.: I should have updated last week, but the hard drive to my laptop decided to die. Luckily, I did not lose this chapter or else I would have had to start all over. While I'm unsure when the next chapter will be finished, I can confidently say that I am still on track with the plot of this arc and I am hoping for something truly unique. This might be the best arc of this entire story! :.
The Girl with A Half-Soul
Chapter 36:
Lonesome Dove
Leaving at the crack of dawn meant setting out as soon as the sun peeked. So, when the Straw Hats awoke to leave, it was still dark out. Suddenly, the regret of not getting another hour of sleep seeped in for Aurilee. She lay on her back on the bed with her knees bent off the side. The weight of everything inside her womb pressed deeply against her organs, making it harder for her to breathe. But she did not care. All she wanted was to not move.
After sliding his boots back on, Sanji came over. "It's time to go, Aurilee, my love!" he cheerily said to try boosting her morale.
She groaned and did not budge. In addition to being tired, she had to admit she was also hurting. Her back and the sides of her belly were really feeling it. "I don't wanna get up," she replied with a dramatic strain in her voice.
"Aw, I'm sorry." He stood between her knees and peered over her belly. "But we gotta go find the Wendigo so we can get you home. That's the most important thing."
"But I don't wanna get uppp."
"You can do it. Here, I'll help." He offered his hands for her to take so he could pull her up. Reluctantly, she took them and let him pull her all the way. It was not a hard task for him. Once she was up, he praised her. "You did it! Good job."
Having all the weight off her diaphragm allowed her to exhale with relief. But then her pain registered for her, and she was back to being wimpy. She slumped her head forward so it would touch his chest.
Sanji felt himself wanting to react adoringly. Why did she have to be so cute like this? He tenderly brushed a hand down her hair as he thought about how he could convince her to get moving. Certain things were hurting her motivation, but that was okay. She got a pass. "Think about it like this," he explained while holding her against him. "All you have to do is walk down some stairs and walk down the street. Then you get to sit on Chopper's back the rest of the day. It's not that hard."
"Oh, poor Chopper," she moaned. "He does so much for me."
"He hasn't complained about it once. Don't you worry about it." He then pressed the hat he got her yesterday against her scalp. It was his indication that they needed to catch up with the others. "If I could do his job for him just so I could spend time with you, I would."
She pouted as she lifted her head off him. "You're too nice to me."
"There's no such thing." He straightened her hat for her while he smiled at her warmly. "Have I told you how pretty you look today?"
The compliment stirred the melting pot of her hormones. Her pout quivered. It was too early in the morning for this! "Sanjiiii," she whined.
He giggled at the banter going on. Sometimes females were easy to tease. Whether it was her personality or their established relationship dynamic, he found himself amused by her reactions. There were no hurt feelings. She was just too shy to accept his flattery despite bathing in it. "Aurilee, Baby," he spurred endearingly.
She brushed her fingers between where his denim jacket revealed the yellow floral shirt underneath. "I like this color on you," she complimented back.
He laughed at how sudden her attention was snatched. Her cuteness was accelerating because of it. Little did he know that it was an attempt to both keep him distracted and keep her emotions in check. His blush proved how oblivious he was to it.
Fine, he would entertain her for a second, but only a second! How could he resist her when she was like this? Okay, fine, make that two seconds. Or three. Or four. His hands naturally caressed her roundness as he felt his heart flutter between his blackening lungs. She realized that if her stomach was flat, he probably would have held her close. Arms around her lower back, gaze softly meeting hers just as it was right now. And that smile of his…The corners of his lips just barely curved. It mesmerized her to the point where she forgot how she got here.
Wow, she thought.
The cook realized he got her full attention by the gesture. Not that he was intentionally baiting her, but it was a good opportunity to finally convince her to move along. "Ready?" he asked, brushing his hands over the top and giving her littles a gentle pat.
She felt herself sway from the fawning. "Y-Yeah."
"Then let's go." He grabbed her bag and weapon for her and left the key on the desk as instructed by the inn keeper. The pair caught up with the others. They were back to renting cattle, but some were more careful with the riding arrangements than others.
Zoro helped Robin mount one so she could get settled. Then he hopped up behind her with the intention of looking out for her in case she started feeling weak.
Damn that Moss Head! Sanji internally cursed out of jealousy.
Nami mounted one by herself and felt Luffy get on behind her. Since they were going for possibly multiple days, he wanted to be near his navigator.
