Snowflake in the Sand

Chapter 14

Winter patted her specialist outfit and smiled as she appreciated the familiarity of it. She did not dislike the Sorrow's fashion but it was simply not for her, her skin was too exposed to attacks and no matter what Six said, she would not use it.

Waking Cloud waited with Winter as they watched the sun start to rise, apparently both liked to wake up early Winter because of her internal clock and Waking Cloud because she was used to take care of three little kids so she needed to wake up early and old habits die hard.

"I hope my little ones are eating well, I know my husband is there with them but he spoils them too much" Waking cloud said making Winter smile at the imagery, they spent a couple more seconds in silence when the footsteps where heard and they both turned expecting to see Six.

And saw Courier Six they did covered head to toe with blood with a brand new weapon on his hand made out of "Is that an Ursa claw!?" Winter managed to stutter out in shock.

Six gave a smile "Yao Guai"

Waking Cloud tilted her head "You went hunting last night?"

"I took some drugs and killed a bear that was on fire, it was one of the best days of my life" Six said with what could only be described as a psychotic look, Winter looked him up and down. Then she turned to Waking Cloud who could only stare in shock.

"The ghost of she… but that is a cursed spirit that plagues our land, for you to know that the shaman must have tasked you with its killing! But why you?" she said, making Winter feel a headache coming along. He had killed a ghost and the worst part was that it had been on fire.

"He knows his stuff that guy, but let's not dwell on it we have a lot to do today if we want to leave this place, come on" Six said as he set out to attack the camps on his map. Waking Cloud turned to look at Winter who could only shake her head and followed along, Winter could have sworn that she heard a bizarre noise every time Six did something more stupid than usual.

And so the walk began in the river as the water from the river washed away all traces of blood from the outfit that Six was wearing, but as Winter looked to the distance and saw the bodies of killed Yao Guai something changed, she was reminded that Six was not just her friend who she could roll her eyes at. He was a genuine killing machine who could give any respectable Hunter a fight and he was just a human with no aura.

Their walk was surprisingly short, Waking Cloud informed them that they could take their banners to demoralize them, Six nodded at the idea and once they reached the first camp, Six instructed Winter to cut off their escape route and Waking Cloud to back him up. With the plan in motion, Six used his new claw to crush the first banner and make his presence know. The White legs were startled by the destruction of their sacred banner and the arrival of a beast with red eyes.

Six smirked under his new helmet as some ran towards Winter and they were quickly frozen and knocked unconscious, good they would serve to send the message. With a leap he sank his new weapon on the gut of the first enemy and ripped his entrails, with the shock of this brutality Six took the advantage of this and took out a combat shotgun.

Waking Cloud cringed a little at the sight of head being blown off but she did not have time to linger on it, the White Legs had quickly recovered and they where out for blood. With their weapon focused on the courier, they blasted away with their weapon and charged at him with Shieskebab in hand. Six grunted as on lucky bullet pierced his side but paid it no mind the shotgun was making easy work of the White Legs.

Winter on the other hand was quickly maneuvering around her opponents avoiding close encounters and using glyphs when necessary. The fear that her constructs generated did not go unnoticed by the specialist and she used them to scare off some of her attackers. With a powerful kick, she sent the last one flying towards the river, knowing that he would not come back for more. Satisfied she turned to see Waking Cloud destroy the last banner as the White Legs retreated and Winter could let out a sigh of relief.

So far so good, she approached Six as he looted ammo from the corpses, he gave her a thumbs up and continued with his business. She could not help but notice that Waking Cloud looked a little uneasy "Something on your mind?"

"… it is not the same to kill a creature to survive than what we did here, I know it most be done but the sorrows are not used to war, we are hunters and gatherers I am afraid of what we will become if we keep walking down this path" Waking Cloud said as her eyes turned to Six, who was trying out his new melee weapon on a nearby scorpion, the flaming weapon made the creature explode.

Winter frowned a little bit but decided to save her comments for now, The Sorrows where shielded from the sad realities of this world and it was not her place to make them see the light, that responsibility fell on the shoulders of Joshua or Daniel. Six approached them as he looked at his PipBoy, Winter heard him let out a sigh "We need to walk to the other side of the valley to disable some traps and also find some map or something".

