WARNING: This chapter contains some violence involving children. I don't think it is overly graphic or at all inconsistent with the "True Verse," but wanted to let you know. Please remember that the world that True and Rhianna are from was a very violent war torn place, thus violence, to a certain degree, is more palatable to the girls than it might normally be to children of their age.
PLEASE SEE CHAPTER 1 FOR DISCLAIMERS AND OTHER WARNINGS
A/N: A humongous thank you to Wolfpyre for providing copious amounts of feedback and help on this entire story, but especially this chapter.
Chapter 7
By the time the girls were called down to supper they had gotten their story straight. After her recent discussion with Chris, Rhianna was insistent that they stick with the truth but suggested they need not share every little detail of what they knew about Naomi. They knew the seven would launch their own search once they found out about the other girl but the cousins hoped that Rhianna's suppositions were correct and they would beat the peacekeepers to finding Naomi.
Vin stood at the base of the stairs as the girls descended. One look at the tracker and Rhianna knew that he wanted a chance to talk to True alone. She sighed. That wasn't a good idea, but she seriously doubted that she could talk him out of trying.
"True," he said gently after Rhianna had passed by him, heading towards the dining room. True refused to look at him.
"Sunshine I'm real, sorry," he started.
"I don't wanna fuckin' hear it," she said finally meeting Vin's repentant blue eyes. "Ya wouln' listen ta me. Why should I listen ta you? And I ain't talkin' ta ya neither." Had Vin not been so guilt ridden, the girl's self-contradictory statement and petulant scowl might have been amusing. As it was, her words nearly broke his heart.
"Guess I kin understand that," Vin replied sadly. "But I am sorry and I do love ya. Ain't nuthin'll ever change that." The tracker turned and headed into the dining room to find a seat for the evening meal. True followed, keeping her distance and choosing a seat as far from Vin as possible.
A heaviness hung over the table that evening and though five of the peacekeepers did not know precisely what had transpired, all were aware that things were not quite right within the family. Chris had informed the men that he wanted everyone to meet up at the church following the meal so the girls could tell them about what they knew concerning the recent prank wave in Four Corners. He'd made it clear up front that the girls weren't responsible and everyone was curious to learn more.
Rhianna attempted not to shift uncomfortably in the hard wooden dining chair and picked at her food, willing the tortuous meal to come to an end. True rearranged the food on her plate with a vigor that would normally have warranted censure from one of her caretakers. Though when neither Chris nor Vin commented, the others refrained as well. After two bites, Vin gave up the pretense of eating altogether.
"Mighty fine biscuits this evening, Mizz Whittaker," Nathan commented, trying to break the awkward silence and let the poor woman know that her culinary efforts were not completely unappreciated this evening.
"And a delightful mix of seasoning on the roast," Ezra added politely, causing the woman's face to brighten some.
True rolled her eyes at the patent attempts to placate the woman's feelings over a simple meal. Good God! Just because nobody was particularly interested in eating tonight she didn't have to get all offended and in a blather. True didn't bother to hide a quiet but derisive snort.
"True," Chris's voice was low and the warning undeniable.
"What?"
"Eat."
"I ain't hungry," she insisted petulantly.
Blue eyes locked with steely green. Defiance met with admonition. Chris wasn't going to take much more attitude but he decided to offer True a modicum of grace given her recent encounter with Vin. "Then drink your milk and show some respect for those that are still eatin'."
"No one ever shows me no respect," True mumbled shooting a glare at Vin, but was quick to reach for her glass when Chris made to rise from his chair.
After a few minutes of silence JD cleared his throat, uncomfortable with the tension. He'd been disappointed when Vin had told him that Casey'd had a run in with True and would be unable to keep their date for the evening, but the young sheriff usually enjoyed the family style meals at the boarding house. Having grown up with just his mother, he loved being part of what he considered a big family and he didn't like it when they were at odds with one another.
