This chapter man. The beginning is the usual flavor of OtRaTtW but the second part...
It's gonna hurt. I'm serious, it WILL hurt. Definitely hurt to write, to the point I had tears in my eyes at one point. But well, reality is often painful. Especially when you have two headstrong people who both want different things.
I was originally going to post both ch 23 and ch 24 the same day, but I'm feeling mean. Ch. 24 will be posted Tuesday. Don't worry, ch 24 is extra fluffy to make up for the angst you're about to read. 3
Be glad tho I decided to post it back to back, because with the upload schedule you guys would have had to wait three more weeks for resolution since OtRaTtW is on a two weeks on two weeks off schedule. But I'm not THAT mean.
Content Warning: Past emotional trauma (ghosting), intense character conflict, emotional angst, perceived hate, Hunter and Shadow argument/falling out (temporary). I'm serious, prepare for some real hurt.
Twenty minutes later, we were out the door and heading to the trailhead.
Hunter came to my side. "So," he rumbled. "Like it when I'm jealous?"
Uh oh. "I don't know what you're talking about, Sergeant Hunter," I replied, keeping my eyes straight ahead.
"Oh, yes you do," he chuckled, nudging me.
Driving my shoulder into his, knocking him away, I pointed a finger at him. "I will shave your head, try me."
After I run my fingers through that hair once.
He shoved me back. "I wouldn't be Sergeant Shaggy then, would I?"
"Goin' to make me sick," Crosshair groaned.
I began to remind the salty sniper that he had lit a match to this earlier, and had no right to complain, but a screech cut my insult short.
All guns turned skyward and I reached for my sabers. Recognizing the dragon, I relaxed and pushed Hunter's gun down. "Much as he deserves it, please don't shoot Trevor."
"That's Trevor?!" Hunter exclaimed, gesturing towards the descending dragon.
"I didn't mention all Rags can shift into Red Screamers?" I asked, twitching an ear.
"No?"
"Oh... well they can shift into Red Screamers," I informed him with a smile.
"What is a Red Screamer?!" he demanded.
I pointed upward. "That."
Hunter's helmet remained fixed on me before he shook his head. "I quit."
"C'mon, Shaggy. Where's that Bad Batch spirit?" I teased, nudging him.
"Revoked whenever dragons get involved..." Hunter groaned.
"There there," I said, patting his shoulder. I received an armored elbow to the ribs for my sympathy.
Rubbing my side, I eyed Trevor as he drew closer.
Red Screamers were definitely one of my stranger anthro species. They looked like someone mixed a lion, jackal, lizard, hawk, wyvern, and porcupine... which is exactly what I did. Humanoid body, quills lining its back and tail, a boxy muzzle, tall ears, a mane wrapping around its head and shoulders then lining its flanks, sharp-clawed hands, taloned feet, and bizarre wings that could double as feet and carry its body off the ground. Then I threw in a spaded tail because I could.
Creating critters was so fun.
Landing in front of us, Trevor used his wings and hopped on over. "Morning, everyone!" he said, revealing rows of savage backwards facing teeth.
"Mornin'," I greeted, studying the Red Screamer body.
Shit... this was terrifying up close! Those claws, wickedly sharp and dark as night, could no doubt tear flesh with ease.
Luckily Trevor wouldn't dare hurt me. Otherwise...
Yikes.
Trevor dropped to his regular feet as Tech scurried over to inspect him. "Hello again, nerd," he chuckled, letting Tech poke his wings and quills.
"What is the typical habitat of this species? Or is it a Rageryan specific form?" Tech rushed, circling Trevor and taking notes on his vambrace.
"They're usually found in hot steppes near caves. Nocturnal, hence the fur for warmth. They're called 'Screamers' because they can make an ear piercing screech when they hunt. Stuns prey," I supplied, swishing my tail. "Long story short, it was necessary for Rags, then humans, to splice their genes with Screamers to combat a plague that nearly wiped them out."
"Fascinating!"
Hunter's helmet turned my way. "Shadow, how do you know so much about the species of another world?"
And I oop. "Uh... research."
Not technically a lie.
I think Hunter was less than convinced, but Trevor spoke up before he could. "Not to be the bearer of bad news but..."
We all tensed again, the sudden shift in Trevor's tone setting us all on edge.
Trevor turned to me. "Remember when I said James sent out an alert to the seps?"
So much for a peaceful transition into this next day. "Yeah?"
His tall ears flicked back and forth. "They've sent a preliminary force that landed at the outpost just last night. I think James somehow got a message to them that you were headed to the jungle portion today. They sent droids ahead."
"That son of a bitch," I snarled. "Where is that bastard? I'm shreddin' him and scatterin' him from the outpost to the Vault."