Winter's frown deepened "That's too much time wasted, we need to split up. I think you are better suited for the disabling of traps and taking care of the rest of the White Legs".

Six rubbed the back of his head "You sure? Not that I don't think you can't do it or anything but…" Winter gave him a nod and turned towards the objective that appeared on her map, she gave Waking Cloud a smile "Take care of him for me, I will see you before the sun sets back in the Sorrows camp"

And with that Winter set off under the light of the sun, its rays not nearly as harsh as the ones in the Mojave. Silence reigned on the way towards the Morning Glory cave as the locals referred to it, only the occasional sound of fauna disrupted her silence. Winter wondered what would be the best course of action next, Daniel spoke on the evacuation of the Sorrows while Joshua did not look like the type of person to simple leave without a fight.

But if it where up to her they would leave the valley and don't look back, the wilderness of it made her nervous it was far to untamed for her liking. As she reached the cave, she was surprised to find what looked like to be a path in the entrance, religious symbols that she had seen in the Sorrows camp.

Cautiously she started to explore the cave, traps and gizmos laid around just like the cave she had slept in last night, Winter frowned as she felt her aura flare up. Something was attacking her but in the darkness of the cave it was hard to see. Trusting her instinct she used her sword and was surprised when some water hit her as a result, the onslaught of attacks didn't stop so she briefly turned on her PipBoy's light to pinpoint the enemy.

The enemy made her take a step back, a giant carnivorous plant snapped its "mouth" at her and winter realized why she was splashed with water. She had cut off one of its heads and it had just gotten angrier. Winter reached for her side arm and studied it, it was a plasma pistol. The one Six had insisted that she carried back in Repconn. She was not used to firing this type of weapon, but to her immense satisfaction, she only missed two shots, burning the plant down to goo on the third shot. Getting a feel of her new weapon, she descended the cave firing and hiding behind cover.

Winter smiled a little bit, feeling as if she was on a training course but soon her PipBoy notified that there was no enemies anymore and she holstered her weapon, while not bad it did not feel right for her. Winter was just glad that she had saved so much ammo for it. As she searched deeper and deeper her eyes widened when she saw a small shack made out of scraps with a terminal faintly glowing.

Walking towards it she used one of her glyphs to smash the door open, there on the side of the table as a duffle bag, Winter deactivated the trap behind it and managed to relax. With everything disabled she reached inside and started to search for what she needed. Her finger touched a large piece of paper and she knew she had acquired the map.

With a nod she turned to leave, but something about the terminal called to her. She started to boot it up out of pure curiosity and what she found inside was not something she was prepared for. Randall Clark had been the owner of the terminal, Winter felt sadness as she read his story he had served the armed forces before the war and now that the bombs had fallen he wrote down his life in the valley of Sion.

What followed was quite possibly the most tragic turn of events she had seen for a soldier in a long while, his faith on his country broken and with nothing left but the want to bury his family. He was denied that chance.

When he managed to fight off a group of cannibals and rescue a girl he fell in love, things seemed to turn brighter and then tragedy struck once again and Randall had to bury his wife and his newborn son. He sadly said that he atleast could bury this family and then finally a large piece of the puzzle was solved.

A group of children arrived on the canyon, from what Randall had gathered they had escaped a school or a prison, it mattered not in the end, what mattered is that a bunch of children in need of help where near him and so Randall set out to help them. Winter felt a small smile as Randall wrote down everything he told to the kids and how his new nickname was "The Father", but that smile went away when she read the last paragraph. Randall died, alone but with his mission in life complete, happy to see that the kids had gathered in a place near a waterfall.

"Are you still silently watching the Sorrows Randall?" Winter wondered as she closed the last entry in the terminal.

As the night descended on Zion, Courier Six was troubled. Winter had arrived not too long ago and not a moment too soon. He had learned from Daniel that Waking Cloud's husband was dead and to say that the news had weighted heavy on the poor woman would be an understatement. Six for all his good charisma was not good at handling grieving people. But Winter was and Six could only down another bottle of Whiskey as the night finally set and their plan of escaping looked ever more grim without one of the best warriors of the Sorrows at her best.

