Rick hesitated, calculating. "Yeah, that'll work."
They ran for another hour without stopping. Slash led them through the hills and across a huge plain, then to a wetlands laced with small streams. Finally they reached a wide river. Slash didn't even break stride, just grew some fins and dove in. Rick skidded to a halt, seeing how strong the current looked. "Slash, hold up! We need to find a better place to cross!"
Slash glanced back in annoyance, then reluctantly returned to shore. "Fine…. but hurry up."
Rick nodded and began trotting along the bank in search of a shallower part of the river. "Won't be long."
Charlotte scanned the river up and down, searching for a muddy spot. A few yards ahead, she spotted and area where the water flowed less freely. "Rick!" she called him over.
Rick came back over and took a look at the spot Charlotte had found, then quickly began to cross. Slash bounded past them so he could go in front, splashing them both with muddy water on the way by. Rick dodged the worst of it and kept going, already halfway across.
(I'm going to work again today, but only until noon this time)
Too focused to swerve in time, Charlotte was soaked through. She trudged her way through the mud, cursing at the water dripping off her and back into the river.
(See ya later! Good luck!))
(Sorry for vanishing longer than expected ^^; )
Slash was unrepentant, already climbing out of the water on the opposite bank. "We're getting close," he barked, pacing impatiently as he waited for them to join him.
"All right," Rick replied, reaching dry land and offering Charlotte his hand. "When we get there, don't charge right in, okay kid? I wanna scope out the situation first."
Slash huffed, but nodded. "Fine. But I'm not gonna just sit there the whole time while you guys fight 'em or whatever."
(that's alright! How was work?))
With a moment of a doubt, Charlotte accepted Rick's hand and leaped off the sand bank to dry land. "Alright," she said, nodding her thanks to Rick, "Let's move."
(It went okay! I think I'm starting to actually retain information now lol.)
Slash immediately started off after the trail again, almost losing them in the tall reeds. They left the wetlands behind after a while, and came back to the open prairie. This area was more hilly though, and the landscape was dotted with short, scrubby pines.
Finally, Slash turned and cut straight up the side of a hill, then lay down flat in the grass at the top. "They're just below us."
Charlotte sprinted to his side, crouching low among the tall grass. A procession of 5 caravans rolled along the dirt road, packed with gyptians of all shapes and sizes. She bit her lip scanning for any hints… And then she saw it. The third caravan from the front, with chains shackled to one of the wheels. "Gotcha," she breathed, eager to get the best of them and take off with her girl.
Rick held up his hand. "Okay, here's what I'm thinkin'. Slash will go down and cause a distraction. I'll stay up here and give both of you cover on your way in and out. Charlotte, you'll sneak down and get your girl, then come back up here and we'll all make tracks before they have a chance to get organized. How's that sound?"
Charlotte turned the plan over in her head, finding a million faults. But speed was their strongest bet in this case, and she nodded her assent.
"Okay," Rick said, pulling out is shotgun. "Slash, you're up. Head down behind 'em and make some noise. Don't get in too deep–you need to be able to come back the second I call. Clear?"
Slash growled in understanding and broke cover, bounding down the slope towards the caravan. With a roar, he leapt to the roof of the last wagon, shredding its fragile roof with his claws.
Rick quickly took aim at the first people to react. "Okay, Charlotte, you're good to go!"
She was on her feet before he'd even finished his sentence. Keeping low and silent, she sprinted down the grassy hill, running along the edge of the road so as to circle around to the side of the procession, opposite the fight now happening. She broke away from the trees, now level with the road, and went straight for the wagon holding Jessie. A burly young man spotted her, but his throat was slit before he could make a sound. She leaped into the caravan, sending a couple more gypsies collapsing to the ground as she landed.
