Erica waited... she knew they only had one shot. But that wasn't what made her nervous. Her instincts were so good, she knew she could trust them. Having her dress removed almost seemed to heighten those animal instincts... to be naked was literally removing the last vestment of her humanity in some ways... but this was for a good cause. Animal's don't think in such terms, so she felt assured in her humanity enough to do this.
She knew she would be happier once she had her dress back on- urgh! No.. not a dress. any clothing.
Nikki had taken position to the side, just as planned. They had to just stun them, and move. She hoped that Samuel would not be affected too badly by this.. it was going to be bad enough on the two skunk creatures.
"I think he's pullin' our leg... there's no gold here." One man's voice rang.
There were murmurs of agreement.
"Keith glanced back. "I told you, there is. A bag of coins... We'll split it."
"There best be enough for all of us... this forest gives me the creeps. You know what they say lives here?"
Keith glanced around. There was something unsettling here. "Stories..." He scoffed.
"The natives said this place was enchanted. Something about forest spirits..."
Keith groaned. Stupid.. nonsense. "You got a gun? Shoot it," He said with a chuckle.
There was a slight rustling in the bush, making the group pause. Keith out of habit brought his gun out. "Someone there?"
Silence...
There was a nervous chuckle from the group. "Loosin' it Keith?"
"Shut the hell up..." He glanced about trying to find a familiar tree. This felt like it could be it... ah yes! That silver birch tree. He recalled that when he buried it. "This is the place. Under that tree."
He wasn't quite sure what happened next. There was a flicker of something black and white... It wasn't as big as a human, but neither a small creature. Before he could tell what it was, he felt something wet and sticky splash onto his face. He closed his eyelids, but his eyes felt like they were on fire! He screamed unable to open them. "I can't see!"
"El Diablo" One person said white as a sheet.
The stench in the air was unbearable, it was burning his lungs, he couldn't breath. he couldn't even stand. He tried to grab the water to splash it over his eyes.
"That's as far as you go Keith." A man came out, he was wearing a handkerchief over his mouth that looked like it had been doused in some kind of oil.
Keith tried to fight, despite the assault on him. His other men had fallen unconscious. He couldn't even see! He fumbled for his gun, but it dropped like a stone as his arm just spasm.
The capture was... easy.
Samuel nodded to himself. All in all... that went quite well. The smell was... unbearable though. Even being in the area, he was struggling not to vomit. Unfortunately, he had not realised how sensitive his dog Cuttler was to the stench, and the poor animal was also quite incapacitated. He was quivering wreck...
The entire group was caught, allowing Samuel to tend to his dog.
"Hey boy... it's okay..." He said gently. He took the dog to the stream. Being there seemed to calm the dog down a lot.
Erica watched some distance away a little sadly as did Nikki. She didn't mean for the dog to be affected like that...
"It's okay mommy.. Dogs react like that," She said softly.
Erica nodded sadly. Not just dogs.. humans too. Cuttler will be fine though. She carefully approached Samuel, aware of the dog whining now to her.
"I need to send word back on the capture of these critters," Said Samuel grinning. "For their crimes, they are sure to be hanged... we don't take kindly to murder in these parts."
Erica smiled a little... "You're a hero," She grinned blushing a bit. She quickly went back to the bushes to put on her dress.
"Easiest capture I have ever done.. probably in the history of the west," He said chuckling. "You might have a future in this you know."
Erica shook her head. "I've had... enough of the wild west to be honest. I just.. want to get home."
"Well if you change your mind, you always have a home here... hey... what's that?"
The three looked up, the sight made Erica's jaw drop. It was a lot like the portal that had brought her here in the first place. Strange ripples hanging overhead like a window in the clouds. She could almost swear she could see flickers of the strange new sun inside that window. It seemed to be flickering over where they tied up the bandits...
"Oh no..." Erica said alarmed.
"What is it?"
"Did you say that was Keith? As in Bandit Keith?"
"yeah... what's wrong?" Asked Samuel.
Erica's eyes widened. Of course she knew this bandit. Everyone in Hedgeton did, even in their own time. He was an urban legend. After escaping from prison, he had run off with a lot of gold. The law never caught up with him.... it was rumoured he had settled somewhere. which means, she had now altered history a second time... how many generations did she just wipe out? How many lives have just been undone, changed, re-written?
It would mean... they may have just strained history greatly... glancing up at the sky, at the turbulent storm, she could believe it.
Nikki glanced up with a strange expression. She seemed a bit sad of something, but there was an unmistakable look of optimism. "It's okay mom..." She tried to assure.
Erica ran to where the bandits were tied up.
"Erica wait!" Samuel said running behind her.
Erica was starting to realise, time travel had some serious implications... The further back one was, the greater the ripple in history.
Keith looked to them, barely awake. "What.. the.. devil.. are... you..." He said coughing at the stench.
"What's your name!" Erica said fearfully.
"Keith.. Wolf," He said spitting.
"Your real name!" Erica shouted. "Tell me..."
"Keith... Jones" He snarled.
Erica swallowed.
Oh... crap...
