Struggle, But not Alone

Ch.9

Happenstance

Pov: Arthur Morgan

Here we go again…

It had been an hour or so since our temporary alliance began, and I was already feeling on edge before it even began. Griffith, as he called himself, was not some shining figure as he put himself out to be. And then Dutch goes along with it anyway! I said we'd be with him, I know I had said that. But we were digging in a pit we had fallen in before, legal or not!

And the situation for Guts only got worse after the deal was struck. His blood loss had made him grow too cold, and it was agreed that Casca would warm the boy. Intimately. Probably the worst thing since his life is now solely in her hands-. Or, well… Body.

None of our gang can go in there now, and Guts to have a woman get naked over him…

Well, maybe that would be a win for him given his age, but-.

Truthfully, what did I know? Dutch made our choice, and we all agreed with it. Now we just needed to last till the boy got better.

Meanwhile, I was on my way to meet with the watchman for the current shift.

Pippin was his name,

Probably a small kid. I swear, the whole idea of a mercenary group of young-ins is unsettling.

On the edge of the camp, I looked out into the once welcoming Forest. Only with it now being dark and cloudy. Not even the moon could shine in our shared little clearing, and the breeze was chilling. Made me wish I had my jacket on me when I had passed away. Would have had a whiskey with me in its pocket, and that would have warmed me up more.

Taking it as it was, I walked the perimeter of the tents. Looking for the mystery man, passing a couple of others on guard. I asked to no avail. Both had said, "Further along, you can't miss him."

When my search had come to an end, I learned they were too right! Resting on a fresh stump was an enormous figure. He had broad shoulders, giant muscles, and a stoic face. He was almost a direct image to the giant Guts had slain earlier that day. Strange seeing two in one day.

He hadn't noticed my approach, so I called out to the behemoth, "Hey there, you Pippin?"

He wasn't started and turned his head slowly to me to nod. I smiled, "Great, so I guess I was told to help you watch. I'm Arthur by the way. Arthur Morgan."

Again, the man only nodded.

So I walked up close to where he was looking out, keeping myself a few feet apart. I waited for orders that never came, making for an awkward silence. I scratched under my chin before asking,

"Need me to watch any spot in particular?"

"No, the others have it taken care of."

Good, he's not mute.

"Then, uh… What do you think of our alliance? I know it's kinda short notice."

He didn't answer right away, and answered simply, "I trust Griffith."

And that was all he needed to say. He was much like Charles, looked strong, was strong, and a man of few words. And there ain't nothin wrong with that.

The silence became less strange, and brought along calmness. Looking at the dark, it was always enrapturing, the same with any campfire. Only problem was that one can stand to look at either for so long before their eyes hurt.

I reached into one of my pockets and pulled out a series of firm paper I received from a saloon some time ago, 52 poker cards.

I shuffled them in my palms, wondering if the man would be interested to play a hand of blackjack. Or did he even know the rules? I had seen some of the men playing cards.

Settled my thoughts to just call it an assumption and ask.

Right as I was going to, the tiny blonde girl came along with a small skip on her step.

"Hi, Mr Eagle, and Mr-... Eagle? Wow! First time I've seen two in the same spot! I knew I made the right choice to follow you."

…Eh?

The farce had gone on long enough for my taste, and no sense dragging the friendly giant in our conundrums.

"Listen, Sonia, you can't just call random people you just met as animals, birds, or whatever. Some may not take kindly to that, you know?"

Of course I had to deal with the consequences of shooting her down like that. Her face became sour and saddened.

"Oh. Sorry, it's just-. Well, I don't know how to explain it, but… I've only seen the same thing in people for so long. Everyone was cold. I don't know, but when I saw Shoe-. I mean, Bill and Javier, that's their real names, right?"

I nodded, now regretting blunder for bringing something so visibly troubling for her. For Sonia's sake and Pippin's for having to be bothered by it. But he showed no visual reaction to the name.

"Yeah."

"Well, I've always been only really able to see people as birds. And sometimes I can get the names by looking at them, other times, I just see a bird in complete mystery. And… Most of the villages I've wandered too have stayed away from me because of it. But Bill and Javier weren't afraid, I approached them and they weren't afraid by my naming."

A small laugh escaped me,

"Well, until you popped up again."

The small girl shook her head, "No, even then it was different.."

