake Jeb, thicken the skin on yer bones!" she jeered.

Further enraged, the delinquent unbuckled his belt, slid the the leather free and snapped it in his hands like a whip. Agatha, being the least intimidated any person could be when presented with such direct hostility, embraced Holo and pled in satirical fashion, "Oh have mercy, whatever you are going to do, please spare this wee one!"

Holo found herself at a strange impasse, for though she was becoming on edge, Agatha found the testimonial of his intent as an idol to muse over. Without so much a rational thought or heed given to future consequences, Jeb lashed out and swung his leather strap down. It cracked upon Agatha's extended arm, who in return, belted him in the crotch with her boot. As he was recovering, she removed her own belt then with a mighty swing of the fastening clasp, cracked it down across his knuckles.

Jeb, yelling an obscenity, clutched his extremity, the bones of which most likely being fractured, and grimaced with hatred. Swinging her belt like a pendulum before him Agatha informed with callous, "In the future, ye'll do a lot more damage if ye hit with the buckle."

Becoming more enraged and less intelligent, Jeb reached for the knife he housed in his waistband but was thwarted when Agatha, having a quick eye and draw of the hand, had her cutlass unclasped and resting under his chin.

"If ye wish to take this to blood shed, then I'll be happy to oblige." said the stern woman, now devoid of the humor she previously displayed.

The pitch watched on intently while the mood was portraying what each man and woman was thinking. Agatha would not suffer the scene to continue another moment, therefore she rebuked the fool by ordering, "Get yer arse up and take that mangled hand to Doc before there'll be more of ya that needs binding! Then when yer done resign yourself to your tent for the remainder of the night."

"And if I don't?" he chided back.

"Then it'll be the cat o' nine for you."

Stricken with anxiety that left his face perspiring he departed without saying another word more. Retiring her wares, and shaking her head, Agatha retook her spot near Holo and began poking the fire with a pick. Holo caught the discrete movements of eyepatch, who was slowly lowering his hatchet. Then looking back to Agatha, said, "You handle yourself quite well, in fact, I do not think I have ever seen another woman who commands herself in such a manner as you."

Crossing her ankles while leaning back she replied, "Any woman can show a man whose boss, she just needs to have the biggest stones than them all."

Then pumping her fist she exclaimed, "Am I right lads?"

They hollered in approving jest while she added on with pride in her bosom, "Ye all know I can outfight, outwit and outdrink any personage who walks on two legs."

They clapped in approval except Holo who glared at her challengingly.

"Something the matter there miss?"

"Outdrink anyone you say?" she chided menacingly.

"Ye heard right,' then coming up to speed on her intentions, 'wait, ye think you can hold yer spirits down better than I? Tis' a good jest lass, but no one of yer stature can hold their liquor to mine."

"I accept the challenge." replied Holo with that unrelenting eloquence.

Becoming more in good humor, Agatha said, "I don't normally encourage drinking on the job, however in the night time we enjoy our leisure, perhaps I can make an exception on your behalf."

Their buyout feud was cut off by the sound of a gargling rumble. Looking down at Holo's stomach she asked, "Ya hungry lass?"

"Well if is not too much to impose, I could use a halfway decent meal."

Slapping her knee, Agatha said as she arose, "Fortunately for you, our cook can make an o'devour from rocks and twigs even on the worst of days, and more fortunately, our hunters came back with a pronghorn about an hour ago."

"Oh that sounds delightful!" exclaimed Holo while jumping and taking the lead.

Tailing from behind, Agatha commented, "Would ye like me to show you where the mess hall is, or do ya prefer to wander around aimlessly for it first?"

Putting a hand to her mouth and blushing on account of her rashness, Holo returned, "Oh yes, please do show the way."

The cook, the preps, the patrons and Agatha had a semi circle formed around where Holo was seated. There was not one eyelid among them, whose astonishment, did not leave most if not all the anterior portions of their oculars exposed. For why; sitting before Holo, were empty dishes once containing beans, potatoes, Jerky and any other manner of side dish containing portions fitting to stuff at least two ogres followed by the entire leg of the pronghorn ravenously being devouring by her fangs.

"Ye mind telling me where ye keep that bottomless pit?" exacerbated Agatha.

