Finally, with the food devoured, you both sit back, the silence of the tent enveloping you once again. "We should get going," Raven says after a moment, his voice low and serious. "We've got to get back to Van Horn."
Maggie nods, her expression thoughtful as she starts to gather her things. The gravity of the situation settles back in, the warmth of the shared laughter dissipating like the morning mist.
Outside, the world is a canvas of grays and greens, the storm having left the swamp looking fresher than it had in days. The horses are standing patiently, their coats gleaming from the rain.
Raven and Maggie clothes still damp from the humid night. They each grab their saddles and approach their horses, the leather creaking under their movements. As they mount up, the animals shift beneath them, sensing the urgency in their riders' bodies.
They set off into the misty swamp, the horses' hooves sinking into the soft earth with a squelch. The silence of the morning is only broken by the occasional bird call and the distant rumble of thunder. Maggie leads the way, her axe strapped to her saddle, a symbol of her unpredictable nature and the battles they've faced. Raven follows closely behind, his eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of trouble, his hand resting casually on the butt of his holstered revolver.
As they ride, the awkwardness of the morning starts to fade away, replaced by an easy camaraderie that comes from shared experiences. "So, what's your plan once we get back to Van Horn?" Raven asks, his voice steady and calm.
Maggie's eyes narrow slightly as she thinks. "There's someone I want to visit," she says, her voice holding a hint of excitement. "Mr. Silver Fox. He's got a story that I think you'll find interesting." She glances over her shoulder at him, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Raven raises an eyebrow. "Mr. Silver Fox?" he repeats, the name rolling off his tongue. "What's his deal?"
Maggie's smile widens, her eyes lighting up. "Oh, he's quite the character," she says, her voice filled with intrigue. "A Fighter, a charmer, and a survivor. They say he's got more lives than a cat."
The mention of Mr. Silver Fox stirs a sense of curiosity in Raven. He'd heard whispers of the man in the saloons, a figure shrouded in mystery and rumor. His heart races at the thought of another adventure, another layer of this game-turned-reality to uncover. "What makes him so special?" Raven asks, leaning in slightly.
Maggie turns in the saddle, her eyes shining with excitement. "He's a legend around these parts," she says, her voice filled with the same thrill that had drawn Raven to the gang in the first place. "They say he's got the devils hands and the tongue of a silver-tongued devil."
Raven's curiosity is piqued. "What do you mean?"
Maggie's eyes glint with excitement. "They say Mr. Silver Fox has never lost a fight, not in the ring, not in the streets. He's a fist-fighting legend." She pauses, letting the words sink in.
Raven's grip on the reins tightens. "Never lost?" He can't help the skepticism that creeps into his voice.
Maggie nods, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Never. At least, not that anyone's seen. He's got moves that no one can match, and a left hook that could knock a bull clean on its backside." She pauses, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "But he's not just brawn, Raven. He's got a head for strategy that could put anyone to shame."
The mention of Mr. Silver Fox's tactical prowess sends a shiver down Raven's spine. He can't help but feel a twinge of envy - and a growing desire to meet this legendary fighter. "And his tongue," Maggie adds with a wink, "it's said that he can charm the pants off a snake."
They continue their journey through the swamp, the anticipation of meeting Mr. Silver Fox growing with every step their horses take. Raven can't shake the image of a man who could outwit anyone with just words, leaving them disarmed and bewildered. It's the kind of power that could turn the tides in any situation, the kind of power that Raven had only ever seen in Hawk, their own cunning general.
Suddenly, a brilliant flash of light pierces the morning gloom. The horses snort and rear, throwing their heads back in terror. Raven tightens his grip on the reins, his heart pounding in his chest. Maggie's eyes widen as she turns to face the source of the light. In the middle of the path, where there was once only water and mud, a figure materializes.
The girl is dressed in a tattered yellow dress, her hair a wild mane of curls that frame her dirty, tear-stained face. She looks like she's seen hell and lived to tell the tale. "Raven!" she screams, her voice piercing the air like a gunshot. The sound echoes through the swamp, sending birds scattering from their roosts.
Raven's confusion turns to shock. "How do you know my name?" he demands, his voice harsher than he intends. He's not used to strangers knowing him so intimately, not in this world.
The girl, now closer, looks at him with a strange mix of hope and desperation. "I've been looking for you," she says, her voice small and trembling. "My name is Lunar."
Raven stares at her, his mind racing. How could she know him? This isn't part of the game he knew. He'd never encountered anyone like her before. "How do you know my name?" he asks again, his voice tight with tension.
Lunar whispers, her eyes searching his. "I was a member of the Bandidos too. A sergeant, like Sully."
Raven's heart skips a beat. "What happened to you?"
Lunar's gaze drops to the ground, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's complicated. I was erased by That person," she says, her eyes flickering with fear when she speaks the words. Her mouth twitches, as if the very act of speaking the person's name is painful.
Maggie's eyes narrow, her grip tightening on her axe. "Who's 'That person'?" she asks, her voice laced with protectiveness.
Lunar's eyes flicker to Maggie before returning to Raven. She opens her mouth to speak, but only a garbled sound emerges, as if the very act of forming the words is against some unspoken law of the world they now inhabit. Her expression contorts with the effort, her hand moving to cover her mouth as if to hold back the forbidden explanation.
Finally, she releases a shaky breath and says, "Forget about 'That person'. What matters is that my Brother is in trouble.and I need your help to protect him."
Raven's curiosity turns to concern. "What's going on with your brother?"
Lunar's eyes well up with tears. "He's been grieving for me," she chokes out. "He's desperate to bring me back. He's heard rumors of a way to make a deal with the devil. He thinks if he can offer something valuable enough, he can change my fate."
Raven's eyes widen with shock. "Your brother is trying to make a deal with the devil?" He'd heard of such things in campfire stories, but never in the context of their real lives. The very idea seemed ludicrous, yet the pain etched on Lunar's face made it all too real.
"Yes," she says, her voice trembling. "He's not thinking straight. He's going to get himself killed, or worse."
Raven feels a pang of pity for the girl. The thought of someone desperately trying to bring back a lost loved one was all too familiar. But making a deal with the devil? That was a tale for the campfire, not something that belonged in their reality. "We'll help you," he says firmly. "But we need to move quickly."
Maggie nods in agreement, her gaze still assessing Lunar. "Tell us where to find your brother."
Lunar wipes her nose with the back of her hand, her eyes red from crying. "He's in the saloon in Armadillo," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "But you must hurry. He's not thinking straight. He's going kill a lot innocent people ."
Raven feels a cold knot in his stomach. A deal with the devil? It's a desperate move, one that could only lead to ruin. He glances at Maggie, who nods solemnly, her eyes hard. he knows the kind of danger he's heading into, but there's no question that he will help Lunar. It's what Bandidos do.
"What's your brother's name?" Raven asks, his voice firm. "And where is he right now?"
Lunar sniffles. "His name is Dwheeler He's going to Van Horn. Please, hurry," she pleads, the urgency in her eyes unmistakable.
The sudden realization hits Raven like a ton of bricks. "Van Horn? That's where we're headed," he says, his voice a mix of surprise and concern. "We need to get there before he does something stupid."
Lunar nods fervently. "Please," she begs, her eyes filling with tears. "You have to save him before it's too late."
The flash of light is sudden and blinding, enveloping Lunar and pulling her back into the abyss from which she came. Raven and Maggie watch in shock as the girl they'd just promised to help vanishes without a trace, leaving only the the echo of her desperate pleas.