First the fridge, and now my Nami Swan?! Damn you, Luffy!
While he saddled up Chopper, Sanji kept his guard up for someone to steal Aurilee from him, too. Usopp was the only other candidate capable of it. But since Usopp had common sense and was not girl-crazy, he mounted the third cow by himself. Sanji wanted to throw his hands above his head and celebrate. He could be in Aurilee's presence for the whole day now! Unable to have all three females riding with him meant that this was the next best option.
After she took her place on the saddle, he hopped up behind her. Chopper looked back at them both. "Do you have to ride, too, Sanji?"
"Uh, I kind of wanted to," he admitted.
"I'd prefer you ride with someone else, or else my back will be hurting by the end of the day."
He suddenly panicked that he would be stuck with a male rider once more. "You let Luffy ride with her yesterday!"
"I know, and he squirmed the whole time so I'm still feeling it today! Cut me some slack."
"Team back pain," Aurilee sarcastically cheered to keep them both from arguing with her stuck in the middle.
Sanji moaned in disappointment as he slid off Chopper. He was so close to having a nice time only for it to be foiled! It was not fair at all!
A little lantern in the distance had been steadily getting closer to the group. It was Rip coming to fetch them, but he had to make sure things were in order first. "First things first," he began. "Y'all got rations and water?"
"Some," Nami answered honestly. "Probably not enough."
"That's alright. There'll be rivers for water resupply and opportunities to hunt. What about weapons?"
The three revolvers they had taken from the train robbers were held up. "We got no ammo," Usopp claimed.
"Oakley and Butler do. Now, some ground rules. Respect the Lun'aecho land. Anything on it and living on it belongs to them. If you earn their respect, you'll be allowed to hunt. So don't show hostility. We already have a relationship with them, but you don't. A bad first impression won't get you very far."
"Do we let you do most of the talking?" Robin asked.
"That would be best, but don't be afraid to talk to them. They'll probably be most interested in you specifically." He looked to Aurilee momentarily for that second sentence.
"Anything else?" Sanji questioned as he unwantedly pulled himself behind Usopp in the saddle.
"We're gonna be moving a lot of horses. Me, Ware, and Billy are gonna be leading the drive. Y'all stay in the rear with Oakley, Butler, and Jen. Don't spook 'em, and don't fall behind because we won't wait up fer ya."
"This isn't the first time we've traveled like this," Luffy bemoaned out of boredom. He was not one who had the patience to sit through a lecture. He wanted to get a move on already. "Let's go!"
The sun finally touched the horizon to turn the black sky a deep violet. Dawn was making its arrival. Rip decided that nothing else had to be said, so he turned his big brown cow to head back to the where the Wild Westerners had slept for the night. While following, the backs of the remaining buildings in Boom Town were passed. It was impossible to not recognize Bessie the longhorn feeding from a manger of hay.
He stood behind the jailhouse completely unbothered. It was not until they were able to see the other side of him that they saw Garrett was there to see them off. He stood with a cigar in his mouth and a hand tucked in his belt. Robin was the one who halted to acknowledge him. "We're heading out, Sheriff."
"Y'all goin' to the ranch?" he asked. He may have sent them away, but he did not expect them to stick together.
Her smirk showed toward him. "Actually, we're heading to Lun'aecho territory."
Finding that out surprised Garrett once more. He stared up at the renowned Nico Robin as she slipped a pair of sunglasses over the bridge of her nose. The swordsman sitting behind her watched the exchange with an austere expression.
"I know it's been a few decades, but Tonto is more than likely still out there. I'll pass a message from you if you'd like, depending on if we meet him," she continued.
Zoro raised an eyebrow. He clearly missed something because he had no idea what she was talking about. "You know one of the Lun'aecho?"
Garrett did not answer him right away. It was sort of a long story from a long time ago.
The hesitation amused him. Why was the big bad sheriff embarrassed by the information? "Why pass a message when you can just come with us?" Zoro rationalized.
He almost let the cigar fall out of his mouth. After kicking them out of town, he was still met with kindness. Anyone else in their right mind would have threatened violence or pulled a gun on him. Pirates were especially not fond of Marines, so the fact that they were still being so cordial with him dumbfounded him. These Straw Hats were the strangest people he had ever met.
"Come on, Old Man," Zoro prompted. "You need to get out of this town for once. It'll still be standing by the time you get back."