Licking her fingers while beaming with the utmost content, Holo replied, "Ah, one must simply be withheld from a decent meal for much too long to create so many empty spaces in their gullet as I."

Then dropping the leg bone heavily, declared, "Now bring me the ale, there is a score to be settled!"

The cook, standing with arms folded and clenching his towel, said with the anxiety one has for rationing their nutritions, "Aside from half a days worth of food, am I to part with an entire barrel of my finest?"

Holo stuck her nose up, "I am Holo the wise wolf, I can regain your bounty threefold in half the time of you humans. You have nothing to fear but my ire, now on with the ale!"

Agatha rose a hand, "Some for me as well, there is a contest underway."

While the passive chef retired to the liquor cabinet with emotions most unstrung, the good doctor had entered with Ottis which piqued Holo's attention. Rubbing his eyes with one hand and sustaining himself upon the table with another he called out, "Barlow!"

From beyond where the chef had removed himself, his voice was heard calling back, "In my lugger den!"

"Ah good, bring a pint out for me then."

Barlow let out a subtle curse, then as he was hauling a cask out, seethed, "Don't be thinking I have an endlessly supply of this."

A pint was poured for the doctor while the cask found itself placed, or in this case, slammed, near Holo and Agatha with mugs provided for each. Filling the dregs to their brim Agatha lifted it up ready for the primary intake while Holo looked into hers curiously.

"Odd, this is clear like water, foams more than water but less than beer.' then sniffing, 'yet smells of alcohol."

"Aye this be a new spirit on the black market."

"Black market? You mean to say this type of drink is unlawful?"

"Tis true, the boldest proof on God's green earth, so bold any merchant carrying it has been ousted when attempting to sell it. Word has it that it's so strong that one poor soul took puff off his pipe after taking a small sip and it caught his mouth on fire!"

Smelling it more, she inquired, "What is in it?"

"Barlow knows that for it's his recipe, but believe it or not, I've seen him throwing corn and bird seed into the batch."

"Don't forget the potatoes!" called our the chef who listened from afar.

"I have heard of fermented fruits and yeast being used, but this one eludes me."

Swirling her mug in a tempting fashion, Agatha said humorously dark, "Oh I promise ye, take a full swig o' this, and there will be much eluding you for days on end."

Holo peered into the rim, whose fluid fizzed and bubbled sharply. Yet as she was taking it to her lips, her chest sank a pit into her stomach. A dreadful feeling that this choice would bring about dire consequences.

Slowly lowering it she said, "Perhaps now is not the best time."

Agatha let out a great laugh to signify her victory, "Ha! And the queen remains undefeated!"

Holo, though regarding such defeats with as much disdain as a musketeer would hold for the cardinals, posed herself politely while watching her rival take an ungodly swig. Pounding the mug down she called back to Barlow, "Be at ease man, your brew lives to see another day!"

Then looking upon the she wolf, "Don't be ashamed lass, we all speak as tall as giants from time to time."

"It is not that,' replied Holo's uncalled for serious tone, 'I may be pregnant." said she while cradling her navel.

Agatha's mood shifted to one appropriate to the mood. "'May be?'" Then casting a subtle gaze towards the infirmary, 'Awww, I see…"

This indirect conclusion, as interpreted by Holo, plainly suggested that Agatha, though mostly rational, was again assuming her relationship with Ranger was synonymous with those who were secretly in love, who denied their affections in public and would exert such lengths as to appear hostile towards one another before the public to sell the deception, but were madly intimate when alone together.

Holo, this time insulted, out right rejected this notion and blurted with humiliated anger, "Not that kind of 'may be!'"

"Speak sense then."

"I was surely with child until a few days ago, and now I am not so sure."

It was at this point in the conversation that Doc, who had been sitting idle and listening from afar, heard a topic of which he could express his profession, and falling victim to that irresistible call to it, approached with ale in hand and inquired so rapidly it gave Holo a slight start, "What has changed to make you question your maternity?"

From there Holo, driven by the insistent desire to know the truth of her condition, relayed the information beginning with the signs that confirmed her womb was in the process of creating life then ending with that terrible fit of which her fears and doubts began. Doc said nothing during her recount, merely sipping from time to time with calculating patience. Ottis rose his eyebrows to him occasionally as if to communicate his thoughts and diagnoses, however despite being young and but an assistant, understood that the fields of medicine and physiology were a uniquely interpretive practice and that Doc's explication on the subject rarely warranted a second opinion. Therefore, like any other novice journeying in the trade, remained silent.