"Still no sign," Trevor growled, quills quivering. "He's hid off in the woods somewhere. Rush and Scoot are hunting him down."
Images flickered briefly through my mind of Scooter dressed in camouflage tactical gear with war paint and a big gun as he rode on Rushing River's back through the woods. Gone was that playful, cheery expression I'd seen on the ginger the other day. Only grim determination remained. Rushing River bore the same focused look, a feral glint to his eyes as he hunted down the bastard.
Blinking the images away, I nodded firmly. "Good."
Trevor nodded. "We'll hold him 'til you get back once we find him."
Hunter snarled, "Wait 'til I get my hands on that shabuir."
"Nah man," I retorted, shaking my head at the sergeant. "That kill is mine." A smirk revealed my teeth. "But I'd be happy to share. See who can make 'im scream the loudest. You boys love a challenge, don'tcha?"
"You know us well, Icy," Hunter chuckled, giving me a smirk of his own as he winked.
"I want in," Crosshair hissed.
"More the merrier in the torture game," I laughed darkly.
"Oooo, you've got a dark side, Squeaky!" Wrecker chuckled, playfully shoving me. "I like it!"
"You kiddin'?" I laughed again, smirking at him. "My dearest demolition expert, I'm a writer, this is just my warm-up! Always wondered if you could hang a man by his own intestines."
"As I told you two days ago," Tech began. "The human small intestine cannot-"
"Let her dream, Four Eyes," Crosshair interrupted.
Sadist solidarity, I thought, giving Twiggs a nod.
"Don't worry, you'll get a chance to work out some anger," Trevor assured me. "You could very well encounter some droids today or tomorrow."
Wrecker gave a cheer. "Let 'em come! Finally, some action! I'm bored!"
Has been a rather uneventful journey not counting Twiggs and the stream.
They were all probably dying for some action.
"Thanks for the heads up, Trevor," I said, adjusting my pack. "We'll be on alert." I chuckled softly and looked down at my hands. "Get to see how much power I have over jungle plants."
"We'll see about that!" Trevor said happily.
I jerked my head up. "'Scuse me?"
What fuckery did he have up his non-existent sleeve this time? The ominous bastard better not be planning some wild shit...
His grin full of teeth widened, not helping my concern. "Bye!"
He abruptly took off, the wind from his wings sending Tech backward into me, me into Crosshair, and Crosshair into Wrecker who stepped behind to catch us. Only Hunter was spared from the sandwich, but he ended up on his butt so who was the real winner?
Grunting as Tech's heavy pack slammed into my chest, squishing me between that and the hard plastoid of Crosshair's chest plate, I watched as Trevor flew off. "Uh, y'all heard that, right?" I asked, hands on Tech's shoulders to lessen the impact.
"His ominous warnin'?" Crosshair grunted, the sound hissing through his speakers as his hands shifting from my shoulders to my back and shoving me away. "Yeah."
"Great. Just checkin'," I said uneasily, pushing Tech off me.
"He's your friend, right?" Hunter asked, getting to his feet and brushing himself off. "He wouldn't put you in danger, would he?"
"He's my friend, yeah..." I replied slowly. "Doesn't always mean he's my ally. He's got a bad habit of putting me through shit and callin' it 'character building'." Straightening my sabers, I growled, "Hell, it's thanks to him I've had two runarounds before teamin' up with a group."
"He caused a chase with the sailors too?" Hunter asked.
"Yep. But don't let that dumb front of his fool you," I warned. Trevor was a lot of things, a pain in the ass among them, but he was definitely not stupid. "His plans work every time. It's just gettin' from point A to point B that's the rough part."
"What does he have planned?"
"Honestly? I'm scared to find out," I sighed, casting one last glance in the Halfblood's direction.
"We'll be ready, Squeaky!"
Oh Wrecker. Your enthusiasm is commendable, but even y'all can't imagine the tricks he could have in store for us...
"Glad I caught you before you left!" Sarah called, jogging over to us with something the size of nutella jars in her hands.
I quickly recognized the containers.
Tannerite?!
I may have stocked up before we left the outpost, but I would never say no to more explosives.
"Whatcha got there, Sarah?" I asked, eagerly eyeing the containers.
She grinned at me. "Oh, just a parting gift for you, Shadow."
"Me gusta mas," I said, making grabby hands for it with a near psychotic grin on my face. "Gimme gimme."
"What's that, Squeak?" Wrecker asked, peering over my shoulder as Sarah laughed and handed me the containers.
"Explosives," Crosshair stated.
"Whatever gave you that idea?" I chuckled, grinning at the sniper.
He crossed his arms. "You're smilin' like Wrecker when he finds explosives."
The man in question gasped at the mention of explosives. "Let me see!" he yelled.
