Keith woke up...
Glancing at the position of various shadows, he guessed it must have dozed off for a few hours. He actually felt... pretty good. Energetic even. Whatever it was that affected him, maybe it had run it's course? He cursed himself for losing all his trekking gear, but he was still sure he could make it to the next settlement at least.
He thought about that final, last piece of gold... he didn't have any time to bury that one at the time, so it was hidden inside a tree hole. Eventually, loggers would get at it if he didn't collect it. Not that it was worth much, just a few single gold coins. He had lost now all the highest gains from that robbery...
... why did he feel so weird though? It was a feeling he could dismiss with a little time, but his instincts persisted in that something wasn't completely right. Something he had forgotten? "Must have been away with the fairies," he thought shaking his head.
Then he paused... those words felt... strange. He had rarely used that expression. Shaking his head, he decided he had really had had enough of this forest. In fact, if he could help it, he didn't want to see another forest again.
... still... those last few coins... it wouldn't be too hard to get them. They were only about an hour, and if that law and demon-critter were kept busy with his men, it did give him some time to collect it.
He down on the floor seeing some berries near his feet. Maybe the birds had been at them? they looked half eaten by something. He stepped on the berries with his heavy boot, squeezing the small juices out.
He wasn't going to leave this forest empty handed!
Keith always got what he wanted.
It was tense in the church. The communion stared at this devil-preacher as if she was insane. A few in front row looked quite aghast, as if she were committing sin just standing there, where a real priest should be.
Those in the middle and back though, looked sympathetic.
"How dare you speak your vile words here Devil!" One shouted.
Robert looked sadly, placing her hand on the holy words. "If I were the Enemy... I could not be here. I could not touch these words..."
"Your tongue is filled with lies!" the lizard like creature said back, his neck puffing up.
Robert looked stunned. Even among the changed, prejudice still rained. A prejudice she had herself started, against the devil kind.. a transformation she had suffered for only a day. Was this her own hell? Punishment for her sins?
"... I was wrong," She repeated again. "Father Robert... was wrong."
"Blasphemy!" Words continued to mummer. "She isn't the father..."
Robert couldn't give up though... these people... they were a responsibility were they not? That is part of why she was a priestess. All this darkness she put in this church, now that she could see it... she had to help. But maybe she had done enough. If she kept trying she might just make matters worse.
Robert finally stared, tensing herself. "This is still... my church..." she said angrily. "If my appearance offends... remove yourselves and know that God... and I forgives you." those were hard words.. was God really with her? She couldn't say it with as much conviction as she used to... she could only have faith that the Lord was indeed with her.
There were shocked look back. "The devil creature thinks she can cast us out?"
Robert ignored the taunt. She had to get through to them... "Those... who wish to remain... let us pray. Pray for all of humanity, to see past our different skins... that a lesson need not... be learned in regret..."
A few people from the front, the ones most radicalised by her previous sermons left angrily. She had a terrible feeling they would cause trouble for her later, but right now she still had a job to do. She bowed her head, as she recited the prayer.
Robert wished so hard it could be true. Though her heart was filled with so much regret, but the desire to make amends.
Jon finally finished the assignment. She turned the paper to the teachers desk, with some trepidation. If the teacher knew, she was doing a very good job of hiding it.
She started to read it... "Hm... a very insightful report," She said thoughtfully. I'll give you a B on it."
"Oh... thank you," Said Jon. This was actually their teacher's highest grade. It was almost unheard of to get an A grade.
"Did you enjoy it?" asked Mary with a faint smile.
"It was... interesting," Admitted Jon truthfully.
"So much better then the film," Nodded the teacher. "I always thought the story of moon-watcher could have been explored further... mind you, that might have spoilt it. There is perhaps one aspect to his story, I always found very profound."
"What's that?" Asked Jon.
"There was no other like him... he was alone. The others were simply too primitive. His mind at that point worked further then theirs. In a way... they might have been afraid of him. If you could imagine someone looking so like what they once were... but clearly not any more. I suppose, that is true for us in any walk of life."
