Time to introduce my Lone wanderer! I don't really like to drag things on, but I kind of had to for this chapter. I want to get to the part where she finally meets Charon but we have to get through introductions first! Thanks again for reading!.
Willow thought today would be like the rest, one where she could take her stroll around the museum and enjoy the rest of her cigarette in peace. She knew it was ruined when she heard the first gun shot and then a couple more following after it. She took her laser rifle off her her shoulder and put out her cigarette, pissed that she had to waste it on whoever was making a ruckus. Willow heard the distant yells that echoed around the mall and realized it came from the super mutants near by. She wondered why they were getting closer to the museum, usually the mutants kept to themselves. Maybe the mutants finally decided to try and expand their territory and tried to take over the museum of history in a riot? or maybe some poor soul wandered into their camp without knowing. She blocked the sunlight over her eyes to try and see over in the distance to the mutants camp grounds and found that the latter was correct.
A small figure ran through the dust with two super mutants in hot pursuit. Willow watched in anticipation as the figure managed to keep a good distance between themselves and the mutants but unfortunately seemed to be a terrible shot. Every bullet the stranger made seem to avoid the mutants, only hitting one in the arm causing him to pause and yell in a fit of rage. With all the commotion Willow noticed a couple of ferals creeping from around one of the destroyed shops and eyeing the three trouble makers not far from them. Willow just shook her head and felt bad for the poor soul running as fast as those small legs could carry them from two super mutants and four random ferals who decided to join in. What a way to die.
One of the ferals managed to piggy back the mutant that was lagging behind from the gun shot. It got a good latch onto his neck while the other one scratched at whatever it could. Willow could tell even from where she stood that it hurt the big bastard pretty good. He lost track of his original mission trying to get the ghouls off of him. One must has gotten his eyes as he yelled louder over the screeches of the ghouls and started to lose his balance. Willows attention was brought back to that poor soul running away. They might stand a better chance now that only one mutant was left, Willow started to root for them...until she realize they made a quick turn for her front steps at the museum.
They must have seen her standing there and hoped for backup as the figure waved one of their hands in the air trying to get Willows attention, the other shooting back with bad aim at the monsters behind. For a moment Willow panicked, she wanted no part of this but when she seen there was no stopping these idiots she raised her rifle.
Aiming at her big green target, Willow was able to hit the last super mutant in the chest slowing him down a bit. Willow hurried to turn and shoot at one of the other ferals bringing it down with one bullet. The stranger who put her in this mess finally reached the start of the stairs leading to the museum, turning now to help to bring down their followers.
The stranger had been so focused on the mutant they didn't see the last feral to their right and was pounced to the ground. Willow glanced at the figure, distracted, but turned her eyes back at the mutant who realized she was the one who shot at him. Letting out another howl, the mutant shot his own pipe rifle and nicked Willow in the shoulder. Furious that she was now a part of this mutants bad day, she focused all her attention on the green bastard. Willow was obviously a better shot as she sent holes through his body. His energy began to die as his knees crumpled to the dirt and his massive frame fell on to the pavement, not even ten feet away from where Willow stood. A close one for her. Breathing deeply she reach for a cigarette, but heard the shriek of the feral behind her, forgetting about the last problem she had.
The newcomer tumbled over the feral as it scratched at the their clothes and bandana they wore around their face. The stranger kicked the feral onto its back and before it could get back on its feet and willow could reload her rifle, they brought out a rusted machete that was hidden under their coat, thrusting it up into the ferals chest. It let out a gurgling scream as it threshed about. The stranger yanked the machete out and watched the feral crumple onto the pavement letting out small hisses before going completely silent.
Willow stood, her shoulder aching and blood dripping onto her leather jacket. The stranger stumbled over on the edge of the stairs slowly whipping whatever blood they could off on to the green coat they wore and plopped down. They started rummaging into their pack, shaking a little as they moved. Willow huffed, cursing under her breath about the blood soaking through her favorite shirt and went to grab her cigs from her pocket as she tried to calm her nerves. After a few minuets of the stranger not moving from the stop on the stairs, Willow finally decided to speak to break the silence.
"You know, its pretty stupid for someone to go straight through the mutants camp like that. Who doesn't know where they stay by now? What are you, some kind of tourist thats new to the wasteland?" She said, a bit snappy.
