Yee-haw.
Disclaimer: I don't own Danganronpa. Danganronpa is owned by Kazutaka Kodaka and published by Spike Chunsoft.
If one were to wander around in the dusty plains of Kodaberg, they would have to be rather blind to miss the herds of cattle. There were several large herds, each with one or two cowboys riding horses and riding alongside the herds. Some did it for the meat, others did it for the milk. Either way, this was the life of one Makoto Naegi.
"Woah!" Makoto barked as he led his horse to cut off a stray cow. She moo'd before lumbering back into the herd.
"Hiyah! Yah!" another voice sounded out. Makoto looked up to see a fellow cowboy, a year older than him, riding around and skillfully leading several more cows back to the herd.
"Hey Hajime! The herd's getting kind of restless! Let's let them graze!" Makoto called.
"I can set with that!" Hajime called back. The two led the herd to a plot of land where there was grass for the animals to eat and water for them to drink. The two dismounted their horses and ruffled through their bags. Hajime took out bags of horse feed and allowed the horses to chow down. Meanwhile, Makoto was setting up a fire nearby.
"Got any prairie coal?" Makoto called over his shoulder.
"In the bag's front pocket!" Hajime called back as he finished feeding Makoto's horse and moved onto his. Makoto stuck his hand into a bag's pocket and, thankful that he was wearing leather gloves, pulled out some dried feces before lighting them for the fire.
Soon, by the time Hajime was done feeding the horses and watered them, Makoto had a pot of beans cooking with cans of coffee for the two. Hajime gave a smirk before rummaging through his own bag and pulled out a couple biscuits, causing Makoto to grin as well. The two cowboys sat down and enjoyed their food as they watched the herd.
"Man, this heat! It's killing me! I grew up out here all my life, and that's the only reason why I'm not some namby-pamby coffee boiler. Once the day is over, I'll be at the bar getting roostered," Hajime said as he pulled out a small bag of tobacco and small pieces of paper and began rolling the tobacco up. "You want a quirley?"
"Naw, can't stand the taste," Makoto declined. Hajime shrugged before lighting his cigarette up. Makoto reached into his bag and passed Hajime an apple. He took out another one and raised it to his mouth, only to notice a baby cattle lumbering over to them. He rolled his eyes with a smile before tossing the apple over to the baby. The cattle caught it in its mouth and ate it.
"Come 'ere, Pluck," Makoto said with a raised hand. Pluck strutted over and nuzzled his hand.
"Is he your cattle or your pet?" Hajime asked with an amused look. Makoto stuck his tongue out at him before feeding Pluck another apple. Hajime took a bite out of his own apple with a loud crunch and wiped the juice off his mouth with his bandana. He looked at the herd.
"Did you hear? At the bar, they say that there's a bunch of cattle thieves running about."
"Really?" Makoto mused as he tried to take a bite out of an apple for himself, only for Pluck to snatch it out of his hand and earn a gentle swat for his thievery.
"You think that the herd will be okay?" Hajime asked.
"Sure. I mean, they have Chuck." Makoto said. Right on cue, a giant bull strutted up to the two. He was much bigger than the rest, and was the leader of the herd. Pluck moo'd at Chuck, only to receive a grunt and a snort. Pluck moo'd again as he nuzzled Makoto's cheek, only to be reprimanded with a sterner snort. Pluck moo'd a final time and went back to the rest of the herd. Chuck grunted as he followed.
"Chuck!" Hajime called, catching the big bull's attention. He threw his half-eaten apple, and it disappeared once it reached the bull's mouth. Chuck gave an appreciative snort before following Pluck back.
"Chuck will protect the herd. Especially Pluck," Makoto said.
"He's his baby after all." Hajime agreed. Makoto grinned before finishing a biscuit and dusting off his hands.
"Let's start heading back."
"I can set with that." Hajime got up with a slight grunt before whistling. The horses trotted over with a snort and a neigh as Makoto got up as well. The two cowboys climbed on and began herding the cattle again, with Chuck trotting ahead of the herd as its leader. A small cloud of dust kicked up, causing the two cowboys to pull their bandanas up their faces and narrow their eyes.
"Hey, Hajime?"
"What is it, pardner?"
