A/N: I usually save these little notes for the end of the chapter, but I am jazzed to announce nearly one thousand favorites, and over one thousand followers. Somehow I've convinced a thousand people and change that this is a good story. What a bunch of fools we all are. I can't thank you bastards enough for all the support, especially those that have been along for the ride since chapter 1 a year and a half ago. It's both humbling and intimidating at the same time. But enough jerking off, let's ride!
Edit: Thanks to Wombag for reminding me that I had forgotten the birthday party! I was so focused on the fight that I forgot a whole segment of the chapter!
Chapter 24
Arthur knelt down in the dirt, his eyes examining the various depressions and markings with critical care. His mark was somewhere close by, going off of the witnesses and the history of reports in the area. The prints he was currently tracking looked like they belonged to a horse, albeit a very large one. The prints were easily three times the size of the ones that Famine left behind. The trail had gone on for a while, and he had also found a few old arrow shafts that had fallen from the creature.
Arthur was hunting a creature of Grimm. The creature was very rare; there had only been reports of a few in all of Remnant's broken history. His client had even suggested that they were all reports of the same creature, but some of the stories had ended with the creature's demise. Still, the presence of arrows from old wounds indicated that this thing had terrorized Mistral's villages for quite a while. Arthur pressed the dirt next to the imprints, gauging their age by how compacted it was. The soft earth yielded to his touch, indicating that the prints had been made within the past day or so. Older prints would have hardened dirt and been partially worn away by the weather and activity from travelers and animals.
"Hmm. A day ago, maybe more." Arthur muttered to himself. The outlaw stood up to his full height, his new armor clicking as he moved. Tai had mentioned getting some new gear at Ruby's birthday party a couple months back. The man himself only had some elbow guards and a shoulder pauldron, but he also had almost a dozen stories about how the armor had helped him out. Arthur had always gotten by in America by firing first and being the first one in the gunfight to make contact, but the rules were different in the Kingdoms. The people had Aura, allowing them to shrug off the first few shots, and the Grimm were far more resilient than the animals back home. Even the most enduring grizzly bear couldn't hold a candle to an Ursa. So Arthur had taken Tai's advice and grabbed some light plates. Black, slanted steel covered his shoulders, angled downward like three large scales each. Some golden engraving decorated the pauldrons, courtesy of some extra cash from the SDC. His knees and shins were protected by a pair of slanted guards that ended at the tops of his boots, making his movements a bit stiffer but giving more protection and allowing him to kick a little harder.
Not only had Weiss Schnee directed extra funds here and there for Faunus support, but she had provided him with steady jobs as well. Sometimes it was escaped criminals near Faunus work camps, others it was a Grimm incursion near a community that wasn't quite as protected as it should have been. Of course, with the White Fang still attacking SDC convoys and taking every advantage they could, her support wasn't as stout as it could have been. Faunus support was gaining criticism of its own in the wake of the White Fang's activities. He could only imagine how things were going domestically.
Arthur stood up with a sigh, shifting his rifle on its sling. The Deal Breaker sat in the middle of his back, its metal barrel cold in the winter air. He had given up on his wolf furred jacket and bought a more modern style coat, a black wool garment that covered his gun belt but kept him warm. Dutch had once worn a similar coat, but kept his gun belt on the outside. His rifle made drawing the Peacemaker a moot point. The winters in Mistral tended to be mild, but there was always a possibility of a sudden storm blowing in. The first time he'd dealt with it, Arthur had been forced to hole up in an inn and almost lost his mark, had the man not decided to do the same. Luck could only be lamed that they had chosen the same inn.
The outlaw let his eyes roam slowly across the ground, trying to find the path that the creature had taken. He'd been in this area a few times before, his first time when the Branwen tribe had attacked the White Fang. He hadn't seen any of Raven's band of cutthroats, but they were clearly still in the area. Fortunately, bandit camps moved frequently to prevent the Kingdoms from coming down on them hard. At least, the ones that survived did. He kept his ears open even as he followed the trail slowly, his gloved hands wrapped tightly around his rifle. The prints led down a path that eventually wound up in Kuroyuri, a failed village in the Mistralian wilderness that fell a decade ago. Grimm were often attracted to such dismal sights, but Arthur wasn't about to bet that the town was the creature's destination. The stories of a terrible Grimm in the area were older than the village itself, so it was far more likely that the village had been built within the creature's territory.
Now that he had the creature's pattern down, Arthur was confident that he could follow the trail from the saddle. Slinging his rifle, the outlaw mounted Famine and clicked his tongue, ushering the horse along the path. Arthur kept his eyes on the trail and its surroundings, looking for other signs of the Grimm's passing. Famine would let him know if something was coming at them; the horse's instincts were never wrong. Just as he expected, the large hoof prints ignored the path that wound through the trees, meandering through the forest with no real direction. Keeping his horse on the trail, Arthur traced the Grimm's path with his eyes, watching keenly for any deviation or change.
This method of tracking continued for almost a mile, the creature's path winding through the forest and up a large hillside. The path narrowed, but thanks to the size of the monster he was tracking Arthur was sure that Famine could make it the whole way. Turning around would be tricky if they were ambushed, though. To his left, a sheer drop off fell eighty feet down to the forest below. On his right, there was nothing to grasp onto save for a few sparse footholds. The rock face was flat and unhelpful, and made things tricky if Famine continued on. Still, if he left the horse behind and the creature returned to its lair behind him, both Arthur and his trusty horse would be in a bad spot. Even with how fresh the tracks were, there was always the chance that the Grimm had circled around or gone hunting. He'd learned similar patterns with the Giaguaro Panther in Lemoyne, and knew better than to think he was immune to flanking. Even worse, Grimm were reported to learn as they grew older, with the ancient ones being almost sentient. This creature had been around for at least fifty years, maybe more if some legends were to be believed.
Arthur had only heard the name once before, when Jack had been asking about a book he'd read. It was a monster from a fairy tale, something about a guardian of the forest. Arthur hadn't even pronounced the name right either, but of course Hosea knew the legend.
"It's from Europe, a couple of different countries share the legend. A forest guardian to some, a terror to others. I believe the name was the Nuckelavee." Hosea had said, happy to distract the two from their traumatic and morose lives in America. A fond memory now, but it gave him at least a vague description of the creature, since the Grimm on Remnant tended to match old fairy tales. A strange mixture of man and horse, often described with long arms. It had a benevolent legend in some places, but that obviously wouldn't come into play here. Arthur had never seen or heard of a friendly Grimm, and he doubted that one existed. From their very nature, Grimm thrived upon and actively sought out human emotions like rage and sorrow. A benevolent creature of Grimm went against all of that. Not to mention all of the old arrows he'd pulled out of the ground that had fallen from the beast.
