Valentine was a wreck by the time they unloaded at Elder Falls. He was sweating through his clothes yet shivered. Pain flared up and down his wound whenever he moved and his vision blurred any time he didn't focus. Red kept a close eye on him as they entered the island, asking him incessantly about his condition, which Valentine waved off each time.
The town they docked at was entirely unimpressive. The houses were small and seemed to be made entirely of material found on the island, mostly wood and thatch. It was a humble town, no more than a hundred buildings in total.
Few townsfolk could be seen. The few that were present stopped what they were doing to stare strangely at the pair, especially at the sickly Valentine. They didn't approach anyone yet, no one presented anything less than halted aggression.
A low hissing startled Valentine. He jumped back, only nearly avoiding stepping on a snake. A grass green viper slithered by, uncaring that it was nearly stepped on. A throwing knife appeared in Red's hand, which he raised in preparation to kill the snake.
"Don't even think about it!" A voice shouted. Valentine and Red looked to see an older man, previously gawking, now scolding them. "Harm that creature and you'll be hanging by the neck before dark!"
"I'd like to see you try…" Red growled, gripping his knife tighter.
"Please," Valentine placed a hand on Red to dampen his aggression. He turned to the older man with a much more amicable, though forced, expression. "We are newcomers here; we beg your pardon. Is it illegal to kill a snake in this land?"
The old man snarled at the pair, looking them up and down to check their intentions. Valentine worked to keep his composure while being scanned by the villager, however difficult it was with his burning pain and venom coursing through his body. After what seemed like an eternity, the old man spoke.
"Snakes are holy things here, you'll do well to remember that. They aren't just beasts. They are sent by God. If a snake bites you, it means you're a sinful man and you won't be welcome. Understand? Now finish your business and be off, we don't need any strangers here."
The pair watched the expression of the other citizens as the old man left. They watched Valentine and Red with careful eyes, waiting to see their reaction. The message was clear. They had learned the rules and gotten their warning, the next incident wouldn't end so peacefully. In the silence, another snake slithered across the path.
"I think we should move," Valentine whispered. Red nodded, and they moved along. Best not linger and draw even move suspicion. They walked out of the town center and into a sparsely populated area. By the condition the houses were in, it was possible that it was entirely abandoned. It was a place they could talk openly.
"How are you holding up?" Red asked.
"Feels like I'm being roasted over a fire and I can't feel my feet," Valentine said.
"Makes sense, you were supposed to be dead-" Red paused to check his pocket watch. "An hour and a half ago."
"Depends on who you ask." Valentine allowed a quick joke despite the tension and his pain.
"Talking is a waste of time. You could drop at any minute and we don't know where the hospital is," Red said.
"I don't think it'll make much of a difference." Despite the humid jungle that surrounded the town, Valentine shivered in his coat. "You saw how they see snakes. I doubt they keep antivenom here. I don't know where that damn captain found a healer that would treat him, if he was even telling the truth."
"We have to try the hospital no matter the odds," Red said, "Even if they can't help you, it's the best place to ask around for someone who can."
"We can split up to find it, it shouldn't take long in this town," Valentine said. Red nodded, checking his surroundings before walking off. Valentine walked off in the opposite direction, albeit a lot more painfully.
Valentine paused in front of a notice board, a habit he had picked up recently. He scanned the layers of overlapping parchment, each fighting to be in front. Two familiar papers were amongst the newest on the board. Bounties, for a certain Red and Valentine. His bounty was the same as it had been at the last town, 10 million berries for his unharmed capture. His picture too, were his cheekbones really that sharp? Red's was there too, but Valentine had only gotten a glance at it before. He took the time to read the paper in full.
WANTED Dead Only
Redwin Asada
15,000,000 Berries
Known to go by 'Red'. He is a powerful, high ranking Marine deserter. If spotted, do not engage lightly. He is a known user of the Six Powers, or Rokushiki. Wanted for the crimes of treason, assault, and desertion in the line of duty. Report any information on Redwin to your nearest Cipher Pol agent.
He reminded himself to have a talk with Red about his time with Cipher Pol, when he wasn't dying that is. Red had been rather tight lipped about working for the very people tracking them down. Since seeing the bounty he was sure that Red wasn't working for the Marines, but that didn't mean he trusted the man further than he could throw him. Despite his frustrations, he did Red the favor of ripping down his poster along with his own.