I sighed as I got to Sonia's level, "Look. Maybe it's just the approach? I'm not saying you hide your ability, just don't make it the first thing. Warm them up to it then they might be open to that power of yours. Don't let it define yourself."

She thought for a moment and smiled brightly again, "Ok, thank you, Sir Arthur!"

Well… A step in the right direction, a hundred more to go in her case.

Sonia wasn't done, as she asked her own query,

"Now that I think about it, How come none of your band was frightened by my power anyways."

I smiled, "I think living as long as we have, we have seen and done stranger things than coming across a little girl that sees us as birds. I mean it's not the first time I've seen a power like that, even today. There was a woman that saw us in lights and shades of colors at that castle we fought at. Without that power, she would have been blind."

"Oh! Well I can see you in colors too, just that your birds. Your head is all glowing white."

My head tilted, "I mean, sounds like you're describing what we call a 'Bald Eagle.'"

She gasped, "That's it! The name right on the tip of my tongue, I said bald earlier too! Didn't I?"

A grin came across my face as my head straightened up.

"Yes, you did. It's my country's national bird, found in every state I hear."

"State?"

"Eh, that's a topic for another time…"

I moved the cards in my palms to remember what I was trying to do. And we just so happened to have another player now.

"Do either of you know how to play Poker?"

XXXXX

Ok, now this is the biggest regret I've made all day…

The only good thing about this was no money was currently involved. If it was, I'd have to rob a bank or two to settle any debt I acclimated. Sophia was a natural at the game, and Pippin played along too. He only won the first one, but steadily lost to Blondie.

Pippin didn't mind, but sweated each time he believed he had the right hand.

Only this time she had a royal flush, and like each time before, Sonia asked, "Did I win?"

"Yes, girl. You won again. And I'm never going to play against you with money."

"You can play with money?!"

I scratched at my ear from the sudden screech, "Yeah, and you're too young for that."

She gave a solid "Humph" While crossing her arms.

Having enough defeat for one night, I started gathering the cards when I saw John and that Rickert kid coming towards us.

"Here comes trouble."

The Giant and the girl looked at them and Sonia smiled, "Hi Fal- Uh, I mean, John!"

"Hey, Missy. I'm here to relieve Arthur of duty-."

Before he could speak any further, a loud crack could be heard some ways in the forest. Followed by another. While the three Midlanders were trying to understand the sound, John and I knew what it was. Gun shots.

I drew my Cattlemen, and Arthur drew his Colt. We looked into the woods, not seeing any movement. Realization hit me as the sound was distant. Maybe a couple of miles out, close enough to warrant inspection to the noise.

Looking at John, he looked at me. The two of us were in agreement to find the source as quickly as possible. Taking charge I told the children, "Wake the camp, and stay here."

The boy was confused by the whole thing, "What was that snap?!"

"Gun fire, couple of shots. Someone could be hunting... Or killing."

He paled, "Do you think it could be one of your countrymen?"

Shaking my head I could only muster a, "I don't know."

Sophia clearly didn't understand the situation and stepped forward, "Let me go! I can find them quicker with my ability!"

"No! We don't-!… Them?"

"Yes, I can see a few figures. But they're hard to make out from this far away. But if I get closer-!"

"Out of the question! Gun fighting isn't like sword fighting! Anyone could pop out of a corner and shoot either of you kids. John and I will move in, Pippin you alright backing up a couple of newcomers?"

The stoic man gave a nod as he hoisted up his metal spiked ball club (Morning Star), and John shared the same action. We moved to the dark as I re-establish my orders, "Get help and stay in the camp!"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It had been five minutes of the three of us running in the dark of the night, calling out any hazards in our way. Roots and steep hills could kill us if we weren't too careful.

All the while, so many thoughts ran through my mind. The primary thought was of others from our world being here. Would it be friends, or enemies? Whoever they were, they were armed. And we couldn't afford to not hunt them down.

Another shot rang out and reminded us of the danger we were running too. Only now much closer, maybe three hundred feet away. It was enough to get me to halt our pace. Looking around, there was no light anywhere, no fire that I could tell. John and Pippin saw the same.

Without a word, I motioned them to move in closer. They did so, and I only spoke then and in a hushed voice, "No talking here on out. Spread out a little, but stay in eyesight. We don't want to fight them if we don't have to, so tread softly…"

Our mouths were sealed tight, and I motioned them to follow my lead. Picking the same direction we were heading, only now we took our time from cover to cover behind the trees. The feelings of dread grew each time we were exposed in each passing, and we were having no luck. Then another shot was heard, not even twenty something odd steps away.