Arthur dropped down from Famine's saddle, drawing the Peacekeeper and keeping his free hand wrapped in his horse's reins. The path widened a little, but only so much that Famine could turn around if he reared up. If the Nuckelavee attacked from its lair, Arthur could spin Famine around and engage as the horse fled. If it came from behind, he would have to risk pushing the horse further in and hoping that there was another exit. Not the soundest strategy, but the only choice he had without another fighter. Having Summer or Sienna along would give them the ability to keep Famine safe and scope out the area, as long as someone was there to protect their quick escape.
As the path grew closer to the center of the hill, an arching opening began to swallow the mid day light as it turned into a cave. From what he could tell, the cave remained large even as they passed through the opening. It curved gently to the left, sloping upward slightly as it came into a large chamber. When he looked around, Arthur could smell the odor of stale blood, already rotten and old. He knew it well. The outlaw lifted the lantern from his saddle and lit it, favoring its more natural light as opposed to the flashlights and lanterns that relied on electricity. He had some of those too, but preference was everything.
The light of the lantern revealed what Arthur feared; old blood stains on the floors and walls of the cave, discarded and rusting weapons left over from the victims of the Nuckelavee. Whether they had died in the cave or somewhere nearby mattered little, but it meant that many had tried to kill the creature before Arthur. He wasn't normally one to back down, but that many people failing unnerved him. The outlaw stooped and examined an arrow, its head made of cut jade and intricately carved. He considered his surrounding s for a moment, then decided to investigate further. There was a whistle of wind in the air, and that could only mean another entrance.
With Famine's steps echoing off the walls, Arthur had to wait to pick up the direction of the wind. In a hairpin turn from the entrance, another passage ran for a couple hundred feet. The light from outside blinded Arthur for a moment, and he stowed his lantern as he came upon another entrance. This one led out onto a path that led straight down the slope, and in the distance Arthur could see the dilapidated remains of what he assumed was the village Kuroyuri. The sight of it was solemn, reminding Arthur not for the first time that even though he was thriving in it, Remnant was no paradise. Not everyone in the world had been through the things he had, learned the lessons from his mistakes. And sometimes, even though he cursed it, Arthur had to admit that he had just been lucky.
"Looks like this thing ain't home." Arthur muttered, earning a resentful snort from Famine. He sent the horse a glare, then pulled the reins toward the second entrance he had found. Now that he had something resembling a game trail, Arthur could plan his next move. Whether he was hunting an elusive panther or a legendary Grimm, the same rules applied. Find its territory, observe its movements, and ambush it. He had some Dust meant for explosive use as well as a few traps he could lay. With so many people having fallen to the beast in the past, he was gonna need to pull out all the stops for this one.
Given that the weapons had been lying there for some time without being retrieved, it was safe to say that Arthur was the first living human in the cave for some time. That meant he could get a little extravagant with his traps without worrying about collateral damage. A few well placed stakes in the ground allowed a rudimentary tripwire, and he had ordered some fuses from Atlas just for situations like this. A container of Burn Dust and the fancy detonator were connected to the trip wires at each entrance, and he made sure to include a secondary charge in the center of the cave. The idea was that the tripwires would set off the larger explosive that was inside the cave and force the Nuckelavee out. If it was as big as he was guessing, he would need to fight it on open ground.
Gravity also worked in Arthur's favor. The beast was definitely heavy, and if he could throw it down the embankment or off the edge of the cliff, it would save him a lot of trouble. Grimm didn't have Aura, and couldn't heal from wounds like humans and Faunus could. He'd much rather fight a crippled Grimm than a whole one.
A larger than usual bear trap was a little harder to hide, but there was an old tarp that he had bought to cover it with. Arthur placed it just on the inside of the path he'd entered from, on the other side of tripwire. He gently covered it with the tarp, which was a similar color to the rock around it. As long as the Nuckelavee wasn't too smart, he'd have the advantage.
It took Arthur half an hour to get all the traps set up and armed the way he liked, and the sun was starting to descend. He had time for a late lunch before he'd start trying to find the creature. Like all Grimm, he expected that this one would be nocturnal as well. That it wasn't here now suggested multiple hideouts, but he had a feeling this was its main territory. Now, the only thing he had left to do was sit and wait, and keep an eye out in case the beast found him first. Arthur moved several hundred yards away from the slope that went up the miniature mountain, banking his fire within a sunken depression. Using a perforated fire cover, he limited the amount of light that would come from the camp, then set to work making dinner. By the time the sun set, he would have a nice fire-grilled venison steak ready to go.
With the fire stoked, Arthur leaned back against a log and pulled out his scroll, swiping through to the pictures. He had his landscape shots from Argus and Menagerie, but more recently he had taken a few at Ruby's birthday party. Introducing John's family to Summer's had been a real hit, and it had been nice to relax without worrying about someone crashing the party. The outlaw smiled ruefully as an image came up of young Ruby blowing the candles out, Yang and Jack both cheering with equal fervor. Jack was still new to birthday parties, and he had been to the moon with all the presents and games that the girls showed him. It had almost felt like it was more for Jack than it was for Ruby, but the young girl had been just as glad to have Jack over as the little boy was to be there.
"Happy Birthday!" Everyone cried in unison, painting young Ruby's cheeks crimson. Summer and Arthur both snapped pictures as Yang slammed the first wrapped present down onto the table next to Ruby's giant cookie cake, demanding that her present be opened first. Arthur had laughed heartily when Ruby tore into the wrapping paper like a rabid Beowulf, and she held up the newest video game for their home console.
"Oh, Yang! Super DC versus Epic Seven! You shouldn't have!" Yang preened under the naked praise, but the satisfied smirk on Tai behind her said that the older sister had help picking the present. Arthur's gift had been simple; a gun belt made of black leather and silver metal with loops for the rifle rounds she was so fond of. Instead of a holster for the pistol she didn't carry, Arthur had gotten extra magazine pouches and a small silver cross. The little reaper had jumped for joy when she saw the gift and thanked the outlaw profusely.
After the cake was cut and presents opened, the kids took off to play some games and have fun, leaving the adults in the kitchen. They would have moved to the living room, but the TV was loud and Tai had to guard the alcohol just in case Yang got adventurous.
"Jack looks like he's really enjoying the party." Tai commented, opening a beer and handing it to John. The scarred man offered it to Abigail, then sipped from it when she declined.
"Yeah, Jack never really had friends his age growing up. We were moving around so much, there was never much time to take him into town. I hate to say it, but that boy has only ever been around thieves and killers." John grimaced. Abigail looked ashamed too, but thankfully Qrow was there.
"When Ray and I were growing up in the tribe, there weren't a lot of kids. Just a bunch of angry or drunk adults that beat us for getting in the way. Looking at the kid," Qrow interrupted himself with a long drink of whiskey, "he's a lot better off than we were. Don't beat yourself up about it." John gave Qrow a long look, processing what it must have been like for him growing up. Finally, he lifted his beer in salute and grinned.
