HoE: S01 E04

<Darkling> It's the next morning. The three of you are in your respective sleeping locales of wherever you decided was best to sleep last night.
Deane wakes up in the Four Fingers, however his room was. He rubs his head, yawning and blinking heavily.
<Darkling> Well, it's better than the closet you slept in at the Fox Deane. There's a single rickety bed and a nightstand.
<Nia_S> "Mrh..." Nia swats Otto away, half-buried under a pile of junk in the garage.
Deane takes his sunglasses from the table and slips them on, pulling on his jacket and grabbing his bag to stumble out.
Imogene lifts her head from the bar's surface, groping for her hat as she sits up.
<Darkling> Feels like a cool morning, must be cloudy outside as the sun isn't really shining all that much yet.
Deane looks around, wandering to the bar. He peeks around for Karla, drumming his fingers on the table.
<Darkling> She's downstairs sweeping up the mess from last night still.
Imogene stomps her boots firmly into place and stands, fixing her hat into place before wandering outside. Nothing like a little morning chill to wake you up. "Bah."
<Darkling> Looks like it could be a storm rolling in, a bit unheard of in these parts but usually quite welcome.
<Deane> "Ah... They tore this place up, didn't they?" Deane sits and cracks his neck, rubbing his eyes.
<Darkling> "They always do hun." She says smiling.
Deane nods, standing, "That's a shame. Mind if I buy a bottle of booze for the road?"
<Darkling> "Sure, what's your poison?"
Deane shrugs, "Something cheap. I don't have that much." He checks his pocket, sighing a little.
<Darkling> She goes behind the bar, pulling out a bottle of whiskey and setting it on the counter. "Fifteen bucks hun."
Deane sets down the money, "Here you go." He peeks at the bottle and smiles, "God's double-bladed gift to man."
Nia_S stumbles her way into the bar, nursing her noggin, the African wearing a new jeans-and-t-shirt combo. Well, 'new', it's stained with grease and oil over the years.
<Darkling> She pockets the money. "You heading out then?"
<Deane> "Yeah, I oughta meet up with the rest- need to make a livin' somehow! Playin' last night was fun though, thanks for having me." He smiles sheepishly, "I owe ya."
<Darkling> "Take care hun, come back again when you need a place to stay."
<Nia_S> "Figgered I'd fin' at leas' one o' ya here."
<Deane> "I promise I will- a bed over a closet any day!" He slips the bottle into his pack and waves as he walks out, making his way to the Fox.
<Imogene> Looks like Imogene stuck her head under a faucet, hair still dripping. She salutes Nia with a cup of coffee before taking a sip.
Deane slips in, "Mornin' Nia, Imogene. How's it treatin' ya?"
<Nia_S> "Better n' it's treatin' her."
Imogene takes another sip of her coffee, looking like in thought.
Deane sits at the bar, "Well, that's... painful, I suppose. I gis I just got used to it."
<Imogene> "Storm might be comin' in. Got us two options."
<Nia_S> "Oh?"
<Deane> "Oh? What're those?"
<Imogene> "We stay 'ere 'n wait'er out then go north n' hope we pick up a new trail. Or we go now n' double-time it on the trail we found last go."
<Deane> "Won't the water wash away the earlier trail? I have a horse 'round here somewhere, but..."
<Imogene> "Like ah said, we stay n' hope fer a new one, or go out now top speed."
<Deane> "I'd say we risk the run- better'n waitin' for new tracks to boil up. Maybe the feller in the jail knows where the rest are though."
<Darkling> You hear some footsteps heading your way and the sheriff speak up. "Morning folks."
Imogene looks over her shoulder before taking another drink of coffee.
Deane turns, nodding out of respect, "Morning, Sheriff. How'sit treatin' ya?"
<Darkling> "Alright I'd say. How're you folks holding up this morning?"
<Deane> "I gots me some booze'n a smoke, so I should be fine and dandy."
<Imogene> "How much money that leave ya wit'?"
Deane goes a little red and mumbles "Fourteen", looking at the ground.
<Darkling> "Well, you've still got a chance to make some more. Buddy in the cell back at the office ain't talking yet, but I'm sure he's got lots of friends out there."
<Deane> "That'd be nice. Body's gotta eat too."
Nia_S stares at Deane.
Deane looks up, "What? S'true. Teeth git tired of nothin' but Jerkey."
Imogene sighs. "We wus just discussin' that Sheriff. Little worried 'bout that storm in the distance."
<Darkling> "Wouldn't be good to be caught in it."
<Imogene> "Ain't so good lettin' it wash away the trail either."
<Darkling> "Mm." He grunts.
<Nia_S> "Rough choices s' always."
<Deane> "At this rate, might just be better t'ask the man in the cell," He looks to the others, "And hope."
