Chapter 67: State of Mind

A/N: This is going to start out weird, but it'll make sense in the end. Trust me.

The desert sun bore down on the brahmin as they munched on the feed she had just given them. She brought her pail of water to their trough and began to pour it, keeping it steady as she wipe the sweat from her eyes. Just within her earshot, she could hear Otho giving Antony a tongue-lashing over the last batch of hounds he reared, who had run and fled after an engagement with a band of wastelanders had gone south. She hurried to finish her chores so she could run back to her hiding spot.

"…WASN'T EVEN MY FAULT!" she could hear Antony scream. Dropping the pail, she immediately bolted behind some crates. Squatting behind them, she reached into a crack and pulled out a matted old teddy bear, clinging to it as she clenched her eyes shut and prayed that he wouldn't be in such a mood.

The rusty gate creaked open. "MEL! GET YOUR SKINNY ASS UP HERE NOW!"

Legionaries had no way to redress their grievances upwards. The only way to challenge their treatment was to challenge the officer in question or take it out on the lower ranks or, especially, the slaves. It was rather obvious which choice was more popular.

"Stay here, Sgt," Melody whispered as she pushed her friend back into the crack. Bracing herself, she climbed out from behind the crates, looking at Antony as he pointed down directly in front of him. She noticed he was holding a club in his other hand, one she had become too familiar with.

Standing before him, she kept her gaze down as he began to castigate her. "Why is this pen so filthy? Are you so lazy that you cannot keep up with the paltry few brahmin we have generously tasked under your "care?" Antony began. Melody's shovel had broken three weeks ago, and Antony had beat her for telling him so. "You don't believe me?" Antony asked. "Well, how about now?" he continued as he shoved her into the mud. As Melody turned around to push herself up, a boot landed on her head and dug her face deeper in. "Maybe even this slop is too good for you? If this is how you think our livestock should be treated, maybe I should take your cot and let you sleep with the rest of the animals?"

An explosion went off behind them. The beeves were spooked, all mooing as they immediately began to grow restless and began to rush towards the exit. And right between them and that was Antony. Having been caught off guard by the blast, Antony had taken his foot off Melody's head, allowing her to crawl away as the brahmin all rushed through and over Antony, leaving him trampled. Elsewhere, the legionaries were screaming as a strange voice spoke over the air.

"HELLO, CAESAR'S LEGION! ON BEHALF OF LARS PEREZ, I HAVE BEEN AUTHORIZED TO TERMINATE YOUR EXISTANCES WITH EXTREME PREJUDICE UNLESS YOU ALL, AND I QUOTE, "VACATE THE FUCK OFF MY PROPERTY!" FEEL FREE TO TAKE ANYTHING YOU CAN CARRY AND FORGET ABOUT TAKING ANY SLAVES WITH YOU! "CARRY YOUR OWN SHIT FOR ONCE, YOU FUCKING LARPER POSERS!" THAT'S ANOTHER QUOTE! NOW, OPENING FIRE!"

Melody watched as fire erupted over the hide walls. She looked behind her at where she had hidden a spade that Sgt. Teddy was guarding. She could make it; she could dig her way out and away from this horrible place. Antony began to sputter and moan as he tried and failed to pick himself up. Melody looked down at the club.

"That's not you."

Melody turned to see a boy about her age, wearing overalls and a wide-brim hat. He looked at her with his green eyes and leaned on his cane. "…You're a healer, not a killer. Don't you remember?"

"…I… I don't know what you're talking about…" Melody shook her head. "…Who are you?"

The boy took out a bandage and wrapped it around his eyes. "…Now?"

"…I know you…" Melody said as memories began to return. A gentle hand that held hers as she cried and apologized for spilling some food on him, telling her over and over that it was alright. An elated kiss after learning she had been accepted into the Followers. A contented slumber following their first night of passion after their marriage. A soft smile that could always bring her down to earth and lift her spirits to the heaven he believed in with all his heart.

Tears fell from her eyes. "…Joseph…"

"That's me," the boy smiled as he picked up the pail. "This'll do. Follow me, we can't stay here."