"Yeah, I guess the boy didn't turn out so bad. Thanks to his momma, anyway." He nudged Abigail next to him, and she waved off his praise. Arthur watched the two go back forth for a while, a small smile on his face as he did so. Summer saw his expression turn forlorn and decided to cast the spotlight on him again.
"So Arthur, what are your plans now? I know you turned Oz down, and the whole White Fang thing didn't pan out. What is it that awaits Arthur Morgan?" She asked with a grandiose flourish, making the outlaw in question give a short bark of laughter.
"Right now? Drink a beer and take a break for a minute. It seems like every time we turned around in America, something was wrong or about to go wrong. Between Pinkertons, the O'Driscolls, the local law," Arthur gestured at the scars that ran down John's face. "Even the local wildlife hated us. No, I don't have any plans at the moment. Ozpin gave me that bounty clearance, so I figured I'd travel a bit and see where it takes me. Still have some folks I'm good with all over, maybe I'll visit friends." Summer eyed him slyly, then decided the answer wasn't good enough.
"Nothing else? Not even going to visit a certain Faunus named-"
"Finish that sentence Summer, and I'll tell everyone here the reason the Murfrees were able to catch you." Arthur stated plainly, following his threat up with a sip of beer. The woman wisely shut up, her pink cheeks telling the others present that it was quite a tale indeed.
"Y'know, if you're gonna be hunting bounties, you might want to think about some armor." Tai suggested, taking the focus off of his wife. "Not full plate or anything big, just some hard stuff to save you some pain here and there."
"You know someone around here that I could ask? I ain't exactly accustomed to that sort of thing." Arthur admitted. Tai gave him a bright smile and tapped his shoulder pauldron.
"You think I just bought this in a shop? I've had to teach my students how to protect themselves, so I've gotten pretty good at making and finding armor. Just let me know what you're comfortable with and I'll make it happen." Arthur saluted him with the beer and then grabbed another bottle, watching as Jack and Ruby chased Yang through the living room. Apparently, the blonde had run off with Jack's controller, and Ruby was helping the boy get it back. A happy memory for all, and something he could actually feel good about for once. Shaking his head at the kids' antics, Arthur popped the top on his bottle and took another drink.
Arthur grinned as he remembered the party, and how hospitable Summer and her family had been. Hell, Ruby and Yang had heard Jack call him Uncle Arthur and had taken to doing the same, and he wasn't sure how he felt about it. Family had always been a sore issue after his poor luck and poorer decisions, but at the same time he found himself wanting more of that life.
Moving from the pictures, Arthur opened his music library to play something from the scroll's tiny little speakers. There was a whole genre simply called country, and it had a few good tunes that he could nod along with. Some of the newer stuff just sounded like complaining with a guitar in the back, but anything to keep his mood up would work. According to all the Grimm experts, a good mood was camouflage to the beasts. As his scroll began to play from its tiny speakers, a somber guitar began to strum.
"An old cowboy went riding out, one dark and windy day..." Arthur hummed along with the tune as the singer told the tale of a cowboys' epiphany, chewing on a stalk of grass as he prepared his dinner. As he cooked and listened, the light gradually faded from the sky, shrouding the forest in darkness. All he had to do now, was wait.
After so many weeks locked up in headquarters, Sienna was ready to kill someone (preferably Adam) when Kali invited her back to Menagerie. The official reason was to discuss the White Fang's continued relationship with Menagerie in the wake of the more violent actions, but Kali had also insisted on a little 'girl time'. The last time Sienna had agreed to that, she'd woken up in Ghira's bed with Kali draped all over her, the man himself squeezed onto the couch outside. Definitely a surprise, that woman.
"So, how are things at headquarters?" Kali prodded, pouring a glass of wine and handing it to Sienna. The tiger sighed and took the glass begrudgingly, knowing that the married woman would only pester her further if she abstained. Seeing her friend agree made Kali chuckle victoriously as she filled her own.
"A headache. If I didn't know any better, I would say I'm herding a group of particularly antagonistic cats instead of leading a Faunus Rights group. If they're not fighting among themselves, they're all trying to come up with the most dastardly plan to get revenge on the humans once and for all." Sienna took a suffering swig of her wine, rolling it around in her mouth a moment before swallowing. Red wine had always been a weakness, even if she preferred the harder stuff. There was a reason Arthur carried bourbon and moonshine around with him, and it wasn't for the taste. "The only good news is that I've kept Adam hospitalized for sixteen consecutive missions. I'm sure he's seething under all that plaster."
"Oh? How are the others taking it? I'm sure all his supporters are sore that he's been put on the bench that long." The unasked question of Blake was apparent, and Sienna rolled her eyes. Still, couldn't begrudge a parent for caring for their child.
"Despite my best efforts, there are some within the White Fang that still visit him in the medical ward. I can't forbid them without appearing suspicious or overly hard on him, and unfortunately the ruse of training him for further leadership is starting to wear thin." At this point, Adam had spent so much time in different casts and plaster that he had the world's worst tan lines. A small satisfaction in the face of what he had done to the White Fang.
"You still hold him accountable for Cain's death?" When Sienna choked on her wine in indignant rage, Kali held up a hand. "Not that I think he shouldn't be punished for it, mind you! But your grudge against him is starting to be noticed by the other members. Don't let him rob you of more than he has." Kali coughed into her hand, reminded once again that she did not have the power to breathe wine. A useless Semblance to have in any other situation besides the one she found herself in. After a few more hacks, Sienna cast a beleaguered look towards her friend.
"I know you're not suggesting I let things go? Kali, he's the one that turned us down this road!" Sienna hissed. Her friend weathered her anger with closed eyes, gently sipping the wine was a satisfied smile.
"Not entirely. Remember, you had the option to denounce him and defend Mr. Morgan, and you abstained to preserve the White Fang. It was either lose it entirely, or allow the organization to change into what it is today. Extortion and kidnapping in the pursuit of equality." Kali's tone was entirely judgmental, and Sienna was wondering where exactly she had kept this sharp tongued side of her. Usually Ghira was the intimidating one. "And now, much like when you were vying for my husband's seat, young Taurus is gaining popularity. Especially since many of the old guard have left."
Sienna made to offer a retort, but could only bite her tongue in the face of the truth. She had heard whispers among the new recruits and the former Outlanders, demanding why they did not enter open war with the Kingdoms to seek justice for the Faunus. Anyone with a brain knew that direct conflict with any Kingdom would spell the end of the White Fang, but their recruiting base had changed. No longer were they looking for level heads and resources. Thanks to the new direction the White Fang had taken, recruiting focused less on people that would make calm, rational decisions and more on any Faunus angry enough to pick up a weapon and fight. It had been a difficult choice, but the direction the White Fang had taken forced her hand.