With both posters gone, a new space on the board was revealed. It was also a bounty poster, but much older than theirs. The sketch was of a young woman with extensive tribal jewelry, an armful of tattoos, and long hair. The bounty was hand drawn, and of much lower quality than Red and his government issued ones.
WANTED Dead or Alive
"Snake Demon" Aria
5,000,000 Berries
Wanted for the crimes of theft, murder, and illegal medicinal practice on the island of Elder Falls. Known to reside in the jungle of the same island. Report any information on this dangerous heretic to Dr. Soren. Do NOT accept healing services from her under any circumstances.
The information seemed particularly useful, so Valentine folded it up and added it to his growing pocket of stolen posters.
Valentine gritted his teeth through the pain. Red must have noticed, because he handed him a leather belt to grip, lest he break his teeth from clenching them. He accepted it without hesitation, biting down on it as another wave of pain went through his body.
"I'm sorry, the wound needs to be cleaned thoroughly to prevent infection," the nurse said. She smiled apologetically before returning to her work dabbing Valentine's back with a cotton ball. It was hard to work through the rips in his shirt, but Valentine had refused to take off any clothes, even at the behest of a doctor.
"Aren't you more worried about the venom than infection?" Valentine pressed. The nurse paused, chewing her lip. She spoke slowly with careful words.
"Our center isn't equipped to deal with venom, unfortunately," she said.
Valentine feigned surprise. "Odd, considering all the snakes around here."
The nurse's face was red and burning hot, her eyes locked onto her work. "The snakes aren't a problem in these parts. Actually we… welcome them here."
Red groaned. "Can we save the talking for afterwards?"
"Oh, of course!" The nurse seemed to catch herself, pulling out the façade. "Frankly, I don't know how you are still alive. If it truly is Dagger Frog venom, you should be long dead. Your body seems to be fighting the venom with incredible efficiency. In fact, would you allow us to draw blood for research-"
Valentine's hand whipped up to grab her wrist, making her shriek. She dropped the needle she held. It clattered on a metal tray, sending small instruments all over the ground.
"I'm not your lab rat," Valentine's voice didn't seem to be his own, deep and with rare aggression.
"Sorry! Yes, I understand! Please! Just let go!" the nurse said. Valentine freed her wrist, which she held in pain. Red's mind raced for a way to stop the situation from escalating.
"If you have any antivenom, we would be happy to pay for it and be on our way. Enough empty words, speak the truth. Do you have any?" Red said.
"No…" The nurse's eyes were still filled with fear, which Red cursed Valentine for causing. Luckily, she continued, "We aren't allowed to keep any, for snakes or otherwise. They… they don't let me. I had to lie about the Dagger Frog venom just to get your friend in the room."
Though he felt guilty, Red decided to press his advantage and squeeze out more information while she was off guard. "Why? Why would they refuse him help?"
The nurse spoke faster, clearly fearful. "They've been calling snakes holy as long as I've been around. I don't know why, I never understood it. If anyone gets bitten they'll refuse them help and throw them out of town. I don't think they'd care for the difference that it was a frog for your friend."
"He is going to die soon." Red stepped forward, towering over her and making her lean backwards. "If you know of any way to help him, tell me now. Without your help, he has no hope."
The nurse chewed even more of her lip, leaning further and further away from Red until she nearly tripped over a chair. Her eyes flicked all over the room and her mouth formed silent beginnings of words that never came.
"You do know," Valentine said. He showed them the bounty he had nicked off the wall earlier. "You know about Aria but you are afraid to say, because she has a bounty. Is that true?"
The nurses nodded furiously, her ponytail flapping up and down.
"Where can we find her? We don't have time to look in the jungle all day." Valentine said.
"They say she lives near the falls, but that's just a rumor. That's all I know, I swear!"
Red and Valentine looked between each other before finally leaving the room, easing the pressure on the poor nurse.
"The things I do for you…" Red grumbled.
I know this one is posted late, but it's before midnight so it counts! I wasn't quite sure how to do this chapter so it got put off a bit. Here's hoping I can keep a good streak of updating on time!