"Well… do you suppose that I am an odd stick for… well…"
"Do you have a biscuit stuck in your throat?" Hajime asked dryly but also handed over a canteen of water as the dust settled down. Makoto grinned but didn't finish his sentence as he took a drink. Hajime didn't push it since, despite him being older, Makoto was sort of his boss. It was his family's ranch that Hajime was working at. Speaking of the family.
"Howdy!" a cowgirl younger than both of them rode up on their own horse. She grinned at the two, Makoto in particular. The two were siblings after all.
"Howdy, Komaru. You seem fair to middlin'," Makoto greeted.
"Ma and Pa have supper on the table. Ya staying for food, Hajime?" Komaru asked her brother's co-worker.
"You kiddin'? I can eat a desert canary!" Hajime said as he dropped off his horse and followed the siblings inside.
"Ah ha! I told you that our waddie would want some." the siblings' father said to his wife as he spotted Hajime.
"Howdy, Kaiji," Hajime greeted his boss.
"Howdy, Hajime. Come 'ere and join us!" Kaiji said as he gestured for Hajime to take a seat with the Naegi family. "Elias made us a delicious Japanese meal."
"Now that's rare. What's the occasion?"
"No occasion. Just felt like it," the mother, Elias, shrugged as she served plates of grilled fish, miso soup, and beef onigiri.
"Can't refuse that," Hajime shrugged as he took a seat next to his co-worker. Kaiji sat down next to his son as Komaru and Elias sat down across from them. He picked up his chopsticks, but paused. He turned to his son and looked him over with a critical look.
"Makoto, have you been playing with Pluck again?"
"... I fed him an apple."
"Makoto, what have we told you about spoiling that calf?"
"Oh come on dad, he's adorable!" Komaru chirped.
"That goes to you too, young lady. If the calf is spoiled, the calf won't learn. If the calf won't learn-"
"The calf can't lead the herd," Makoto finished with a roll of his eyes
"And if the calf can't lead the herd they all roll over and die," Komaru said dramatically before throwing herself back in her seat and letting out a "Bleh!" with her tongue rolling out and her eyes crossing. Makoto and Hajime snickered as Kaiji rolled his eyes.
"Pluck has a responsibility and an inheritance, just like you do Makoto," Kaiji said. Makoto sighed and nodded.
"Yeah, yeah. I get it dad. Still, he's just a baby. Why not play with him every now and then?"
"Soon, he'll have to grow."
"And to grow, he needs to eat a lot. Just like you do," Elias cut in as she finished setting down different plates of food, distracting the cowboys and cowgirl.
"Itadakimasu!" the group chorused as they began to dig in. But even as they ate, Makoto thought about the future of the ranch. As the older child and only son, he was the one who was going to inherit the ranch, much like how Pluck would inherit the herd.
"Oo boy! I'm full as a tick!" Hajime said as he sat back and patted his stomach. Elias chuckled as she took his plate.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it. But I suppose you'll be heading down to the pub for dessert?" she guessed. Hajime grinned back.
"You know me. Can't resist a good drink after a long day of hard work," he said. Kaiji sighed enviously.
"I wish I can get a drink me'self. Unfortunately, I have my wife." Hajime laughed as Kaiji got a swat on his head before leaving with a wave over his shoulder.
"Don't get too drunk!" Makoto called after him.
"I'll drink as much as I want!" Hajime called back. Makoto rolled his eyes as he helped clean the table. His mother eyed him as she helped him.
"Makoto, your father has a point. Pluck may be a baby, but he has to be prepared to protect the herd. It might be better to encourage him to be stronger," she said.
"... yeah." Makoto nodded.
-Line Break-
It was late at night. Chuck gazed at the wooden house farther away from the wood surrounding his herd. The two legged creatures that rode the other animals and often led them around to find grass and water were likely asleep. Chuck didn't approve of his calf being so friendly with the smaller creature. The smaller creature was certainly nice, and when a coyote or mountain lion came near his herd when Chuck wasn't there, the creature often chased them off with ferocity that matched Chuck's. But the creature was too nice to his calf, who the creature calls Pluck. Pluck didn't act like a future leader as he should, and the creature only encouraged his playing. Speaking of which…
Chuck snorted and grunted as he trotted over to Pluck, who was rolling around and bouncing about, annoying other members of the herd who were trying to sleep.
"Calf, go to sleep."
"But father, I want to play!"
"You've played all day. Go to your mother," Chuck scolded with a stern grunt. Pluck moo'd like a spoiled calf, which he might as well be, and finally began to trot to his mother. Chuck sighed as he followed.