Robin lightly chuckled as she picked up the reins to get her black cow moving again. It was Garrett's decision alone for if he wanted to come along with them. Listening to Zoro was quite revealing of his character, though. He was not very welcoming of her arrival for good reason, but nowadays they were just fine together. It did not take much to get on his good side. He did not have much reason to keep Garrett on his bad side anyway. The swordsman was just not one to hold grudges by the looks of it.
While their group trotted off, Garrett thought about things. It would really suck if Tonto was around and he missed him. A part of him always wondered where life took him. He ended up alone and working a dead-end job. It was a little embarrassing. The Navy may have left him, but Tonto had his people. There was no reason why they would not accept him after he helped restore their borders. A part of him always hoped he had found happiness.
He gritted his teeth. What did he have to lose? He said it himself. He was working a dead-end job. And Roronoa Zoro was right when he said Boom Town would still be around when they got back. It might be weird to be around them at first, but if those two were kind, it was possible that the other crewmates would be, too.
Alright, he would swallow his pride again. He threw a padded spread over Bessie's back and quickly threw together a saddle. That was when he realized he needed to pack a few things for the trip. By the time he came out of the jailhouse and locked it up, the sun showed half of itself. Over in the nearby pasture, Ware had successfully rounded up the massive troop of horses. Billy transformed into a bison and signaled for the drive to begin.
The horses kicked up dirt, but Oakley and Jen kept them together. It was a large range for Ware's limits, so the others had to help keep stragglers together. In bigger predicaments, Butler could step in with his powers and wall in the horses. He appeared to be floating in the air, but in reality, he was riding on the back of a glass heifer he formed. Many rainbows would be cast onto the ground as the sun arched over them.
Garrett picked up the very back as they traveled, tying that signature black mask around his eyes to protect them from sun and weather. Zoro glanced over his shoulder. Bessie was so large that it was impossible to not notice the newcomer. So, he decided to join after all.
Whenever things were calm on the ship, the Straw Hats were either relaxing or finding things to do. The Going Merry was their home. They had personal items to use and tasks to finish. Well, that did not apply out on the frontier. Sightseeing seemed repetitive and slow. Out of everyone, Luffy was bored the most. They were all stuck with butts growing numb, the breeze blowing past their ears, and teeming impatience for when they would enter Lun'aecho territory.
This would be the perfect time to have a musician! Play some music and sing some songs to help pass the time. Luckily, Luffy was not the only one who was feeling a little antsy. Since she was thwarted last time, Jen decided to make a move again. She trotted her blonde cow around the side of Usopp and Sanji's. "How ya doin' back thare, baybay?" she questioned without looking back at them both.
"Huh?" Usopp replied as he looked at the back of her head.
"'Cuz ya outta be up heer awn Momma's lap, but thaat's awlright. It's okay."
Sanji immediately leaned sideways to look at her. Did he hear that correctly? His flirtation senses were tingling. "I'll sit in your lap, Jenny Bee!" he affectionately obliged with a heart eye. Anything was better than being stuck behind Usopp at this point. And if she was offering, yes please!
The nickname instantly offended her. It was "Catastrophe Jen." Who did this guy think he was? She looked back at them to see it was the wrong pirate replying to her, which explained itperfectly. "No thanks," she bluntly said, turning away from the lovesick cook.
He instantly dispirited from the rejection…and then realized something. Was she talking to Usopp?! What kind of backwards attraction was that?!
Over on the left side, Luffy was laying on his back perpendicular to the cow. His groan was one of many he exhaled from being bored, and it was starting to get on Nami's nerves. "Moaning and groaning won't get us there any faster, Luffy," she told him. But she had to admit, her fishnet stockings were starting to get uncomfortable as they squeezed against her thighs. Still, though, nobody heard her complain about it. Aurilee probably had to pee bad by now, but she stayed quiet, too.
"I'm bored! This is why I want a musician in the crew!" he protested childishly.
Oakley chuckled from her side of the drive. "We got a singin' cowboy back at the ranch, but he didn't come on this drive."
"Does he have one of those weird guitar-looking things like the hillbillies use?" Luffy asked out of curiosity. They were very circular and made sounds just as twangy as their accents.
"Nope. Just a regular ole guitar."
"Why doesn't Aurilee count as a musician?" Zoro asked while trying to mask his sarcasm.
