Samuel knew the drill. The sheriff was always painful in his reminder, that someday something really bad could happen in their line of work.
If Ironhand were to die, Samuel was to remove his deputy badge, and become a normal citizen until a new sheriff was sent by the feds. It could be a while though. Most tended not to go after the deputy, as he was just considered a young boy at times. Still it was not something to rely on, when dealing with desperate men.
What would ironhand say at this time?
Protect your girl first son, his voice echoed into his mind.
Samuel sighed. Erica was in danger. If those criminals were in the forest, looking for stolen gold, there was no telling what they would do if they saw her. He had to protect her and take her out into the plains until this all died down.
Would it ever though? Maybe being a law man was not the life for him after all. His horse was gone, so he had to walk it all the way with his dog Cuttler.
The dog gave a whine.
"I know boy," He said to his animal companion. "I miss him too. But the Sheriff would want us to make sure Erica is okay first... we do our duty to protect all citizens." He said affirmatively. He wasn't going to give up being a deputy just yet.. even without his badge.
He walked for hours down the dusty path until he reached the forest.
Out of the trees, a snake fell onto his shoulder. He brushed it away quickly, recognising it to be venomous.. Hell! This had to be the most unluckiest day ever. It was the strangest feeling... ever since he returned from the office, something just didn't feel right. He chalked it up to nerves, given he was supposed to be dead. Only dumb luck meant he was alive...
But it was like he had used up all his luck in one go. Every small thing seemed intent on killing him. Not just him either... his dog too. Cuttler seemed to be hypersensitive of late to increasing danger. His whining was almost a signal now.. when something bad was about to happen.
Cuttler looked at his master sniffing the ground. He got on the ground... just as he did when the skunk girl first made an appearance.
"Erica?" He called out. "It's me... Are you there?" He asked hopefully. This was about the same spot he last saw her.
There was a rustle in the bushes, as the skunk girl emerged. She looked coyly to Samuel, her strange hybridised face expressing uncertainty.
"Hello..." Erica had not really interacted with normal humans much. Talking to a cowboy was... weird to say the least.
"Erica.. this place ain't safe." Samuel quickly explained looking quite terrified.
"What?" the skunk girl said as some of that fear quickly caught on.
"There are some desperate men here. They just killed the sheriff.. they are looking for gold they buried somewhere."
"W-what do we do?" Erica swallowed. She didn't know what to think...
Cuttler approached Erica very carefully. He started to get very low, making a low whining sound.
Samuel glanced at his dog. Was he trying to warn him about something? Why... did he feel so strange? He felt dizzy... almost as if he was running on empty. "Erica..." He said before collapsing.
"Samuel!" She rushed to him, her long tail flickering out of her dress. What happened? Did he push himself too hard?
Nikki poked her young face out of the bushes in concern. "Mommy? IS he..."
"I don't know... Let's bring him to the camp-fire..."
Nikki looked at the young male with a lot of curiosity. Their campfire burned as cleanly as she could make it, to try and evade anyone looking for smoke.
Erica tried to jostle Samuel awake. He seemed to be getting a little better with time, though she still had no idea what had happened.
"Hey beautiful," Samuel whispered opening his eyes.
"H-hey... you okay?" The skunk girl blushed... the idea anyone would even consider her beautiful had to be ill or delusional. Though it did send a rather warm shiver down her body...
"Feel's like I was hit by the stagecoach," Samuel said lying back. He tried to get up, but the sudden weakness of his body made it very difficult. He laid on his back staring at the sky. He had always been so fit and healthy. What happened? "A snake.. tried to bite me. I don't think it did though," He said very confused.
"Maybe if you stayed with us you'll feel better?" said Nikki a little strangely.
Samuel blinked. "Who're you little'un?" He asked
"I'm Nikki!" She giggled quite happily for some reason.
"Are... you sisters?" Samuel glanced between them. There did seem to be a family resemblance.
"No!" Said Erica.
"Um.. No. Not sisters." Nikki explained shyly.
"She.. she lost her mom," Said Erica. "I'm trying to take her back to her."
Samuel gave a faint smile at that. He wondered if there were other tribes of animal like humans somewhere... in some other world. It was certainly an interesting prospect. Strength was starting to return to him. "Well... let me help you with your camp-fire. I got a few techniques to make it an invisible one-" He paused looking at it.
"I already did it," Said Nikki rather pleased with herself.
Samuel stared at the fire in shock. Yes it was indeed done correctly... but the way it was done, had his own signature about it. It was done exactly as he would have done it. Now one could say there were only a few ways to do it... but...
"Is something wrong?" Asked Nikki.
"N-No... it's done perfectly. I'm very impressed."
Nikki giggled and blushed. She looked incredibly happy for some reason. "Thank you..."
Samuel glanced at the two of them strangely. Their strange tails and body... That Nikki was naked while Erica wore a dress didn't even phase him at this point. Who were they?
Mary Summers stared at her class room..
Instantly the uproar died down.
Tiffany glanced around, unsure how or why things just happened that way. It felt good though... she still had sway. People still would do as she directed. It was maddening that she had to take Sarah's side in anything... but she could feel it. A sliver of respect was emanating from the others.
Wasn't this the feeling she had before from them? She was respected before... wasn't she? Not quite in the same way as this though.
Their human looking teacher finally spoke. "It was a debate... not something set in stone."
The class looked a little guilty suddenly.
"Well.. it doesn't excuse that its a stupid idea," said Sarah. "Rewarding students because they can wear clothes.. it's unfair to me."
"We practice a democracy... in this school," Said Mary. "When idea's can not be debated... we risk losing that. Instantly. In a few years, you will realise just how precious being able to argue with someone can be..."
A lot of the energy Tiffany felt had now died. She didn't really care about this... she just wanted to be herself again. The old Tiffany would argue, and win any argument. What could she do now?
Steven sighed, still looking guilty. She was given clothes by design... while Sarah lost her hands, and was essentially unable to wear clothes without someone else dressing for her. She wasn't really sure which was worse. The 'clothes' she had.. she was stuck with. She still felt naked though...
Mary continued. "I am... disappointed. You may do free study, instead of normal class."
The students sighed, looking a little guilty over how it went.
Jon arrived in the class, to see everyone in free study. That was weird... it was supposed to be a lesson? She glanced the teacher.
"Welcome back Jon-" She paused looking at her. "Do.. take a seat," She said softly if a little distracted by something.
Jon mumbled her apologies, and took her seat. Her mind was thinking about Brittany and how to help her get her out of the school. There must be some way... what if the stone- oops.. he brought it with him in class. He kept it in her hand, hoping nobody would see it.
She then glanced seeing that strange girl in a pink dress.. she seemed to be new? Why was everyone looking so down? Just what did she miss?