'Calf… you need to learn to be a big bull. Before you're forced to,' Chuck thought. Suddenly, Chuck's ears perked up as he caught the sound of pebbles being moved around. The bull turned his head to look around, eyes narrowed and nostrils flared as the bull exhaled fiercely. Pluck looked at him in confusion.
"Calf, go to your mother," Chuck warned. Pluck moo'd in confusion, but a small roar from Chuck caused the calf to scurry away. Chuck stalked over to the wood surrounding his herd where he heard the sound. His eyes looked around for whatever was out there.
A sudden shriek caused Chuck to whip around and dash over to the opposite side of the fence as he spotted a large shadow jump over the wood meant to protect them and lunge for a cow. Chuck bellowed as he slammed into the creature. The creature fell back with a screech and roared at him as he bellowed back, ready to protect his family.
-Line Break-
Pluck watched his father fight the new creature from the side of his mother as the other cows and calves bellowed as well. In the distance, a light turned on in the wooden house where the two-legged creatures sleep in, raising his hopes slightly. Suddenly, his father let out a bellow that didn't sound like his battle cry. Pluck turned and cried out in alarm at the sight of his father bleeding and struggling against claws dug into his shoulder. The bull reared back and used his horns to knock the creature away and bellowed again.
The bull charged at the creature with his horns aimed to impale it, but the creature dodged to the side and struck the side of his father's head, causing the bull to fall to his side. His father got to his feet and bellowed again, only for the creature to charge and slam into him. The two struggled against each other before the creature threw him to the side. It screeched as it fell onto his father and began digging its claws into his dad's neck, causing blood to spray. His father bellowed and roared as he tried to knock the creature away, but the creature pulled out something from its side and swung it onto his father's head. The bull grunted as he fell down, and the creature continued to smash its object onto his head until he didn't move anymore.
Pluck let out a mournful wail as he tried to rush to his father's side, but the cows and calves went crazy seeing their leader die. Pluck couldn't move anywhere as the panicking cows prevented him from moving, but he watched as the creature began tearing into his dead father.
"Father!" the calf bayed. The creature suddenly looked up and dashed away from his father's remains, smashing through the wood. The creature hollered, howled, and screeched as it dashed around, scaring the cows to run out the gap, and continued to herd the cows. Pluck moo'd for his father as he was forced to run with the herd, away from the bull that died protecting them.
-Line Break-
"Chuck!" Makoto cried out as he came to the fence and saw the dead cow. Despite being dressed in his pajamas and barefoot, the cowboy had dashed out of the house followed by his sister and father and made it to the fence just in time to see the herd being chased away by a massive creature out the right side of the farm. His father took out his revolver and quickly aimed, but it was too late. The herd was already too far for him to shoot at the monster. Kaiji cursed and threw the gun into the distance after the herd.
"Dammit! If only Hajime was here!" he said.
"Makoto! That thing killed Chuck!" Komaru cried as she climbed over the fence and made her way over to the bull, hoping that she was wrong. Unfortunately, the bull's head was reduced to an ugly puddle of red, and more pulp was forming another puddle at his guts. Makoto gritted his teeth and yelled his anger into the night.
-Line Break-
"Worthless yellow belly bastard!" Kaiji cursed as he stormed in and threw his gun on the ground.
"Kaiji!"
"Don't worry, it's empty."
"You'll damage the gun though! What's making you fit to be tied?"
"Our 'mighty' sheriff is a ten-cent man. He accused me of killing the cattle for attention and didn't believe my depiction of the monster."
"Oh dear. Makoto and Komaru will not be happy when they return."
"You're darn tootin' right. Where are they anyways?"
"..."
"Elias, where are our kids?"
"With Hajime."
"Oh, good. Where's Hajime?"
"Looking for the monster and the herd."
"ELIAS!"
-Line Break-
"Alright, I have a Winchester 1887 and a LeMat. They're new but they should be useful. Makoto, Komaru, both of you take those M1878s. One of you take that Enfield too."
"I'll do it!" Komaru chirped as she picked up the rifle. Hajime finished loading up the horses and distributed the necessary ammo before saddling up.
"Ready to hunt a monster?" he asked.
"Naturally," Makoto said with a serious look in his eye. He finished loading the revolver before sliding it into place on his belt. "Let's ride."