I gave our party pause to listen. It was a pistol, and a cry was heard a loud, "Where are you Bastards?!"

I didn't recognize the voice, leading me to believe we weren't the only group here. Contrary to what Dutch believed in his penance.

His voice was followed by another shot, followed by one that came from elsewhere. And the unknown man was no more, as the sound of a hit was heard and a gurgling of blood in his mouth put him to rest.

The others were close by, and by this point, our eyes had adapted better to the dark to see our faces. Each we're anxious, but ready to move in.

I drew my own pistol and motioned us to resume again, walking slower than before. Our gaze scouted the dirt, and quickly proved fruitful as I spotted a revolver on the ground in front of me. Moments later, I saw the hand it belonged to slumped in the ground.

My hand reached down to the side arm to investigate when I felt a cold tube to the back of my head. No orders were needed for what I did next. I dropped my own gun on the ground and sat up easily.

Without thinking, I called out to my captor, "Take it easy, we mean no trouble."

After a short silence, the man's voice wasn't what I was prepared for, "Arthur?"

The sound brought me to a time of pain, one that I had accepted and moved on for a while now. There was a man on a roof running ahead and being gunned down by a couple of Pinkertons. A man that had been just as close as a brother as John…

I refused to believe it! I had seen and touched the wounds! I saw his last breath from this world!

… No, the other one…

Faith… Could I trust in that now? I wanted it so bad, to believe my friend was alive! Knowing myself, I never asked if he was here, and now?...

I had to look, and I did.

My eyes adjusted to see the face, and it was him. Lenny! He had on that light gray suit and his orange bandana, that same outfit he died in.

He lowered his gun smiling, "Arthur! Am I glad to see you! We were worried when we didn't find the rest of the gang when we woke up!... Arthur?"

It was then it started raining, at least I thought it was. Here he was before me, and I wanted it. Yet receiving it… I knew I didn't deserve the answer.

No longer having control, I grabbed his shoulders, "Lenny!"

He was shocked by the action but casually laughed it off,

"Yeah? It's me. Oh was it cause I was dead? Yeah, I felt the same when I saw Sean."

Twice… Twice I had been shot, "S-sean?!"

"Yeah, Arthur! Are you good?"

"No-. I mean, yes-. I mean-!"

I couldn't take it, I let go and almost fell on my knees. And my lungs hurt like crazy as my breathing went out of control. I was happy, yet it didn't feel real!

"Arthur! You alright?!"

I felt anger at his concern for me, like I was dying,

"No I ain't alright! Can't you tell?!"

"Hey! Don't yell at me! You're the ones that barged in in this mess! And-! He isn't one of ours, is he?"

My body regained control when he stopped yelling, and I asked,

"Our guys?"

"Yeah, the man you just looted."

I shook my head, looking down at the corpse. Nothing came to mind from his outfit,

"No, he ain't with us."

Lenny sighed,

"Someone popped off shots at our camp all of a sudden, and whoever it was ran out here. And when I found him, the mad man was firing off in all directions and I wasn't gonna ask why.

John made his move from the shadows to look at the body, Lenny lifted his gun before I pushed it down, "It's John."

"Really! Then someone's gonna be-."

Marston didn't let Lenny finish,

"He ain't one of ours."

I asked, "Recognize him?"

"Maybe. His outfit looks familiar… If so, we gotta problem. A Rat kind of problem."

My face seized up in anger.

Micah! Should've known no good thing lasts!

"Then was he alone?"

Lenny thought for a moment before answering me, "Not sure, I mean it was one shooter. Sean's out here too, and-."

A loud crunch was heard behind us, I saw Pippin struck with his weapon into a tree, between it was pieces of someone's head. And the dead man's arms were out stretched with a rifle aimed at us.

The body fell with a light thud, followed by a stream of gun fire coming from deep in the woods. It was rapid, quicker than a Gatling Gun.

One shooter?

Yelling followed the blasts, "Keep away from our camp! You sneaky-!"

Another barrage happened nearby, and Lenny became fearful again, "That's Sean!"

"Lead the way, Lenny! And take that rifle with you Pippin!"

He looked down and grabbed it and stuck with us as we ran to find the boy. Lenny took a small note of the giant and asked as we ran, "Uh, he a friend of yours?"