"What's wrong?" Melody asked.

In lieu of answering, Joseph instead pointed to the collapsed body of Antony. From the ground, fleshy tendrils of muscle and rot snuck up from the ground and began enveloping the wounded legionary, piercing through his every orifice as he tried to scream as he was dragged into the ground. "Your jailor wishes to keep you here forever," Joseph explained as he began whacking at the few tendrils that erupted around them. "Follow me."

Melody never had any more faith in a blind man than she did as Joseph led her away and out of the encampment. Though it had been years, Melody was sure that there had been more to the Fort than the brahmin pen, and that its entrance certainly didn't lead out into an endless, featureless wasteland.

"…Where are we?" Melody asked as Joseph paused to "look" up before changing his seemingly arbitrary direction.

"It's hard to explain," Joseph replied.

"What, you mean you don't think I'll understand?" Melody scoffed.

"I mean that it's something even I barely get," Joseph answered. "All I know is that we're all in the same boat."

"…We?" Melody asked. "…Wait, I think I'm starting to remember…"

An earth-shattering howl pierced through the air. Melody turned and saw in the distance two absolutely titanic figures. Once was a she-wolf with the horns of a bull, and the other was that of a man completely covered in fire. Both were the size of mountains, and both were locked in combat with one another. Even from here, seemingly miles away, the flames of the giant warmed her as the howls of the beast threatened to bowl her over.

"WHAT IS THAT?!" Melody screamed over the noise.

"A reason not to linger. I'll explain when we are safe," Joseph answered. "First, though, we need to get someone."

The city burned. Drums beat and guns cracked in the distance. A house collapsed in flames as the boy ran through the streets. Above the screams and pleads, the well-dressed boy paid them little attention as he called out once more. "MARCY!"

Despite the ambiance of war, this city looked like a ghost town. It felt like he had been wandering these streets for hours, perhaps even days, and hadn't seen another soul. And so it was that Markus kept searching, hoping to find someone, anyone who could help him find her. "MARCY!"

Joseph and Melody followed the calls as they wandered through the burning city. Before too long, they stumbled upon a well-dressed teenager, holding his sunglasses to his side as he kept calling out for her. "MARCY! PLEASE, WHERE ARE YOU?"

"Sir!" Joseph called out. The older boy seemed taken aback before all but scrambling towards the two. "Have you seen her?! She's about your guys' heights, and she has clear white eyes but I swear it isn't anything contagious, and she also has…"

"You're Markus Dinero?" Joseph asked.

"YES! I'm… right. Right. …How did you know that? And who are you, anyway?"

"…We're parties united by a common interest. You have someone you care about and I want to protect someone I care for," Joseph explained as he turned to Melody. "…Who is Marcy, by the way?"

"I…" Dinero began. "…I don't remember," he slowly began to realize. "But I… she doesn't have anyone else."

"…Do you want to help her?" Joseph asked.

"More than anything," Dinero nodded.

"Then you'd best be coming with us," Joseph reached out his hand. Dinero looked down at these two children and wondered just what their angle was. That was before the girl screamed and Dinero felt a tugging around his leg. A wire of skin and muscle began dragging at him, which was eventually overpowered by the three as they pried away Dinero and began to run through the burning streets as more and more tendrils began snaking through the buildings.

Vulpes Inculta watched the fires erupt from the encampment, the faint howls and screams just barely audible from his hiding spot. Setting down the binoculars to rub his eyes, he watched as one of the warhounds tore into a fleeing Pelt-Brute while its rider fired from the saddle. "…So this is the mighty Legion cavalry? Fascinating," Vulpes muttered. "I'm sure the Mojave would have looked very interesting if we had that particular asset."

"We?" Nemesio asked with what sounded like a faint smile under his mask.

"Don't you start," Vulpes growled. "You know nothing of me, priest."

"I watched you die," Nemesio responded.