"Yeeeeee haaawww!" Komaru whooped as her horse reared back before dashing off. Hajime and Makoto both rode after her.
"So what's the plan?" Hajime called.
"That monster could've been trying to get away from us as we approached, but it chose to go to the right of the farm, and herded the cows in a straight line. There might be a chance that it was herding them in a specific direction," Makoto said.
"So we should try to figure out what direction that is!" Komaru said.
"Then we should go to the other ranches, see if they also had to deal with something like that. If we can figure out which way the monster broke out of their farms, we might be able to find out where it went." Hajime suggested.
"Then let's head over to the Cassidies!" Makoto said as their horses veered to the right.
-Line Break-
Pluck slowly and fearfully moved from his mother's side to peered through the wood that kept the cows in. The creature staggered past the wood, making him shrink back. But the creature was distracted, dragging another cow from another home, another herd, behind it. Pluck moo'd quietly and mournfully as he trotted back to the rest of the herd and returned to his mother, trembling.
Once again, he found himself wishing for his father, and for the two legged creatures to find his herd. Pluck laid down and moo'd mournfully. He missed his home, and hated being inside the cave. He hoped rescue would come soon.
"Calf, there will come a time where you can't afford to play. You have to be ready to rise up…" Pluck remembered his father saying. And yet, even as his father was trying to prepare him, he brushed it off, thinking that his father would be there forever.
"... I'm not ready…" Pluck moo'd sadly.
-Line Break-
"Okay, I got information from the Dusties and Crankies," Hajime said in the bar of a new town.
"I got information from the Dirks and Murks," Makoto said as he placed some drawings on the table.
"I got food!" Komaru chirped as she dropped a plate of food on the drawings. Hajime swatted her on the head. "I got information from the Kicks and the Mix. They said that their bulls had their heads crushed, like… Chuck…"
Komaru looked sad at the reminder. Makoto put a hand on her shoulder as he looked down at the table. All the ranches had the herd's leader killed by the monster, likely to make it easier to herd the cattle.
"Alright, let's see if we can figure out where to go," Makoto said as he took Komaru's drawings and put them down next to his own drawings. Hajime took a swig from a small bottle of whiskey before pulling out a map and putting it down. On the map were black Xs where the ranches were located. Komaru looked it over with her cheeks stuffed full of potatoes.
"Sho air dew ee shtart?" she asked.
"Swallow," Makoto said. Komaru swallowed.
"So where do we start?" she repeated. Hajime took out a pen.
"Looking at the pictures you guys got, we can draw lines from where the monster annexed different herds, and the direction it went." Hajime quickly made different lines. The Naegi Ranch had the fence broken to the East, another ranch was broken to the North. A third was broken to the North-East, a fourth to the West…
"Hm…" Hajime finished drawing the lines.
"Okay, now we just need to check where the lines cross over, and we can start… there…"
The trio sat there and looked at the map. The lines did meet, and they met at a picture labeled 'Scorpion's Den'.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Are we still doing this?"
"Yep."
"Uh huh."
"Don't tell your parents I took you to Scorpion's Den."
"We won't."
"Don't worry."
-Line Break-
"Well, here we are," Hajime said as he stopped his horse, causing his co-workers to stop as well. Komaru looked up and whistled.
Scorpion's Den was a pair of plateaus rising into the sky as though they were holding it up. There was a shadowy valley cutting through the two sides, and the valley had numerous ledges and elevations with caves scattered around it like black dots. The trio stared into it.
"Huh. It's big, but I don't know why mom and dad are so scared of it," Komaru said.
"That's because Scorpion's Den tends to be where a lot of cowboys disappear," Hajime said as he dismounted his horse. "Once there was a crowd of cowboys who went here to see if they could 'reclaim' this place. Not a single one returned. People began to yarn the hours away, belting legend after legend about this place. Some say that this place is accompanied by a demon. Others reckon that there's a clan of criminals here. And still others-"
"Hajime, stop trying to scare my sister," Makoto deadpanned. Komaru was currently hiding behind her horse. Hajime barked with laughter as Komaru puffed her cheeks up at him.
"Fine fine, but bottom line is, there's a lot of mystery surrounding this place. It's dangerous, so be on guard," Hajime said sternly. Makoto and Komaru nodded as their horses began to trot forwards with Hajime leading his. They each pulled out a gun, Makoto and Komaru their revolvers and Hajime his shotgun, and kept an eye out for anything.
