By the time the gang saw the western plains again to begin their mission, everyone in the group was about ready to skin Cain alive where he stood. The dysfunctional gunner had gotten them lost countless times and almost killed by a pack of Mystic Beasts. When they arrived at the Inn they had stayed in the last time they were in the Western plains the entire gang realized that something was a bit off. No one even tried to make eye contact with them and Maybell seemed a bit distraught. Finally fed up with the silence Merik stepped forward and glared at the Archer girl behind the counter.

"Alright Blondie or whatever your name is." Merik said as she slammed her hand down on the counter causing the archer to noticeably flinch. This action caught the attention of Cain who tilted his hat back a bit but remained silent. "Spill it! What is going on around this one horse town? Why is everyone in a state of dead silence?"

"N-nothing is going on!" Maybell said as she ducked down behind the counter sounding on the brink of tears. "P-please don't hurt me."

"Maybe I should take this one Merik." Cain said as he tapped Merik on the shoulder giving her a look that said back down or else. The fighter huffed slightly but backed down. With a nod Cain turned his attention back on the Archer who was still shaking behind the counter. "Sorry about that one Belle. She is a bit of a pain in the rear if you know what I mean." He offers a smile. "Mind standing up so we can talk?"

"O-okay." Maybell said with a slight shudder. She pulled herself from the floor then looked at Cain keeping her hands on the counter for support. "S-sorry."

"Hey now, no need to be sorry Belle. You got spooked." He says as he takes her hand and pats it softly. "Now, mind tellin' us what happened? Something is wrong around here. I can tell."

"Roman attacked again. It was as if he knew that something was going to happen. H-he told us that if we knew what was good for us we would stay out of it and stay obedient." She shakes her head breaking into tears. "I don't like him Wes!" Maybell said through her tears as she grabbed the gunner's shoulders burying her face into his chest. "Please get rid of him and his gang!"

"Of course Belle." Cain said a bit surprised at the sudden hug. He gently turned the archer's face up so he could see her eyes. "You have my word. I promise that Roman and his gang will leave you and your town alone. Even if it kills me I will make sure you are left alone."

"Thank you." Maybell straightens herself and takes a breath before she reaches behind the counter and hands Cain a key. "Same room as the last time you were here."

"Thank you." He takes the key and pats her head. "You should take the rest of the evenin' off Belle. You need the rest."

With that Cain turns toward the stairs and gestures over his shoulder. Yuri rolls his eyes and picks up Nate who was about asleep on the floor as Mari grabs Merik. No one said anything as they made their way to the room that they would be sharing for the night. Once inside the room however, Yuri turned too Cain and narrowed his eyes.

"Wes? What kind of nickname is that. It doesn't even go with your name." Yuri said as he sat Nathaniel down on the bed. "If Cain is your real name that is."

"You said it yourself Yuri." Cain said with a sigh. "Wes is a nickname that she began callin' me from childhood. There isn't much else to know about that topic."

"Yeah I bet." The healer said as he glared daggers at the Gunner. "Why is it that I don't believe you?"

"Would you both just shut up!" Mari said as she punched Yuri in the chest winding him. "We came here to take care of a bandit leader. Not kill each other! Now sit down, shut up, and go the hell to sleep!"

"Alright alright!" Yuri says as he sits back in the chair. Cain on the other hand sat the key down on the side table and turned to the door. "She said go to sleep."

"If you think you are running off again, you have another thing coming Cain." Mari said as she glared at the gunner.

"I'm just going to talk to Maybell. I want to know all that I can about Roman and what he did. I figure that can help us out in our mission. I will be back before sun up ready to start the mission. You have my word." Cain said as he opened the door. "So go ahead and rest."

"I really shouldn't believe a word you say, but I am going too this time." Mari said as she yawned and settled into one of the twin beds. "Just keep your word or you are dead!"