Vulpes said nothing. After a prior lifetime of servitude, the moment he could grasp true freedom he did so with both hands and everything he had. He remembered how he was freed from his previous bond, only to be ensnared with one who bestowed upon him the entire identity to which he would now forever cling to.

He thought back to that day he was liberated. The Iglesia, now the Ministerio, had launched a raid on the prison to liberate their leader. That forced him and his master to try and flee. After all, what better place to hide than in a prison? Unfortunately for them, Bishop Jorge and his deacon had discovered them and pursued the traitor and his new acolyte. A fight erupted between the four, only to come to a close when a fifth intervened. The bishop and the master were slain, and as the servant made his getaway he watched as the deacon was shredded into…

Vulpes turned to look at Nemesio with a sense of dawning recognition. "And now you realize," Nemesio laughed in a wheezing, guttural cough. "I knew who you were from the start."

"Whoozy?" Sawney asked as he stood hunched over the two.

"…Why stay your tongue?" Vulpes growled.

"I shall permit you to keep your secrets for your reasons," Nemesio answered. "Legacies are a challenge to navigate at the best of times."

Vulpes snorted as he drew his binoculars back up. After a few minutes of searching, he paused as he spotted an oddity in the desert. "…Well," he muttered to himself. "Gentlemen…" he paused as both Nemesio and Sawney began to snicker. "I believe I see something that deserves further investigation. This investigation will require…" he paused to look at Sawney. "…Subtlety. May I entrust you and Nemesio to deter any interlopers while I commence with that task?"

"Huh?" Sawney's jaw slacked open.

"Kill anyone who tries to get close to him, my Revelation," Nemesio bowed.

"Y-din-yajus-seyzo?" Sawney replied.

The three found themselves caught in a monsoon. With the blind boy taking the lead, the others trailed behind them as they struggled against the onslaught of wind and rain. A light began to shine in the distance, drawing closer and closer.

The Drifter sat at the counter as the young girl continued to pester him. "…Is it… Charlie?"

"No," he answered once again.

The girl scratched her chin. "…Is it… Hector?"

"No," he sighed as the bartender continued sweeping the floor.

"…C'mon, just tell me," Tia pouted.

The Drifter turned to look at her. He motioned her to lean forward with his finger, looking around to make sure no one could hear. Satisfied, he leaned beside her until his lips were by her ear. "…It's… a secret."

"BOO!" Tia yelled, sticking her tongue out at him as he tried not to laugh. Mr. Kekos turned to look out the doorway. "…Looks like we have some more guests."

The two children and teenager entered the café, now suddenly warm and dry. The blind boy paused and took a moment to "look" around. "…He's not back, yet."

"Said it might take him a while," the bartender said as he continued sweeping.

Dinero stopped and turned to see the older man. "…Tom?"

Mr. Kekos dropped his broom. "…Sir?"

Dinero rushed forward to embrace his friend. "Sir, I had no idea that you had already-" Mr. Kekos stopped as he realized that Dinero was shaking. "…I've missed you," the teenager choked out. "I didn't know what to do when you…" was all he could get out before he continued to sob. Kekos patted him on the back. "There, there, sir. I knew you'd do just fine without me," he lied.

"…My condolences on your new situation, Markus," the Drifter rose his glass in the air.

"What the-" Dinero pried himself away from Kekos to look at the man. "Abe- no… YOU!" he got out. "You look so much like him!"

"Like who?" the Drifter asked.

"Larain! Abel! Your kid!" Dinero replied. The café was silent, save for the glass that shattered after having slipped from the Drifter's fingers.

Joseph, meanwhile, was escorting Melody to a booth. "I have been assured that everyone here is a friend. I only ask that you remain here for the duration until I find us a way out of here," Joseph said as he began making his way to the bar.

"Ok, where are we and who are these people?" Melody demanded to know.

"…That girl at the counter is Tia. She was brought here first by a friend of mine. The bartender holding Markus is Tom Kekos, who's been running this place in my friend's absence, and the other guy is…"

"Drifter will do fine," the Drifter suddenly snapped. Tia blew a raspberry at him as she poured herself a bottle of rum.