"You could say that. Let's just say us and another gang happen to have what the other needs at the moment. Pippin is alright."

Lenny gave a sly remark to the stranger,

"Well it's good to have help in some way."

The huge man gave no response to the claim.

Up ahead, an outline figure stood behind some trees, breaking cover every so often to fire whatever gun was in his hands. He had on a dark colored suit, with what looked like a green bowler hat. Hair peeking out from under the cap came down to his shoulders.

It was enough to tell me who it was! Sean.

And I would have cried at the thought of seeing two miracles happening before me, but the fight we now found ourselves kept me from acting out foolishly.

"Sean!"

Lenny called out to the Irishman holding down an unknown number of attackers. Sean looked ahead and smiled, "Lenny! Glad you could make it! And you brought help I can see!"

"Yeah! Arthur and John!"

The kid had to double take as he looked in the dark to see us better.

"Really?! Bright luck you ran into us!"

The meeting was momentarily cut off when a bullet hit a nearby tree, and we all took cover as Sean laid it into the woods with his gun again.

Getting a better look at it, it was smaller than I expected for the noise it made.

It fired faster than that mounted crank gun, but it only had one barrel and two grips. The first grip near the stock had a trigger, and the other was near the front. Made for control of the fire rate perhaps? And I saw a metal circle drum underneath with its flat face aimed towards the direction of the barrel of the gun, placed in between the grips.

As Sean finished another sweep with the weapon, I heard a click I knew too well.

"I'm out of ammo… Y-you wouldn't happen to have .45, would ya?"

I sighed, "I do, and I wouldn't put it in that 'Glutton' if you begged me! "

A hail of bullets blasted out our direction as we covered ourselves more with some return fire. I asked over the noise,

"Where did you find that thing! I don't recall you dying with it!"

Lenny spoke up, "So it's the same with you guys then?! Yeah we got it from Pearson!"

John asked,

"Pearson?! He's here too?! It can't be!"

Of all the things to not shock him tonight, this one did?!

"Am I missing something, John?!"

"Arthur! He was out of the 'game' and alive when I died!"

I rolled my eyes at his reasoning,

"Alright, John! Well, let's clear these guys out and you can find out why!"

The shooting stopped all of a sudden, and a question rang out from the otherside of the fight,

"John? Arthur? Is that you?!"

His voice was mocking, angry, and familiar. I couldn't quite put who it belonged to. It definitely wasn't Micah.

A friend of his perhaps?

John beat me to the punch, "Joe! You should have stayed dead!"

Joe… Dang Nabbit!

"Funny you should say that, John! Considering you're here, and that other fella too! Micah talked on and on about Arthur! 'Black Lung,' he called him! Hardly met him, and here you both are! Looks like we aren't the only ones in Hell!"

My lungs sucked in a deep breath at the name, and breathed out knowing most of what he said was true. But was it really Hell?

I put off the thought and called out to the Rat's "Side Girl", "Speaking of the Devil, how's your lover doing?!"

"Hah! Wouldn't know! Ask John! Maybe Micah did him in!"

I looked to my brother to see if he was certain. John simply said, "Nope."

Accepting his word over a Rat kin, I called back out to Joe, "Didn't ya hear?! Ya died four years ago! Same as I was over a decade! John won!"

The woods lit up with fire again, coming at us from the same general direction. From what I could gather, there were a good amount of them ready for the kill.

As the other side paused to reload, Joe yelled out again,

"Face it! We have you outnumbered! I have over forty men with me!"

I lightly laughed at the claim, "Maybe twenty!"

"Still more than you, and that machine gun is dry! We're already in on you!"

"We already got a couple of your own!"

"Two?! Oh, so you got Cleet?! Then you did us a favor! We came out here to get some payback for him selling us out! If you didn't kill him, we most certainly would have! As for the other, rest his soul again!"

I checked my guns as I tried to deter the fight again,

"I'll kill you, Joe! You may get all of us, but we will kill you and a good number before you kill us!"

"...Maybe so! But I have an itch to kill that son of a bitch! So do all of us! Little John will die!"

Speaking of, John suddenly moved from cover with Pippin behind him, he whispered in a panic, "We got horses coming in!"

We turned around to see a light rising out of the dark, moving in on us. And with it came the thunderous sound of hooves striking the ground as it came near.

