Chapter 7
After so long, Saddles N' Serpents is back with hopefully regular updates! I'm so sorry about how long this has taken, but my life has calmed down enough to let me continue. Thank you for reading!
The thudding of horse's hooves against coarse dirt filled the air, with the wooden creaking of a cart's wheels shortly behind it. The two boys driving it had since switched positions, with Dill sitting in the back of the cart while holding his new rifle. Cole was currently holding the reins, doing his shift as the one to drive the cart. Cole leaned back, looking over his shoulder at Dill. “It’s gettin’ kinda late. Figure we oughta camp soon?” He asked, leaning on the bench seat. Dill took off his hat, glancing at the sky with a squint before nodding.
“Yeah. It’s probably best to start camping when we see a good spot. I’m not getting spotted by a Rail Crawler anytime in this life if I can help it.” Dill said while shuddering at the mention of Rail Crawlers, sitting up in the back of the cart and looking around. Cole however raised an eyebrow, turning back forward to focus back on the road.
“You ‘n I both know there ain’t any Rail Crawlers fer miles, grounds got too many hills fer ‘em.” Cole commented back, looking at the horizon as he spoke. “I’m more worried ‘bout the people we’ll be seein’ on the road. ‘Specially if there’r any witches.” He added, clicking his tongue with a flick of the reigns. His ear flicked in response to a quick exhale from the nose of his companion.
“Witches? Say what you want about Rail Crawlers not coming to land this flat, but at least they’re real. Witches are just a bad try from our moms to keep us from going out at night.” Dill commented back, setting his rifle down and picking up a newspaper, starting to flick through it. Even while reading through the paper, he continued his statement. “And before you say anything like ‘how can you say witches aren’t real when we got that whole Self power n’ such” Dill began, doing an impression of Cole’s accent as he assumed Cole’s counter argument. “If you remember what Ms. Millie said was the source of The Self, how do you think witches can use powers like it if they ain’t got a soul?” Dill posed his question, leaning towards the two boys' luggage and grabbing a waterskin. He lifted it to his lips and took a drink from it while his ears twitched in anticipation of Cole’s response.
“That’s cuz they use magic, not no ‘Self’ ‘Er nothin’!” Cole retorted, turning his nose up as if the answer was obvious. Dill slowly removed the flask from his lips, turning to Cole with an equally sluggish movement. He slow blinked a few times before letting a sigh escape his lips.
“You know what Cole, let’s pretend for a few seconds that witches do exist and that they use magic, alright? How come you don’t think more people would have heard about them?” Dill asked before snapping his fingers a few times. “And pull over by that tree line, that looks like a good spot to rest.” He added, pointing to a group of clustered trees close by the road. Cole nodded as he thought up his response, guiding the horse to the edge of the road to get the cart down in the grassy clearing.
It took a few minutes for the boys to set up their campfire and roll out their sleeping mats, but after a short bit they were sitting down on a pair of fallen logs by their growing fire and drinking from their respective waterskins. It was only a little bit before Cole finally responded to Dill’s question.
“Well, you ‘n I didn’t know ‘bout Lots before Ms. Millie told us. So who’s ta say the only people who’re tellin’ people about witch’s ‘re people who’ve met witches? And I’m sure most folks who done that don’t get the chance to.” Cole said, while rubbing the underside of his nose. He glanced to his side, grabbing a piece of salted meat from his bag and tearing into it as he looked back to Dill.
“You and I were just kids though. That’s like asking why a seven year old wouldn’t know who the president is. People know there are special abilities out there, they just don’t know the exact details like we do. Like how we can know there’s a mayor, but not know exactly what he does.” Dill replied while raising his leg up onto the log he had been sitting on. “Now, apply that to witches, and we have to think why they wouldn’t be something a lot more people know about. Even if they do kill a lot of the people they meet, that would be a lot of unexplained deaths wouldn’t it? I’m just saying, I’m not opposed to the idea that witches exist, but I’d need to see some solid evidence before I’m saying they do.” He finished with a hum, reaching over and grabbing one of the licorice pieces they had brought with them and popping into his mouth.
“That’s fair ‘nough. How should we be keepin’ watch?” Cole asked, turning to see what Dill’s response would be. “I figure we can do somethin’ like two doses o’ four hours. Then we both get some sleep, ‘n there ain’t no chance anybody can get up on us.” He added, jutting his head to the falling sun for emphasis.
“Works for me. I wasn’t the one driving, so I’ll take first watch.” Dill volunteered, receiving a nod from Cole in response.
The two boys finished off the night with a pot of beans and bread, and by the time the sun had vanished from the sky, the fire was large and warm, illuminating the treeline as Dill sat with his back to the log he had previously been sitting on, his slit eyes illuminated in the darkness as he kept careful watch over their camp. His rifle Maddie was right beside him, resting where he could reach it.
It felt like only minutes, but eventually he noticed the moon was high enough for the watch to swap, his eyes drifting over to Cole’s sleeping form. However, he didn’t move to wake him for some time. He felt thoughts from before rising to the surface as he looked at his resting friend.
