Sorry this took so long, and I'll try to be quicker with the next.
Love Always, E.G.
Black Angel
Chapter 7
The Blood Lioness
The bars along the Red River were filled to the brim with every kind of low life trying to make a quick buck. There were mercenaries, bandits, gang members, and during the war there would even be the occasional soldier. All were looking to increase their share.
So very few of them had issues about spilling dirty little secrets every once in a while.
Alex scanned the area, trying to figure out who was at this particular bar.
At the bar sat three people. Lindsey sat closest to the door, but Alex knew that the red head sank deeper and deeper into her habits every year. At this point Lindsey was just about useless. Next to Lindsey was a male member of the Hawk Eyed bandits, a rival bandit group to the Panthers. He would glad give over any information that would help destroy the Panthers. Finally next to the Hawk bandit was a no name mercenary that looked new and way to young.
It was only after Alex's eyes passed over the newbie did she realize someone was missing. He should have been at the very end of the bar. People called him The Great.
There were others around, sitting away from the bar. Some Alex knew and others that Alex didn't, but when her eyes finally found one mercenary in particular, Alex smiled.
In the back corner sat a young woman with a heavy red cloak hanging from her shoulders. The cloak had a hood that was always pulled over so that the woman's face was covered, but on occasion a strand of blonde hair would escape the shadows.
Her name was the Blood Lioness and only Alex and Cat were brave enough to approach her.
"Well look who faced Chaz and lived to tell the tale," the Lioness commented as Alex sat down on the opposite side of the table.
"Is that the rumor that's going around?" Alex asked with a smile. "I like it."
"No the rumor going around is that the armies took Chaz and you're taking the credit," the Blood Lioness hissed. "I don't have that much faith in the armies, nor do I believe that you're ego is that big."
Alex smiled.
"Well hello precious," the Lioness said as she bent down to pet Cat.
Cat took a snap at the Lioness's hand.
The Lioness growled. "You're a ray of sunshine like always."
"What happened to The Great?" Alex asked.
"Your brother Greg decided he wanted the nick name," the Lioness responded. "I'm sure some sort of law enforcement will find The Former Great lying in a ditch some where."
"What is he thinking?" Alex whispered.
"The Great isn't the only one. You know how Lindsey is a good fighter when she is sober? Well Dana is making sure that Lindsey can never be sober again. Anyone who is a threat to the new Claw regime is going to be ticked off. I'm going to be making myself scarce very soon," the Lioness said.
"Great, you and all my other informants," Alex groaned.
"You'll be hearing from me," the Lioness promised. "Very few mercenaries can take on the Panthers and we're to distrusting to ban together. But if the second rumor is true, we'll gladly give the information over."
"Name your price?" Alex said.
The Lioness smiled. "No prison time. And no questions on how I got the information. I'm sure there will be others who will want other things."
"Fair enough," Alex said as the bartender brought her a drink.
"Your usual," the tender said as he set the drink on the table. "You know Alex, you shouldn't be showing your face so openly. The Panthers are on orders to shoot you if they ever see you."
"There are no Panthers here," Alex said as she scanned the room.
The bartender's eyes flicked between the drink and Alex. "Yes, but there are plenty of wannabe Panthers who will do anything to be an actual Panther. Also, your siblings might use other people to get to you."
The tender left, clutching at her own hands. Alex and the Lioness watched him leave.
"Now if that doesn't scream out, your family is forcing me to poison you, I don't know what does," the Lioness laughed.
"Bet you it's Dana," Alex said as she stared at the drink, but refused to touch it.
"See why I'm willing to help for such a low price?" the Lioness said with a smirk. "But the tender gave you the last bit of information that I had for you."
"There's nothing else?" Alex begged.
The Lioness sighed. "Just rumors, but keep going down the river. There are others waiting for you and waiting to go into hiding once they find you. Our world isn't safe right now."
"You're hiding something," Alex accused.
"It's just a rumor," the Lioness whispered. "But they're saying that there is a rift between the remaining Claws. No one is sure who is on what side, but it's a weak point."
With that the Lioness slid Alex a communicator, got up and left. No good-bye. No good lucks. Just the way that the Lioness would get in contact with Alex. And it went with out saying, but Alex should not send out messages with the communicator, just receive.
That night, Alex contacted the base.
"I was getting worried," Rob said from the other line.
Alex sniggered. "I can take of myself. But you might get some peace, at least from the free lancers. Everyone is going underground."
"What?" Rob asked. "Why?"
"The Panthers are ticking people off," Alex said. "They've already taken out The Great and are guaranteeing that Lindsey is kept down."
"This doesn't sound good," Rob sighed.
"It's not bad yet. I'll be fine," Alex promised.
She heard Rob sigh from over the radio. "Alright, just be careful."
"I will be. Over and out," Alex said before switching off the radio.
For a minute Alex wondered if she should've told Rob about the poisoning attempt or the bartender's warning. She shook her head and began to fiddle with the knobs of the radio.
"Schubaltz, this is your Black Angel and her pet Cat. I'm going to keep in contact with you daily. I've been informed that the Panthers have a price for my head. If I don't contact, if I miss even one day, come looking for me. Please. Don't tell Rob, Jake, or Jonathon. They'll simply pull the mission and we'll get nothing. Over and out," Alex said into the radio.
It wasn't hard to get in to someone's zoid system and leave a message. Now at least Karl knew.