"Waking Cloud will be fine, she said that she would even forgive Daniel in time. But sadly that's not what matters now, the Sorrows are… shaken and leaving will be very difficult" Winter said as she joined him to stare out into the night, Six gave a nod as he looked down at his PipBoy and wondered what to do, soft footsteps reached their ears.

The man that had been set on fire walked towards them his eyes focused and carrying a steel that Six could not help but admire, Winter on the other hand quickly noted that he was followed by what looked like to be the entire Dead Horse's tribe.

"By the rivers of Babylon we sat down, we wept when we remembered Zion. Remember oh Lord the children of Eden when they say raise it, raise it even to the foundation. Oh daughter of Babylon who ought to be destroyed happy shall He be, dash even the little ones against the stones" Graham said locking eyes with both Winter and Six, both remained quiet for a moment waiting to see where the religious man was going with this bizarre speech.

"Do you know what it means?" Joshua asked, making Six nod "Sounds to me that you want The White Legs not just gone, but destroyed"

Joshua gave a nod "The White Legs didn't just force my people out of New Canaan, they butchered everyone who wasn't fast enough to get away… the elderly, the ill, the children and even those who stopped to aid the wounded. It made no difference to them. I know their kind they can't be reasoned with" Joshua said with a cold anger on his voice. Looking back towards the Sorrows camp Joshua saw Daniel observing them from afar "Daniel thinks that if we leave and the Sorrows too, they will stop but that is simply not true. He doesn't understand what the tribe is like and so I have come with a proposal, the White Legs plan to attack at dawn and if they are looking for attackers they expect the Dead Horses. But if we attack with the might of both tribes combined coupled with an ambush to their leader, Salt Upon Wounds, we can take back Sion and rid ourselves of the White Legs forever"

Six nodded the plan making sense to him, Winter on the other hand was not so sure "The Sorrows are shaken, Daniel told them that we run tonight, what makes you think that you could convince them to join a fight most of them do not know how to handle"

Joshua simply pointed towards the book he always carried "If they join us in battle then praised be the Lord and if they don't, we will simply have to fight harder. When He is with us nothing is impossible"

Winter let out a sigh and turned to look back, Waking Cloud was looking at them a fire in her eyes that Winter saw once before. In Six's eyes when he was looking for revenge against Benny.

"I will talk to Waking Cloud, see if I can convince her to join in the assault or at the very least talk to some of her friends to help us, as for Daniel that will be more up your alley Six" Winter said as their new plan was set in motion.

And so as Winter talked to the Sorrows about the plan, out of the corner of her eye she saw Daniel looking devastated for he saw the death of innocence of the tribe he had helped live without violence and a part of Winter mourned with him, but she was no sentimental huntress… she was and would always be a soldier.

"I thank you both for helping; I know that Daniel does not approve of this, but God willing we will crush the White Legs and save the valley from them" Joshua said as Winter and Six flanked him, they entered White Leg territory alone. The rest of tribes would be the element of surprise using their superior knowledge of the land to ambush them from the sides of the canyon.

Six was dressed in his full regalia, the red eyes of his helmet giving an eerie glow, while Winter's white outfit seemed to absorb the light of the full moon. And so both Winter and Six followed Joshua into White Leg territory, their guns and constructs making short work of everyone around them. The White Legs seemed to fear Joshua the most as he merciless put them down with his pistol and if any got to close to him, he broke their heads with a technique that Six had never seen before. Winter saw Six carve a path through the White Legs and out of the corner of her eyes the Sorrows that had accompanied copied him in his actions. A certain guilt creeped into her, as Six used the outfit that she suspected belonged to Randall Clark with the sorrows following his lead.

Would the survivalist approve? Or would he be glad that they were fighting for the only home they had? Winter used her sword to disarm a White Leg and then with a powerful kick knock him out. An explosion made her snap out of her thoughts as she tackled Six out of falling rocks, Joshua growled "This is taking too long, I will find another way God willing we will finish this together, but Salt Upon Wounds must not escape" and with that Joshua dived into the river, leaving Six and Winter alone again.