She looked at him from Chopper's back. "Huh? I can't play any instruments."
"Yeah, but you've had your pipes cleaned."
Both Nami and Aurilee gasped simultaneously. "ZORO!" Nami sharply chastised with disgust.
"What? What did he say?" Usopp asked a little worried.
Aurilee just started laughing. "Okay, you're not wrong, but why do you assume I'm the only non-virgin within like a mile of where we're at?"
Suddenly Usopp was glad he missed the punchline. "And why is it now normal for us to hear sex jokes every day?" he asked with an unimpressed tone.
Sanji scowled. "Hey, if I hear one more joke about Aurilee–"
"If she can make jokes about something, so can I!" Zoro argued.
"No, you can't!" Sanji argued back.
"I think it's funny!" Aurilee confessed with a chuckle.
Nami groaned and brushed a hand over her face while Luffy giggled at how his friends acted like siblings. Chopper shook his head while casting a gaze at Robin as she remained quiet. Surely the yelling was giving her a headache, which was not good in her recovery process.
Jen and Oakley made eye contact across the backs of some horses and found themselves trying to hold back laughter. Poor Butler was sort of caught in the middle of the pirates' antics, but he kept his focus in front of him and tuned out the noise. He was always a man of few words. People who did not know him well mistook his silence for annoyance. Even Oakley had to learn that about him once upon a time.
She purposely closed the gap between the horse next to her and her cow so one more body could join the troop. Then, she locked her target and kicked back to launch herself. At first, she appeared to be falling, but her powers activated to prevent it. A warped trajectory made her glide into the air like the most lissome gymnast. She was watched with admiration all the way until her speed slowed and she lightly sat behind her man.
Wearing a skirt meant both her legs had to dangle off the same side. Because of that, Oakley could easily rest against Butler's back. Her frizzy curls scrunched against his shirt and the side of her face felt his warmth through it. It was comfortable and familiar for her, acting as a break from working. This would be fine for a few minutes. Midafternoon was passing by anyway. It would not be long until they stopped for the day. She would help with those preparations when it was time.
Sanji could not help but get jealous from witnessing the stunt. He had a lady go to him! Not the other way around! And it looked so easy, too…
"Why get a musician when y'all can just sang?" Oakley questioned the group.
"It's not the same without music," Luffy claimed while his arms dangled past his head. "I miss Jolene!"
"There's gotta be somethan' that can help pass the time for y'all."
"What do you guys usually do?" Nami asked.
"Nothin'. We enjoy the ride."
The navigator recognized the beauty within the rolling prairie. There was lots of grass and patches of flowers. No trees. It was odd that they escaped the desert for this, which showed a stark difference in rainfall despite being on the same island. Not much wildlife aside from the occasional critter that quickly ducked into a burrow. Maybe it was because the natives protected their territory, but they had yet to encounter anyone that disturbed the peace. The mixture of cool air from the prairie and hot air from the desert was perfect for storms to brew.
"Although, we are taking a route we don't usually take," Oakley added. "So…usually more happens."
"Do you think we'll find the Lun'aecho today?" Robin inquired.
"Oh, yeah. Definitely. They always seem to know when new people come 'round. Not sure how, but they come across as having a hand in the occult, so it kind of makes sense."
It was weird to think that they already knew they were here. They were destined to be intercepted, huh? Well, Aurilee decided to get a better understanding of how the Wild Westerners were so familiar with them.
She brushed a hand over the back of Chopper's neck and requested him to move to the front of the drive. He slowed a little so he could slip behind Usopp and Sanji's cow. After that, he galloped past Jen to head up. Aurilee held onto the saddle with one hand while the other kept her hat in place against the breeze. Back was straight to keep from losing her balance. A smile crossed her lips as memories of riding Luna in a similar fashion were met when the same sensations reminded her of her childhood.
Rip looked to his right when they both arrived. "So if the Lun'aecho keep to themselves, how is it you guys have a relationship with them?"
"They're good people," Rip answered matter-of-factly. "They aren't afraid of interactin' with those of us on the outskirts. Many people trade with 'em. But they're careful since not everybody can be trusted. The biggest reason why we're on good terms with 'em is because they helped me, and I'll always be indebted to them."
She thought about what that was implying and probed a bit. "You said you only know about the Wendigo because of them. What's that about?"
