About twenty minutes later a man walked into the small clearing carrying a lantern. He wore clothes similar to the tracker's, only of a finer cloth and cut, and where the tracker's colors were light tan and navy his were black and burgundy. Spotting the clothes on the ground, he began picking them up and shaking them out. When he came to the shirt he sighed and muttered, "Is it really so difficult to get undressed before the Change occurs?"
The rest of the clothes went into a small sack he'd been carrying. From his belt pouch came needle and thread. Placing the lantern so it provided enough illumination, he set about mending the tears in the seams.
Another twenty minutes passed before the cougar returned. The man put away the deck of cards he'd been playing with as the cougar walked up to him. The cougar pushed him back so he was leaning up against the tree behind him then sprawled half-on, half-off him, head resting on his chest. Wrapping his arms around the cougar, he held him tightly, stroking the sleek coat. A low, rumbling purr made them both vibrate. The man rested his cheek against the broad head, a sad smile on his lips as he whispered, "I love you so much, Vin."
The cougar nuzzled him reassuringly and the man felt Vin's love through the bond. They lay comfortably like that for a few moments longer. Finally he said, "I take it you had a successful hunt?"
A few brief images of the hunt flashed through his mind and a sense of contentment filled him. The man still found it odd that even if they ate just before the Change, at some point they still needed to eat in animal form.
He grunted slightly as the cougar pushed up off him, getting to his feet and looking towards the village.
"No. No way. We are not getting involved in this...this Cause!" Ezra glared at the cougar, who sat down calmly regarding him. "Don't bother giving me that look. We are not doing this."
Ezra watched the cougar lay down and tilt his head to the side. He felt the calm patience coming from his bonded. He shook his finger at the cougar. "I mean it, Vin. We are not getting involved. Look what happened the last time we decided someone needed our protection?"
The Southerner pulled out his deck of cards, determined not to give in. The cougar inched his way forward, laying his head on his paws when Ezra glared at him. Finally he reached Ezra and rested his chin on Ezra's thigh, staring up at him with wide blue eyes.
"This isn't fair, you know." He lifted a hand to gently caress the golden head. Turning his head, the cougar lapped at the pale wrist, sending love and reassurance. Ezra sighed.
"All right, but if anything goes wrong I reserve the right to say I told you so."
The cougar bounded to his feet and took a couple of steps towards the village.
"I suppose it's time to meet these new friends of yours," he said, rising to his feet as well, dusting himself off. "Couldn't you have found a Cause that had a slightly higher monetary remuneration?"
He staggered a little when the cougar butted his leg. "Don't worry. I'm not going to back out. I just think we could put our unique skills to a job with greater gain."
He quickly stepped out of the cougar's reach when he tried to swat him. On the trail back to the village he continued talking. "No, I haven't forgotten about the bounties on our heads. I just wish I knew why he wants you dead and me alive. I'm worthless without you."
With a growl the cougar knocked him to the ground and straddled his chest. Startled green human eyes met serious blue cat eyes. He sighed, bringing his hand up to caress the thick neck. "It's true, Vin. You are my entire world. Without you in it, life means nothing to me. I'd rather be cursed like this than not have you in my life."
Once more the cougar nuzzled him reassuringly before allowing him to regain his feet. They continued in silence to the village but his hand never left the golden-brown shoulder.
In the village, people gave them wide berth as they walked to the tavern. They'd been in the village five days now, so the residents had gotten a little used to seeing them together. Of course the rumors that he might be some sort of Mage encouraged the villagers to keep their distance.
Entering the tavern, he wasn't surprised when the room hushed for a brief moment before conversations resumed. He sat down at an empty table, pulled out his deck of cards and waited for the waitress, Vin's friends, or some card players to appear. The waitress and the card players arrived at the same time. After ordering an ale he settled in for some serious poker.
By the time Chris, Buck, and Nathan arrived at the tavern, he'd cleaned out the three he'd been playing poker with. Now he had a larger group watching him manipulate the cards and betting on what card he would bring to the top. The cougar lay beneath the table, out of sight and quickly forgotten by the other patrons.