Jon stared at the teacher. What was she? Did she know? "That.. never really occurred to me," Said the slug girl in thought.
"Consider it a reminder, of how important it is, to have a friend even in difficult times. Please sit down now."
"Yes miss..." Jon trailed back to her desk, still in thought.
In the old west, time continued to march fluidly.
Erica and Samuel had tied up the rest of Keith's men. They walked back towards the skunk-girl's den, though there was a lot on Samuel's mind.
"Seem's I'm gonna be here for a while," he said. "You don't mind that I hope?"
Erica glanced. "No! Of course I don't mind. You're... the only friend I have here," she explained sadly.
"You gonna tell me what you are?" He asked.
the skunk girl sighed. She had already admitted they were from the future. Should she explain everything? She was afraid to. Though she wasn't sure why. Sam wasn't a bad person, not at all. Her note said he would help her... and he has. He has been a great help, in the short time they spent together. She trusted him...
"Ah, don't fret ma'am," he said with an easy going smile. "I'm sure you have your reasons."
"It's... complicated."
"Didn't mean to pry," Said sam. "You saved my life an' all. But it seems... where you go, I go."
Erica sighed. She wasn't sure. Was this all really predetermined? It might boil down to the fact that, she did what she wanted because she always did what she wanted... therefore it simply has always been that way.
If that were true, then it was her destiny to save Samuel. She did know... she wanted him to come with her. Away from this backward time, where life was so cheap.
Nikki had prepared another campfire, and once again Sam stared at the layout of the twigs. It was done exactly how he would have done it. "You must have had the same teacher I did Poppy," he said looking at it.
Nikki blushed a bit. "Um... no..." she said softly.
"Who taught you firecraft?" It was nice to know they still did such things in the future. Maybe the future wasn't so different after all.
Nikki glanced shyly, her skunk tail twitching from side to side. "um... can't say," she said in the end.
"You girls sure like to keep a mystery," He said grinning as he sat down. Samuel took out the paper, insisting that Erica was telling the truth. Time travel... he had heard quite a few surreal stories in his time. The evidence was right here though. He had not written any letter like this... yet here it was. It hurt his mind to think about it too much. What if he decided not to write it?
Yet the paper was here... so clearly he will write it. It could not be otherwise. This brought with it a very strange comfort. It meant he was effectively immortal, until this letter was written. No matter what the future would bring, that this letter existed meant he would continue to exist until it was done.
Was that comfort right to have? In a world of so much death though... it was a nice thought.
"I know," said Erica. "It's.. weird."
"To say the least," he said. "It means you are going to travel through time at some point... probably with us. Is that what he has to do Nikki?"
Nikki had fallen asleep, snoozing.
"Poor kid... the excitement tired her out," Said Samuel. He took out a blanket from his camping kit, and draped it over her. He wasn't sure if they actually needed it... given they had fur, but the child seemed to be quite happy with it.
"Do you have any friends... family here?" Asked Erica.
"Parents died in a gun-fight. That's why I became a deputy. Didn't want it to happen to another kid," He explained. "Don't have any family. Except for Ironhand, God rest his soul."
Erica nodded. "I'm sorry..." she said softly.
The deputy waved his hand. "It happens. Can't always stop these things... can we?"
"I..." Erica swallowed. That question.... "I don't... think so," she said sadly.
Samuel smiled a little. "I know if we could... we would."
Erica nodded again, feeling a strange.. shiver. She could feel herself blushing, but the blush didn't just end on her cheeks. It seemed to push further down her neck, down her chest, and even further. She scratched her skin a bit, finding it granted some relief. Something in the bushes must have irritated her. She thought she washed out all the leaves that had stuck onto her fur during the ambush. "I.. need to get some rest too," Said the skunk girl.
"Sure thing. I'll stand guard," said Sam.