Anyone that would have been recruited during Ghira's time would undoubtedly steer clear of the White Fang now. While it was generally accepted that the media was under the thumbs of those with money and influence, the countless videos and victims of their actions started to add up. Sienna knew things would be this way before the incident at the Schnee mansion, and it was precisely why she had preached caution along with their actions, rage tempered with wisdom. Because once the White Fang started down this path, climbing back up again would only be possible with total victory.
"I...may have let things get away from me." Sienna admitted quietly. Somehow during her deliberation, her glass had mysteriously been drained. Kali was perfectly happy to refill it, of course. "I was just so angry with Adam after what he did. Killing Cain and casting Arthur out would have earned him an execution if I'd had just one shred of proof. Instead, I was faced with a mission failure and would have been seen defending a human when one of our own had been killed. Any claim I'd had to leadership would have been shredded in the resulting riot."
"See, I knew you didn't let it all happen. Ghira suspected some inner workings when we heard about it, but ultimately it is still all up to you." Kali leaned forward and placed a hand on Sienna's knee. "I'm not saying forget what Adam did. I shudder to think that my daughter is so smitten with such a boy, but I'm afraid my warnings have fallen on deaf ears. Why, at this point Blake hardly speaks to us at all. But you must remember that he is simply one man. The future of Faunus everywhere could depend on the White Fang, and you're letting your grudge with Adam tarnish it."
"So what do you propose I do? I can't discipline him without casting suspicion on myself, and I can't ignore it and remain sane. What's next, slip poison into his dinner?" She had meant it as a joke, but the thoughtful look that crossed Kali's face worried her.
"Obviously you know the situation better than I do, but I think your biggest issue is how your treatment of Adam looks to the others. The boy himself is well aware of why you're acting the way you are, and he no doubt knows that he will never be trusted with anything above his station. So why not let him earn the ire of the others, instead of leaving them to wonder why their leader hates the rising star? Because let me tell you, this animosity is only doing him favors." Well, not entirely. If she kicked his ass any harder, there was no telling how badly his posture will be a few years down the road. Still, Kali spoke wisdom, but Sienna would have to come up with a way to expose Adam for the manipulative little shit that he was.
"But enough talking shop!" Kali slapped the table, jostling it slightly. Judging by the red tint on her cheeks, she was feeling the wine. "How's Arthur doing?"
Sienna glared at her friend suspiciously, amber eyes narrowing as her ears flattened.
"What makes you think I'm keeping tabs on him? For all you know, we haven't spoken in months." Kali giggled at the deflection, causing Sienna to growl and sip her wine. Or at least, she would have had she not run out. Where was it all going?
"A little kitten told me that he was up in Argus a few months back." Blake. Of course it was Blake. Somehow the teenager had perfected distancing herself from her parents while simultaneously enlightening them to every scrap of gossip in the White Fang! "And apparently you where the first thing he asked about. Sounds like someone made an impression."
Sienna made to answer and cut down Kali's foolish thoughts when she stopped, realizing only now just what the real purpose had been for this meeting. Kali had talked about the White Fang and gotten her nice and loose with the wine, then started asking about her- a man. Friend. Whatever.
"He asked the White Fang agent, who also happens to be a cat Faunus, about his cat Faunus friend who is in the White Fang. I can't imagine why I was the first person to come to mind. It must be love." Sienna snarked sarcastically as she reclined on the sofa, swirling her wine irritably. "I'm on to you, Kali Belladonna. Don't think you can get me tipsy and start gossiping!"
"Oh, such baseless accusations! But surely that does make you feel good, right? I can't think of a woman that doesn't like being admired." Kali looked down at her left hand, massaging her ring with her thumb. "Has he ever married, do you think?"
"Once, and from what I understood it was more for the benefit of a child than actual love." Sienna sipped her wine. "Both the woman and the boy were killed by bandits." Kali winced at that, looking crestfallen and actually regretful for the first time in the conversation. He always seemed so crestfallen whenever someone mentioned kids.
"Oh dear. He'd told me he'd had a son, but Arthur said that sickness had taken him. How sad." Kali's finger circled the rim of her glass, her expression pensive. "That must leave some scars on someone, don't you think?" It did, if his confessions back on the boat to Mistral were anything to go by. What she could remember of them, anyway. They had both been pretty emotional then, and the drink had flowed freely.
"He's far from a normal man. His past has made him wise and jaded, but that doesn't stop him from being a self-sacrificing ass. If anything, I'd say he has a death wish. He's just too stubborn to actually die." Sienna chuckled dryly. "And there was a woman once, but she didn't seem to impressive to me. Not really someone worthy of him." Kali gasped at that, and Sienna realized what she had just said. Dammit, she'd revealed drama to Kali, the person that fed off of the stuff more than anyone else!
"He told you about his past love?! Oh, that is so sweet! Well, by all means, share." The married woman set her glass down and leaned forward, resting her chin in her hands and her elbows on her knees like a drunken schoolgirl. Which was only half right. Sienna sighed heavily and sipped her wine, suffering through her friend's curiosity.
"Alright alright, settle down." She rolled her eyes. "There was this woman named Mary. Apparently, they'd been sweet on each other before Isaac was born, but Mary's family hadn't approved. He'd held on to the wandering outlaw lifestyle, and she'd been forced to move on. When they met again, she asked Arthur to save her little brother. They almost had a chance, were it not for his sickness and the destruction of his gang. It really hurt him when she sent his ring back. Such a small thing, really..." Sienna's eyes drifted off, remembering when she had discovered the small piece of jewelry in Arthur's saddlebag. His eyes had held such pain when he'd looked upon it, but he'd never made any plans known to return to America. If anything, he was happier here. Mary had given up on him in the last letter he'd received from her, and Arthur wasn't the type to try to force a relationship. Not after what had happened to the last woman to get close to him.
"Oh, that is so sad! He always seems such a joking man, if maybe a little sad." Kali gushed. "I never knew just how much he'd been through. But what was so bad about this Mary character? You don't sound impressed with her." Sienna scoffed and sat her glass down, more than indignant at the mention of the tart. It wasn't fair to judge someone she had never met, but the image she got from Arthur's sad recollection did not paint the woman in a good light.
"She knew what kind of man he was from the word 'Go'. To ask him to change so much put him through so much needless pain, and then she discarded him like trash in favor of some well born aristocrat to satisfy her father. Clearly, her family's opinion meant more to her than Arthur ever did." Just talking about it caused her anger to flare. How dare some high born arm candy treat a man like Arthur in such a way? She'd seen him sacrifice and fight for people he barely knew without request or payment, and she knew that he would fight even harder for a family. Anyone who thought otherwise was simply wrong, period. And now that his gang was dissolved, Arthur was a family man without a family, it seemed. John Marston's family and the White Fang had been the two most important things to him on Remnant, with Summer's family taking a distant third. And even after they had kicked him out and accused him of murder, the outlaw still kept tabs on them for her sake. Such selflessness would have been wasted on a woman like Mary Linton.