Chris walked up to the crowd of men, Buck and Nathan behind him. The crowd parted then melted away as they got a look at who was coming up behind them until Chris reached the table. The dapper looking man with chestnut hair and emerald green eyes smiled at them. "Good evening, Mr. Larabee. I've been anticipating your appearance. Mr. Wilmington and...Mr. Jackson. I presume?"
None of them missed the slight pause before the man greeted Nathan, nor did they miss the thick Southern accent. Nathan bristled a little but held his tongue at a glance from Chris. Chris regarded the Southerner for a moment. "You the partner Tanner was talking about?"
"Yes, that would be me. Ezra P. Standish at your service." He gave them a two-fingered salute with a slight smile. "Mr. Tanner told me about this Cause you all have agreed to embark upon. While normally I prefer jobs with a higher paycheck... Ow!" Ezra suddenly leaned forward, swiping at his leg under the table. The three men frowned.
"Something wrong, Standish?" Chris asked.
"No. No, just fine. As I was saying, Mr. Tanner told me about this job and since he has so kindly volunteered our...dammit," Ezra leaned forward again.
"You sure you're all right?" Nathan asked, taking a step forward, but stopped at Ezra's frosty glare.
"I am quite all right, Mr. Jackson. If I am in need of your assistance I shall ask for it."
"Fine. Be that way." The Andolan stepped back throwing his hands up. Before any of them could say anything else, three men pushed their way passed to confront Ezra. They were the three men he'd cleaned out earlier in the poker game and were all quite drunk.
"You cheated!" said the apparent leader of the three.
"I beg your pardon, sir?"
"Yeah, you better beg. I'm gonna cut your cheatin' hands off. I want my money back."
"I take umbrage at your slanderous and libelous remarks, sir. It is not my fault that your poker skills are hideously appalling. I won that game fairly with no sleight of hand."
Most of those listening looked at each other in confusion. No one had understood half of what the Southerner had said.
"What?" the drunk demanded.
Ezra sighed, "I didn't cheat."
"Well, I say you did. Now you're gonna pay up or I'm gonna have to hurt you," the growled, pulling the knife from his belt.
Ezra rose to his feet. "That, sir, and I do use the term loosely, does not frighten me in the slightest. I did not cheat and threatening me will in no way assure the return of your money."
Buck and Nathan looked to Chris, wondering if they should interfere. Chris shook his head, wanting to see how the Southerner handled himself. The drunk stepped closer to the small man bringing the knife up to his throat.
"Don't make me carve up that pretty face of yours."
A low rumbling growl had everyone but Ezra looking down at the table. They all froze as the cougar stalked out from beneath the table. It happened so quickly bystanders later swore it was magic. The gambler's hand flexed and a knife dropped into it from a hidden sheathe. Before anyone realized what was happening he had it pressed to the drunk's throat.
"You were saying?"
"Uh...uh, nothing. Nothing at all. We was just leaving," the drunk stammered out before turning tail and following his friends out the door. Once they were gone, the knife disappeared back into its' hiding place and Ezra put a comforting hand on the cougar's shoulder. He turned to find Chris, Buck, and Nathan staring at him.
"I do apologize for that little display, gentlemen. I believe I shall take my leave of you now and see you tomorrow night."
"We'll be in the Eloni village by tomorrow night," Chris stated.
"I am aware of that. I shall see you there." Ezra moved to leave the tavern but stopped at the sound of Buck's voice.
"Hey, buddy, that's a cougar."
Ezra looked down at the large cat beside him. "Why, yes, he is," he smiled at Buck then continued out the door. None of them said anything as they stared after the Southerner and his strange companion.
*******
Just after sunrise Vin arrived at the livery to find Chris already there saddling his horse. Vin gently transferred the half-asleep falcon to the stall door before entering it. This early in the morning Peso knew better than to bother the sleeping bird. His muzzle still bore the scars of the consequences. Instead he chose to nip at Vin as he went about saddling him. Vin just ignored the horse, pushing him away when he got too close with his teeth.