The cowboy's solid build with a beard and sunglasses underneath the stetson hat made him appear like one of the toughest of the tough. The truth was that he was only tough to keep people from walking all over him and to be a leader. He had a soft side to him. The wedding band on his finger was evidence of that. Unfortunately, being transparent about his weak moments disparaged the persona he put forth.
Only the Wild Westerners and his wife knew about this part of his life story. It was not easy to recall because, frankly, he felt like less of a man back then. "I was plagued by nightmares and anxiety after I escaped that island," he started. "I couldn't sleep. I couldn't eat. I couldn't work. So, I was implored to see if the Lun'aecho could help me somehow. They're always making medicines and offer remedies for illnesses. I went despite not being physically sick."
Both Chopper and Aurilee thought the description of his troubles sounded quite familiar. It especially resonated with the expectant mother – being so ravaged in a mental war that it steals the will to live. In that moment, she felt so understood and validated.
"I had to tell the medicine man what had happened and what I saw. Nobody understood, but he did. I came face-to-face with a demon. Since it resembled an animal, they identified as the Wendigo and explained that it was the type of demon that possessed humans. Since it failed to hunt me down, it cast a curse on me, hence my ongoing issues at the time. He gave me some herbs and put me through cleansing rituals to 'dispel the curse.' I had to go back a few times, but I got better after a while." He looked back to her and the reindeer. "Does that answer yer question?"
"Yeah," she answered simply.
And that should have been the end of it, but it turned out Rip had his own question. "Is yer dadday a man possessed by a demon?"
Aurilee thought for a moment about how to answer. The man he encountered was not the same one she knew. "Not possessed, but…definitely cursed with a blessing."
The way she worded it held so much mystery to his confrontation. The Wendigo never got to him, but the suspense of not knowing when it would wander by him really screwed him up. How could something like that be considered a blessing?
Ware suddenly pulled his reins to halt his cow, which caused all the horses in his wake to do the same without anyone bumping into each other. Billy, Rip, and Chopper also halted. When they all gazed up at the hill ahead of them, they saw heads pop up. In the back of the drive, the others were not expecting the sudden pause. Jen, Oakley, and Butler were quick to tell the pirates to stay put while they headed to the front to check what the hold up was. Oakley remounted her steed and galloped with Butler's glass heifer in tow.
At first, Usopp and Nami were nervous about how alert they were, but they eventually caught on with what was happening. What started out as a couple of heads rising above the curve of the hill became a dozen, and then at least two dozen, if not thirty. The spectacle intimidated them since it came across as an ambush. But there was no charging toward them. Instead, the people calmly arrived until they reached the pinnacle of the grassy hill and were able to see the entirety of the horse drive that had infiltrated their frontier.
At the very back, Garrett was the only rider who kept moving. He was finally given an opportunity to catch up. His relief was briskly swept under the rug when he noticed they had company. They were several yards ahead, but he knew exactly who they were. And he could not help but notice the person in the very center of the row wearing a big feathery headdress full of bright colors. Even the biggest idiot should get the idea that it represented power and authority.
Luffy sat up and squinted to see for himself. "Who're they?"
"The natives, obviously," Sanji answered.
Zoro had questioned if they had more sense than cowboys did in terms of how they got around places. Surely the Lun'aecho actually rode horses. But Usopp extended his goggles over his eyes to magnify the scene. All he saw were bison! They looked just like Billy's beast form with his devil fruit, so there was no doubt in his observation. He started laughing at how even more ridiculous Lone Star Island was. "Not horses!" he revealed as he kept laughing and looked at the swordsman. "You owe me a cola!"
He rolled his eyes, but a bet was a bet.
Robin watched through her tinted lenses how the center of the row began moving down the hill with both sides following. It created a point like the tip of an arrowhead, and it was aimed directly at the front of the drive. Something about knowing Aurilee was up there got her disobeying the Wild Westerners. She had the cow her and Zoro were riding start moving. "They're about to see Aurilee," she communicated as she straightened her back and started to hasten the pace.
The others looked to each other and wondered if it was okay to accompany them. There were many unknown factors going into this seemingly simple situation. It was supposed to be just let the Wild Westerners greet the natives and explain why they had brought foreigners with them. If they came up looking like a threat, it could muddy the waters. Still, though. A second row of people following the first doubled the number. The unknown of what was to come got apprehension rising in them. Garrett found himself playing catchup again as he picked up the rear of the crew.