Her expression must have reflected her thoughts, because Kali couldn't suppress the giggle that escaped from her. The laugh put Sienna on the defensive again, and she snatched her glass up from the table and guzzling it dry. This time, the blush on her face had nothing to do with the wine.
"Alright, I won't bother you anymore about everyone's favorite cowboy. Tell you what, how about a game for old time's sake? You know the one!" Kali gently set the bottle they had emptied aside and grabbed another, uncorking it and pouring Sienna's glass all the way to the top. She did the same with her own glass, then held it up for a toast. Sienna sighed and clinked her glass against Kali's, ready for their favorite game of 'Never Have I Ever'. Somehow, this innocent housewife managed to drink more than Sienna every time. The woman used Sienna's violent clashes against her, and the only reply was bedroom antics. Not that she was a sexual deviant herself, but there was a lot more going on behind closed doors than Kali let on, and Ghira certainly wasn't about to kiss and tell.
"I'll go first! Never have I ever...wanted to have sex with a cowboy hat on!" Kali said eagerly. Sienna blinked at the declaration, her face heating up. Sure, it had been a while since her last roll in the sheets. And cowboy hats were such a broad subject, everyone around here wore them! It didn't mean she was thinking about a certain person in particular if she had, did it?! Hell, half the attractive men in Vacuo had sported a brimmed hat of some kind, even if she couldn't remember any names at the moment. And there was definitely appeal to taking a ride, the roll of hips creating lovely friction as she controlled every movement and groan...
Kali couldn't contain the squeal of scandalous joy when Sienna took a drink, the tiger Faunus flipping her off as she did so.
The night dragged on into the twilight hours without incident, and Arthur was starting to wonder how long this was going to take. He had enough supplies for a week, maybe longer if he rationed, but that included his trip back to civilization after this job was done. Realistically speaking, he had maybe two or three days before he would have to pack up and come back later. But he knew better than to push his limits and go up against a monster like the Nuckelavee unprepared.
Arthur stood up from the smoldering fire, tossing the wide stone he'd used as a plate off into the woods as he wiped his hands. The herbs that grew in Mistral had a different flavor to them, and he had long since run out of those he'd picked in America. They were an acquired taste, but he rather liked the spices he'd found in town as well. He just couldn't get a lot without putting more strain on Famine, his lifeline in the wilderness.
Said horse was currently munching on a variant of the horse meal he had mixed together earlier, borrowing from the recipe he brought over from America. Every stable from here to Vale offered some prepackaged and prescribed vitamins and treats for Famine, but Arthur would rather stick to the tried and true method. The horse was more energetic and hardened after a good meal, and the effects only increased now that he had Aura. And Arthur wasn't certain, but it seemed like the horse had gotten a little more intelligent. He had to give Famine fewer verbal commands than usual, the horse reacting to the environment and his body language. Not to the point of full on understanding, but the Arabian was picking things up quickly that would have gone over his head months ago.
Arthur walked over to the steed and pulled out his trusty brush, running it up and down Famine's neck in soft strokes. There wasn't much dust to clean from the horse's shiny black coat, but Arthur liked to do it just for the sake of calming his partner. Famine enjoyed a good brushing, and it was a good way to make sure he didn't have anything stuck in a shoe or an infected cut somewhere. He patted the Arabian affectionately, earning a snort that nearly blew his hat off of his head.
"Easy there, boy." Arthur reprimanded gently, running the brush over Famine's coat. His response was a whole body shake, shifting the saddle and jingling his saddlebags. Arthur shushed him and swatted his nose, cowing him and looking around for any sign of Grimm, their quarry or otherwise. Just because they were there for the Nuckelavee didn't mean that other creatures of Grimm weren't around. He'd only encountered one the whole day, a Creep that he had put down with his knife quickly enough.
With his dinner cleaned up and Famine mollified, Arthur could only sit back down and prod the dying fire, not wanting to feed it any more just in case something happened. The air was dry and cold, but his jacket and sleeping bag would fend off the chill easily enough, and they wouldn't burn the forest down while he slept. The outlaw felt his eyelids drooping, and stood up to clear his tired mind. While he walked the perimeter of the camp, scanning the woods, his scroll vibrated. Arthur pulled it from his vest and held it up, but a distant screech interrupted him before he could read the message. Arthur stowed the device and reached for his revolver, his eyes alert and focused. The cry had come from the direction of the Nuckelavee's cave, a long and tormented scream that sent shivers down his spine. He had no idea if it was the creature he had come to slay, but it was certainly a new sound for him.
If the screech unsettled him, it made Famine absolutely paranoid. The Arabian bucked and protested, tugging his rein on the tree Arthur had tethered him to. The outlaw moved over to the struggling horse, his hands held up as he tried to calm him down.
"Easy boy." Arthur chided, untying the reins from their anchor. Famine would be harder to control without his reins tied off, but if something went wrong Arthur would prefer that the horse have an escape route. It had happened numerous times in the wilds of New Hanover and Lemoyne, when Arthur had been stalking cougars and panthers and wound up being hunted in return. As long as he had a clear avenue of escape, Famine could bolt and return later when Arthur called him, saving the outlaw from having to protect himself and his horse at the same time.
With Famine as unsettled as he was, there was no point in riding him closer to the cave. Aura or no Aura, the second another scream came out, Arthur would be bucked off and stunned as his horse ran for the hills. He would have to leave the steed behind and hope that he would come when called. Arthur kept the Deal Breaker slung at the middle of his back, taking his rifle and loading some of the hotter Burn rounds. The tips had Dust in them as well as the propellant, so hopefully they would hit a little harder. He didn't have much in the way of melee other than his knife, not really wanting to close with the Nuckelavee. If the thing got close enough for a blade to matter, he was in serious trouble.
Crouching slightly, Arthur started off toward the cave at a level pace, not really running but moving decently fast. Even though he was far away, the outlaw still endeavored to avoid every bush and brush that he could. There was no telling how far out the creature's senses ranged. While he moved, Arthur kept alert for any other signs of the creature's presence, wondering what could have set it off. The Grimm was smarter than the usual beast just by how old it was, and if they hunted negative emotions..,maybe it was trying to spook out prey? Induce fear and then home in on it? A good possibility, but nothing he could confirm for now. All he could do was try to get eyes on it and try to form a plan.
When Arthur was just a few hundred feet from the slope, he stopped behind a bush and settled into a crouch, calming down his breathing and collecting himself as he looked up toward the cave. There weren't any obvious fresh tracks on this side, so it must have been on the other slope. Either that, or Arthur had come all the way from camp for nothing. When several moments of scanning revealed nothing, Arthur slung his rifle and brought out his binoculars. Using the lenses, Arthur could see all the way up the mountain until the curve that led into the cave, and he could barely make out one of the stakes he had used to set the tripwire. The fact that it was present and not flung to the high heavens meant that the traps hadn't been set off yet.