Leaving his horse in its' stall, saddled but without bridle, Chris leaned against the door of Peso's stall watching Vin work. Finally, "Interesting partner you have."
Vin just glanced at him.
"Why didn't you say something about the cougar?"
Vin shrugged, not looking up this time. "The cougar is part of him, same as the falcon is part of me. Where one goes so does the other. Don't see the problem."
"A cougar isn't exactly an animal you can tame. Not like that falcon of yours. Just not sure I'm comfortable having it around, even if it is your partner's pet. And speaking of your partner, where is he? I told him we were leaving at first light."
"First of all the cougar ain't a pet. Neither is the falcon. They go with us because they choose to. The cougar won't harm none of y'all, not unless you're trying ta harm Ezra. As for where he is, he told ya last night he'd meet ya at the village at dusk. He'll be there."
Before Chris could comment any further Buck and Nathan came into the livery. Nathan went to saddle his own horse while Buck wandered over to Chris and Vin. He let out an appreciative whistle when he saw the falcon, "Well now, ain't that a sight. Mighty pretty bird you got there, Tanner. What's her name?"
"I wouldn't do that," Vin cautioned when Buck lifted his hand to pet the falcon's breast feathers.
"Do what?" Buck asked, glancing up at him without halting his movement. At the first touch the falcon's eyes popped open and he snapped at the offending fingers. Buck let out a screech as both he and Chris jumped back from the falcon. Nathan came hurrying out of his horse's stall while Vin just chuckled. The falcon shrieked at the men before launching himself into the air and leaving the barn.
"What in hell are you laughing at?" Buck demanded, cradling his injured hand. "She damn near took my hand off."
"Let me see that," Nathan said, catching hold of Buck's wrist. Expecting to find Buck missing at least one or two fingers, he was surprised to see the man had nothing more than a deep cut. "It ain't that bad. Just needs some cleaning and a bandage."
"That ain't the point," Buck groused.
"I warned ya not to do that. She is a he and he don't like being woken up in the morning. Hell, he'd sleep all day if I let him. And, Buck? If he wanted ta hurt ya, you'd be missing a lot more than just some skin." Vin glanced at Larabee. "Cougar ain't tame, and I never claimed the falcon was either." That said, Vin led Peso from his stall and outside.
"You sure you want him riding with us, pard? Damn bird is dangerous."
"No shit, Buck," Chris drawled. "It's a falcon. Of course it's dangerous, and you damn well know better than to go touching a bird like that when it doesn't know you. Vin's right. You're lucky you only lost some skin. Now saddle up. I want to get going soon." Chris returned to his stall, bridled his black gelding, Stone, and led him outside.
Buck looked at Nathan who just shrugged. "Don't look at me. I agree with'em."
********
Ten minutes later the four men were mounted up in the courtyard of the livery when a loud, "H-ya," was heard. A moment later a horse ridden by the young man from the cemetery the day before came sailing over the fence. He brought the horse to a halt, a big grin plastered on his face as he said cockily, "I heard you fellas are headed to a fight. My name is JD Dunne and I can ride," he paused to rein his gelding around in a tight circle, then facing them again he threw one leg over his saddle horn while bringing up his crossbow, "*and* I can shoot."
He fired and smiled in satisfaction when it sunk solidly into a tree trunk on the other side of the courtyard. He wasn't prepared for the sudden sound of a high-pitched shriek and a small dark form launching itself from the tree branch next to where the bolt had hit. The falcon flew low through the courtyard spooking the horses. The four older men quickly regained control of their horses while JD, already in a precarious position, went tumbling off.
"And he can fly, sorta," Vin commented with a smirk, holding up his arm for the agitated falcon. JD had just regained his feet when his horse went barreling past him, knocking him into the water trough.
"And he can swim too," Buck snickered.