Chopper felt Aurilee stiffen and grip the saddle tighter. The Lun'aecho were not moving fast, but they had outnumbered them when it came to humans. If intruders were upon them, she expected only a small group to come. This was already more than what resided in the tribe on her small island. And the closer they got, the more she thought she recognized them. Her shock had her pull the hat off her head.
Billy turned back into a man as the leader wearing the headdress came to him. They were recognized. Ware kept his powers working to keep things at ease. Rip relaxed in preparation for conversation that was bound to spring up. He had grown personal relationships with these people since he had to stay in their home multiple times for treatment. They had accepted him with open arms and continued to do so today.
Aurilee watched as the rider positioned to the leader's left departed from his side when they leveled out from the hill. He initially was going to greet Rip, but then he noticed her instead. And he was not the only one. Her sight was full of a variety of people who shared her skin complexion, and their faces reminded her of ones she saw as a child while she spied from the treetops since she was unwelcome. And what truly took her breath away was noticing the moons painted on their foreheads.
The person who had changed his mind was a Lun'aecho man with flat black hair that hung past his waist with braids bordering the sides of his oval face. Three eagle feathers were clasped to the back of his head, and they swayed with his movements. The blue moon on his forehead waned, a step away from a full moon. It matched the color of his coat, which was open to reveal more proof of mutual trading between their people and others interacting with them. Their clothing resembled things that cowboys wore. There was a tan vest with a brown patterned shirt underneath. Some kind of blush pink garment was tied around his neck with a silver plate pinning both ends in place. His legs were covered by a pair of leather chaps with a visible belt holding both of his halves together. A perfectly crafted bow with animal skins and feathers adorning it shared space on his back with a matching quiver.
He entered her frame so elegantly despite his bison being so hulking and grunting. Aurilee found herself rapt by the Lun'aecho man. A man as handsome and coarse yet so tactful in the simplest of actions had not caught her eye since Pilan had all those moons ago. He looked to be a couple of years younger than Robin. His face was clean-shaven, eyes turned tawny against the sun, and his parted lips revealed minor gaps in his teeth. He was a stranger, yet she felt like she already knew him.
Just as much as she was looking at him, he was looking at her. It was normal for the Lun'aecho to wear clothes that were considered non-traditional, but her skin was showing a lot more than what was considered okay. And she was not riding a bison like she was supposed to. The only thing he could recognize was the bow and arrow on her back. It was like she lived in two different worlds, which was quite odd. The Lun'aecho stayed within their agreed boundaries and did not assimilate with outsiders. Yet, her pregnancy projected just that. She was someone so out of place and alone.
That did not mean he did not find beauty in Aurilee. The atypical aspects of her appearance made him wonder if she was out here of her own fruition, or if it was forced upon her. But that was absurd of their culture. This woman was very mysterious indeed.
When he began circling her, she found herself surrounded by more Lun'aecho. They were not giving Chopper much breathing room as he was forced to listen to their bison grumble. Aurilee was unsure if she should have felt frightened by all the curiosity. Many men and women wanted to get a closer look. All Lun'aecho were familiar with each other. This was the first one they had ever considered to be an outsider, and it amazed them.
The Straw Hats saw how Aurilee had gotten swarmed in a matter of seconds. The natives were separating her from the group. It was harmless, but it painted a bigger picture. Sanji's mind started reeling at the mere thought of her being in danger. What if they were trying to steal her because they thought she had been stolen from them? Getting close to the scene did not clarify anything.
Billy formally greeted the chieftain with a "Howdy" and exchanged heartfelt words. They were friends and had been for many years. Apparently when their drive had entered the territory, they already knew it was his group judging on the massive size of it. But the chieftain noticed the extra bodies and had questions.
"They're the Straw Hat Pirates," Billy noted. "They wanna know more about yer Wendigo."
The unique intention did not seem to faze the chieftain at all. Outsiders entered their territory always wanting something. Land, game, and resources were the most common. His people always had to fight for what they had. The vilest sought to steal things like their culture or their women. If these strangers wanted to know about some of their folklore, it was either out of respect or to take from them.
Before the chieftain responded, he noticed the massive longhorn towering over the backs of the horses. It was so tall that the rider's legs looked short as they dangled down the sides. But what truly caught his attention was how he wore white. His psyche wanted to negate the possibility of his past catching up to him, but he could not just shake it off. Without addressing Billy properly, he threw himself back on his bison and galloped around to see if it was true. Billy confusedly watched but did not oppose.