"Where are you, you ugly bastard?" Arthur muttered, looking around for any other sign of life. Nothing moved, and no animals chirped or moved in the still night. That first scream had probably sent the night life into hiding, just as they did in the presence of a predator. It made it easier for Arthur to sense the threat, but harder for him to sneak around without all the extra noise.
Suddenly, Arthur heard it; the distance clop of a hoof. It was impossibly deep, and echoed from far away, yet Arthur knew it wasn't Famine. The larger the foot and more space in the center of the hoof, the more the sound differed. Either he'd found his quarry, or the largest horse in existence was somewhere nearby. The echo made it sound like it was coming from the cave. But if that was the case, why didn't the other tripwire go off? Most hoofed animals didn't pick their feet up very far when they were moving slowly, and he'd hike the wire up as high as he could. The Nuckelavee was walking around in the cave, and it had either consciously stepped over it, or was lucky four separate times.
Arthur stowed his binoculars and lifted his rifle, peering through the scope at the entrance he could still see. Another loud cry, this time sounding more like a horse than a nightmare, filled the air. It still echoed faintly, and he could just barely see movement on the edge of the scope, far back in the cave. Sure enough, glowing crimson eyes stared back out of the cave, shrouded in shadow with the rest of the creature. He could make out the gleam of bone, and he was certain this was the creature. Any other creature would have tripped the wires and blown up by now.
"Well, time to start this party." Arthur murmured to himself, flicking the safety off of his rifle and drawing a bead on the Nuckelavee, focusing on the point between the two red eyes. He raised his cross hair to rest just above the pair of eyes to adjust for distance, the gentle wind not blowing hard enough to affect the round at this distance. Arthur let his breathing slow, released his held breath, then pressed the trigger.
Without any background noise to mask it, the report of the rifle was deafening. The scope shifted from the recoil, but Arthur had enough of the picture to see the bullet smack straight in between the red eyes, a little bit closer to the right one. A pained shriek crossed the forest, causing Arthur to wince from its volume and pitch. He watched the Nuckelavee draw back further into the cave, his ears alert for the next part of his plan. There was a clang of metal, and his wicked grin confirmed it. The creature had stepped into the jaws of the bear trap. And with pain coming from the rear...
The Nuckelavee screamed again and burst from the cave, revealing itself in the moonlight. It was an abomination. Where Arthur knew that it was an amalgamation of horse and man, it looked worse than the stories could ever describe. The horse part was relatively normal, albeit pitch black and covered in white bone. Ribs and skull stood out in the light, with other crests along its chest and flanks. But in the center of its back where a rider might sit, a vaguely humanoid shape twisted wretchedly. It looked like a malnourished man with curled horns, another pair of glowing red eyes resting in its sunken skull. Needle teeth were exposed and gnashing in its infernal maw, the source of the infernal screams now apparent. Two arms dangled from its shoulders, impossibly long and ending in three sharp claws each. He could see no obvious elbows or joints, and it was a wonder what use the limbs had other than dragging the ground.
As soon as he got a good look at the beast, it charged forward from the cave and into the tripwire he had set. Its raging cry was cut short by an explosion of Dust, the fiery concoction throwing the Grimm from the narrow path and down the side of the mountain. Arthur watched the creature fall, a tangle of limbs and the two torsos bouncing off of rocks. As he watched it fall, Arthur realized that it would eventually fall out of sight, and picked himself up to follow. He ran as hard as he could, unbuttoning his coat so that he could draw the Peacekeeper if need be. When he rounded the other side of the mountain, the Nuckelavee was still struggling to stand up. Arthur raised his rifle and took aim, focusing on the rider's head. The horse had its right front leg trapped underneath its great weight, and the rider's spindly arms weren't strong enough to lift the whole Grimm. He had it off balance.
Three shots rang out as he racked the bolt quickly, high caliber dust rounds driving into the beast's head with a vengeance. Arthur took aim with the last round, but the rider finally reacted to his attack. Shrieking in agony and rage, its head snapped back unnaturally, all jerky movements and hideous cracking as it laid eyes on its foe. With a twist of its torso, both arms spun around the rider and lashed out, claws ready and forcing Arthur to fall backward lest he take them to the face. The outlaw grunted as he landed, then aimed from a seated position to put the last round somewhere important. The horse half of the Nuckelavee had finally managed to get its leg out from underneath it, so Arthur's last shot went right into the knee of the weakened leg, causing the creature to once again slam into the ground. With another savage crack that sounded like a spine snapping in half, the rider faced Arthur full on, both arms moving at once.
"Ah, SHIT!" Arthur rolled to one side as a clawed hand impacted where he had been lying, digging deep into dirt. He had to roll further when the other rake across the ground, the third claw still catching him on the elbow. His Aura held, but the pain of such a large piece of bone digging into his flesh still drew a cry of pain from him. But he couldn't afford to sit still.
Arthur climbed to his feet in a rush, charging to one side and slinging his rifle. His stripper clips for the rifle took a few seconds to load in a calm setting, and he couldn't do it effectively in a full sprint. The Peacekeeper cleared its holster and Arthur dove to the side, his eyes glowing gold as his Dead Eye activated. Time slowed to a crawl, and he fanned the hammer to put six successive rounds into the torso and skull of the rider. The humanoid half of the Nuckelavee twitched and recoiled from the shots, but the only effect he could see was the returning scream of rage.
It's like hitting a bear with a varmint rifle! Arthur thought incredulously, breaking the action and dumping a speed load into the cylinder as he rolled. When he was back on his feet, Arthur snapped the action closed and ducked around a tree. The outlaw peeked around the edge and was surprised to see the Grimm back up on its feet, the horse tossing its head as it charged toward the tree he was using for cover. Cursing, Arthur backed off and ducked to the side as the large Grimm crashed into the tree, driving a healthy cedar tree into the ground with the strength of its charge. He heard more than saw the whistling claws of the rider, and barely hit the ground before the stretching arms could wrap around his body. Arthur raised the Peacekeeper and drove two rounds into the clawed hands as they drew back in, knocking them into the trees and delaying their return. He scrambled to the left and pinned one hand to the trunk, keeping away from the claws as the hand spasmed. Using his left hand to hold the Peacekeeper and pin the arm, he used his right to draw his hunting knife and began sawing on at the wrist. If he could take a hand out of play, this fight would be a little less one sided.