"…I made a deal with this friend of mine. Once all of you are safe, I can get to work on making sure we can all escape this Purgatory," Joseph said. Melody grabbed him by the hand. "Joseph, I want you to be honest with me. Is this a dream?"

"…Mostly," Joseph admitted. "Albeit a much deeper one than I've ever been."

"…You're not in control of this, are you?" Melody said aloud.

"…She is," Joseph concurred. "As I said, I'm dealing with it. All we need you to do is remain here and you won't be hurt. My friend will see to it that you are taken care of."

"And who's this friend you're talking about?" Melody asked.

The doors were kicked open once again. This time a man came in carrying two struggling children as a silver puppy nipped and barked at his heels. The man wore an overcoat and a fedora, and the two children he carried, a boy and a girl, were scratching and pushing and just trying to get free of the man.

"LET ME GO, YOU FILTHY FUCKING PROFLIGATE!" the girl with a shaved head screamed as she clawed at his impassive face.

"ACK, IMMA SHOVE MY BOOT SO FAR UP YOUR REAR YOU'LL BE TASTIN SHOE LEATHER FOR MONTHS!" the freckled, buck toothed boy shouted as he kept hitting the man's backside with his fists. The silver puppy grabbed the hem of the man's overcoat with its teeth and began trying to pull at it.

The man dropped both of them onto the floor. The silver puppy trotted over to lick the boy's face. Both the girl and boy got to their feet and pulled out their knives. The stranger instead looked to the Drifter. The Drifter sighed before slamming his fist onto the counter. "LEGIONARIES! AT ATTENTION!"

Sophia and Dan both stood ramrod straight, along with the silver puppy. The stranger nodded a silent thank you to the Drifter before turning his attention to Joseph. "…That's everyone accounted for," the stranger stated.

"…All but three," Joseph said. The Stranger moved to the bar and brought out a jug. Joseph followed and held out his pail. Melody, meanwhile, looked at the new children and began to remember what had happened.

Her body had been forced into a march away from their camp into the desert. When she somehow came to, she found herself at another camp, this one with a familiar-looking old man and small girl. It was then that a young woman with a submachine gun immediately accosted her, pointing the weapon at her head and demanding to know who she was. Joseph, fortunately, had been following closely and arrived in time to de-escalate the situation. Unfortunately for them all, they had fallen into another's trap.

Melody glared at Sophia as she looked over the rags and grime she had been covered in. The clean-looking young woman was a far cry from the wretch she was looking at now. Come to think of it, perhaps there was a reason she and her husband and Dinero had all turned into children in this… realm, she figured she'd call it.

"Attention, everyone!" Joseph announced to all as he put a lid over his now-filled pail. "I am departing from this place! I do not expect to return, but I believe we will all leave at once. This man," he said, indicating the Stranger next to him. "Will protect you from all threats for the duration of our mutual interment. As such, I pray you will all remain with him as I go out."

"Where are you going?" Melody asked, concerned.

"To speak with our jailor," Joseph replied.

"Lying is unbecoming of you, Mr. Young," the Stranger replied. Joseph turned to stare at the Stranger. Suddenly, the air within the café began to turn. Joseph bowed his head and took a breath. "…I'm going out to kill Sybil."

"THE ORACLE?!" Sophia and Dan exclaimed simultaneously. The Drifter grabbed both of them and held them back. "New era, same Legion," he muttered under his breath as they struggled against him.

"…Joseph," Melody breathed. "…This isn't like you at all."

"…I've always been like this, Mel," Little Joe said as he turned to look at the woman Joseph loved more than anyone. "Joseph just kept me hidden from you and everyone else for your sakes. But when she arrived, he let me out and made me a deal. I see to it that all of you are kept safe from any harm, and in exchange, we take care of her my way."

The boy made his way to the entryway of the café. "…Hey, Mel. In case this doesn't go as planned, Joseph told me to tell you that… for names, he was always partial to Joshua or Michelle. Or really, anything except anything demonic like Dameon, Lucifer or Duncan. Just thought you should know." He then turned back to the Stranger. "She'll be watching the fight, right?"