<Darkling> "He ain't atlked yet. Probably can't right now with his jaw broke." The sheriff shrugs.
<Imogene> "Ain't like we gotta go lookin' fer a fight anyways. Gotta know wot were up against. Rain might be good cover fer that..."
<Deane> "Jaw broken? Treat'n him as he deserves?" He chuckles, "Well, guess it's good Nia... Well, I wuddn' gonna shoot him out of pure spite, but... Eh, good he's alive. Good on Otto for takin' him down."
<Darkling> "Well, whatever you decide, I just want you to know we appreciate what you're doing. Ain't many who'd stand up to the Dogs."
Nia_S smirks, running a thumb over her lip. "Let's see how they push back b'fore we bust out the ribbons."
Deane chuckles, "M'hair ain't long enough for one, wouldn't be caught dead in one either. Anyhow, how long until he can talk, y'think?"
<Darkling> "Day or two, long as it got set right."
Imogene drains the last of her coffee and stands.
<Deane> "Think it's set right? I know a bit about sewin' people up and settin' bones, I kin take a look if need comes."
<Darkling> "No need, he's getting all the treatment he deserves."
Deane shrugs, "Too true. I'm sure the owner would git mad with me if I treated a man like him too kindly anyhow."
<Imogene> "Ah'm goin'ta buy rain slickers, ah'll be back."
Deane blinks, "Like... a coat?"
<Imogene> She's gone, only the jingle jangle of her spurs lingering.
<Darkling> "Anyways, I'll leave the three of ya to it." He tips his hat and heads out behind Imogene.
Deane sighs and shrugs, "Alright then Sherrif. Safe trails, I suppose." With that he turns to Nia, taking out a cigarette, "I don't recall, you smoke?"
<Nia_S> "Ah? When I have a bad day."
<Deane> "I see. I wus gonna offer you one, but if your day's goin' well." He winks, going to step outside to smoke. No need to make the bar hate him any more.
Nia_S snorts, tugging her dreads into place. "M'thinkin' I'm gonna need a raincoat m'self," she follows along.
Deane shrugs, "I'd say m'jacket's enough, but I don't have enough to spend on one, anyhow. D'ya have a light?" He moves to tag along with her, "Box a cigarettes, no lighter."
Nia_S pats her pants, giving a shrug. "Otto c'n light it up for ya."
Deane looks for the tiny robot, "He's just all sorts a useful, in'he."
Imogene is trying on a rain coat, fitting it over the boiled leather she used as armor over her regular clothing. "Hrm."
<Nia_S> Otto isn't too hard to find, keeping close to Nia but out of sight pretty much constantly. Now where to buy a raincoat...
Deane sidles up to the little robot, "Hey there friend. Mind lightn' my smoke?"
<Darkling> Jones' Crap probably has some, other than the one Imogene is trying on inside currently.
<Imogene> "Feels tight. Got one a little bigger?"
<Nia_S> It takes Otto a moment to grasp the command, but the lense opens gradually, creating a strange blue glow that heats the air in a thin line. Soon--fwoosh, the end of the cigarette smolders and catches.
<Nia_S> "If it's too big fer her, I'll try it on," Nia wanders into the store, hands on her hips.
<Darkling> Jones shuffles around, finding a larger one you could wrap yourself in easily Imogene.
Imogene hands the smaller coat to Nia, trying on the larger one.
<Imogene> She even tests drawing her weapons with it on.
Deane blinks, "Oh... That's a mighty ability. Thanks, Otto.... right?"
<Darkling> Doesn't seem to hinder you, helps conceal them actually.
<Imogene> "Ah'll take it."
<Darkling> Jones happily takes your money.
<Nia_S> "How about a discount for two?"
<Nia_S> The robot doesn't seem to be able to speak, but nods.
Deane leans on the door outside after thanking Otto again, enjoying his cigarette.
<Darkling> "Hmm.. well." He thinks about it. "Sixty for the two. Only cause I like you folk." And it's not like he gets much business from anyone else.
Nia_S grins, tipping her head.
Deane peeks in, looking around for a hat of some sort.
Imogene slips on her sunglasses and looks to Nia. "Wotcha think?"
Nia_S chuckles. "Not bad."
<Darkling> There's a few ancient looking cowboy hats, none that you can afford sadly Deane.
Imogene looks over at Deane. "Whocha lookin' fer boy?"
Deane looks in his pocket and frowns, taking a bit of jerkey to knaw on. "Hm? Ah, it's nothin' My jacket's plenty'a cover from the rain."
<Nia_S> "What y'mean t'say is, yer too poor to afford anythin'."
<Deane> "M'not that poor! shopkeep, you sell bullets?"
<Imogene> "Ah was like that wit' mah first couple'a bounties. Best pinch them pennies, boy."
Imogene turns her gaze back to Nia, taking off her hat and settling it on the woman's head. "Hm. Dashin'."