"Gosh-dammit!" JD spluttered pulling himself from the water trough. "Why didn't you grab my horse?"
They watched as the teen rushed off after the fleeing gelding. Buck brought his gray dapple up next to Chris, slanting a big grin at his old friend. "Almost forgot to tell you. That pretty little schoolmarm's been talking about you around town. Tellin' folks how once word gets out that the notorious mercenary Chris Larabee is living in this little town and he's already shot down close to twenty people his first day here those dangerous folks are gonna stay away."
"Really."
"Uh-huh."
"I'll be right back."
Nathan glanced up at the sky as Chris rode back into the village. "At this rate your friend may get to the Eloni village before we do."
"Nah. You won't see Ezra before dark," Vin answered, fishing some meat cubes out of his belt pouch for the falcon. Buck watched the way the bird carefully took each cube from the tracker's hand. At one point he paused in his meal to preen some of his feathers into proper order.
"Why is it he's real gentle, almost dainty-like now, but when I tried to touch him he tries to take off my fingers?" Buck asked plaintively.
"He only snapped at ya before 'cause he'd been sleeping. Normally he's pretty gentle," Vin said. He tenderly stroked the falcon, smiling at the soft huurring sound he made. He transferred him to the special stand on his saddle, saying softly, "Go back to sleep."
The falcon shook his wings out, flipped them neatly into place, before hiding his face and beak beneath one to promptly fall asleep. The other two men watched in some fascination, the bond between tracker and falcon like nothing they'd ever seen before.
***********
Chris rode quickly through the village, easily locating the small school by the children playing outside. Seeing him approach, Mary urged the children inside then waited patiently for him to speak. He glared down at her for a long moment, his lips set in a firm, straight line until she started to fidget and asked, "Is there something I can help you with?"
"I don't appreciate what you've been saying about me."
"If I have to bend the facts a little to keep our town safe and if the next bunch of drunken scum decides to steer clear of here, then it was worth another black mark on your... your already less-than-stellar reputation, Mr. Larabee. You see, I... took the liberty of researching your past in my late husband's files."
"You read second-hand trash, and you think you know a man. You don't know me."
"I'm just trying to scare the bad element away from this town."
"Lady...I am the bad element," Chris said, then reined Stone around, leaving Mary to stare after him. Returning to the courtyard, Chris nodded to the men waiting. "Let's ride."
********
At the ruined church they found Josiah waiting for them, talking softly to his horse, Salvation aka Sal.
"Why'd you change your mind?" Nathan asked.
"Crows."
"What crows?"
"A sign."
"What does that mean?"
"Death."
"Whose?" Nathan asked beginning to become exasperated.
"Probably mine," Josiah answered, mounting his horse. The falcon let out what sounded like a chortle, drawing Josiah's attention. "He finds that amusing?"
"Yeah," Vin grinned. "He thinks you put too much faith in your crows. 'Cording ta him they're nothing but annoying pains-in-the-butts."
"Is that so?" Josiah chuckled.
"What about all this?" Nathan asked, gesturing at the rubble surrounding the church.
"Oh...these stones will still be here if I get back."
"We can use another good man," Vin said quietly.
"Not so good...but I can fight," Josiah sighed nudging Sal into a trot.
**********
By mid-morning they were halfway to the Eloni village. The falcon was finally fully awake and spent most of his time flying above or ahead of them. Every so often he would dive at Buck and steal his hat. Usually he dropped it into Vin's waiting hand. Once he managed to get it to land directly on Sal's head. The horse didn't even flinch, just continued along, chewing on his bit. The men laughed while Buck glared at the unrepentant bird.
**********
They were almost to the village when the falcon sent Vin an image. He shook his head in mild admiration. "Hey, Chris. That kid from this morning followed us. He's up on the other side of the rim."
Chris looked back at him questioningly. Vin just pointed to the falcon flying overhead. Understanding, Chris turned to Buck who grinned and nodded. He headed back the way they'd come while the others continued on.