It could be the rest of the Hawks, or it could be reinforcements for Joe. I gambled for the former, "You hear that! That's our men! And they are well over a hundred!"

"Liar!"

"You have anyone else out here?!"

A pause from his side told me he was thinking hard, maybe enough to hurt himself in the process. Then he answered clearly, "You win this round! but we'll be back! John has a debt to pay!"

We waited for any retaliation from his side, any russel of grass, any snapped twig. Only the steps of fleeing men could be heard over the encompassing thunder of the cavalry closing in on us.

Taking time to look, I saw the armor of a bird leading other men welding torches on horseback towards us. Dutch was with him on his own mount, and Sonia was seen on the ride with Griffith.

I sighed in relief that my bluff was true, and looked to the younger men who raised their weapons.

"Relax, they're with us."

Lenny sighed as he holstered his gun, "That's a relief."

As the posie came near, I waved my hands up, "Over here!"

The girl pointed us out and the horses started to speed up before coming to a halt twenty steps away. Sonia was the first to dismount and ran towards us, and I noticed another figure rushed out from the men. Rickert, both the kids clearly ignored my orders to stay in camp!

At least they brought help. Can't be too harsh.

Sonia came over and jumped excitedly at me, "You're alright!"

My feet stayed firmly planted as the kid hugged my waist. Though my pride fell a little, "Yes, we're alright. Now you mind telling me what you're doing here?"

She beamed a smile, "I told them I could find you. And I was right. Wasn't I, Griffith?!"

The said Hawk leader strolled up with his stallion, helmet still on his head and smiling as he answered, "That she is. Forgive me for going against your wishes. I couldn't refuse such assurance in one's own ability."

Boy is arrogant, but he came through… I'll forgive it, this time.

Lenny leaned in and asked, "Since when were you friends with medieval knights?"

Griffith chuckled, "Were far too common for that title I'm afraid. We're mercenaries."

Sean and Lenny shared a look with Arthur and John, hoping for an explanation.

I scratched the top of my head as I spoke, "Dutch can explain this better. That alright?"

Dutch didn't answer right away, he was on his ride looking down at the two men. It was almost like last night, a regretful look at the two of them. If he felt guilty about John and I, then he had to have felt a little of the same kind with them.

Lenny and Sean did something similar to what I had done to the old outlaw and looked at the old man in awe. Such a change in one they once followed was a shock to them.

Van Der Linde broke the chill in the air,

"As much as I would like to ease you into our predicament, I'd like to take care of the issue of who you were fighting."

John answered, "It was our old pal, Joe."

"... Anyone else?"

"He had a group of men with him, couldn't tell you how many with it being so dark. With all the flashes, I'd say a couple dozen at most."

Griffith asked, "And yet you were fighting that vigorously? What do you make of it, Pipin?"

"... He's right. Death was in the air, and I didn't see any of them. Except one that snuck up on us."

He held up the rifle belonging to the man he killed. Now within the light, I could tell the make. It was another Lancaster! In decent condition too. And as the giant held it up for Griffith to see, he tried handling it off to me.

I still needed one. I told myself, "Not yet."

"Keep it for now. Just make sure the barrel is aimed at the ground for the time being."

"..."

Pippin looked at the weapon with concern, but lowered it by his side.

Meanwhile, Rickert was observing the holes made by the bullets in the trees and putting his hand over the torn bark. He spoke out to no one in particular, "Terrifying…"

There was no fear in his voice, more of a fascination. And more so when he came across a younger tree that had fallen. It was probably torn up in Sean's ammo waste. And Griffith saw this too, along with the men with him.

And as fascinating as this was, we had two other pressing matters to tend too. The existence of Joe and his men, and the other camp. I chose the latter as priority number one.

"Lenny, your camp was attacked by-. Well guess it was Cleet, but attacked nonetheless. Where is it?"

He looked around at the newcomers, visibly wondering if they could trust them. Looking at me, he gave in, "Alright, follow me. Sean, go on ahead and tell them we have company. Don't say exactly who just yet, we don't want a… situation."

Situation?

"Say no more laddie, I'll let her know."

"Sean!"

"Right! Sorry!"

Her?...

One person came to mind, another, and another… Not much to go on, and I wasn't about to count my chickens.

"Well Lenny, since you like surprises, we'll keep some to ourselves for the time being."

He smirked, "Fair enough, but I think you'll like mine..."

End Chapter