"Her attention has been captured thoroughly by your larger half and that of her daughter," the Stranger stated.

"MARCY'S OUT THERE?!" Dinero screamed. "And she's… oh no," he realized more of what had happened. The silver hound approached. Its rider and the passenger had both dismounted. The passenger ordered the rider to point his weapon at the old man while she grabbed the other girl and held a knife to her throat. Marcy screamed and pleaded with that woman. The woman instead ordered her to kill the pastor. And the next thing he knew, he was back in Phoenix.

"…They're fighting," Dinero realized. "That giant and that wolf, they're… No. No, no, no."

"Markus, I need you to remain calm and stay-" Joseph began.

"MARCY!" Dinero screamed as he bolted from the café and into the storm.

As Kekos and Melody both went to go after them, the Stranger immediately blocked the entryway. "The rest of you must remain here!" the Stranger commanded. "Else you will not be protected from the Oracle!"

Little Joe walked up to the Stranger. "…Will he be safe?"

"That depends on quite a few factors, some fixed, others up in the air," the Stranger stated. "…You of all people should understand this. Your story shall…"

"I know," Little Joe nodded. "…Let me out."

The giant grabbed the wolf by the horns and pushed back. The flames nearly engulfed the wolf as she dug her paws into the dirt and snapped near the giant's heart. Around them, a massive fortress made of flesh arose to surround them, penning them in as the Oracle sat atop her machine throne. Watching the preacher struggle with holding back, she realized that despite his lack of killer instinct, Pariah had yet to overwhelm her prey.

"WEAK!" the Oracle roared. "YOU'RE STILL WEAK, GIRL! KILL HIM!"

The wolf once again charged the giant, forcing him back as Sybil say back on her throne. All this power before her, but no will or desire to further it. So, what could a mother do but motivate her child? A mass of tendrils erupted from the walls of flesh and struck forward into the flank of the wolf. The wolf let out a howl.

Barabbas's head immediately perked up. Ignoring the fleeing tribals and elated wastelanders swarming around him, he immediately dug his spurs into Belua and began to storm back to where he had set up camp. Quintas watched as Barabbas leaped over him and a Pelt-Brute he had stuck with his gladius, narrowly ducking his head to avoid getting grazed by Belua's claws.

"SIR!" Drago called out as Falco returned from his prior errand. "…Drago, to me! The rest of you remain here!" the senior centurion ordered as he took off after Barabbas. The Legate did not respond, only snapping at the reins of his mount as he took off.

Marcy remembered her last day in Dallas. She was at the kennels, the one place she was always happy to be in, despite the noise and smell. The hounds were simple to understand, and never judged her or talked behind her back. Only Barabbas could be more pleasant to deal with. Despite her small stature, she could perform her duties without issue, feeding the animals and raising them. As unbecoming as it was to work manual labor with the slaves, Marcy was never happier than she was here.

She remembered dwelling on the memory of helping Barabbas find his cavalry mount years ago, leading him to the largest and most violent dog the breeders had ever reared. Having come from one of the first litters of the first dogs who had consumed the flesh of the Titan, some of the dogs had taken on more traits than most. She remembered watching her brother stare down this animal before urging him to spend the night in the pen with her, so she could understand that the bull boy meant him no harm. Ever since then, Barabbas was the only one who could tame Belua, and she became his mount ever since.

The dogs began to whimper and whine in agony. Marcy turned to see an unfamiliar figure in the kennel approaching her. She remembered dropping her pail and backing towards one of the pens occupied by Cleo, who had just given birth to a litter. The figure stopped over her, looking down at her as she drew her lips back.

"What lovely animals. Might I see them?" Sybil asked as one of the nearby dogs collapsed.

Stop it, Marcy begged with tears in her eyes. She understood that the Oracle was deliberately causing the pain the animals were feeling. And so, it was there that they made a deal. Marcy would surrender her birthright and place in the sun and leave Dallas forever. With Barabbas occupied by an eastern campaign and Father in the south, there was no one who could challenge or object.