Ottis however, could perceive the machinery of thought churning in his head when he withdrew his spectacles, folded an arm and placed an earpiece in his mouth and nibbled. This led the astute apprentice to lip sync precisely what his master said next, "I need to have a closer look."

With some encouragement, Holo was led away from the mess hall back to the infirmary to where she could be more fully examined. After being brought into the tent that served as Ranger's operating room, she was bidden to sit upon the cot. When noticing the man who once occupied it was absent she inquired, "Where is he?"

"He's next door sleeping in the recovery wing."

"Have you any news on his condition?"

Sighing abruptly and throwing his head up, Doc replied rather harshly, "Physically he will recover so long as he rests. However I must say that his mannerisms are in need ailments, for I have tended to jackasses less stubborn than him."
"Sounds correct." she commented softly, "How long until he is top shape?"

"After stitching and mending what I could, my guess would be at least a week however I don't see him heeding my advice for more than half an hour."

Holo giggled, "Yes, he can be rather too head strong for his own good."

"I've had to sedate him just to get him to sleep."

"Sedate? How?"

"To help with the pain and relax him by having him drink a mixture of water and morphine without him knowing."

"Morphine?" asked Holo curiously, who apparently had never come across the substance.

"It's an opiate that can relieve anyone of the burdens of pain, and in high enough doses, put them in a deep slumber. Though one must exercise caution, for it can kill if remedied in too great amounts, and worse, there are those so entranced by its influence that they become enslaved to it."

Then taking a chair and placing it in front of her, said, "But that is beside the point of why you are here."

Transferring her feelings slightly more uncomfortably yet remaining submissive, she said, "Yes, I suppose you will need to thoroughly examine me."

Doc assented her statement then turned to Ottis and requested sternly, "Shut and tie the flaps and see to it no one comes in until I give the all clear."

Ottis, with the obedience of a Nubian servant owing a life debt, went without the tarp and secured them tightly then stood guard with a posture telegraphing that any who dare pass the threshold of which he stood, would receive a sound thrashing. Holo watched Doc set up his shop with understandable unease.

He lit a lantern and attached to it a type of large lens that could focus light into narrower spaces. After making more adjustments to his tools and such he turned to Holo with a stance ready to give instruction.

"What would you have of me?" she asked slightly blushing.

Handing her a blanket he said with more regard to his task than respect for her station, "Remove your lower halves and use lay this blanket over your loins."

Holo did so nervously then was instructed to lay down with her feet planted apart from each other and knees bent. Her heart began fluttering in agitation throughout her core when seeing Doc position himself and the lantern appropriately.

A slight unnatural shuffle interrupted everything shooting his eyes to glance where the intrusion generated. Sharply arising and seeing a pair of shoes tucked behind a cabinet, he marched swiftly to the intruder, grabbed him, who yelped cowardly, and drug him out by his collar. Startled, Holo snapped herself to a position more convenient to her concealment and saw a young boy of no more than ten and six years within his iron grasp.

"Timothy!' he yelled, 'Explain yourself at once!"

The boy, wishing to avoid consequence, said, "I was only curious!"

The commotion entreated Ottis to barge in with an explosion all while the poor wolf girl was just barely decent.

"Get Agatha, now!" caromed Doc while dragging the boy out, who was as helpless to resist his drag as a sailor was to keelhauling.

The scene transferred over to the open world, as Agatha, who was already informed of by Ottis, was quickly pacing to intercept Doc, who when she was close enough, threw the boy on his hands and knees before her. She did not even have the cordial opportunity to inquire of the situation before Doc began practically shouting, "I caught this wretch stowing away in my infirmary when I had the girl exposed!"

Seeing him bow his head in shame, Agatha, perfusing with anger that nearly equaled Doc's, interrogated, "What were you getting at boy?"

Astonishingly still composed, he defended himself helplessly, "I overheard Doc was going look at her, and I just wanted to have a look too!"

Pressing her hands to her hips she demanded, "Mercy me, and what were you hoping to see!?"

