With a groan Merik drags her feet through the sand as the arrive in the western plains. She had been complaining the entire time about how the walk there was making her feet hurt and how the whole set up was annoying her. Mari on the other hand remained pumped and all the more ready to arrive and get the gunner they needed. Nathaniel got drowsy half way there and ended up having too be carried by Yuri who did not seem too mind. All and all the group seemed too be pretty calm. Though as they arrive in the western plains Nathaniel wakes up and breaks into a sneezing fit.

"AH! There is so much sand!" Nathaniel squeaks as he sneezes. His voice is gleeful though. Mari knew good and well this was his first time in this area. "Can I freeze it?"

"You can try." Yuri says as he sits Nathaniel on the ground. "There is a lot of sand though. I say try freezing something a little less and related first. How about the rocks?"

"OKAY!" With that Nathaniel bolts off to a nearby rock and starts blasting it with ice.

"There is a saloon right up there Mari. I will leave you and Merik too go and get the gunner. I will stay here with him." Yuri says as he pats Mari on the shoulder then walks over to Nathaniel's side.

"Okay Yuri." Mari nods to Merik and the two head over to the saloon. The doors swing open and the two are met with a unsightly smell of moonshine and smoke. Mari coughs then glances up at the barkeep who waves her open. As she arrives at the bar she sighs and looks at the bartender. "I am looking for a gunner."

"I think I can help you out." The elderly Majin chuckles and glances around the saloon then nods over too a table. After a couple moments a young gunner adorned in bright blue walks over. "This is Travis. He might be able too help you out."

"Howdy little lady." The gunner says offering a hand. "Name's Travis."

"I'm Mari." Mari says as she shakes his hand. "I am guessing you are still pretty low leveled?"

"I am almost level 20."

"Yeah, no kid." Merik, who had been silent up to that point says as she shakes her head. "You are not the level we need. Know any stronger gunners?"

"Merik!" Mari says as she grumbles lightly.

"Don't worry about it ms Mari. If I am the wrong level then that is just fine. If you need a stronger gunner though I know where you can find one." Travis says as he glances about the saloon then back to Mari and Merik. "If you head just out of town you will find a cactus patch. Just past that is where a pretty strong gunner spends most his time when he a'int here. You will know em when you see em."

"Thank you. Do you know his name?" Mari says as she pushes her bangs up out of her face.

"Folk call em Cain. Not sure I can provide much more than that. I know he a'int the most pleasant of people but I am sure you can get em too help ya out if you explain the situation to em."

"Thank you again." Mari glances over to a sceptic looking Merik. "Lets go Merik. We are crunched for time and this is a lead."

"Fine." Merik says as she storms out of the saloon leaving Mari grumbling.

"Quite tha charmer that one." Travis says as he pushes his hat up a bit.

"You have no idea." Mari says sarcastically. "Well I have too go now. Thank you again for your help Travis."

"It was my pleasure."

Mari offers him a smile then thanks the barkeep as she rushes out the door. She finds Merik and the others waiting for her. Merik stretches and nods as Yuri picks Nathaniel up.

"Merik already filled us in. So shall we go and get our gunner?" Yuri asks with a cheerful smile.

"But of course." Mari says beaming. "Lets go!"

The others nod and they set off too the edge of town. It does not take them long to find the cacti patch that Travis had told Mari about. It was huge and would be quite hard too miss. Mari gives it a look then walks past it only to groan upon seeing a vast expanse of desert. Merik chuckled and Yuri pats Mari on the back as a reassuring gesture. Mari takes a breath then glances at the sandy plain. It did not look that all appeasing but what had too be done was going to get done. With a smile and the same wild determination from earlier that day she steps out into the desert heading off to find the gunner. After walking for no longer that ten minuets the gang come across the coveted gunner in one of the most amusing yet distressing situations.

"So why is he tied up in a tree?" Merik says as she looks at the distressed gunner who looks a bit pale as if he had been there for a while.

"I don't think I want too know." Mari says as she chuckles. "But maybe we should cut him down. I mean it cant be healthy to hang upside down like that."

"You realize I can hear you right?" Says a rough angered voice from behind the group. "I may be in a situation little lady. But my ears work fine."