And so, using her abilities to shield herself from sight and mind, Pariah was sent westwards. For months, she tried to live off the land and stole when she could not, sleeping where she could and keeping predators of all kinds at bay, even going so far as to bait three deathclaws to clear out a pack of Gilas so she could sleep somewhere warm. Then she found that town, broke into that storage, and found Dinero.

She gored the fire giant with her horns, piercing his body as the man stumbled. She could hear Mother laughing at his agony and her pain. Marcy's weakness, as Mother often explained, was empathy. The pain the preacher felt was something she would share. She could feel her own heart tear and her own desperation to survive overwhelm her. But she couldn't protect anyone if she couldn't live, and the only way for her to live was for the preacher to die.

"MARCY!"

A tiny boy, smaller than a gnat, approached the battlefield in desperation. "IT'S YOU, ISN'T IT? I KNEW I COULD RECOGNIZE YOU!" the boy said to the massive horned wolf.

"YOU KEEP YOUR DISTANCE, FOOL!" the Oracle demanded. "THIS MATTER IS BEYOND YOUR CONCERN!"

"PISS OFF!" Dinero flipped her the bird. "I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE, I'M TAKING THE GIRL WITH ME! IF YOU WANT THE PREACHER DEAD SO BAD, DO IT YOURSELF!"

"PARIAH, KILL THE INTRUDER!" the Oracle demanded.

The man on fire immediately reached down and grabbed Dinero, holding him in front of him before the hound. Joseph despised having to resort to a measure like this, but with how the fight had been going, he knew that Marcy would inevitably overpower him. He swallowed his shame over this new leverage of his and used Dinero to keep the wolf at bay. This action, however, only seemed to infuriate the wolf, who proceeded to scream and howl in anger at Joseph as Dinero struggled against the heat and pressure.

"About time she's finally motivated," Sybil replied as she sank into her throne. For all her harshness towards her child, for all the taunts and abuse and discipline, not once did she ever forget that first potential she had sensed. What it took years for her and Barabbas and presumably the preacher to master, Pariah had been born with, already with her eyes open to the Sight. Even with her gift having been given so early, she pressed onwards and forced herself to not be overwhelmed, centering herself as she clawed her way into the land of the living. Yes, Sybil thought to herself, Pariah has all the potential in the world, and no drive to reach it. Until now, she smiled as the wolf tackled the giant.

"Hey, lady!" Sybil turned to see a boy standing beside her throne with a wooden pail he was right in the middle of throwing, just in time for the clear liquid to splash onto her.

"Oh, you little prick!" Sybil spat out as she wiped her face. "Who the…" she stopped and stared at the boy before a knowing smile crept onto her lips. "…Oh, of course, that self-righteous proselytizer would limit himself so. You're everything about himself that he rejects, aren't you?" Sybil assessed.

"Bingo!" Little Joe said with a grin and a thumbs up.

"You're pissed off at the world and wish you could be more active about fixing it to your liking, like me?" Sybil asked.

"Ah-yup," Little Joe nodded vigorously.

"And yet the most you are able to accomplish is to splash me with water," Sybil heckled the boy.

"Nah. That's not water," Little Joe said as he pulled out his Colt. 45 and set off the gasoline.

The piercing shriek captured the attention of both combatants. As the Oracle burned and sank into her skin tower, Little Joe stood on the edge and looked at the fire giant. "Joseph! I got them all out! They're safe! Mel's safe!"

The fire giant looked down at the boy struggling in his grasp. He turned to look at the wolf and gently set the boy on the ground before her. The wolf dissipated as a small girl ran out and threw herself into the young Dinero's arms. "You're OK! You're Ok," Dinero said as Marcy hugged him tighter.

The world around them began to rumble as more towers of bone and blood jutted from the ground. The shrieks turned into inhuman howls as Little Joe began to stumble. "Joseph! It's time!"