<Darkling> "Well, yes yes." Jones mutters.
<Deane> "See? I kin afford some things." He steps back out to chew on his jerkey, pouting a little.
<Darkling> Jones shrugs and goes back to cleaning.
Nia_S smirks, stuffing her hands in her pockets. "Let's go, then."
Imogene takes it back and with a little flourish puts the hat back on her own head. "Time tuh hit the road folks."
<Darkling> Outside the sky hasn't gotten any brigher. Those clouds off in the distance are sure looking dark.
Imogene takes the lead, taking them north along the same path that brought them to the abandoned wagon.
Deane looks up to the sky and sighs a little. He runs his hand through his hair, and moves to follow the others, humming to himself. "I should get a strap for my Guitar, so I kin practice on the road."
Nia_S purses her lips tight. For once she isn't wearing Otto as a backpack.
<Imogene> "Yer little friend gonna be okay in the rain?"
<Darkling> By the time you reach the wagon the sky above you is a dark grey. There hasn't been any rain yet, but you can hear thunder off in the distance.
Imogene stops to crouch down and check the tracks she'd been looking at earlier. Not like they went anywhere. How far could they get before the rain? Should they take shelter in the wagon?
Deane looks up, "ah... Thunder. Always fun."
Deane waits as Imogene examines the tracks, "Keep goin', or git under the wagon for the time?"
<Deane> He peeks over her shoulder and scans the landscape, frowning, "Think we could make it to... We Burst the house down. Hm." A frown crosses his face, "Some people must've passed by after us."
<Imogene> "Gonna hit us in an hour. Dunno what we'll find if'n we keep goin' and ah still wanna know about Otto."
<Nia_S> "Otto?"
Deane shrugs, "Otto?" He follows the tracks a little bit, turning back as he asks.
<Imogene> "Ah asked yuh...how's he gonna do if'n 'e gits wet?"
<Nia_S> "Oh, yeh. He'll be fine." Picking the little bot up, she shows Otto's backside. "No bat'ries or nothin', runs on himself."
Deane blinks, "So he kin keep goin'? Tough little thing."
Imogene sighs and looks ahead.
<Deane> "There's a path headin' this way, Imogene. Keep headin' the way we did last time though?" He puts his hands on his hips, looking up at the sky.
<Imogene> "No. We wanna go north after the rest'a them tracks we didn't follow last time. Ah'm tryin' t'think."
Deane goes quiet, biting his cheek.
<Imogene> "Looks like about 6 hours t'them hills in the distance. Kin Otto see anythin' between us n' them?"
<Nia_S> "Let's see!" Standing Otto up on her shoulders, Nia holds steady as Otto casts his freakishly-good eyesight out thataway.
<Nia_S> "We're clear."
Deane moves up, "Alright. That's nice."
<Imogene> "C'mon then, lets keep on goin'."
Deane nods, taking a swig of his drink before moving to follow.
Nia_S follows suit.
<Darkling> The storm hits you just as Imogene predicted, within an hour. Rain pelts the group hard, the sky gone black and flickering with lightening as thunder rumbles above you.
Deane looks up and shakes off his glasses, "Ah... If you two weren't here... Eh, walkin' around nekkid is a bad idea, but, better'n paying for a shower."
Nia_S adjusts her borrowed hat, shaking her head. "Y'd freeze anyway."
Imogene pulls up her coat's hood over her hat, tying a wald rag over her mouth as they forge ahead. "Jus' keep yer eyes peeled."
Deane nods a little, money safely hidden.. somewhere... "Probably." He keeps an eye out, frowning.
<Darkling> You're starting to get out of the farming country at least. You can faintly make out rocky outcroppings in the distance ahead and a half collapsed house.
<Imogene> "Might be a good place t'take five."
Deane frowns, "That's... I'm not gonna knock this time."
Nia_S shakes her head. "Anythin' takin' shelter in there is too desperate anyway."
<Imogene> "Ah'll take a look, yuh hang back in case there's trouble." She rests her hands on her guns and approaches.
Deane reaches into his pocket for his gun, drawing to watch her.
Imogene slows as she approaches the house, brow furrowing.
<Darkling> The lightning in the clouds lights up the hunched over figure of a little girl in the house, soaking wet. You can hear a soft whimpering coming from her.
<Imogene> Weird. He looks back toward the others and motions them closer.
Nia_S perks up, jogging on over.
Deane moves up. He's got a round chambered as he approaches, "What's it? Safe?"
<Imogene> "Looks like a little girl." she answers, whispering. "Wet, crying..."
<Deane> "Poor thing. Anything else?" His voice really is sympathetic, and he shifts uncomfortably.
<Imogene> "No."
<Imogene> "Still gotta be cautious."
<Deane> "Didya... try to talk to her?" He bites his cheek, "Ain't right, kid this far out all alone."