"Good to know." Yuri says with mild annoyance in his voice. "Cut him down Nathaniel."

"With pleasure!" The young Skull says as he sends a blast of ice up toward the ropes that hold the suspended gunner. Ice strikes the ropes cutting them and sending him falling too the sand covered ground with a thud. "Did I do a good job?"

"The best." Yuri says as he pats Nathaniel's head.

"I can already tell that you n I are gonna have problems." The red clothed gunner says as he glares up at Yuri. It takes him only a few moments to gather himself and get to his feet with a gun pointed directly at the healer. That moment in the sun does not last long though as the clearly disoriented gunner passes out cold falling to the sand.

"What happened?" Mari says as she watches the Desperado go down. "You didn't do anything to him right Yuri?"

"I didn't do anything. He was upside down remember?" Yuri says with a chuckle. "His being upside down was bound to make him dizzy. When he shot to his feet as quickly as he did I knew he was either going to fall down or pass out. Looks as if both happened."

"Well, we should get him healed up. I mean we don't even know if this is the guy we are looking for." Merik grumbles out as she leans back against the tree. "By appearance he is at least level 400. That is good because he is plenty the right level. But I am not going too work with someone who would turn a gun on a team mate."

"As I said before." Yuri says pushing the gunner's hair up out of his face with a stick. "Cuddly as a cacti."

When Yuri moves the messy sandy brown hair up out of the gunner's face the gang can get a better look at him. Running from the base of his jaw up to the corner of his mouth is an old scar that looks as if it has been there for a while as well as one over his left eye that is just as old. He has a light tan and despite his seemingly slender build is quite well muscled. Using the same stick as before, Yuri untangles the poncho that the gunner is wearing from the rope that he was tied up in. That exposes most of his chest and torso area. There are long scars along his torso and arms as well. Yuri shrugs and drops the stick then glances at Mari.
"Go ahead and heal him Yuri." Mari says as she sits back on her heals. "We have too get him awake."

"As you wish." Yuri says closing his eyes and holding his hands over the downed gunner. A light healing light covers them both. A moment passes and the light fades as Yuri stands. "There. He should wake up in a moment."

"Good." Mari looks down as the person in question sits up suddenly looking around like a panicked cat. "Easy now. We just wanna-" Before she can finish what it was she was saying Nathaniel smacks the gunner upside the back of the head with his staff, thus causing him to pass out again. "NATHANIEL!"

"Sorry." He says wiping his nose. "I had too sneeze."

"That cant be good for him." Merik says as she watches the scene play out. "Should we at least carry him out of the freaking desert? This sand is bothering me."

"True." Mari sighs and picks up the bright red hat out of the sand. "Yuri, do you mind carrying him? I mean he really cant walk ya know."

"I do mind but this mission is more important that my squabbles." Yuri kneels down and scoops up the still un-named gunner. He blinks and gets a bit of a smirk. "He doesn't weigh much at all. I guess that isn't really that surprising though."

"He is a freaking bean pole!" Merik says as she scoops up Nathaniel. "It is getting dark though. Lets get back to town. There was an Inn there."

"Sounds good." Mari says as she makes sure they have everything. "Lets go."

With everyone in agreement they set off back for the town. As they arrive in the town the sun has almost fully sat in the sky bringing forth the desert's tell tell chill. Mari shivers as they walk up to the Inn then sighs blissfully when she enters the building. There is a warm fire in the fireplace and the whole Inn is comfortable looking. A smiling Archer greets them from behind the desk.

"Welcome. Can I help you fine folk?" The young Archer says as she beckons the group over. "My name is Maybell."

"Nice too meet you Maybell." Mari says as she walks over to the desk and offers a hand. "I was wondering if we could get a room for the night?"

"Sure thing miss. How many beds?" Maybell says as she looks at a roster sheet.

"At least two. One for my little brother and sister and one for myself."

"Alright. I got one room with two beds still available. The price for the night is fifty septims."

"That is cheap." Mari says as she nods and pays for the room.

"Right this way." Maybell says as she walks out from behind the desk leading the group up a set of stairs. After they get up the stairs she unlocks a door and opens it. "Just holler if y'all need anythin now."