It was unlike herself but she was aggravated and in a bit of pain, not to mention her lighter wasn't working. Just figure stopped rummaging through the pack they had slung on the ground and looked up at Willow. The stood, still a bit shaky, and Willow got a good look at them finally.A bandana, now a bit shredded, hid their face along with a combat helmet and a pair of broken sunglasses. They started talking before they took the bandana off so the first part of their apology was muted.
Pale skin and baby faced, speckled with dirt and grime was reveled under the bandana yanked off. A young girl, who Willow thought couldn't pass for over 20, took off her helmet and a mess of blonde hair scrambled out. She looked much younger now that she stood straight in the oversized coat that hid her machete and God knows what else inside. She seemed a bit finicky, and a somewhat famished making Willow almost feel bad for snapping. almost.
"I really am sorry for getting you into this mess, I-I just didn't know where to turn and then I seen you and figured you were my only chance of getting help out here." She admitted, using her hands to talk as they flayed around. Her voice was shaking a bit but was rather calm for someone who just outran super mutants and feral ghouls. Willow just stared and took a drag from her cigarette. Willow watched as the girls blue eyes connected to her bloody shoulder and grew twice their size in alarm.
"Oh, quick! Before the bleeding gets worse." She said running to her pack again and pulling out a stimpak. She held it in her hands and offered it to Willow.
" It only hurts for a second but it will heal the wound up fast" she tried to explain. Willow looked at the girl and them back at the stimpak, dumnfounded. Was she serious? Willow let out a sigh and flicked the butt of her cigarette.
"Kid, I know what a damn stimpak is." She said in her rough voice, pinching what would had been the bridge of her nose. The girls hand flattered, unsure of how to make amends with the ghoul. Willow looked her up and down, she had scratches that bled through her own clothes around her stomach from the feral along with a couple of bruises around her neck and cheeks. she looked pitiful. Willow sighed. Why did she have to be so damn nice all the time?
"It looks like you need it more than I do anyways" Willow said, pushing her hand with the stimpak back. She slung her rifle onto her back and motioned for the girl to follow behind. "Come on, keep that stimpak for an emergency and lets get you inside."
"wait, what?" She asked, realizing Willow was already walking away. The girl grabbed her own bag and followed. "Inside?" She questioned trying to keep up.
"yeah, inside. You know...into underworld? damn tourist, where you raised under ground or something?" Willow asked lighting her third cigarette with an older lighter she kept as a backup. she gave a small chuckle to lighten the mood and stopped before opening the front doors and sighed. "Look, I don't think you would last another second out there without at least being checked by a doctor. We have one that can fix you up for a decent price and then you can get outta here. Ill need him to patch me up a bit to if they want to keep me out here protecting this place and random tourist like you. Besides, I need a break. sound good?"
The girl looked up at Willow, and for a moment Willow thought she was going to keep asking questions. Finally she shook her head in agreement looking a bit more determined and level headed than she did earlier.
"Good. You'll find that the less questions you ask, the better in underworld. You don't seem to be to scared by ghouls so I hope you can handle a whole museum full of them." Willow said pushing thorough and leading her in.
"As long as no ones feral in there." She spoke, half joking. Willow gave a snort and looked back at her. She seemed to calmed down after the adrenaline rush of the fight. They walked through the black marbled hallway. Ancient animal skeletons stood their ground on display on the side of the walls, watching the girls every made it to the entrance of the so called underworld which was marked by a giant chipped skull that sat right on front of another set of larger, thicker doors.
"Again, thank you...uh.." The girl went to say.
"You can call me Willow."
"Right, thank you again Willow." She finished. "I really would had been dead out there if I didn't run into you."
Willow just let out another puff of smoke and waved her off. "Don't mention it kid. Well, do you have a name? Doctor Barrows is probably going to need it for your charts. and I'm going to have to explain the bleeding along with the smooth skin I'm bringing in here."
The girl shifted for a split second, like she didn't know what to tell Willow. "You can just call me Danny." She said
Willow tossed her last cigarette out, Barrows would just bitch at her if he seen it in his office. She gave the girl one last look, unsure if she was really prepared for a trip inside this dirty place, unfit for a young smooth skin like herself.
" I like tourist better." She said and pushed back the entrance.