I snapped my teeth at his hand. "Paws off! Mine!" I hissed, clutching them to my chest as my tail puffed out twice its size.
"Aw, Squeaky!" he whined.
"Get back, Jack!" I tucked them closer to my chest. "You can't set them off regularly, anyway! I need Kindness for these."
"Kindness?" he echoed. "What does bein' nice gotta do with explosives?"
"My rifle," I reminded him. "I have Kindness and Tommy with me in the pack."
"You got guns on you?" he gasped.
"How big is that pack?" Tech demanded, coming around behind me and tugging at it.
"Hey, quit that encirclin' maneuver," I barked, quickly giving myself space away from Wrecker and Tech.
Pack of wolves, the lot of 'em.
"You really have guns on ya?" Wrecker asked again.
"Well, I do have Thunder and Lightning!" I snickered, flexing my arms. "But yes, my guns are in my pack. Figured they may come in handy." I glanced up towards where Trevor was just disappearing over the crest of one mountain. "Guess I made the right call."
"Droids incoming?" Sarah asked.
"Maybe. Trev said there may be some coming through here today."
Sarah's eyes lit up. "I better set up a welcome party, huh? You five should get a head start for the jungle anyways, so I won't keep you. I just wanted to deliver the parting gift to you."
I matched her grin. "They shall be put to good use, I can promise that!" Turning to Hunter, I asked, "Hey, Sarge, can you drop these in my pack? Just unzip it and drop 'em in the void."
"Sure," he said, taking the containers from me.
Tech hurried back over. "I want to see inside."
"Shadow?" Hunter asked.
"Yeah, may as well."
Hunter unzipped the pack and immediately had to keep me steady as Tech pulled my pack down to stick his head inside.
"There's nothing in here!" he called, voice echoing out of the pack. "But there is a vast amount of reverberation! No scent or sound, however!"
"Alright, get your head out of her pack," Hunter said, grabbing the back of Tech's armor and pulling him back.
After Hunter dropped the tannerite in, however, Tech tried to stick his head back in.
"I want to see where they go!"
"Same place my mind goes on the daily. The realm of nothingness," I replied.
"That is your mind."
I presented Crosshair with a single finger.
"You can look later, Tech," Hunter said, using his body to force Tech away. Zipping the pack back up afterward, he looked to Sarah. "You will be safe, right?"
"Honey, it's not me you should be concerned about," she chuckled. Her eyes turned to Crosshair. "You, stay a moment once they leave. Need to talk to you."
Crosshair stiffened. "Why?"
"You'll see. The rest of you, go on!" she said, shooing us away.
"Alright, alright, we're scootin'!" I protested with a laugh, jogging to the trail. "C'mon, chaos boys, adventure awaits!"
"Alright, yeah! Let's go!" Wrecker cheered, running to my side and keeping pace with me as Hunter quickly broke into a jog to keep up, Tech close behind.
And so we began our trek up the hill towards the jungle that awaited us on the other side.
As we stepped onto the trail, slowing to a walk, Wrecker laughed and slapped me on the back which nearly sent me to the ground. "Can't wait to see how you do in combat!"
"You and me both, Wreck," I replied.
Combat...
Other than the brief firefights on the Karaboudjan and a paintball game once, I'd never been in a combat situation. This was not gonna be pleasant...
"You don't need to fight. You can take cover while we handle the clankers," Hunter said.
I immediately bristled at that. I may not have wanted to deal with a firefight, but to hide while the boys risked their lives... "No. I'm fightin'."
"No, you're staying back," the sergeant retorted, coming to my side.
"Sarge, let her fight!" Wrecker protested, backing me up. "She's capable!"
Two against one.
"But she has no combat experience," Tech countered.
Two against two.
Tech was right, but...
I would not hide like a coward.
We all stopped and turned to Crosshair as he jogged up the trail.
Upon noticing all eyes on him, the sniper stopped. "What?"
"Sarge wants Squeak to hide if clankers show up!" Wrecker said.
"What's that got to do with me?"
"Tie breaker!"
"It's two against two," I added.
Crosshair's helmet turned to me. "Your decision?"
"I say I'm fightin'," I said, crossing my arms. "I ain't hidin' on the sidelines."
"And I'm on her side!" Wrecker said, laying a hand on my shoulder.
Crosshair looked to Tech and Hunter who stood opposite to us. "You're opposed?"
"Yes," Hunter stated firmly. "Tech and I agree she should not be in a firefight."
It's not a matter of should or shouldn't!
I wouldn't force them to defend me and not even lift a finger to help. Because if I did...
How long until they decided I wasn't worth the trouble... and left me behind?
Crosshair looked back at me, and even without seeing his eyes I knew he was watching my twitching tail, bristling fur, low ears, and uneasy expression. Reading me, scanning me from the inside out.