Rick took shots at a few of the gypsies nearest Slash, but quickly realized that the young Deorn didn't need much help, so instead he turned to find Charlotte. He couldn't see her, but could effectively guess her location based on the strewn bodies down below. He shot one gypsy that was trying to sneak up on her, then paused to quickly reload. By now, a couple of his opponents had figured out his location and were starting up the slope towards him, dodging from tree to tree. Rick made mental notes of their hiding places, finished reloading, and whipped up his gun just as one of them leaped out of cover. One shot and he was down, two shots and his companion joined him. Rick glanced over his shoulder to make sure no one was trying to sneak around from that angle, then went back to keeping the rest of the gypsies thoroughly pinned down for his friends.
The caravan had seemed smaller from the outside, and the end of it was lost to darkness save for the shapes of three other people. One other man, who ran up to her and with a well placed kick to the stomach, sent her into the side of the vehicle.
Gasping, she got to her feet against the wood wall, eyeing the man up and down. He was armed only with a Bowie knife, and his right side was weaker than his left which she could tell by the fact he held his knife in his left hand.
Before she could fully balance her breathing he ran towards her once again but she ducked out of the way just in time and he slammed headfirst into the wood; Charlotte stabbed him in the back before he could move away.
A muffled cry sounded from one of the remaining figures, a woman's. Charlotte slowly walked forward, knife held out in front of her. It was indeed a young woman, guarding another young woman who's head was covered with a canvas sack. Charlotte looked the gypsie woman in the eye and nodded towards the exit. The latter nodded and, slowly standing up, headed for the open doors. But the second she was out of Charlotte's view the sound of a blade unsheathing came, and Charlotte has twisted around before the move could be made; grabbing the woman's wrist, Charlotte kicked her knee and headbutted her, knocking her out.
And then she was alone with Jessie, who lay unconscious. Without a moment's pause she pulled the canvas off of her head, finding her little girl bruised and cut and, above all, grown up. Before she could soften she pulled Jessie towards her, slinging her over her shoulder and, after regaining her balance, started towards the exit.
Rick saw Charlotte jump out of the wagon with a girl slung over her shoulder and quickly cleared the area of any potential threats. "Slash!" he yelled between shots. "We're wrappin' up here, let's go!"
Slash, who was by now mid-way through destroying a second wagon, lifted his head and spotted Charlotte. Swatting an attacker away, he barreled out of the fray and galloped to meet her. "Is that her?"
"Yes, it is!" Charlotte told him on an exhale, saving her breath for running up the hill.
"Good." Slash snapped at a gypsy who got too close. "Rick! We got her!"
"I see that," Rick called back in mild exasperation. "Come on up so we can get outta town before these guys start really fightin' back!"
With a quiet groan of effort Charlotte up, fighting with all her might to sprint up the hill with the weight of Jessie on her back. She ran and pushed to continue and went on running until she was level with Rick. "Don't make me stop or I won't be able to keep moving," she told Rick as she ran past, down the other side and away from their battlefield.
Rick scrambled to his feet and dashed after them, reloading his gun a second time. "Slash, how strong are you in your animal form?"
Slash gave him a funny look. "Stronger than you. Why?"
"If you can carry the kid, we can all run faster."
"What!?" Slash was incredulous. "I'm not carrying anyone!"
"Yes you are. Charlotte, I got some rope. If we hold still a second, we can tie her onto Slash's back."
Reluctantly slowing to a stop, Charlotte slid Jessie down and onto the grass. She stayed standing, though her breathing came in shallow halting breaths. "Hurt her," she told Slash, approaching him, "and I'll kill you myself." Even though the words were said in a whisper only Slash could hear, Charlotte could tell they rang true. Without looking away from Slash, she put her hand out for the rope.
Slash pinned his ears flat against his head. "I'm…..not gonna hurt her."
Rick handed Charlotte the rope and went to guard their backs, watching the hills for signs of pursuit. "Once we're ready to run again, let's cut back around the hills and throw 'em for a loop. Hopefully we can lose them in the tall grass and get back on track by this afternoon."
"Sounds good," Charlotte said distractedly, tightening the rope around Slash's waist. She picked Jessie up in her arms, setting her gently down on Slash's back and tying her down to him. "All set."
Slash looked hugely uncomfortable with this setup, but didn't complain, just set off again at a careful run. Rick followed, pointing them north towards the end of the hills.
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