"Oh…" Hajime grimaced at the sight of bones covered in bloody torn clothes. There were numerous skeletons with broken bones all over the place, with a couple larger skeletons that were certainly not human ones. There were even smashed broken wagons.
"Looks like we now know what happened to the others," Hajime said as he looked at the bones.
"Looks like the two sides took each other down," Makoto observed.
"Guys! Listen!" Komaru interrupted. The two cowboys fell silent and listened. A very familiar sound reached their ears.
"Cattle!" Makoto said loudly.
-Line Break-
"Cattle!"
Pluck's head perked up, and he instantly sprung to his feet and trotted over to the wood, letting out a large bellow. He heard the footsteps of a two legged creature scrambling towards him, and suddenly a female two legger appeared.
"Plucky!" Komaru cheered as she reached through the wood to clumsily hug the calf through the gate. She looked past the happy and mooing calf at the sight of the rest of the cattle trapped inside with him.
'Aside from his mom, I don't recognize any of them.'
"Makoto! Help me out!" Komaru said as she began to pull on the wood. Makoto put away his revolver and went to help her. Hajime looked around, narrowing his eyes as he studied the skeletons.
'If they killed every monster, then why does each skeleton look like they didn't bleed out?'
"Something survived!" Hajime realized. A sudden impact slammed into him and sent him flying with a pain shout. Makoto and Komaru whirled around before Komaru was slammed against the wall and Makoto was knocked away.
"Gah!" Makoto grunted as he rolled to a stop. The monster roared as it slammed him down, knocking the air out of his lungs.
The monster had the face of a lizard, but had the body of a wolf. The exceptions were the two large arms, rippling with muscle and fur with thick claws at the end. The monster was grey with black spots peppered around it. Its horns were curled, and large fangs were bared at the cowboy under them. Makoto tried to shoot them point-blank by yanking out his revolver, but the monster knocked it away and grabbed him by the middle with its massive jaws.
"Little HEEEEELLPPPP!" Makoto cried out as it threw him around before throwing him away.
"Come to papa you worthless beast!" Hajime yelled as he pulled out his shotgun and fired. The monster grunted as it was hit and roared at Hajime. It was too far, so Hajime's shot didn't do more than annoy it. The cowboy pumped his shotgun and fired again, but the monster suddenly jumped above onto the wall. It jumped about as Hajime continued firing at it before hurling itself towards him, slamming into him and slamming him into the ground.
"Ack! Shit!" Hajime groaned as he felt something shift in his body. Komaru fired a couple times at the monster, but it simply dodged before hurling itself towards her. Makoto grabbed a piece of wood and hurled it at the monster, only for it to knock it away and hurl towards him. Makoto yelled as it seized him by the waist in its large jaws and hurled itself out the valley. Hajime yanked out his revolver and took aim.
"Come back here!" He fired a bullet that struck the monster in the leg, causing it to screech but continue running, even as Hajime's shots continued hitting it, making it bleed more. Hajime growled before whistling. His horse rushed up to him with a neigh, letting Hajime jump onto its back and gave chase after the monster. The monster threw a look over its shoulder as it galloped away, ignoring Makoto pounding at its snout with his fists. Its fur bristled and rattled, alarming Makoto.
"HAJIME! WATCH OUT!" Makoto roared. A warning too late as stiff spines fired from the back of the monster, flying towards Hajime and his horse. The spines stabbed into the horse and caused it to screech as it collapsed, throwing Hajime forwards. The cowboy grunted as he rolled across the dusty ground before throwing himself on his feet and fired several more times. The monster was hit more, causing it to roar and drop Makoto, only to grab him instead with one of its large claws and continue running away, roaring back at Hajime as though it was cursing him out.
Hajime grimaced as he watched the monster run away, holding his side as pain flared up in his torso. He looked back to see his horse dead, making him groan in frustration.
"Kaiji is already going to kill me. This just means that he's gonna do it slowly, then drag my soul out of hell and do it again."
"Hajime!" Komaru called as she rode up to him on her horse, holding her brother's dropped revolver. She looked to see the monster far away with a grimace.
"Our horses aren't gonna be able to keep up. And Makoto's horse isn't gonna listen to you without him telling her to."
"... I wasn't expecting to find the cattle here."
"Huh?"
