Johnny cheerfully raised his hands to stop them. "Aw, but we was jus' waitin' fer some guests to come alawng, weren't we?" The other chorused their agreement. "We're havin' a big party down by th' crick, with food an' music and all else! Y' really gotta come." He winked. "Besides, we woudn't want y'all to mebbe sneak 'round the toll booth by the Big Sippi, would we? We'll jus' show ye thar in the mornin'."
"The 'Big Sippi'?" Bernon wondered.
"Mississippi River," Mike muttered. "Gateway to the Eastern Region of the country. Can't get across without paying something these days." He sighed, although it sounded more like a growl. "Just go along with him, it's easier than starting a fight."
Tanrial nearly gaged at the wink but glanced sideways for a moment at Mike and Bernon before speaking, “Alright. We’ll come…” she said, sighing a little.
Half the mercenaries stayed in the field to deal with the dead Nayla, while the rest, led by Johnny, led them through the trees and over to a large collection of tents and campfires near a muddy stream. The smell of cooking food was very strong here, as well as the less pleasant smell of gunpowder. A spot near the camp had been cleared of brush, and in it sat a huge machine resembling a cannon, made of scraps of wood and metal and painted to look like a snarling dog. Johnny proudly pointed it out and called it the "Skeeter Eater". It was the machine they'd shot down the Nayla with, and its barrel was still smoking.
They sat their guests down around the main campfire and started handing out the food–roasted meat, apples, rye bread, and coffee. Some of the men had more alcoholic drinks, but they didn't seem to keen on sharing.
Johnny sat across the fire from Tanrial and the others with a sigh. "So. Ye traveled far?"
“A fair distance yes. What about you? Do you stay here or move from place to place?” She asked taking a bite of an apple given to her and leaning forward on her knees so she could better see Johnny.
"Wal we been here 'n this area fer quat a whal. A bunch of fellers near here want us to protect their farms from bandits. But yeah, we always gotta travel lookin' fer work. Ev'ry half-year we head back home 'n spend time with the women folk. It's a lonely an dangerous life, but we love it."
“So, there’s no women here? At all?” She asked, frowning a little.
"Nope. Well, thar's one." Johnny jerked his thumb at the stream. "She's asleep rite now, but she'll wake up fer the music after supper. A real nice lady, she is. You'll love 'er." He took a swig of coffee. "Bah th' way, any of yew play an instrument? Or sing? Wouldn't want to leave y' out."
Tanrial shook her head, “No, I don’t anymore.”
"Too bad. Oh well." Johnny went and got a fiddle and started to tune it. Someone else had a banjo, and another pulled out a harmonica. The rest of the men gathered around, and started to nod their heads as the song began. The banjo player sang, and although his accent was even stronger than Johnny's, he had a nice voice and the others clapped along happily. Johnny was very good with the fiddle seemed to be hugely enjoying himself. Bernon smiled and clapped with the rest, while Mike ate his meal and kept an eye on the woods.
Tanrial smiled and got up to dance with a few of the other guys that were dancing, they were spinning her around the fire and soon she became a little dizzy but she kept going, laughing with them and enjoying herself.
Johnny started another song, this one faster. "Alrat boys, let's see if we can wake up Miss Nellie!"
The music got louder and the mercenaries started singing along as loud as they could.
They were just reaching the middle of the song when there was suddenly a loud, guttural roar from the dark water behind them, and the sound of splashing.
"Woops, there she is!" Johnny stood up and faced the stream, still fiddling. "C'mon girl, come and join us!"
Bernon choked on his coffee. "Um–"
Tanrial stopped dancing and sat down next to Bernon and confused look on her face, which looked more like a frown and a scowl, “That is Miss Nellie?” She asked, her mouth hanging open.
(No, I gotta goooo T.T seeya later)
Johnny stepped aside to reveal a giant, pure white alligator pulling herself out of the water. Her scales were covered in delicate black markings like a cascade of crescent moons down her back, and a pair of curly ram's horns hugged her skull. Her eyes were a bright, sharp green. She hissed at the crackling campfire, her teeth long and snaggly.
"Miss Nellie's our mascot," Johnny explained, finishing the tune with a flourish. "Say hi to her and don' get too close, now. She ain't too fond of strangers."
(Okay, seeya later)
“I think I’ll stay over here…” Tanrial said, swallowing.