The fire giant nodded. No more hiding, no more pretending otherwise. Little Joe was as much a part of him as his faith and love of Melody was. Against what was coming, he'd need every last scrap of who he was. Little Joe jumped from the tower, landing into the cupped hands of the waiting fire giant. The red flames turned white.

"Dinero!" Marcy said. "We have to stop my mom here and now! I need you to hold on for dear life! And Markus… thank you," she smiled as she took the teenager by the hand. Before he even realized what had happened, he found himself rising off the ground and holding onto a mat of hair as the horned wolf once again rose from the ground. The wolf shot a glance at the giant before the tower of flesh burst open. An indescribable mass of humanity rose before them. "INSOLENT LITTLE UPSTARTS! YOU KNOW NOTHING OF GLORY AND THE FUTURE! I AM THE WOMB OF HUMANITY! YOU'LL ALL DIE SCREAMING!"

Barabbas didn't see the great dark shape approaching him until it was too late. The orange pair of eyes careened into Belua, knocking them off course as Barabbas tried to correct his stead. Regaining control, he turned to see the black deathclaw rearing up as its rider lit his sword alight with blue fire.

"BEHOLD, THE PROPHET OF THE REVELATION!" Nemesio announced.

"YAH! WHAHESAI!" The lizard agreed in concert.

Barabbas didn't have time to waste. He attempted to charge away, only to once again be intercepted by the lizard and priest. A broken tongue sunk out past the lizard's lips as Nemesio pointed his sword toward the legate.

"AWAY!" Barabbas commanded. Sawney attempted to flee, only to have Nemesio grab him by the horns and force him to confront the enemy rider. Barabbas looked on in shock and fury at his command being violated once again. "My faith shields me in all manners, son of Lanius," Nemesio grinned.

Enraged at being impeded, Barabbas threw himself at the enemy rider. Swords crashed against one another as their mounts snarled and snapped at each other. Barabbas's cleaver sparked against Nemesio's fiery sword, the priest guarding himself well as Sawney struck at Belua whenever the opportunity arose. Increasingly frustrated, Barabbas found himself swinging at the lizard to force some more distance.

A piercing series of screams shot through his mind. Barabbas was distracted long enough for Nemesio to finally strike. He pierced the bull helm, shattering through it as Barabbas fell from his mount, just in time for Sawney to rear back and slam his head into Belua's, knocking her off her paws.

"Ah-ah-ah-ah!" Sawney crowed as Nemesio noticed the newcomers. "My dear prophet, me must collect our lost lamb and take our leave," Nemesio urged. "PHINE-AH!" Sawney rolled his eye as he got on all fours and galloped away.

As Melody came to, she realized that there were others stirring around her. Dinero was hovering over that Marcy girl alongside the other kid, trying to jostle her awake. That rider in the cowboy hat was helping the young woman upright, checking to see if she was OK as a large silver dog lay still passed out some distance away. Then she saw her husband kneeling before her, facing away. Right as he fell forward.

"JOE!" Melody cried out as she rushed over to him and pushed him onto his back. She fought back a scream as she saw the blood dribbling from his nose and mouth. He moaned before coughing up a little more.

"Just stay with me," Melody said as she looked around for anything that resembled a first aid kit. "Scale of one to ten, how much pain are you in?"

"…Six… teen," Joseph tried to say with a smile. "It's OK, we're all safe for now. She's…"

Melody looked up to see the strange woman who had just arrived before everything went to hell. She knelt there, staring into space with her single clear eye as drool dripped below her mouth, commingling with the blood.

"We fought her together, Pari- Marcy and I. We stood firm and defeated her, but it took a lot out of both of us," Joseph explained.

"…Joe, what are you talking about?" Melody asked.

Joseph was silent for a moment before letting out a laugh. None of them remembered anything, just as the Stranger had promised. It was all just a dream they could no longer remember after waking. Just as well. Just as well. The only one who could likely remember anything was Marcy. The Oracle, on the other hand, Sybil…

Sybil had been overwhelmed by the efforts of the other two. Her defenses were breached and her weapons shattered against the combined onslaught that was the preacher and child. Sybil was strong and clever, but her arrogance undid her, blinding her to shortcomings that Joseph could exploit and Marcy could overpower. In the end, it was Marcy that took Sybil's Sight, and, it would appear as Sybil looked around aimlessly, most of her mind.