"Alright." Cain says as he heads out of the room. Closing the door behind him he sighs and shakes his head. "Gotta tell Belle to be a bit more careful with that name." With that he heads down the stairs toward the front area to talk with the archer in question.

After the crimson clothed gunner had left the room Yuri looks over too Mari. Mari is busy getting Nathaniel situated so she does not see the Healer looking her way. It is not until she has both of her younger siblings in bed and asleep that she turns her attention back on Yuri. Upon seeing his expression she knows instantly that something is on his mind.

"What are you thinking about Yuri?" She asks as she runs her fingers through her hair. "I can tell you have something on your mind so just spill it."

"It is Cain." Yuri says shaking his head. "I don't buy the nickname only thing for a second."

"I am guessing you are talking about when Maybell called him Wes?" She says as she pats the best beside her.

"Yeah. That is what is on my mind." Yuri joins Mari and shakes his head. "The whole thing seems a bit fishy too me you know? What kind of nickname is Wes if your name is Cain? I don't understand it."

"I can only agree. It does sound a bit odd but who are we too judge? When you first met me you called me Cleo. That doesn't even start with M. I suppose that the nickname of Wes could be along those same lines?"

"I guess so, but it still seems a bit odd too me. I think he isn't being honest about himself."

"I know he isn't. I am a thief. I know how to talk my way out of a trap without thinking twice about it." Mari smirks and falls back against the bed on her back. "He is quite good at lying though. I will give him that. But he isn't good enough. I have a feeling that he isn't telling us that because he doesn't want us too know just yet."

"So, what you are saying is just let time do what it does best?" Yuri asks as he looks down at the giggling Thief.

"That is exactly what I am saying. If Cain wanted us too know what was up with Maybell calling him Wes then he would have told us. He clearly does not want us too know just yet so lets let him tell us when he is good and ready."

"Alright Mari. I guess the only thing that I can do is agree with you there. Though, I have an odd feeling that when we learn what the odd nickname was about it will not be because Cain told us." Yuri yawns then stands stretching a bit. "But that is just me. Good night Mari. I am feeling a bit tired so I think I am about to retire for the evening."

"I agree. It is pretty late and who knows when Cain will wake us up so that we can head off to start the mission." She chuckles again and settles the correct way on the bed. "Sleep well Yuri. Try not too let Cain bother you too much alright?"

"I couldn't care less about the crazed gunman and you know that." He chuckles and settles in the floor. "Good night Mari."

"Whatever you say." She says with a chuckle before she curls up too sleep.

Cain sits across a table from Maybell who has a cup of cooling tea on said table that she is paying no attention too at all. She seems a bit distant despite the fact that she is apparently calm. Cain on the other hand is somehow putting up with her random banter about creatures of grandeur. When she seems settled down enough to carry on a normal sane conversation Cain brings up the topic that he came to talk to her about in the first place. Roman.

"Now Belle," Cain says as he rests his hands down on the table. "I know you are still pretty jumpy but I need to know what happened. Do you mind tellin' me?"

"I am guessing you mean about Roman right?" Maybell says as she fiddles with her tea. "I do mind but I know that it will be helpful with your mission and what good is information if it is not shared right?"

"True enough there." Cain says with a light chuckle. "I am listenin' when you are ready to talk Belle."

"Alright." She takes a breath. "It was yesterday when it went down. He and his gang rode into town like they always do. Only this time it was different from it normally is. He seemed a bit ticked off as if he knew that something was wrong. I don't fully understand why he attacked the town but he did and it cost us the water tower yet again. He then went on his rant about us obeying what he says and staying loyal or else." She shakes her head and looks up at him. "That is about all I know. Sorry if I am not much help. I know that you need a bit more than that but that is all I can offer you."

"It is alright Belle. I know you are still a bit spooked and any bit of information is better than none."