"Maybe around here, but not directly here. And yet, they were. I don't think that the monster is gonna run more than directly to where it wants to go. Let's hope that Makoto can hold out long enough," Hajime said as he took the revolver from Komaru and hopped on after her.
"Alright then. Hyah!" Komaru yelled as she spurred her horse after the monster.
-Line Break-
Pluck snorted, wiggling out of the gap in the wood that the two leggers made. His mother and the other cows didn't move from their spot. There was danger outside, and they didn't have a leader to protect them. Pluck snorted as he looked around, not seeing the two leggers. But he could smell the male one's scent mixing with the creature. It must've taken him away.
"Oh no…" Pluck whined.
"You have to be ready to rise up…" his father's words echoed again. Pluck moo'd into the air before looking in the direction the smell went. One hoof took a step hesitantly, before the next hoof moved as well. One by one, until the calf was suddenly breaking into a brisk gallop. A rumble in his chest spilled out in a high bellow, younger than his father's but with the same energy.
-Line Break-
"Guh!" Makoto grunted as he was thrown down. The monster snarled as it knocked him further away. The cowboy scrambled to his feet and ran deeper in as the monster roared after him. His eyes darted around as he scanned the tunnel around him. It looked like it was a den of some sort, with wooden gates being spotted all over the place. Some of them were filled with the bones of cattle, judging by the skulls that were smashed in. Obviously this monster has at least some semblance of intelligence, as if the fight they had early wasn't a sign already.
"What the hell is that thing?!" Makoto wondered out loud as he finally came to a stop at the end of the tunnel. He took that moment to wince slightly as he felt a sharp pain in his side.
"I need to run more," he muttered. He heard the monster growl as it began to stalk closer, having chased him.
"... Hey. Do you honestly think that you have the advantage?" he muttered. The monster growled as it came closer.
"The advantage… is MINE!" Makoto whirled around and fired a shot directly into the monster's face with a hidden revolver. Blood spilled from the monster as it reared back, roaring. Makoto emptied his revolver into the monster's exposed middle before dashing past it.
"Did you really think I wouldn't have a second shooting-iron?" Makoto taunted as he reloaded. The monster whirled around and roared. Makoto fired again, but the monster dodged the bullet and backhanded him away. The cowboy grunted as he slammed into the wall and fell to his knees on the ground.
"Okay, taunt later," Makoto said. The monster charged and Makoto threw himself to the side, dodging as it slammed into the wall, shaking the place and leaving a crack in the stone. Makoto dashed out with the monster chasing after him roaring. He whirled around for another shot, only for the creature's jaw to close onto his hand, sharp teeth stabbing into his flesh. It yanked him off his feet and threw him against the wall again, knocking the breath out of his lungs.
Makoto hissed as he held his hand. It wasn't broken, but it was bloody and obviously out of commission. The monster spit his gun out onto the ground and growled at him.
"Aw, hell." Makoto groaned as the monster lunged.
A loud bellow rumbled through the air. Pluck charged at the monster and slammed into it, managing to knock it away from his owner. Makoto stared at this in shock before a clatter hit the ground.
"Stop looking like a wild desert canary and help out!" Hajime said as he and Komaru opened fire with the shotgun and rifle. The monster roared as it hurled itself away from the bullets. Makoto looked up to see Pluck, who snorted. The calf was clearly afraid, but it was putting up a front. Makoto stared at Pluck before standing.
"Guess you're ready." he said. Pluck turned and let Makoto get on. The cowboy hissed as he felt his hand flare up in pain again but let Pluck carry him out of the tunnel. Hajime and Komaru continued firing before jumping back to avoid spines being fired back. The three rushed out and Pluck continued running away, heading back to Scorpion's Den at full speed. He might not be that old, but the baby was still strong enough to carry Makoto back to the plateaus. Hajime and Komaru leapt onto Komaru's horse who neighed before dashing after Pluck. Hajime tied himself to Komaru before sitting backwards with the rifle in hand. The monster burst out of the tunnel and roared as it hurled after them.
"Right!" Hajime barked. Komaru pulled her horse to the right, avoiding spines that struck the ground where they were. Hajime fired back, causing the monster to slow down and roar.
"Pluck! Are you ready to take charge?!" Makoto asked loudly. Pluck bellowed, making the cowboy smile.
"Let's do this!"