"I guess Mr. Roth found the remains of his missin' cattle," he said trying to introduce an inert topic. "Looks like a cougar got 'em."
"Hopefully he'll stop his accusations against Kojay and his people now," Josiah commented with a nod. "I was getting worried that his foolishness was gonna cause him to act rashly."
"Know all about gettin' accused by fools an' their rash actions," True whispered none too softly to Rhianna.
Vin just dipped his head, but Chris's threatening glare was enough to still True's tongue for the rest of the meal, which was finished in relative silence by all. The seven men and two girls headed directly over to the church, Chris having stopped to retrieve the damnable box of planted evidence from True and Vin's room. As soon as everyone was settled he plunked the box on a worktable Josiah had set up and pinned Rhianna with an angry glare.
"Start talkin'," he demanded coldly. The gunman was frustrated. He was the leader of the seven and essentially the head of this somewhat unorthodox family. He didn't like people messing with his family. The breach between Vin and True bothered him and his concern was expressed through an irritably that no one wanted to challenge.
"Someone has been trying to frame True and to some lesser degree myself for the pranks in town," she explained looking around at the assembled men. "It took us some time after the pranks started to figure it out, but True and I believe we know who is behind all of the unfortunate mischief of late," the blond girl waved at the box on the table, and continued with an edge to her voice, "True found those items in a box under her bed. Vin walked in and assumed she had been hiding them and punished her accordingly without –"
"Because the two of you hadn't seen fit to share what you suspected," Chris interrupted curtly. "So who is it?"
"We believe it is a girl from our clan named Naomi. She and True had a bit of a rivalry back in our world."
"How'd she get here?" Buck queried.
"We do not know."
"How old is she?" Nathan asked at the same time that Josiah demanded, "What's she look like?"
"Once again, we do not know," Rhianna replied earning a quizzical look from the assembled men. "She was born within a few months of True, but we do not know when in our time line she was sent back, thus we are unsure of her age. Though given the juvenile nature of the pranks, I would assume she has not yet reached physical maturity. Similarly, not knowing how much time has elapsed since we last saw her, we do not know precisely what she looks like. Also, she always had a penchant for changing her hair style and color on a whim so there are really few details that we can offer."
"She changed the color of her hair?" JD asked skeptically.
"Not a difficult task in our time. One uses dyes similar to those used to color cloth or leather."
"The stealth required to accomplish what you are proposing would tend to belie the theory behind the culprit being a child," Ezra observed.
"I know, but we are not from this time. Our world is very different and Naomi was specifically educated to be covert, cautious, and sly by a sect of warriors with whom she was sent to train. We also believe that she is in possession of an object that not only aids her stealth but blocks both of our abilities, which is why I have not been able to sense her presence."
"What kinda object?" Vin asked, his voice full of concern, thinking of some type of unknown weapon.
"A crystal or gemstone, if you will," Rhianna replied.
"That jest don't seem likely," Vin responded shaking his head, trying to make sense of all that Rhianna was revealing.
"Yeah, an' we all know what a good judge y'are as ta what's true an' what ain't," True muttered bitterly.
"But, if she's from your clan," Buck asked before anyone could respond to True's insolence, "Why's she kickin' up such fuss and tryin' to get the two of you in trouble?"
"Payback to some degree," Rhianna replied, "For some minor conflicts when we were younger. Telling you all the stories from our past could take all night. Beyond that…to prove a point. She and True always had a bit of a competition running so far as pranks went."
True snorted, "As if! She weren't no competition at all."
"It is rather difficult to explain when taken out of context. Our world was a very different place from here. Though quite frankly I am at somewhat of a loss to explain her actions since I cannot sense her thoughts or emotions," Rhianna hedged. She did not want to give the peacekeepers too much to go on as she and True still hoped to find Naomi first.
"Why didn't ya jest tell us this before?" Vin asked.