"Will do." Mari says as she watches Maybell walk off. "Okay guys. Lets settle down for the night."

"Sounds good too me." Merik says as she walks into the room and sits down on one of the beds only to have Nathaniel curl up beside her. He quickly dozes off and Merik rolls her eyes. "So what about the sand devil?"

"Sand devil?" Mari says confused as she gives her sister a lost look.

"The gunner you dolt!" Merik says kicking her shoes off. "Ugh gross! I have sand in my shoes. I am going to sleep. Good night or whatever." With that she cuddles up beside Nathaniel and dozes off.

"He is finally awake just so you know." Yuri states as he drops the waking gunner. "I am going to the bathroom to get cleaned up. I will be there if you need me."

"If by bathroom you mean outhouse," The crimson clothed gunner says as he sits up and rubs his head. "go right on ahead and knock yourself out."

"I could always knock you out again!" Yuri says grumbling.

"Oh no no! We don't need that." Mari says as she grabs Yuri's arm. "Just sit down and relax. You can get a bath tomorrow when we get home. Okay? But for now we have to make sure we didn't just waste our time."

"Fine." Yuri says walking over to a chair that resides in the old room. He quickly plops down in the chair and yawns.

"Good." Mari turns her attention back on the gunner in the floor. "Okay, so I am going to cut to the chase. My name is Mari and these guys are my team and family."

"Nice ta meet ya. I'm Cain." He says running his fingers through his long messy hair. He glances back up at her with his snake like eyes that send chills down Mari's spine. "Not too sound rude but, how does this pertain to me little lady?"

"There is a mission that we want too do but we need a gunner. Do you see why we came looking for you?"

"I understand fully why. But why should I work with you. I mean I didn't even know ya more than fifteen minuets and the little one knocked me out. I still have a migraine from that just so ya know."

"Sorry about him. He sneezed." Mari says as she rubs the back of her head a light blush of embarrassment across her face.

"If that was a sneeze, I don't want em to be attackin me any day soon." Cain says shaking his head before he stands. "Now if that is all I will be off. I got things too do."

"The bandit leader that is a part of the mission was named something with an R right Mari?" Yuri says as he flips through a dusty old book.

"Uh yeah. Roman I think." Mari says pondering for a bit as Cain comes to a dead stop his hand on the door knob.

"On second thought I will stick around." Cain says as he turns back to face the others. "I got a bone to pick with that Roman."

"Really?" Mari says thrilled that he had changed his mind. "Thats awesome. I am pretty sure your problems with Roman are personal so I won't delve into it okay?"

"Wouldn't have told ya anyway little lady."

"I have a name you know." Mari says grumbling. "It is Mari. Please don't call me little lady. Okay?"

"Alright lit.. I mean Mari."

"Good." Mari yawns and slips her shoes off as she lays back against the bed. "I am going to sleep alright? You two can stay up talking if you want but I am tired. Good night guys."

Mari turns her back to Yuri and Cain not wanting to pay any further attention too the duo. It doesn't take her long too fall asleep. Cain gives Yuri a look that is unreadable due too his hair and how much the shadow of his hat hides his face. Yuri on the other hand gives Cain an expression that is a mix of hate and wonder. After a bit Yuri sighs and puts the dusty book down and joins the other in the floor.

"Okay, I want to be the first too say that I am sorry about treating you badly." Yuri says blowing a bit of white hair up out of his face. "So, shall we let bygones be bygones?"

"Sounds good. I a'int never been friendliest of people." He shakes his head and looks away. "But we should get some sleep. I reckon that you guys live no where near this area and there might be a bit of a walk tomorrow."

"Yeah. Half a days worth of one." Yuri yawns lightly covering his mouth with his hand as he yawns. "Good night Cain was it?"

"Yeah. Call me Cain. I never got your name though."

"Yuri. That's my name."

"G'night Yuri." With that Cain settles back against the wall and pulls his hat down over his face. It doesn't take him long too fall into a light sleep.

"Tomorrow is going to be fun. I can just tell." Yuri chuckles too himself then he rests back against the desk falling into sleep as well.