**********
JD wriggled a little, wedging himself deeper in his hiding place as he watched the men begin their descent to the canyon floor. Sighting along his crossbow, he looked for the falcon first. "There's that bird. Then we have one...two...three...four..."
A feather suddenly appeared in front of his face. His eyes traveled up the feather to the hand holding it and then to the man attached to the hand.
"Five," Buck smirked. "If you're trying to stay hid, it's best to remove your hat."
**********
Chris, Vin, Nathan and Josiah rode into the small village single file. Waiting to greet them were the two Elders who had approached them in Four Corners.
"Welcome. We greet you with hostility," said Tastanagi, the Eloni Elder.
"I think he means hospitality," Chris said as he dismounted.
Vin looked around at the villagers who stared at them suspiciously. "No. I think he means hostility."
"Some of our people find it impossible to trust white men," Tastanagi explained.
"And you?" Chris asked.
"Not impossible. Just...difficult," he answered with a shrug and a slight smile.
Vin continued to look around, noting some of the damage done to the adobe huts. The falcon gave him an aerial view, showing even more damage.
"You never told us they had a catapult."
"You didn't ask."
The cry of the falcon above them caught their attention before anything else could be said. Vin gave Chris a sly smile. "Buck's coming in with our tail."
Holding up his arm and watching the falcon's descent, Vin didn't see the looks of awe from the villagers as they watched the large bird land gently. The falcon hopped from Vin's arm to his shoulder where he huurred softly and preened Vin's hair back behind his ear.
"You are Kadalri?" Tastanagi asked, catching Vin's and the falcon's attention.
"You can see...you know what was done to us?"
"Yes. We can sense it."
"Can you help us?"
"I do not know. This is something best discussed in private. We shall talk later."
Before Chris could ask what they were talking about Buck rode into the clearing, a big smirk on his face. The teen's funny looking hat was perched on his head. "Hey, boys! Lookee what I found."
When he was in shouting distance the teen called out, "I was covering you... making sure you weren't walking into an ambush."
"How'd you get here ahead of us?" Chris asked, his gaze hard and cold.
"I told you, I can ride," JD huffed. "I cut around the canyon rim."
"Well, I suggest you ride back the same way."
"I can help. If you give me a chance I'm ready to fight."
"You think you're ready, boy?" Buck asked, leaning in towards him. "Let me guess...you learned to ride in prep school...then you read some...adventure tale about Kit Carson..got you all fired up. Figured you'd come west and try your hand as a duelist. Is that about right?"
JD glared at him, his silence all but confirming Buck's statement.
Chris sighed in disgust, "Go home. You're not the type."
"What? A man comes to you because he..."
"I said, go home, kid," Chris growled, taking a menacing step towards him. JD clamped his mouth shut on whatever he'd been about to say and turned on his heel. Buck handed him back his hat as he passed by, a smirk on the ladies man's face.
"He is young and proud," Tastanagi said, almost reproachfully.
"You could carve that on his tombstone," Chris said, continuing to glare at the retreating figure. "Let's get started. We've got four days."
"Less. They will think to surprise us by coming early, before we can hide anything."
**********
"You've already got some pretty good natural defenses here," Chris said, looking at the rough map they'd made in the sand with rocks and twigs. "The bluffs are perfect for hiding people to attack from above and there's only one way in. They just rode straight in the last time?"
"The largest group of them, yes. The leader, El Capitan they called him, left some of his men back here," Tastanagi pointed to a spot just beyond the narrow canyon entrance.
"He's a trained soldier," Josiah said, "probably from the Great War."
Chris and Buck nodded, both having served in the Northern Army in the final years of the war. Chris said, "Most likely repeat himself."
"We should all take the high ground."
"Yeah," Chris nodded. "If we can force him through this choke hold here, we'll have him. They'll pretty much be sitting ducks."
"Set that hay over there," a villager said nearby. They looked at what he was doing with interest.
"We may not have crossbows but we have our ways of fighting."
"This El Capitan will provide those for us."