Before Arthur could finish removing the Nuckelavee's hand, the other slammed into his back with great force. His Aura crackled from the strength of the blow, but he barely managed to hold on as it sent him tumbling. The arm that had struck him followed with him, wrapping its gnarled fingers around him and pinning the Peacekeeper to his belly. The outlaw struggled against the beast's grip, and just managed to free his revolver as it dragged him back. When he spun in its grip, Arthur cursed again to see the horse's front legs reared back, coming downward to crush him as the arm retracted. The world slowed again and turned amber as he activated his Semblance, firing the Peacekeeper one handed as fast as he could. Two rounds each slammed into the horse's hooves, diverting them away from his as the rider hauled him in. The Nuckelavee shrieked as time resumed and twisted, intending to throw him backward and dash him against the mountain wall. Arthur ran his knife down the arm with a purpose, black smoke pouring from the gash and causing its grip to spasm. He kept his momentum and landed on the back of the horse, seated haphazardly directly behind the rider. The arrows sprouting from its back poked out toward him, reminding him that others had tried and failed to slay this infernal creature. With a sickening crunch, the rider's head turned all the way around, and shrieked directly into his face with enough force to send his white hat flying. The jaws closed a hair's breadth away from his face as he leaned back, but Arthur was gonna do what damage he could before he was bucked off. Using his Aura to boost his strength, his hunting knife dug deep into the right arm pit of the rider, right into where a normal human's lung would be. He twisted the knife savagely, hoping to do some kind of damage against this resilient Grimm.
The Peacekeeper was empty, so he was forced to holster it and pull a throwing knife from his bag, stabbing it as deep as it would go into the rider's neck. He was about to pull a third blade and recover his hunting knife when the world was tossed out from under him as the horse bucked. He tried to hold on with his legs, but the horse's back was too broad to get a good enough grip. Arthur was tossed backward and slightly to the right, leaving his knives embedded in the Nuckelavee's torso.
This was too much. There was no sign of any progress on the Grimm, and he needed support to bring down a monster like this. All the legends and poster had warned of the danger, but he had ignored them and come alone like a fool. Bringing a hand to his mouth as he fell, Arthur whistled for Famine. He never saw the rear legs of the Nuckelavee lift up. Arthur's whistle pierced the air, but it was interrupted as a massive hoof slammed into his chest, shattering his Aura and sending the outlaw flying backward with a choked cry. The world spun as his shoulder struck the ground, and Arthur still had the presence of mind to roll as he landed. He bounced a few more times before slowing to a stop, groaning as his chest throbbed with pain. It didn't feel like he'd broken any bones, but his Aura had been spent. The exhaustion he felt now was both physical and spiritual, and it took him longer than usual to even sit up.
When he finally got his bearings, the outlaw winced as the Nuckelavee shrieked again, its horse spinning around to face him as the rider flailed its arms in agony. His rifle and revolver were out of ammo, and they had already proven ineffective in putting the damn thing down. He only had one option.
"A little close for this," He coughed and groaned as he drew the Deal Breaker from his back. "but at this point I'll take anything." The Grimm was maybe fifty feet away from him, if that, but it would only get closer from here forward. He presented the grenade launcher and brought it to his shoulder, his vision swimming slightly as he struggled to breathe. The Nuckelavee made to take a step toward him, and Arthur pulled the trigger. The Deal Breaker pushed against his shoulder with a muted thump, and then the world went white.
When Arthur was aware of his surroundings again, the first thing he noticed was the ringing in his ears. He blinked groggily and reached slowly for another grenade out of his satchel, pawing the cylinder into the Deal Breaker's tube and snapping it closed. He looked around for the Nuckelavee, but it wasn't nearby. Come to think of it, he was in a different place as well. The explosion from the Deal Breaker had thrown him even further than the Grimm had, and he could see a little further away that the forest was in flames. He could barely hear drumming hooves over his newly acquired tinnitus, but he couldn't stop the sigh of relief when Famine's black coat became apparent. The horse galloped over to where he had landed and nudged his shoulder, snorting insistently and looking around. Arthur used the loyal horse's reins to pull himself up, and only then realized that he was singed and covered in soot. He hurt all over, like his entire body was a pulled muscle. Cain had warned him of using the Deal Breaker in close quarters, but he hadn't taken it seriously. He would in the future, that was for sure.
"Glad to see you, boy." Arthur muttered as he patted the Arabian, his hearing slowly returning. In the distance, toward the growing flames in the forest, a withering shriek set both outlaw and horse on edge. It didn't sound as close or as ferocious as before, but the Nuckelavee was clearly still alive. It had taken the strongest thing he had and was still kicking!
"Time to go, boy." Arthur said gruffly, hauling himself into the saddle with a groan of pain. His elbow throbbed from where the claw had gotten him, but he still had the wherewithal to load his Peacekeeper and turn toward the south, away from the cave. He couldn't afford to return to camp with an angry Grimm, so his best bet was to abandon the supplies there and make for the nearest village. It had cost him ammunition, two knives, and his hat as well, but this quarry was too much for him alone. Arthur flicked the reins and squeezed his legs, giving Famine a verbal command as they horse darted off into the forest. He cast one last look back, and could just barely see the silhouette of the Grimm within the roaring flames, a sorrowful cry following him as they ran.
This was one bounty he wouldn't be collecting, it seemed.
After half an hour of running at full speed, Arthur finally had Famine slow down to a more manageable speed when they reached the road, taking inventory of his damages from the fight. The scope on his rifle was dented an unusable, his engraved hunting knife was still embedded in the Nuckelavee's rider, and his bull alligator hat had been left behind. His coat was singed and charred, and torn on his left elbow where the claw had dug in. His armor had thankfully held when the creature grabbed him, and he made a mental note to acquire more later.
Angling Famine toward a little town called Avalon, Arthur pulled his scroll from his pocket. When he had been in camp before the fight with the Nuckelavee, he had gotten a message that he hadn't read from Sienna. When he opened it, the rush of blood to his head had nothing to do with the injuries he'd taken. It was a picture of Sienna, passed out on Ghira's couch with a wine glass on the table next to her. She was lounging in her tight top and some black shorts that came to her mid thigh, a heavy blush on her face as she snored away. On the right hand side, an inebriated Kali was grinning at the camera. Underneath the picture, a message was typed out. She misses you, cowboy 3. Arthur's gaze linger on the picture for a moment, speechless, before he finally pocketed the device with a sigh. Kali Belladonna was going to get them both killed, it seemed. Despite the soreness that covered his body and the general sullen mood from losing his equipment and bounty, Arthur couldn't help the grin that crossed his face.
"What a day." He couldn't wait to hear what Sienna had to say when she woke up. Somehow he knew it would be good.
John stood outside one of the private rooms of the Club, drumming his fingers along his arm impatiently. Inside, the twins were teaching Sean how to unlock someone's Aura. John wonder if Junior was aware of the little rendezvous, but he seriously doubted it. Just because the twins themselves weren't doing didn't mean they weren't going against his policy, and Junior didn't strike John as a 'letter of the law' kind of guy. At least, not in his establishment. When it came to the laws of the Kingdom, technicalities and wording kept Junior in business.
