The Outlaw's Path

by CastorRage

Fallen Sky and his best friend and father figure Clive LeClerk are two members of the notorious outlaw gang "The Untamed." After getting a lead on some well-known bounty targets, their hunt leads them across the U.S. and uncover some deep, well-hidden secrets. Follow their story from November 1898 to May 1899, as they travel across the States and form a deeper bond than ever before

3. Valentine

November 27, 1898

Valentine, New Hanover

14:20 PM

The two horses slowly descended down the elevated path leading into Valentine, passing by the local church and heading into the centre of the town. They pulled to a halt outside the Sheriff's office and dismounted, throwing their horses' reins over the hitching post and securely tying them to the wood. Fallen Sky leaned against the wall of the building and reached into his satchel, pulling out the chunk of wolf meat he had cooked a few hours prior. He bit into it and tore off a large piece, which he then chewed and swallowed, following it up with the rest of the meat. He washed his hands in a nearby water barrel and headed towards the door of the Sheriff's office, but he was stopped by a hand on his shoulder.

"Hold on, Fallen. Y'see that horse over there?" Clive said, pointing to a thoroughbred hitched outside the gunsmith's shop. "Yeah, what about it?" Fallen Sky asked. Clive sighed and turned to Fallen Sky, "Ain't that Hugo's horse?" Fallen Sky's eyes widened and he walked towards the horse. "You're right. But what's Hugo doing here in Valentine? I thought he was away." Clive shrugged his shoulders and walked into the gunsmith's shop. A Mexican man was standing at the counter, frantically buying boxes of revolver rounds and repeater rounds. He turned to leave, but when he spotted Clive standing in the doorway, he ran towards him and pushed him outside.

"Clive! Fallen! Thank god you're here!" he shouted, putting the bullet boxes in his satchel. Clive raised an eyebrow and walked over to him. "What's wrong, Hugo? Me an' Fallen thought you were away" Hugo nodded and said, "I was, but I'm back now. That doesn't matter. It's Kelso, he's been captured!" Clive swore under his breath and ran over to his horse. He climbed into the saddle and pulled the reins up, followed by Fallen Sky doing the same. His attention turned to Hugo.

"Who's got Kelso?" he asked. Hugo grabbed his horse's reins and said "The O'Driscolls. They got him while we were riding back to camp. He should be somewhere near Carmody Dell. I remember them taking him there." Clive nodded and turned towards his gang. He cleared his throat and called to them "Alright, boys! As we've heard from Hugo here, the damn O'Driscolls have got our boy Kelso. I say we go get him outta there." Fallen Sky and Hugo nodded, and the trio spurred their horses and rode off to the east.

15:05 PM

Carmody Dell, New Hanover

The trio rode at full speed towards the ranch. They were wearing their bandanas to hide their identities, and their guns were fully loaded, prepared for a shootout. The three men pulled their horses to a halt near the ranch, and hitched them near some trees. They grouped up, out of sight of the patrolling O'Driscolls, and Clive spoke to each of them in turn. "Alright, boys. Here's the plan. Hugo, you patrol the perimeter, see if they have any reinforcements comin'. I'll go in and take care of the main group of O'Driscolls, and Fallen goes to retrieve Kelso, then we get on our horses, and get the hell outta here. You got that?" Hugo and Fallen Sky nodded. "Good. Let's give these bastards hell then!" Clive shouted, leaving the cover of the trees and firing at a nearby O'Driscoll. This alerted the rest of the group, who fired back in return.

Clive broke off from the group and ran towards the main house, his repeater cocked. An O'Driscoll fired at him, but he expertly dodged and fired a bullet back, hitting the man directly between the eyes. Fallen Sky snuck around the perimeter of the ranch, towards the barn. He learned from previous rescue missions that it was the most likely place that they were keeping someone. He had an arrow notched in his bow, his fingers working around the arrow's shaft, ready to draw the bow and fire. The commotion Clive was causing gave Fallen Sky an opportunity to sneak into the barn. There was an O'Driscoll stood near the entrance, and he had noticed Fallen Sky entering the barn. But he was too slow to sound the alarm, and Fallen Sky plunged an arrow into the man's neck, silencing him permanently. Kelso was sat on a wooden chair nearby, his arms tied with rope to the back of the chair. He had a busted nose and cuts covering his face. Fallen Sky knew they were torturing him for information. He dashed over and cut the ropes from Kelso's hands, then helped him stand up and the two walked out of the barn, Kelso leaning on Fallen Sky for support. Another O'Driscoll was around the corner, and Fallen Sky was about to shoot him, when a bullet whizzed past and landed in the man's forehead. Fallen Sky looked around for the source of the bullet, and saw Hugo giving him a thumbs-up from the gate into the ranch. Fallen Sky smiled and nodded at him, then helped Kelso towards Hugo.

He turned back and walked towards the house. He was about to enter when the door was kicked down and Clive stepped out, holding an O'Driscoll hostage with his Navy revolver pointed towards the man's temple. The older man threw his hostage down onto the ground and delivered a quick shot to his face. Fallen Sky shook his head and chuckled, and the men headed towards their horses. Clive mounted up Dux, while Hugo helped Kelso get onto the back of Fortis, before mounting his own horse, Ignis. Clive nodded at them and they spurred their horses, then rode off in the direction of Valentine.