Six stood back up and placed a hand on Winter's shoulder "thanks for the save" she liked to assume that he was smiling under the helmet, but their little moment dint last long. Six grabbed his shotgun and killed a White Leg before he had the chance to attack them from behind, the body fell to the river.

"They are coming from that cave, let's go the sorrows and dead horses can wipe what's left" the courier said as the carnage seemed to die down as the locals slaughtered the occupying forces. Winter saw Waking Cloud deliver a powerful blow to the las White Legs, their blood dripping down the face of the grieving widow, Winter had always hated tears but she hated the way tears looked mixed with blood more.

As for the Courier he was busy clearing the cave, grenades triggered their traps. And the survivors that came running out where quickly mowed down by his combat shotgun, one White Leg stabbed him in the back but he retaliated with the ghost of she's paw. With his job complete he finally reached their destination, signaling Winter to come closer he pointed at a group of White Legs "That has to be Salt Upon Wounds, he seems to be protected by only a few of his men, I will create a distraction and gather as much attention as I can, you take care of him and his bodyguards".

With his plan in motion, Six slid down the mountain and opened fire on a random soldier, this worked as most of the White Legs swarmed him. Winter wanted to go help him but she knew she had a mission to do, with most of their attention on Six getting to Salt Upon Wounds was easier than she expected. But it was no cake walk, tomahawks and bullets flew her way only her speed and aura keeping her intact. Summoning a glyph she scared of the lowest ranking soldiers, but she failed to notice how a small child from the tribe ran towards her and slammed a knife to her side.

She hissed as her aura flared, she turned around to decapitate her opponent but when she saw just a child her sword could not move, Salt Upon Wound being the vicious creature that he was took advantage of this and launched a tomahawk and a grenade at her. Winter felt her aura shatter as the explosion pushed her back and another tomahawk sank deep into her side, she cursed as she saw the body of the child lay lifeless next to her "You fucking monster!" she yelled.

Salt Upon Wounds didn't seem to care as he pointed his weapon at her head, Winter simply swiped with her sword drawing a little bit of blood. "You have spirit, too bad you die outwoman" but before the killing blow could be delivered a loud explosion shook the valley, making Salt Upon Wounds take a step back. Courier Six walked to the flames he had created as he wiped the blood and body parts off his outfit, his trusty grenade launcher in hand. The image made the White Legs curse, but they faile to realize that their worst fear was behind them.

Winter could only marvel at the speed that the bodyguards next to Salt Upon Wounds fell, and the tribe's leader fared no better his right knee exploded in a shower of gore as he fell to the ground "We warned you Syracuse and you persisted" Joshua Graham said coldly as he reloaded his weapon, his words silencing the fighting tribes as all eyes where on him.

"You took advantage of us at New Canaan to drive us out, and like the dogs of Caesar that you are you followed us to Zion" the cold hatred in the voice of Graham stopped Salt Upon Wounds from making any attempt to flee "And now you stand on holy ground, a temple to God's glory on earth" his scarred eyes narrowed and Winter swore that the air got colder "But the only use for an animal in our temple is sacrifice"

"Kale watcha conserva oh" came the cryptic language that managed to make all the White Legs turn to their hunter in shock "You understand me don't you?" Salt Upon Wounds looked desperately for a way out, but there was no hope so he turned to the Courier in a last effort "Outman! Kuna-man mad! He kill all White Legs! You talk you stop!" he pleaded six tilted his head in confusion.

"Whatever, Joshua put a cap in General Gobbledigook here" he said with a shrug, Salt Upon Wound threw sand at his direction "You devil!"

Winter bit her lip as she looked around and saw the bloodlust in the eyes of the tribes waiting to see what happened, but Winter could not allow it. As the first bullet left A Light in shining darkness Winter cut it down with her sword. This action made Joshua raise an eyebrow "We cant expect God to do all the work, he must be struck down"

"This… is not the way Joshua" Winter said with a confidence that she did not have, but now all eyes were on her she turned the Burned Man, Caesar's first legate and she realized how easy it would be for him to kill her. She had no aura and was bleeding, her mind wondered if Six would stop him.