The meeting had been going on before John arrived, and he had been waiting outside for nearly twenty minutes. Sean knew things better in Remnant than John did right now, and whatever they were doing had to be complicated. That, or the twins had finally killed the Irishman for all his flirtatious advances.
The door opened suddenly, and John turned to look inside. Miltia was standing there expectantly, waving him in without a word. John nodded and stepped into the room, watching as she closed it behind her. Sean was sat on a comfortable brown leather couch in the center of the room, and Melanie had her back to him, her arms crossed and her face scrunched into a furious pout.
"Alright, Sean payed us well for the information. He should do it properly." Miltia explained. "Because we like you John, Melanie and I will go bug the boss to keep him from walking in on this little operation. He's not exactly fond of handing out Aura."
"Yeah, I remember. I appreciate you doing this." John replied honestly. Miltia tossed him a wink and patted his cheek affectionately. Then she turned her to her sister.
"Come on, Melanie. The sooner we get out of here, the sooner they're done and gone." The crimson colored sister then led the way out of the room. Melanie followed grumpily, tossing a side glance John's way.
"Once you get your Aura, feel free to stab him." She ordered with venom. John didn't know how to reply to that, and thankfully she didn't give him the chance. When the door closed again, John turned to look at Sean. The Irishman's cheek had a hand print on it that was pink in contrast to his normally pale skin, and his grin was sheepish.
"Do I even wanna know?" John asked as he walked closer, leaning against the arm of the couch as Sean scooted over.
"Ah, don't look too far into it, Scar Face. What's the old saying, 'you miss all the shots you don't take'? Either way, I hope you're ready, because Sean McGuire has the magic touch now!" The cybernetic man waggled his fingers like a magician, and John could only roll his eyes. Of course he'd tried his luck with the twins.
"Whatever. Let's just get this over with before Abigail changes her mind." John insisted. Normally,he would think that she would be glad that he had extra protection, but she knew him well. Better protection meant that he was planning on taking more risks, and after everything that happened with the Saint Denis bank job and the Sisika Penitentiary, she was hyper sensitive to anything that threatened their family. She was terrified of losing him again.
"Alright, there's a bit of a chant to this, so don't judge me too harshly, aye? Go ahead and get comfortable, I gotta lay a hand on ya too." John sat down on the couch next to Sean, suddenly uneasy about all of this. The twins had said that activating an Aura was a very intimate affair, and Sean was far too eager to get into things. The last thing he needed was the Irishman screwing around in his head or something.
"Just get it over with. You're starting to make it weird." John protested. Sean slid over and placed a hand on John's shoulder, laughing as he did so.
"Ah, you're too much of a stick in the mud, Scar Face. Are ye trying to act like Arthur? Just sit tight and I'll have this done fast and quick." Sean closed his eye and concentrated, his cybernetic eye staring ahead unblinking as he focused. Sure enough, a bright sheen covered the arm that was resting on John's shoulder. Then, Sean began to speak.
"It's the struggles we face that keep brothers together, and the bonds we make are worth more than gold. I call ye brother, John Marston, and offer ye my shoulder and arms if need be. Always fightin' and ready for anything, I unleash your soul, and by my gun, prepare thee." The Irishman said with uncharacteristic seriousness. At first, John didn't feel any different, but then he felt it hit. Like a shot of good whiskey, warmth bloomed in the pit of his stomach. It both fortified and calmed him, like he was suddenly capable of whooping the entire police department in one go. He couldn't stop the confident smile that crossed his face, and John looked down to see that shame shiny energy cross over his arm that he had seen on Sean and Arthur. When he clenched his fist, the light brightened and then faded away. Immediately after, Sean slumped onto the couch beside him.
The Irishman's face was suddenly slick with sweat, but he chuckled good naturedly. Apparently activating someone's Aura took a lot out of you. John grabbed him by the shoulder and shook him, but Sean waved him off with one hand.
"Don't mind me, Marston. Just a little winded, s'all. Woo! What a feeling!" The Irishman blinked rapidly, then looked at John with a grin. "So, how do ya feel?"
"I don't know. Not much different, I guess, but at the same time I can tell you did something. Feels like I could wrestle a bear right now." John admitted, clenching his fists in front of his face. Sean barked a laugh and nodded.
"Aye, I remember feeling that way. You'll have to learn how to use it and get used to it, but you'll love it, Johnny Boy. No more kidnapping and wolf kisses for you!" Sean took a settling breath, then his expression turned solemn. "Now, we gotta focus on the next job. Screwing the old doc that shut me up in that cell." John was still riding the euphoria that came with his Aura, but he nodded seriously as well.
"Not only that, but according to Arthur, he ran into Dutch. Apparently the old bastard tried to kill him!" Not entirely unthinkable after what John saw in the latter months of the gang, but Sean hadn't been there for that. The Irishman's eyes widened, and for once there was no smirk on his lips.
"The old goat really lost it, did he? I wonder how he got here. Maybe the same way I did, maybe not. I wasn't exactly paying attention when I got dumped on the curb." A thought occurred to Sean. "You think any others made it over to this side of life?" John thought about it, but he couldn't really say. Sean had been dead as dead could be, a hole punched through his head. A few others that had died came to kind, but he hadn't heard mention of anything familiar in his time in Vale or Vacuo. Summer had brought his family and Arthur over, but Sean's appearance in the Kingdoms was still a mystery, and Dutch had been a surprise too. Somehow though, John doubted it.
"We'd have heard if Bill came over; he's too loud and too dumb to not be noticed. Hosea and Lenny died during the bank robbery at Saint Denis, and I ain't heard from them since we came here either. I don't think anyone else made it, Sean." The Irishman's gaze fell, but he had clearly expected such an answer. Still, the unfortunate reality of it all was that they didn't know. There was such a thing as a pleasant surprise, right?
"Ah well. We'll keep our ear to the ground, just in case. Now, about this doc. First thing we need to do if find out his name. Anybody sneaking like he was don't want his name in the papers, right?" John nodded eagerly, and together he and Sean began planning to get revenge for the Irishman's imprisonment. The two had Aura, they had each other, and they had to protect their own. Just like they had in America.
In Vacuo at that precise moment, the man that had once been called Josiah Trelawny felt a shiver in his soul, like someone had walked over his grave.
A/N: The plot thickens! Arthur fails to take down the creature that has haunted Ren's nightmares, and Sienna begins to realize just how much she likes our favorite cowboy. As for the question that Sean asked, all will be revealed next chapter. Some may be disappointed, some won't, but it's been a while since we heard from Dutch. And that conniving old man hates being in the dark as much as anyone else. See you folks next time!