Timothy paused as the thought was dawning on him, "I don't know, because I haven't seen anything yet."

"Oh for the love of…!" yelled Doc as he chambered his knuckles and wrapped them against the boy's head.

Agatha was quick to separate the two, after hoisting the boy up she scolded, "Alright Doc, that'll do. I'll take it from here.' then addressing Timothy, 'As for you young man, pull another stunt like this one again and I'll put yer damn eyes out, now move!"

The man with the eyepatch, who at this point of introduction, was nothing more than a looming shadow, was found sitting by the campfire keeping to himself as he normally had. When he heard his name being called, "Jethro!" his only good eye slanted back as if had only been an inconsequential whisper. Impassively turning himself about, he found Agatha marching towards him doing likewise to Timothy as Doc had done.

Shoving the lad hard enough forward to invoke a catch from Jethro, Agatha declared with all her authority, "Ye were instructed to keep an eye on'im!"

"Oh come now, I'm sure whatever he's done is less deserving of this level of wrath." came his soft yet sympathetic reply.

"Don't be interrupting me, especially when ye haven't a clue as to what he's been up to!"

"And what has he done this time?" came his droll reply.

"He was snuck into Doc's chamber trying to spy on the little lady when her goods were uncovered! All because he said he was curious!" trembled Agatha.

Jethro, drooped his head and began whispering out a chuckle.

"Ye mind telling me what's so amusing about trying to steel a peak from a woman's unmentionables." stormed the irate woman.

Raising his hand helplessly, Jethro reasoned, "Agatha, boys will be boys. He was only driven by natural curiosity, don't make him out to be a marauder and pillager over it."

"Look here Mister McKinley, had this been me he'd be spying on, then the next task ye'd be charged with is digging his grave." said she as hostile as she was animated.

"Miss McDubbland,' responded Jethro's equally indifferent tone, 'it need not go that far."

Sighing with frustration she added, "Ye can't keep defending and shielding this boy, at some point he'll be forced to be a man, and the kind of man he'll be will be nothing short of the outcome of how he lived as a youth. If we don't teach 'em while their young, how'll they ever learn?"

Jethro personified his sentiment and addressed Timothy, "She is right, you were causing trouble and I remember leaving you in charge of whetting the arms. How is that coming along?"

Timothy looked away and bit his lower lip, "That well, huh?" snorted Jethro who then took the boy by the shoulder and led him away.

They advanced slowly to Jethro's station, who served as the troupe's quarter master whenever he was not engaged in the more serious endeavors. As for Timothy being ushered into his care, it was somewhat forced upon him, namely due to the fact that he was the least resilient to his presence and permitted to watch over the lad seeing how he worked primarily out of camp. "I'm sorry." said the pathetic little lad.

Jethro had him stop while he stewed a moment and reflected, "Have you ever wondered why your father hasn't sent for you during this whole time you've been out here?"

Folding his arms while fighting the tears away he said, "Because he's happier that I'm someone else's burden?"

"Perhaps in part. However remember when you told me about that argument you had with him on the morrow you left?"

He nodded palely.

"It tells me that he figured the only way to learn of the world is to experience the world. You need to think further ahead considering your actions. You were about to get a sound beating back there."

"My pa would give me a whooping too for stepping out of line." said the boy with that adolescent arrogance entitling him to believe he had seen all life had to offer.

"You're father loved you enough not to kill you in the process. Trust me when Agatha says she'll put you six feet under, she means it. So from now on, you will not eat, sleep or scratch your arse without being within sight and sound of me, understood?"

"Just because you're in charge of me doesn't mean you can control me like my old man!" griped Timothy.

That last comment was corrected quickly, "Don't talk to me like I'm your Pa, because I'm not, and you sure as hell ain't my son, which means I can do a lot more to you and not even feel half as bad for it."

Timothy shuddered.

Jethro pointed to the weapons cabinet, "Right now though, the whetting can wait, get a bow and join me on the south side of the camp."

"We are hunting again?" he protested with confusion.

"Well according to Barlow, we've run out of pronghorn already."

The boy was shooed off to the task without the opportunity to make quarrel over it. And this was the militia of which Holo and Ranger sought, one without grace or eloquence, and one without the tolerance for innocence. One unknowingly about to be led to its doom.