Nia_S frowns, making her way into the rubble towards the voice. "M'turn, then."
Imogene draws a revolver, back to the side of the house as she waits.
<Darkling> The girl's got her back to you, hunched over and sobbing into her hands, shivering a little. There's not much space to maneuver in the crumbling building and she's huddled in a corner.
<Nia_S> "Ah, howdy there, lil' thing. Y'okay?" Otto peeks over her shoulder as the African approaches.
<Darkling> The head perks up a little and the whimpering stops. She must not have heard you approaching.
Nia_S reaches out, touching her shoulder.
<Darkling> The girl's hand reaches up grabbing a hold of your wrist Nia, freezing cold to the touch. She turns around, and looks much like you'd expect a child would except her face is simply a gaping maw of jagged teeth.
<Nia_S> "Ngh!"
<Darkling> The creature clambers on top of Nia, taking advantage of her reaction to it, but thankfully also seems as strong as a child and doesn't manage to hurt her.
Imogene pops up to see whats going down and, as the color drains from her face, slowly sinks back down. "...ohfuckwhatisthat?"
Deane screams a little. There's probably a swear in there too, but still a yell of horror. That just ain't right.
<Nia_S> "Gerroff! Otto!" Panicked, Nia kicks and fights more out of instinct than anything else, the little robot freer to act.
<Nia_S> Acting in merciless defense of its master, Otto's laser opens full bore, blasting into the mutant/undead/demon-child with his laser, searing her flesh and knocking her clean off Nia.
<Darkling> It lets out a grunt and boucnes off the wall of the building, falling to the ground with a chunk of plaster.
<Nia_S> "J-Jesus Christ in Heaven..." Nia rolls away, keeping her distance. "Get in here!"
Deane is about three meters away now, gun held in both hands. "Jesus, Mary, Mother'a god..."
Imogene slooowly stands back up. "Ah gotta say, that thar's a first fer me. Yuh okay Nia?"
<Nia_S> "Y...yeah, just..." Nia rubs at her wrist. "Yeah."
<Darkling> The creature lets out a whimper, sounding again just like a little girl, as it struggles under the plaster. Doesn't look like it's getting up though.
<Imogene> She climbs in through the window, holstering her revolvers.
Deane moves up, "My God..." he takes a look around nervously, careful to avert his eyes but ends up just staring in horror at the... thing.
Nia_S rises with a grunt. "Hey. Can y'speak?" Aimed at the creature. "Or jus' an animal?"
<Darkling> A black ichor you can only assume is blood is oozing out of the creatures mouth, it just gurgles at you.
Imogene sighs and leans against the wall. "Ain't gonna live long either way, sufferin' as it is."
Deane nods a little, murmuring a prayer.
<Nia_S> "Damn...I know this stuff. S'mutation. Poor girl musta' got near a storm."
<Nia_S> "An' if she did... Shit."
<Imogene> "Ain't much of a girl no more. Why don't the two of yuh go out n' find one'a them overhangs t'make camp under."
Deane nods slowly and goes to try to make some sort of shelter.
Nia_S follows suit, Otto tagging behind her. "Don' think we should camp too close t'here."
Deane nods a little, "True... Let's find a nice place, or try."
Imogene moves away from the wall and moves to squat down near the body. "'ey darlin'. Yer gonna be jus' fine real soon. Ah promise."
<Darkling> It gnashes at you weakly.
<Imogene> She pulls off her rain coat and sets it aside, carefully drawing out her grapeshot. "Ah figure y'can't help wot's become'a'yuh."
Deane points out a rocky outcropping, and in his aimless wandering, discovers a cactus. He makes sure to wipe off the spines before taking them, to keep from suffering the tiny slivers. Finally, a use for the old, blood-stained shirt he had.
<Imogene> "Ah ain't no wanna-be preacher like Deane." She pulls back on the hammer. "Tahm has come fer us t'sleep and ah thank yeh fer yer keep. Many sins ah've done t'day, please Lord take'em all away. Look upon her in yer Grace, make her pure before yer face."
<Deane> Heading back, he calls to Nia and Imogene. He's got a shirt full of the cleaned, prepared food, glad to have found a dry spot.
Nia_S holds up a hand once Deane starts calling, jogging over. "Sh."
<Deane> He stops, tilting his head and frowning a little, going silent anyways. He's been around enough to quiet down when told.
<Imogene> *BLAM!* A single shot echoes out into the empty desert.
Deane winces, nodding a little. He sighs, "Damn shame. Ah well."
Nia_S lets her breath go, hands on her hips. "Now, whassis about cactus?"
Imogene comes out of the house smoothing down her raincoat, hood pulled low so she wouldn't have to look at either of them.
Deane nods, headin back to cover. It wouldn't be warm, but it'd do.
<Darkling> ========END========