"Don't listen to this… things plea, his cries are nothing more than a mad beast caught in thicket! He gave no mercy to my family and so I will give him none" Joshua said and Winter really could not argue with him on that "But this isn't just about you Joshua, there is no need for this we have already won"

Joshua simply shook his head "He has debt to pay for what he has done and I've come to collect it, that's why he chooses to cower in the water like a dumb animal" Winter saw his resolve and she didn't think she could change his opinion. Lowering her head in defeat she looked away, briefly looking at Waking Cloud and her friends.

"If what you believe is true, he'll pay for it sooner or later, the sorrows don't need to see this" Six's voice came quietly making Joshua tilt his head "I though you were all for his death" the courier looked around him and let out a sigh.

"Winter makes a point, we have already won and… I think we already changed the sorrows enough as it is"

Joshua lowered his weapon and looked at Six up and down "I want to take from them what they took from me, from my family. In this life. I want them to suffer" Joshua said through gritted teeth, but his voice lowered "I want all of them to die in fear and pain"

There was a tense a silence "I want to have my revenge, against him… against Caesar. I want to call it my own, to make my anger God's anger… to justify the things I have done" said the man that had done so much wrong and so much good that Winter wondered how he had not gone insane with guilt or hatred. With a sad look Joshua looked at his exposed skin where the bandages had been ripped as he sought a way to get revenge.

"Sometimes I tell myself that these wild fires never stop burning. But I am the one that starts them not God… and not them, I can always feel it in my mind, the warmth the heat. It will always be a part of me" Joshua said as he placed his gun against Salt Upon Wounds temple.

"But not today" and with that he pushed the tribal towards his people "Go get out of here, go back to your great salt lake"

Winter saw the White Legs scramble to get everything they could as they ran away with their leader on their shoulders. Joshua turned to both of his companions as Six placed a Stimpak on Winter's hand.

"That's it, it's finished thank you, for staying with me… both of you I could not have done this on my own, we should find Daniel morning will come soon and there is much to do"

Six downed the last bottle of Whiskey that he had as he stared into the rising sun, enjoying the morning air. Winter walked next to him with Waking Cloud close behind "Daniel has prepared everything for your departure, but Joshua Graham wishes to speak to you before you leave Courier Six" Waking Cloud said.

Six gave a nod but did not tear his eyes away from the beautiful vista "I know that you wanted to leave, but you should know that Zion will always be home to you… both of you, please consider it and thank you, thank you so much" Waking Cloud said as she hugged winter and received a half hug from Six.

"They say that Follow's Chalk has not been seen, had a fight with his family after you talked with him" Winter commented as she rested her head on Six's shoulder, Six wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer "I only told him to follow his dream, that was all"

A comfortable silence descenced on them but Six decided that he had to brake it "Let's go find Joshua and see what he wants… but before we go, do you really think that Waking Cloud means what she says"

Winter tilted her head "What do you mean?"

"I would not mind making this place my home, when all is done" Six commented as the bandaged man came into view, not allowing Winter to voice her opinion. Joshua said nothing at first, but he placed a hand on the shoulders of each of the outlanders and said a small player for them "… and keep them safe on their travels, amen"

Six gave him a nod and extended his hand "Thank you Joshua, I know my word is not much but I promise that Caesar will not hold the Mojave" Joshua chuckled "Your word is more than enough, but I think I can help with that" placing A Light in shining darkness on Six's hand he gave a nod.

"May God help you on using it wisely" Joshua said, and then he turned to Winter "I can't thank you enough, Daniel seems most pleased that the Sorrows where untainted by my cold vengeance… and I thank you for making feel a little bit more peace in my soul, there is not much I can give except this" Winter held the scripture in hands and nodded in appreciation,

And with that small exchange the duo waved and left Zion, the wind getting warmer and warmer as they returned to the Mojave Wasteland.

A/N: Honest Hearts is finished. Thank you so much for your support, honestly I cant thank you enough. I am really looking forward to the next chapters as we get deeper into the gran political power play that is the main quest. I don't think I will touch the DLC anymore until much later in the story, but other than that thank you for reading and if you will excuse I will see for myself if Fallout the Frontier is as bad as they say. See you around!