-Line Break-
The monster snarled as it came to a stop in the dark valley where it kept all the prey. The two leggers had dared to try to take its food, and when it took one of them to eat as punishment, it did some weird magic with its weird tool that the other two leggers could do as well. It remembered when its pack was hunted by other two leggers who also did weird magic, and even managed to kill all but it. Truly, the world is filled with strange creatures. But putting that aside, it will crush the other two leggers all the same. Now, where are they?
"Hey!" The monster whirled around and snarled. Makoto, Hajime, and Komaru were standing with all the cattle locked up now free. Pluck was standing in front of the herd with Makoto riding him and wielding his revolver in his bloodied hand, now wrapped up roughly. Hajime and Komaru were both on horses, Komaru riding her own horse and Hajime riding Makoto's.
"Pretty smart for you to kill the leaders and leave them confused. Unfortunately for you, there's a new leader in town," Makoto growled.
"RAAAAWWRRRR!" the monster roared as it bristled. Pluck bellowed and charged with the horses at his side, the massive herd of cattle following him. Makoto, Hajime, and Komaru each aimed their shot as the monster prepared to fire.
"Bullseye." Three revolvers fired, and three bullets flew. The monster shrieked as it was hit in the chest, shoulder, and head, rearing back and falling onto its side. It scrambled to get up, but Pluck rammed past it, knocking it back down as the horses ran by. The creature didn't even have time to finish one last roar before the bellowing cattle ran it over. The trio winced as they heard the crunch of bones even amidst the mooing cattle.
"Makoto! Komaru and I will go round and check. You're gonna be fine leading this herd by yourself?" Hajime called. Makoto grinned and patted Pluck.
"I won't be."
"Heh. Good point." Hajime and Komaru both swerved to the sides. The herd almost followed, but Pluck let out a commanding bellow that caused them to continue following him instead. Komaru laughed at the sight of the baby leading.
"Looks like dad's not gonna have anything to complain about anymore," she said. She and Hajime came back to the Scorpion's Den and looked at where the monster had fallen.
"..."
"..."
"... Pancake?"
"No thanks." The two turned their horses around and rode after the herd, leaving the valley behind.
-Line Break-
"Hey Makoto, Komaru."
"Hey Hajime."
"I'm incognito right now, remember. Call me Izuru."
"Is that why you're wearing a long wig?"
"I wouldn't have to if your dad isn't currently trying to kill me," Hajime huffed as he blew some fake hair out of his face. Makoto and Komaru grinned guiltily. Makoto had a white cast over his hand, but he was still able to ride his horse to herd cattle.
After Hajime brought home Makoto and Komaru with a broken hand for the young man and bruises on both, Kaiji decided to thank Hajime for helping bring back his herd by giving him a five minute head start before taking off after him on a horse and a revolver in each hand. Hajime still came about to make sure Komaru was doing okay helping her brother manage the herd, but he always had to use a disguise. Yesterday he had white hair and called himself Nero, and the day before he called himself Julius with gelled hair down.
"So. How are things going about with you two? Everything still going okay?"
"Haji- Izuru, you were here yesterday."
"Things can change in one night."
"True. We've been keeping a closer eye though. We work during the day, and our parents keep an eye at night. Things are all good so far though. No sign of the monster anywhere around here."
"Here."
"... Huh?"
"There's been some rumors of herds disappearing overnight in the next town over. So, I figured I'll head over and see if I can do some investigating. So, I won't be seeing you guys for a while. Unless…?"
"..." Makoto and Komaru exchanged a glance.
"... Pluck can handle this."
"Yeah…" Makoto looked over at the herd to see Pluck, despite being almost half the size of the other cattle, standing tall and looking more like his father by the day. The young cowboy grinned. "Yeah. We don't have anything to worry about."
"Well, if we want to do this, we better leave now if I want to get you two back home in time. Otherwise, your dad's gonna keep trying to kill me. More than he already is."
"Alright then!" Makoto said as he pulled himself onto his horse. He looked over to Pluck, and he had a silent exchange with the young bull. He looked over at Komaru and Hajime, who took off his ridiculous wig.
"Let's ride!"
"Yeeeeee HAAAAWWWW!" Komaru cheered as their horses reared up, letting out their neighs. The three cowboys rode off with Hajime leading the way, riding into the sunlight.
Wrote this for a contest I'm having with my Discord Friends. Somehow ended up making it a monster action story instead of the Western Horror story I wanted it to be. Anyways, as per the usual, leave a review! Azure out!