"Like ya woulda fuckin' believed us?" True scoffed making a rude noise. "Kinda like the folks in Tascosa believed him 'bout thet murder, huh?" True quipped coldly, elbowing Rhianna. "Course anyone fool enough to bring in the wrong fella," True shrugged and blew air from her lips in a derogatory manner.
Never once had she attempted to belittle Vin or his past in such a fashion, and though her outburst was born of her own hurt feelings those assembled were more than a little shocked. Only Rhianna really understood the depth of True's pain and thus why she had lashed out as she had. Whatever the reason, Chris had reached the end of his patience.
True's loud yelp broke the surprised silence followed by a few more exclamations of pain as several well-aimed smacks fell on her unsuspecting rear. "Hey! What 'as that for?" the girl demanded rubbing her backside and giving the blond gunman a withering glare through unshed tears.
"Watch yer language and drop the attitude," Chris growled menacingly, having had enough of True's impudence.
"What? He switched me fer somethin' I didn't do an' I'm supposed ta be happy about it?" True bit out peevishly
"You were sittin' plenty comfortable at supper so I'm guessing Rhianna helped in your recovery. Had you been up front and honest in the first place it might not have happened. If I have to tell you again it's my belt that's gonna be doing the talking. Understood?"
True knew she had pushed Chris as far as she dared but was still loathe to back down. Rhianna's gentle hand on her shoulder had a calming effect, however, and after a few moments the stubborn girl chose the easier path. "Yes sir."
"Now that we know the truth, how are we going to proceed?" Ezra broke the tension with his frank question.
"Well, she's still just one kid. Now that we know what we're lookin' for we should be able to find her," Chris replied brusquely. "We'll start first thing in the morning."
M7***M7***M7***M7***M7
"Well?" Rhianna demanded of True as her cousin climbed back in the window.
"Easy as pie. Don't know how it was we didn't think of this sooner. There's a cave she stays in just by the lake. Left a passel of mighty displeased critters after she chased them outta their home just as the cold 'as settin' in." Rhianna had to bite back a smile at how much like Vin True sounded. Though she understood her cousin's anger and indignation, she could also feel the tracker's remorse and hoped the two could make peace before too long. Finding Naomi would go a long way towards making that possible.
"She ain't there now," True continued, "But I gotta owl watchin' fer me durin' the night an' a hawk that'll be on lookout tomorra."
"Excellent. If she is in town, though, it might be tonight that she is planning on making her move. Chris is on patrol."
"So whatcha thinkin'?"
"Naomi is not the only one trained in covert operations and I require very little sleep," Rhianna said with a knowing smile.
"Chris catches ya out an' about, you ain't gonna be sittin' til Spring," True said with a smirk.
"I suppose I had best not get caught then," Rhianna replied, a golden twinkle in her green eyes.
"Well, you ain't gonna have all the fun," True answered.
"Vin would notice your absence," Rhianna stated her brow wrinkling, "Though we could say you wanted to sleep in with me tonight and I seriously doubt he would offer up any argument."
"Not thet I give a flyin' fuck what he has ta say about anythin'," True replied heatedly.
Rhianna sighed heavily, both at the sentiment and her cousin's means of expressing it. "True, I understand your anger with Vin, I really do, and I know he hurt you, but I think you would be best served to leave off your issues with him and focus on Naomi." Though Rhianna had wanted to tell her younger cousin that she would need to find it in herself to forgive her brother, she knew good and well that True was not ready to hear that.
"Oh, I'm focused all right," True ground out with a scowl.
M7***M7***M7***M7***M7
Chris walked the down the boardwalk his eyes darting from one darkened doorway to another. Judge Travis had sent a telegraph about a series of armed robberies in three separate towns east of Four Corners and all indications were that the bandits might be headed in their direction. They were hitting smaller businesses that might have a sum of ready cash, but little to no security. Chris had decided the town would be well-served by having its patrol hours extended for a spell.