I hated when he did that.
Finally, he spoke. "If there's a battalion comin', she needs as much experience as she can get."
My ears shot up. He... took my side? A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one.
I looked at Hunter. "Three against two, Sarge."
He looked from me to Crosshair to Wrecker and back to me. "Well, as the officer, I overrule you three."
My stomach twisted, heart pounding against my ribs as nausea rose in my throat.
Oh he's not gonna like this.
I didn't want it to come to this. Last thing I wanted was to drive a rift between me and the shaggy-haired sergeant. Not after we'd really started becoming close.
But if I didn't stand for something, I'd fall for everything. I needed to stick up for myself.
He needed this reality check...
Even if he hated me for it.
"Hunter..." I began, tail bristling and rapidly flicking side to side. "I respect your command. I respect what you can do. Above all, I respect you." My tongue weighed like a stone in my mouth, dread shortening my breath as I braced myself for the kickback. "But at the end of the day... you are not my officer. You're not my boss. I don't have to follow your orders."
The sergeant stiffened. "What?"
The sharpness in his voice made me wince, but I knew I couldn't back down now. Not with the other boys staring at me. "I follow only one person's orders; my own." My voice wavered, but I continued. No turning back. "If I choose to put myself at risk in a firefight, you can't stop me. That's my decision."
"And what if you get hurt?" he demanded.
"C'est la vie. That's life. It is what it is. But I'm... I'm not a member of the team. It's my call, not yours. I make the choice whether I fight, not you."
The truth in those words didn't make them any easier to say. If anything... it made it harder.
Tech protested, "But we have no idea how you are with a blaster! You may not even be able to hit a moving target, much less hit it accurately!"
I turned to him, tail twitching at the annoyance in those eyes. Eyes that once held fondness towards me...
Anxiety gripping me full force, shortening my temper, I snapped, "Then test me, damn it! Throw some rocks, paint a target! We got trees and I got ammo! Don't just assume that I can't do something because you've never seen me do it!"
"Shadow," Hunter barked, stepping forward. That skull paint, once oddly comforting given the man behind it, now filled me with sickening dread. "You are untrained in combat and I will not let you put yourself at risk like this!"
"I'm not asking' permission, Hunter!" I stressed, straightening and lifting my chin. Even when I wanted so badly to run and hide. "I'm makin' my choice, and that's to fight if trouble comes our way! Whether I fight alongside you or on my own is up to you, but I'm not hidin' on the sidelines!"
I will not be a burden!
Hunter stared at me, expression unreadable behind the helmet. Finally, he snapped, making me flinch, "Fine! Don't come cryin' to me if you get hurt." He turned away from me and stormed up the hillside.
Tech shot me a glare and followed him up.
I deflated, staring after them as pain rippled through my chest and nearly knocked the breath from my lungs. "Great," I choked. "Now he's gonna hate me. So much for that relationship..."
Abandonment, here we go again...
I... had hoped, with naïveté, that maybe, just maybe, I could stay with them.
But now...?
"On the contrary," Crosshair remarked, his helmet turned towards Hunter's retreating back. "Think you fit right in."
"What's that mean?" I mumbled, dejectedly looking over at the sniper in defeat. Couldn't he see Hunter hated me now?
He shrugged. "Tried that with us. Didn't like it when we refused to hide back either."
"Yeah, Squeak. He's not mad at you," Wrecker assured me, giving me a comforting pat on the shoulder before pulling me to his side. A thumb gently rubbed my shoulder. "He's just... protective, that's all."
"Still gonna hate me since I challenged him in front of y'all," I said sadly, shoulders slumping as I leaned into Wrecker. I yearned for contact, for comfort, without this damn plastoid, but it was better than nothing...
"I say," Crosshair replied, walking past me. "It's good you did."
"Why's that?" I asked, tears still scalding the back of my throat.
You'll have an easier time getting rid of me?
"Shows you're no pushover," was the simple reply before he left me and Wrecker alone.
Frowning after the sniper, my entire mental state challenged, I glanced up at Wrecker. "Was... that his version of a compliment?"
Wrecker chuckled softly. "Sure was, Squeak." His hand rested on my head and his thumb rubbed one ear. "Sure was."
I rested my head against the demolition expert, welcoming the soft touch. Damn did I need it right now. Another chip in the glass and I honestly felt like I would shatter.
And I expected only one Batcher to help clean up the pieces...
His arm shifted down to wrap around my shoulders again. "Sarge will come around." He squeezed harder. "Trust me."
"Oh, I trust you, Wreck." I looked up the trail at Hunter's retreating back, feeling the world crash down atop me. Burying and suffocating me as sharp stone pierced straight through my heart, threatening to bleed me dry. "But it's not you I'm worried about..."