"Alright. I still wish I could offer you a bit more. Though one thing I do know about him is that he is not good for surprises. So if you and your group can attack him without him knowing then I think that you can get the advantage on him." She takes a sip of her tea then glances into the cup. "Though I have a feeling that stealth is not something that the fighter girl on your team does well if at all."

"You know, I was just thinkin' that same thing. I don't know much about them but I know she is crap for being silent. Though one thing I know about the girl is that she will do somethin' if it means it will be benefitin' the team. She seems to care a lot about her older sister."

"Well then maybe you can sneak into Roman's compound un-noticed." Maybell stands and walks over to a book shelf. Once over there she picks up a map and returns to the table. Moving the cup off to the side of the table she opens the map and points too a circled area. "That area right there is Roman's stronghold." She then points down on the map where the town is. "This is about where we are now. If you take the back way out of town up through the east side of the desert past the old mines then I think you will be able to take him and his gang by surprise."

"Now that you mention it." Cain says as he watches her point out the path on the map. "That just might work out in our favor. The little one might be a problem and the trip may take us quite longer with him but that means that we have even more time to practice and plan this stuff out. That way when the time comes there is even less room for error. Can I have this map? I figure it will be helpful in the long run."

"Exactly what I was thinking." She giggles then nods handing Cain the map. "Don't forget what I told you though. I know how bad you are with directions."

"Oh shush up you!" He says huffing lightly as he takes the map and rolls it back up.

"I only said it because it is true and you know it." She smiles sheepishly then looks at Cain with a light blush across her cheeks. "So, um, I was wondering about that thief girl"

"What of her?" Cain asks as he watches Maybell. "Wait, don't tell me you are thinkin' that she and I are going to end up together?"

"Maybe.. I just was wondering is all."

"I honestly think Mari hates me. But it isn't my problem. They don't have too like me but the fact remains that they need me on their team. If not for me then they would have lost the chance at getting this mission all together. Seems fitting right?"

"I suppose." She says with a soft chuckle. "Sorry if that was awkward. I don't really know what I was thinking there."

"Don't sweat it Belle. Besides, the two of us have been friends long enough for me too tell when you are gettin' a bit jealous." He says with a smirk.

"I am not jealous!" Maybell says with a huff.

"Oh really now? Would have never guessed that much. You seem pretty ruffled up now and all I did was just point out what I saw."

"Okay okay okay you got me! Maybe I am a little jealous. I mean look at her would ya? She is cute and spunky. Also she is so... I don't even know!" She shakes her head and sighs. "I am useless."

"I wouldn't say useless." He smiles and stands with a yawn. Picking the map up from where he is standing he turns toward the door. "Though I would call you a bit on the easy to read side." Walking to the door opens it. "But either way I have a bit of an early mornin' tomorrow so I had better get some sleep. Sleep well Belle."

"Alright. Good luck Wes- I mean Cain." She chuckles and he waves as he heads out of the door. Once she is sure he is out of earshot she sighs and flops back in the chair. "I should have just told him that I like him. Oh well. Having him as a friend is way better anyway. Less awkward." She giggles and stands walking over to her bed after she has cleaned up the tea. "I should sleep now though."

Hey guys. This is Chrys here. Sorry about the delay of chapter updates. I have been under the weather for the better part of a month now and my glasses also got broken. But all is well now do to the facts that my glasses are repaired and my health has improved. I am hoping to finish chapter six through eight before friday so wish me luck. I have a full day of relaxing today, so I am going to take a huge chunk out of the work. Come chapter eight, Roman will have a face guys. There will be a dorky character for plot introduced and some tragedy for a character that has already been introduced. But I don't wish to spoil it so I will say no more. I am opening a bit of a Q and A as well. If there is anything you wish to ask me then go right ahead. This about concludes this update so I hope you guys will stick around. Again, I am sorry about the dead silence from me thing. I hope you enjoyed the chapter and don't mind reviewing it for me. I love people who aren't afraid to tell me what is needing too be fixed or what makes no sense. Thank you for sticking around.