He saw a flash of light in Butterfield's store and quickened his pace drawing his gun. Seeing a dark figure dart from the store he gave chase, stopping short and darting behind the corner of a building when a bullet whizzed by his head. Carefully, he continued his pursuit, getting off a shot or two. He saw a shadow dart into the tree line at the edge of town and followed the escaping figure at a run. The gunman slowed cautiously as he reached the trees, mindful of a potential ambush. Some one should have heard his shots. He would have back up soon.
A rustling in the tree above drew his attention and he caught sight of a figure seemingly ready to attack and fired off a shot. As his heart raced, events seemed to slow and he saw his bullet hit its mark and heard a high-pitched shriek. At the same time he noted the figure was small, too small…child sized. Before he could process all that was happening a small blond form with a red stain blossoming around the midriff was tumbling toward the ground. Chris was momentarily immobilized in horror before reality struck and he ran to see whom he had shot…whose child he had shot. The blond hair brought images of Billy and Rhianna to mind, and he swallowed bile.
When he reached the diminutive form and carefully rolled the small figure over, he nearly passed out with relief. It was no more than a faceless storefront dummy, dressed in a child's clothes and adorned with a blond wig. He touched the red stain still spreading across its front and soaking into the sawdust stuffing, realizing that it was berry juice not blood. The fear and horror from moments before quickly morphed into cold fury. A trick. A damned child's prank! When he caught that conniving little rouge, she was going to wish she had never been born!
M7***M7***M7***M7***M7
"Damn! I'm thinkin' I'd actually be doin' her a favor ta pound the life right outta her," True said with a shake of her head. "Chris musta been beyond pissed."
"You have no idea," Rhianna replied with a shudder. Rhianna had lowered her shields completely in an effort to find their wayward clan member and to track the happenings within the town so she was well aware of exactly what had transpired with Chris and of his reaction. Of course the peacekeepers had immediately begun their search for the mischievous troublemaker, but luckily True and Rhianna knew precisely where Naomi would ultimately head and had immediately sought the cave while True spoke with her animal informants to make certain they did not miss her. With everyone out searching for Naomi they seriously doubted that they would be missed, but Rhianna left a note just in case.
"Just stick to the plan, True."
The blue-eyed girl gave an exaggerated huff at her cousin's nearly parental tone. "I will. I will. It ain't like it matters whether we get the damn stone away from her first thing or not. Ain't like we can't take it off once I'm done with her. Don't need my abilities ta stomp the piss outta her."
"We know very little about the person she has become," Rhianna chided gently, "And underestimating your opponent is the first signpost on the road of defeat."
True rolled her eyes at her Rhianna's decree of caution. Rhianna had always been like that, though, and the younger girl just blew her off.
The cousins reached the cave and found a stash of provisions as well as an interesting assortment of supplies, many from their own world. True checked in once again with the surrounding wildlife and the two then made themselves comfortable to await Naomi's arrival. As it turned out, Naomi was hard pressed to evade Vin's tracking ability, though the moonless night was in her favor. She didn't return to the cave until nearly dawn.
"Well, what do we have here? A fish outta water," True taunted in an exaggerated lazy drawl.
The other girl spun round in a crouch, a dark mahogany braid flipped over her shoulder. Her eyes were dark and intense and never left True's face, though she slowly rose to her full height which put her a few inches taller than True. A condescending sneer appeared on her face.
"Took you long enough."
"We just wanted to be cautious," Rhianna answered from behind Naomi, who reacted by slowly backing to the side so that she was not directly between the two girls. "What are you doing here, Naomi?"
"Having a little fun," the other girl replied jeeringly as she smoothed a curl the color of burnt ember away from her pale face. Rhianna had always made her a little uncomfortable but she was not going to let the older girl intimidate her. She stood a little straighter realizing that she was now nearly as tall as her blond clan member.
"I'm ready for a little fun," True all but growled with a predatory grin on her face.
"Your little powers aren't going to save you today, True," Naomi responded nastily, fingering a chain about her neck.
