Knowing
Disclaimer: If you recognize it, then I don't own it.
A/N: For 2021 Whumptober #21 Blood-matted hair
Vin had woken with a feeling of dread growing in the pit of his stomach. He jumped out of his wagon into the dimness of the predawn. Something was coming, he could sense it like the calm before a bad storm. He took a patrol through the streets of Four Corners, wanting to meet the threat head-on before it could hurt the town. There was nothing there. He paced in front of the jail. Too wound up to sit but unsure of where he needed to be to stop the developing threat.
The leader of the seven peacekeepers found him there as the sun began to rise. Chris eyed his younger friend's agitated movements. They hadn't known each other long, but he felt he knew Vin in ways he never did anyone else. They understood one another, practically knowing what the other was thinking before they really knew it themselves. In the first moments, their eyes meet across the dusty street their souls had reached an understanding with one another.
"You riding out?" Chris asked. It seemed that Vin was feeling hemmed in by town life once more and needed space. A trip into the wilderness should set his head back on straight. The gunslinger was surprised when he shook his head, sending his long hair into motion. They fell into a comfortable silence while Chris waited for Vin to gather his thoughts. Neither man was one of many words, but Vin especially liked to weigh out and untangle his thoughts before he voiced them.
"I reckon I'll stick around," Vin paused, studying the town hard, "Something's coming."
"Something bad?" Chris spoke the question like a statement. Something had the tracker on edge. He trusted the younger man's instincts. He gave the town a critical once over as well. If Vin said something was coming then it was just a matter of time before it arrived. He just hoped they were ready for it when it came.
The day dragged by slowly. The other peacekeepers gave the two tense men space as they alternated between prowling around town or just sitting and watching the streets.
The livery was mightily lively, all the horses seemed stirred up as they broke in new stock. Most of the townspeople were over watching the free entertainment.
They watched the children load into wagons and head out for a school picnic. Chris gave Vin a questioning look wondering if it was safe for them to go. Vin finally gave a nod of approval which was enough for him.
With the children gone and most everyone else gathered around the stables, the town seemed quiet and almost abandoned. Nothing was stirring. There was no hint of danger. In fact, it seemed the opposite. The town was as peaceful as they'd ever seen it.
Chris was beginning to feel glad he hadn't warned the others about Vin's uneasiness. He didn't need them giving the tracker a hard time when nothing seemed to be wrong. The day off would do them both good, all of them had been run ragged, lately, protecting the town. Tomorrow the two of them would ride out together and let Vin really relax with a lazy day of fishing.
Chris was just finalizing in his head the supplies they would need when Vin jumped up abruptly. He started running through the streets yelling at people to get out of the buildings. He created a large crowd around him, with him at the center of attention.
It was like a mad man had possessed the normally level-headed tracker. His bizarre behavior had the desired effect as he emptied the town into the street, even the impromptu rodeo goers had left the show to take in the new one happening on the street.
"Everyone needs to leave town," Vin could be heard loudly ordering.
"Vin!" Chris hollered, forcing his way through the throng of confused people to his friend's side, "What's going on?"
The rest of the Seven met him there as they all convened at Vin's side.
"We need to get everybody away from the buildings," Vin's eye darted around them in a panic, "Or anything that can fall over."
None of them had ever seen Vin quite so worried or flustered.
Josiah placed a large calming hand on the agitated man's shoulder, "Slow down, brother, tell us what's happening."
"The earth is gonna move."
"You sure, Vin?" Chris asked for the others' sake.
Vin just nodded grimly.
"We need to get everybody out of town, now."
We could take them over by the church," J.D. offered. The church was on the outskirts of town, it could fit them all, and had just been rebuilt so it couldn't fall down.
"No, we need to be away from any structures," Josiah rumbled. He had seen a few earthquakes in his days of travel. They were strong and unpredictable. They could take out a building that man thought would stand forever like it was a house of cards.
"Take them out the other way," Chris ordered, nodding to Buck.
"Come on folks, we need you to move nice and easy this way," Buck called as he started herding the people out of town.
"You heard the man," J.D. cut off any questioning or complaints as he assisted Buck. If Vin said the earth was moving then it was gonna move.
"Where are the children?" Ezra asked, having just arrived back from Eagle Bend not long before.
"They're already out of town," Chris reassured, "They should be fine."
"I need to go grab some supplies," Nathan started to make his way back to his clinic.
Vin grabbed his arm, stopping him, "There ain't no time now."
"But," The healer began to argue but gave in as Vin shook his head.
"We need to let the horses out," Vin looked over at the livery full of upset horses. They knew what was coming. He should have been able to pick up on their fear earlier, but he hadn't. He needed to work fast to make up for his lapse. Lives were at stake.
"Get out of town," Chris ordered the rest of his men as he stalked after Vin retreating form. All the townspeople were on their way to safety. All of them except one pigheaded tracker.
Chris had just reached the barn door when the earth began to tremble under his feet. He fell to the ground hard as the wood buildings around him shook as the world quaked beneath them. Glass shattered and walls collapsed as screams of fright were heard from the far side of town. The barn was silent as Vin had succeeded in releasing the horses into the outside corral.
The earth stilled as quickly as it had started to move.
"Vin!" Chris called making his way into the disarrayed barn, "Where you at pard?"
"Here," A soft pained voice called back.
The man in black fought his way over fallen tact, equipment, and even some wooden beams. The air was thick with dust as he struggled to find his friend. He spotted a boot sticking out of a pile of fallen wood. Rushing over he began to clear it away until he found what he was searching for.
Vin's long locks of hair were plastered to the side of his head by blood. The warm scarlet liquid was seeping out of his scalp at an alarmingly fast rate. He must have been caught by a glancing blow from a piece of wood. Chris pushed the dirty matted hair away from his face. Pained blue eyes looked up at him, meeting his worried green ones.
"Tomorrow let's just go fishing," Vin croaked out with a small smile.