Mike stared at the creature without blinking. "What is it?"
"What is she," Johnny corrected. "Why, she's a swamp crawler! They come in all shapes n' sizes, but miss Nellie's the purdiest one around. She takes care o' camp while me an' th' boys are off shootin' up stuff." He lowered his voice in a conspiratorial manner. "She eats people sometimes, ya know. Kind of a bad habit, but she's a hard 'un to train."
“Yeah, I think that’s expected seeing as she is a large sharp toothed animal,” She looked at Johnny, “When I meant females I meant humans or someone that resembles a human.”
(Sorry, I can’t talk tonight :( I’ll be back when I can)
(that's okay :) I'll see you when I see you)
"Human? Naw, somebody's gotta hold the fort back home. Girls 'r better at point defense, so we let 'em protec th' kids while we do the bread-winnin'. Ev'ry once 'n a blue moon thar's a gal that wants to come with us, but generally they like stayin' home."
"Hey bawss," one of the men interrupted. "Reckon Miss Nellie's up for a match or two?"
Johnny brightened. "Sounds fun! Why don't yew ask her?"
The man stepped closer to the alligator and whispered something. The beast hissed louder and snapped her jaws at him, but he danced away, playfully taunting her. The others joined in, drawing her farther out of the water. After several minutes she gave another angry roar and reared up, her form shifting as she did so. In a heartbeat she was a human, with pure white skin and hair, wearing ragged clothes that seemed to come from thin air. Her horns, claws, and sharp teeth remained, and her still-reptilian eyes gleamed in the firelight.
"Whaddaya want?" she snarled at Johnny. "Wanna fight?"
"Ye read my mind, Ma'am," Johnny replied, shrugging off his coat. "Stand back, y'all. It's time fer some quality entertainment."
Tanrial blinked a few times, “In all my years that is a sight I actually haven’t seen before…and I thought I’d seen loads but clearly not.” She watched the…human, how she moved, held herself and readied herself for the fight. Yes, she looked human but at heart she was still the alligator, still had those instincts drilled into her brain. This fight was going to be interesting.
The mercenaries made a large circle around the two fighters, cheering Johnny on. He and Nellie circled each other, carefully keeping their distance. Nellie continued to growl, and at first Johnny only grinned in response. But then, he suddenly stopped and stepped forward, growling just as deeply and fiercely as her. She blinked, then bared her teeth in a smile. And at that moment, they lunged at each other.
Bernon jumped. Mike didn't move, watching intently.
It was a whirl of snarling and laughing, the laughing mist,y coming from Johnny and the other mercenaries and the snarling from Nellie. They bit and clawed at each other, Nellie having the advantage because if what she was but Johnny seemed to actually be doing alright. He hadn’t tapped out there which was interesting.
“I saw Nellie wins the fight and Johnny ends up with some more scars…” She said quietly.
"We'll see," Mike said.
The fight did seem to be leaning in Nelle's favor. She brutally forced him back towards the fire with blow after blow, and he only just managed to avoid being slashed in the face. He took one more step back, then stopped.
"Tell 'er, Johnny," someone shouted.
And suddenly he gave a bellow and leaped forward. He didn't attack, just shoved her away. His eyes were pinpricks of blue ice, and he loomed over her. She hissed and shrank back, somehow seeing a change in him. The game was over. With firm, forceful steps, Johnny pushed her back, and she retreated. Their eyes were locked together, but while hers were wide and staring, his were narrowed and fierce. They reached the stream's edge and paused. Then Johnny gave one last loud roar and she lowered her head, clearly admitting defeat.
The men cheered. Johnny bowed and grinned at his guests. "Well, that was fun! Any of yew want ter have a go with her?"
“Or…not,” Tanrial looked at Johnny, “How’d you do that?” He asked, utterly confused and a frown plastered on her face.
He shrugged. "Was easy. I jus' pulled rank on 'er. Swamp Crawlers don't listen to words very well, but if you speak 'n their own language, they sit up an' pay attention. Gotta make yourself huge 'n show 'em th' Stare, ya know? She knows I'm Alpha, but sometimes I gotta remind her a bit."
“Right, yeah…” He shook her head, “Let’s not bring Nellie out again. I don’t feel like being her dinner tonight.”
%20pngg.png)