"Like I really need 'em ta deal with a grounded guppy."
"Then, bring it on," Naomi spat out, her eyes flashing dangerously.
Rhianna just observed, not moving to intervene. This showdown was inevitable. Not all of her ability to read people came from her unique gift. She was acutely aware of people's body language and vocal intonation as well as intimately familiar with their thought processes. Even without her powers, she had been able to detect a change in Naomi, an underlying rage and hostility as well as a drive to prove herself that had grown beyond childhood rivalry. Though Rhianna did not know her motivation, Naomi's need for vengeance was as strong as True's and neither was to be denied. Besides, Naomi deserved a little something for all of the trouble she had caused. Rhianna might have counseled True to use caution, but she had every confidence in her cousin's fighting ability.
Without preamble True rushed in, but feinted to the side at the last moment, not completely taking Naomi off guard but easily deflecting the side kick aimed at her head. Dropping low True swept Naomi's foot from beneath her before she had stabilized herself flipping easily atop the girl and planting her fist in Naomi's face before reaching for the chain about her neck.
Both Rhianna and True were surprised when Naomi was able take True along with her in a roll that displaced the smaller girl, landing a firm elbow in True's midsection and gaining a bit of distance as she wiped the blood from her face. True recovered from the surprise in milliseconds easily closing the distance with a flip and landing one blow after another so fast that Naomi could not deflect every one.
As Rhianna watched the combatants exchange blows she noted how much Naomi had improved. She was good, very good and although True was definitely inflicting more damage that she was taking, the fight was not as unbalanced as they had expected. When one factored in that Naomi had been up all night leading the peacekeepers on a merry chase while True had been able to rest in the cave, her aptitude was really quite impressive. She was wearing down, though, and True was beginning to toy with the taller girl, savoring the opportunity for retribution. She had not made another attempt to remove the crystal from around Naomi's neck and Rhianna suspected that True wanted it known that she did not need her powers to defeat her clan member. Still, Rhianna wished she could get a good read on Naomi.
Catching her cousin's eye, Rhianna tilted her head and offered a glare. True rolled her eyes but when Naomi moved to use the moment of seeming inattentiveness against her the smaller girl grabbed hold of the chain around Naomi's neck and wrenched it painfully off, causing the Auburn-haired girl to go flying solidly into a stone wall. She then tossed the Eiyrt Crystal to her cousin and returned gleefully to her opponent, feeling a charge of satisfaction as her knee connected with Naomi's rib which gave way under the pressure.
Rhianna had no compunction about invading Naomi's mind, but was shocked and sickened by what she discovered. There had been little love loss between Rhianna and many of the elders of the clan, but there was no joy in learning of their horrific demise. Compassion for what Naomi had endured welled up within Rhianna and upon hearing the other girl's nose crunch beneath True's fist, she moved to stay her cousin's hand.
"Enough True."
"Oh, I don't think so," True replied a rather alarming gleam in her eye as she forced Naomi's arm up into an unnatural angle.
"Cheey neose, sidoorn, fieau er oardagh (Stand down, soldier, and await further orders)," Rhianna barked in a voice that held little resemblance to her own.
True paused, trained to respond to the command, but looked askance at her cousin, unable to believe Rhianna had actually voiced the order. "Really?"
"Got your attention," Rhianna said with a shrug, "Now are you going to listen or make me pull rank again?" True seemed to be contemplating her answer but Rhianna knew that the younger girl was now listening. "The clan is gone, True," she stated flatly as a means of shaking her cousin from her bloodlust.
Though she did not release her hold on Naomi, True shifted her focus more completely to Rhianna. "Whaddaya mean gone?"
"Dead. They're all dead," Naomi sobbed miserably, Rhianna's mental invasion having brought the memories to the forefront of her mind.
True's hands shifted to Naomi's shirtfront and she shook the girl like a rag doll. "What do you mean they are all dead?" she demanded, enunciating each word clearly.