When we were training with Millie… why were you so excited? I mean, sure I can get the desire for the strength to defend yourself… but that’s not what you wanted. It almost was like you wanted it because other people didn’t have it. Because it was something you thought made you special. How come? You’ve got a set future on the farm, a family that loves you, you got me and Maddie too… What more could you want?
So many questions Dill had thought about before, but never really focused on until now. But it’s not like it couldn’t wait until morning, right?
With a sigh he leaned forward and gave Cole a nudge, the bunny boy’s eyes snapping open as he relaxed upon seeing it was just Dill, letting out a yawn as he sat up.
“Dang, my turn already? Aaah… alright, get yourself to slee-”
“AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! SOMEONE HEEEEEEEEELP!”
The two boys nearly jumped to the top of the trees, with Dill quite literally clinging to a tree with his hair and the fur of his tail on edge, gripping the tree with claws through his gloves, while Cole fell back down to the ground with a thud and grunt, rolling over with a groan of pain.
“Shoot! The hell was all’at!” Cole said, pushing himself back to his feet and looking up to Dill. Dill took a moment to pull his claws back out of the tree’s trunk, landing on his feet with a small thump of the ground, turning back to Cole.
“I don’t know man! It came from down that way though!” Dill said, pointing back deeper into the woods.
“It… It sounded like an old lady! We can’t just leave ‘er!” Cole replied, quickly leaning down to grab his gun belt, quickly strapping it on and turning back to Dill. “C’mon man!” Cole shouted back, leaping over the log he had previously been sitting on, running deeper into the woods.
“Don’t just run in you idiot! You don’t have any light, it could be a Mimic for all we know!” Dill shouted after him, grabbing a branch from the fire and running after him, holding it up for light as he sprinted behind Cole. The two boys raced deeper into the woods, though it wasn’t too long before they found a clue to where they should be going.
“If it is, I’ll just kill it!” He shouted back, sprinting forward with his arms in full swing. “There’s a fire over ther’!” Cole said, pointing towards an orange glow in the treeline, Dill nodding and running towards the light with Cole. The two eventually ran up to another camp, finding the source of the blood curdling scream that had interrupted their own rest.
There was an elderly couple standing on top of their own horse driven cart, with an abnormally large wolf growling at them and circling the cart. The wolf was a deep dark gray, with a glowing green crystal embedded in its forehead. The elderly man was holding a torch, waving it wildly as his head snapped around to look at different, seemingly random, directions.
“Shoot, Boozer hound!” Cole shouted, quickly drawing his revolvers, and pointing them at the wolf, the large beast turning and focusing on the two new humans in the clearing. It’s crystal began vibrating, causing a deep hum in the boys ears that felt like it was a pick sliding into their heads. While the two were recoiling from the pain, the beast howled and its forehead crystal released a blinding flash.
It only took a few seconds before their vision cleared up, but by then, there was no longer a lone wolf, but rather a pack of identical beasts. Cole’s hand rushed to his face, feeling a new ringing in his head as he tried to hold his temples to make it go away. But as he turned to look at the new pack of animals, there was a blur around all of them, almost as if he had too much to drink and was starting to see double.
“D-Dill, you seein’ this too?” Cole asked, feeling his back press up against Dill’s own as his eyes shook back and forth at the circling pack of beasts.
“I am, w-we just got to remember that only one of them is real…” Dill said, his breathing quickened, the boy struggling to calm himself to think rationally about the suddenly dangerous situation.
“Yeah, b-but which one…?” Cole asked, gripping his revolvers anew to keep some semblance of defense up against the circling pack. He glanced out of the corner of his eye and saw the elderly couple still in their cart, calling out to the two. “Stay in yer cart! Me n’ my friend ‘ere will have you outta here in a split!” He ordered, flicking his eyes around.
He reacted quickly when a Hound leaped up at him from his left, turning with his revolver and firing out a shot at the leaping beast, only for the beast to continue moving like nothing, just to phase through him. It landed on his other side, running into the group of the hounds before the beasts split up and began circling once more.
“A-Alright, did you see that one leapin’ at me?! E-er did I just look like I’m a crazy feller’...” Cole asked, looking over his shoulder at Dill, just in time to see Dill flipping around to aim his rifle over Cole’s shoulder, the rabbit boy ducking down as another shot rang out. “D-Dang man! Watch where yer shootin!” He yelled, before his eyes widened as he saw another Hound leaping towards himself and Dill, where he grabbed Dill and tossed him to the side to get them both to dodge.
“I-I think we’re not seeing the same visions! It can trick our senses, but it can’t trick us in the same way at the same time! It’s still just an animal, it’s not magic!” Dill called from the dirt, leaping to his feet to look at Cole. Cole returned the look, nodding firmly in response to his callout.
“So we just gotta outsmart ‘em!” Cole replied, turning his head to a congregation of the hounds. He gripped his revolvers tight, before he pointed the revolver in his right hand to one of the wolves circling. He pulled the trigger, and in a burst of dirt and small rocks, the beast continued unimpeded.