Dan was sure Sophia was OK. He hadn't expected to see another Amazon this far out, but the reunion was cut short by the Oracle's duties. Pulling guns on old folk and children wasn't his idea of honorable, but neither he nor Sophia could argue with their boss, even if it didn't sit well in his gut. For some reason, everyone passed out not long afterward, and though Pariah wasn't stirring and the Oracle seemed… out of it, Dan was just going around making sure no one had died. He didn't sense the footsteps until the blow was thrown.

The intruder knocked Dan on his feet. Sophia reached for her machine gun only for the boot to kick her down and sweep the gun away in a single motion. The stranger looked over the disparate audience before him. "…Well, what have we here?" Vulpes asked, rhetorically.

Gathering up the strength he barely had, Joseph tried to drive off the intruder as Melody quelled away from the sight. He realized that he had no effect when Vulpes swatted down the girl, Tia, as she was about to curse him out. Dinero simply dragged her away from the intruder along with Marcy. Vulpes looked around until he saw the long-haired woman staring at him. "…Remember me, Oracle?" Vulpes asked as he pulled out a knife. In her diminished state, Sybil recognized a threat as she tried to pull herself away, crawling back as she tried to remember how to defend herself. Vulpes was already on top of her, grabbing her by the hair. "…You've had this coming for twenty years," Vulpes hissed as he held the knife to her throat. In a single motion, he swept it across her neck, dropping her body to the ground as she let out some gurgling, strangled breaths.

"YOU FUCKER!" Dan screamed as he pointed his pistol toward the intruder. Vulpes, on his part, flung his knife at his hand, forcing him to drop the weapon as he held his wrist in pain. "Anyone else want to play hero?" Vulpes taunted.

A massive dark shape approached the encampment. "Vulpes, we must flee!" Nemesio announced as Sawney began to salivate over the mass of bodies before him. Joseph could only feel the horror as the beast looked over his selection before making his decision, the doctor looking over him. Unable to resist, Sawney slashed out toward Melody as she was too distracted by Vulpes to think clearly. She only realized her situation when a body threw itself upon her and let out a cry as many claws raked across his back.

"PROPHET! THEY COME!" Nemesio told his steed. "GRAB VULPES AND TAKE OUR LEAVE!"

"ACK! PHUCKU!" Sawney let out in frustration as he swiped up Vulpes and placed him on his back behind Nemesio. At the sound of baying hounds approaching, Sawney once again got on all fours and retreated, running faster than the hounds pursuing could follow. Vulpes looked back at the three riders as they reached the camp, a slow smile crawling on his face as he felt as if praise from some unknown realm wash over him. His master would have been proud.

A helmet-less Barabbas stormed into camp. "WHERE'S MARCY!" he yelled as Melody let out a scream after seeing her husband's wound. Seeing the old man and Tia around her, he swept them aside as he held his finger to her neck once again. Still breathing. She was safe. "Overextended," Barabbas breathed as Melody dug out her medical bag and began fixing what she could. "She's just overextended. There, there, we're just going to get you up and… Dan?"

His guard captain looked at him with tears in his eyes. "…I'm sorry, sir. I tried."

Barabbas heard the choking gurgle as he turned to see the woman sprawled out with blood pooling under her. "MOTHER!" he screamed in horror as he ran over to her, dropping Marcy. "FALCO, GET QUINTAS! GET SOMEONE! YOU!" he demanded over at Melody. "GET OVER HERE AND HELP!"

Melody looked up at Barabbas with anger in her eyes. "…She's already dead."

A hand reached up to brush Barabbas's cheek. Looking down, he could see the faint smile on her lips. Even through all the pain, she still recognized her favorite. The hand would go limp not five seconds later, and the light would fade from her eye, and the howl that followed would echo throughout the wasteland for miles.