Rhianna placed a gentle hand on True's bloodied fists, easing her away from their battered clan member. "Clan McCallan is no more. Only a few remnant fugitives like Naomi live."
"How?"
"Because of you!" Naomi accused sinking to her knees no longer able to ignore the combined physical and emotional pain and exhaustion.
"The leadership of the clan was already in turmoil, True, and our numbers too diminished. Rold's depravity and Ruarc's permissive use of his son's sick nature had already caused a huge rift and with Rold's execution Ruarc lost his mind. The elders were divided. You know Clan McCallan was always a primary target for the Division," Rhianna shook her head sadly.
"You weren't there to stop it," Naomi practically wailed, "You were supposed to lead the clan to greatness. You, Rhianna, and Canyon. But you deserted us. You left and everything fell apart." Tears coursed down her cheeks mingling with blood, and she slumped in weary defeat. "You left me all alone, there."
"What? Deserted? Are ya totally fuckin' crazy or just brain dead? " True demanded indignantly. "I was captured! Canyon was killed!"
"And she was still a child, is still a child," Rhianna pointed out unwilling to allow the blame for the clan's demise to fall on True's shoulders or even her own. "We all were. Had things turned out differently, and we had all been there, we still would have been too young to turn the tide. It came too soon and the clan was already too splintered."
"But you left me all alone," Naomi repeated pitifully, her bleeding and broken form wracked with sobs.
Rhianna approached the auburn haired girl, kneeling down and gently taking Naomi's face in her hands. "But you are here now and so are we. You are not alone. You survived and that is what matters."
"Yeah, survived ta find her way here and make our lives a living hell because the world went to shit and she couldn't cope! Damn moronic guppy! How'd ya manage ta git here anyway?"
Rhianna turned to her cousin sensing the cacophony of feelings rolling off of the other girl. There was fury, extraordinary sadness, pain, guilt, and even compassion but her younger cousin was dealing with the news of the tragedy in the best way that she could, by pushing all of her emotions other than her anger back into the recess of her brain to deal with sometime later. The ache from her run in with Vin was just too new. Coping with the additional trauma was more than she could handle at the moment. True was only ten-years-old after all, and physiologically not even that. So she put up her protective walls and went on the offensive.
The blonde's lips quirked at the irony. Unbeknownst to True, she was also providing exactly what Naomi needed to snap her back from the edge of a looming darkness. True's pity might have sent Naomi spiraling further but her antagonism did the exact opposite.
"Blaed," Naomi sniffed with a glower as she wiped the blood and tears from her battered face, realizing that Rhianna must have taken pity on her and offered some healing because she was no longer bleeding. Sitting a little straighter, she pulled herself together, not happy that she had fallen apart in front of True. "He used his connections."
"He's still alive?" True asked, a smile playing at her lips at the welcome news.
"Yeah, he is," Naomi whispered with her own small smile.
"HEY!" True exclaimed suddenly noticing Naomi's changing appearance and pinning her cousin with an accusing glare, "What in the hell dya think yer doin'? I put some effort inta gettin' her that way ya know? And for good cause!"
"She will not get her just desserts from the others if it appears she has already had double helpings of the main course," Rhianna explained reasonably, "I rather think she should be at least presentable when she meets Chris, don't you?" the older girl asked mischievously, though in all honesty she wanted an excuse to offer the other girl some comfort, even if it was temporary.
"The hell you say!" True fired back. "Ya kin jest stop what yer doin' right now. After all she done, she deserves to feel everythin' I gave 'er for days to come."
"Oh, I'll leave plenty for her to feel tomorrow and in the days to come," Rhianna assured her cousin. "My own discomfort has not yet completely faded, after all and I think it unfair for her to carry any less of a burden, but I am ever so anxious for her heart-to-heart with Chris, and he might hold back if she appears injured."
"Well, there is that," True agreed grudgingly. "But only the stuff that's visible."
TBC…