Dill’s eyes flicked left and right, before he looked down slowly to the burning branch in his hand. His eyes practically lit up, turning back to Cole.
“Cole! You know how some animals can’t recognize themselves if you put them in front of a mirror?!” He called behind himself, loud enough to get through to Cole even through the daze inflicted by the wolf. “You think a wolf would be smart enough to mimic shadows?” He said, his grin turning mischievous.
Cole soon gained one to match as he registered what Dill was saying.
The cat boy covered his arm in a deep violet light, an aura crawling from his chest up his arm. He used that same arm to throw the torch into the air with as much force as he could, the light in the clearing undulating with the spinning fire.
The boys quickly took the opportunity to scan the wolves circling them, before their eyes snapped onto a single wolf in unison. The only one that had a shadow.
“GOTCHA!”
The two shouted in unison, pressing their backs against each other as they leveled their guns on it. They let round after round fly through the air, bullets thudding into the large monster wolf repeatedly, a few bullets even hitting the dirt behind it as well. The beast stood on it’s feet for only a moment, before hitting the ground alongside the torch thrown into the air.
A wordless hand raised into the air, and an equally non-verbal hand slapped into it for a crisp high five.
“That’s what I’m talkin’ ‘bout Dill, that’s the kinda stuff we should be doin’ fer a livin’!” Cole said with an excited grin on his face, gesturing to the animal they had just defeated. Dill raised his eyebrow in response, before placing a hand behind his head.
“Ehhh, I don’t really know about that Cole. Like, we beat that one, but there are things out there a lot more dangerous than Boozer Hounds.” Dill said with some hesitance, before looking over at the still glowing gem in the hounds head. Cole turned to look at it as well, walking towards it.
“Say, you calm down them old folk, I’m gon’ get that gem so we can get Madeline somethin’.” He said, walking over to the dead animal and taking out a small pocket knife.
While Cole worked on the body, Dill turned around and slung his rifle back over his shoulder. He looked up at the elderly couple that were still holding each other, walking over slowly and stepping up onto the wooden cart.
“Are you two alright? If you’re injured, we should be getting you to Dip faster rather than later.” He spoke, before taking his hat off to try and show some respect. “My name is Dill, the hothead over there is Cole.” He introduced, while awaiting the response of the two older people.
Now that he had gotten a closer look, he was able to see much clearer their features. They were a pair of Blanks, which was rare enough, but even more than that, they had a few very well constructed bags behind them, with a brown caramelish color to them. He internally logged it away, but was drawn away from his musings by the sound of a shaky voice.
“N-No young man, you’ve both done enough for us. We’d be chow if you two hadn’t shown up.” The older man said, holding his wife tight and looking at the smaller cat boy with a grateful, albeit still shaking, smile.
The elderly man was a Blank, lacking any animal features, with greying hair and substantial lamb chops on the sides of his face, and thin hairy arms. He had overalls with a long sleeved dress shirt, small grey lines along the button up top.
His wife looked frail as many old people would, with curly and greyed hair on her head. She was wearing a light blue dress, with a blue vest on that was clearly something meant to be worn by her husband with how much larger it was than something that was meant to fit her. Her lip was still quivering from the fear of such a large animal trying to attack her and her husband, though it was slowing now that the threat had passed.
Dill gave the old man as kind of a smile as he could, bowing gently. “It’s our pleasure mister, we’re just here to help. We were camping on our way to Dip. We’re just glad we got here in time.” Dill said with a sigh, looking over at the monster's corpse. “It isn’t normal for them to be so close to a main road.” He said with a small mutter, shaking his head.
“We’re a mighty sight more glad you got here in time than you are, I promise you that boy.” The old man said with a weak laugh, placing the torch back in its place on the wooden cart, a small pair of wooden hooks holding the torch up. “We’d love to repay you two if we can. If you’re campin’ out here, we can make breakfast for the two of ya.” The old man offered with a smile on his wrinkled face, Dill glancing back over at Cole and putting a hand under his chin.
“Well, I’ll have to check with my partner there, but it’s awfully tempting mister. Speaking of, I never did get your names?” He said, while offering a hand to the older man and woman.
“Ah, my name is Tom, and my lovely wife here is Esther.” Tom introduced himself with a happy smile, shaking the smaller boy's hand. Esther followed suit with her own dainty handshake.
The two had recovered well all things considered, and had begun getting their camp back in order from the chaos. Dill returned to Cole, placing a hand on the taller boys shoulder.
“Hey, make sure to bring the stuff over. We’re gonna camp out with these two, I know we got the hound, but if there’s a Boozer Hound this close to a main road, I don’t know what else might come through.” He explained, with Cole nodding in understanding.
“I’ll keep watch. Mah ear’s’re sharper n’ yers.” Cole replied, the boys nodding in agreement as Cole walked back towards their camp to start moving things closer to the elderly couples camp. Dill meanwhile kept watch for even that small amount of time, keeping his rifle close.
With the moon hung high in the sky, the two duos drifted off into the night, their hearts calming from the battle.
CHAPTER END.