Garrett saw that the Straw Hats had stopped, and then he noticed how that feathery headdress he pinpointed a couple minutes ago came rounding the swarm of bison. It consisted of a collection of bird species with down covering the quills that stuck out from a crown of intricate woven thread. The decorations of beading and more feathers framed the native's painted face. His forehead adorned a full moon, and many white lines swept diagonally across his face. When they both made eye contact, Garrett realized he was coming to him directly, so he pulled Bessie's reins to stop.
The chieftain came right to Garrett's side and looked up at him. Then, he removed the headdress from his head to reveal the silky black hair underneath. He was becoming an old man, so some gray was visible, but its texture remained just as glossy as when he was in his prime. The paint on his face could not mask the age marks and wrinkles.
Something about how he uncovered the symbol of his pride made Garrett's nose itch. He decided to follow along by removing his mask.
"Is that you, old friend?" the chieftain asked.
At that moment, Garrett almost choked up. He thought back to the day they had parted ways back when they were both youthful. They had finished establishing the final leg of the Lun'aecho's new territory after they were seized by greed. It marked the end of their partnership. His native companion had taken his bison up a sharp precipice of desert soil and gave Garrett one last gaze. He had lifted his arm to wave farewell, and disappeared after he returned the wave. Now that Garrett was facing this chieftain, he could see it clearly now. So many decades had passed, but it was him.
"Tonto," he identified with suppressed joy. He really did not want to cry, but it was hard to keep it together.
He laughed from the happiness he felt about their unexpected reunion. They had certainly aged, but that was the only difference between then and now. The Naval crest on his white vest told him that he still worked for the World Government. As for Tonto, he was now the leader of his people. He extended a hand, and Garrett leaned over to reach beyond for his wrist. "You haven't changed a bit," Garrett joked.
Tonto glanced over at the swarm that kept rotating around Chopper and Aurilee. Some filtered out but others remained because of their piqued curiosity. At first, he wanted to beckon his son over since he was hovering, but instead, he wondered what could have been going on. "Sam," he called.
The young man who had ridden by his left side heard and broke away from the swarm. He passed the Straw Hats are they continued to watch Aurilee. She was immersed in the attention that they did not interfere like they had thought they had to.
"What's happening?" Tonto questioned him.
"There's a woman," Sam answered. "She looks Lun'aecho."
Garrett decided to give more intel since he knew a little bit. "She's with the Straw Hats. They brought her here from outside this land."
Tonto narrowed his eyes from skepticism. He wanted to see for himself, so he went. The others did not hesitate to make room for their chieftain once he approached. The gleam in Aurilee's eyes withdrew when she noticed his presence. Suddenly, the Straw Hats were on edge again.
Chopper could sense uneasiness and decided to find out what was going on. He started whispering to the bison who carried Tonto. "Is that guy important?"
"He's Chieftain. Your girl interests him," it explained from experience.
Well duh, Chopper wanted to reply. It was not like they were surrounded by the natives so badly that he was feeling claustrophobic.
Tonto found himself agreeing with his son. This woman, if her genetic abnormalities were ignored, certainly fit in with the Lun'aecho. Nothing about her seemed familiar, though. If she had been exiled, he would have remembered her. If she had left of her own accord, word would have gotten back to him eventually. But no such thing had occurred. There was only one way to know for sure if she lived up to the apparent bloodline. "Do you hunt?" he asked.
She blinked and nodded, although she wanted to admit that she was out of practice, so her skills were lacking.
"Then come with me." He turned away so she did not have a chance to refuse.
Unsure, she looked down at Chopper, who happened to also look up at her. "Should I?" she asked him.
"You won't be alone, luckily," he comforted her.
She smiled. "That's true."
He started walking to be free from the swarm. Tonto recruited a few more people to join them, including his son, and they started heading out in a different direction than where the horse drive was pointed.
"Hey! Where're you guys going?" Luffy called out.
Chopper slightly turned so Aurilee could reply. "Going hunting!" she called back.
Luffy knew exactly what that meant. "Have fun! And bring me meat!"
"Wait!" Sanji called with worry. What if it was a trap?
"I got her," Chopper assured him before continuing onward. There was no way he would risk Aurilee's safety. She was in good hands. As their group fell out of sight, the Straw Hats were left wondering if this meant their friend had been accepted by the island natives.