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Terror in the Desert
Part 1
Location: The Mesa
Kiya
Lost Assassin
Ugh.
In the depths of the Mesa, there were bandits and scavengers all over, looking to find their next victim.
Kiya, being someone familiar with the area, but not familiar enough...
Kiya
Lost Assassin
...It's so hot out here.
...Found himself lost atop the plateaus.
He did not remember when Ishmael lost contact with him, nor why. All he remembered was that he was chasing something dire.
Kiya wasn't unprepared, always keeping water on him whenever time calls for it. Though, there's only so much water you can keep on you when you're stuck in the middle of nowhere.
The sounds of clopping surround him as he gazes towards the horizon.
???
Bandit
Well, well. Look at what we got here, fellas.
???
Bandit
A new excuse to start looting!
Kiya
Lost Assassin
...Seriously.
Sure enough, he's in trouble once again.
Bandits, wanting to find their own place in the Mesa, stand over him menacingly.
Their eyes speak of hunger not unlike vultures waiting for their next meal.
???
Bandit
You got any plans to fight back? Four to one. Come on.
Kiya
Lost Assassin
I think you're making a mistake here.
???
Bandit
Oh, are we?
A tired, weary Kiya can still fight. With quick strikes, he slashes at them.
But being outnumbered, he can't quite get himself together, being handicapped by the harsh sands.
???
Bandit
Argh! Get him, brother!
???
Bandit
You're not getting away so quickly!
Kiya
Lost Assassin
Hrrk-!
A kick to the shin, the stomach, and the head.
Not wearing armor leads to issues.
In a fit of rage, Kiya nearly lets his anger get the best of him.
Kiya
Lost Assassin
GET THE FUCK OFF ME!
BANG!
???
Bandit
What the?!
The sound of a warning shot echoes throughout the field.
???
Bandit
Shit! What was that?!
???
Bandit
Oh, don't tell me...
???
Bandit
LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!
Kiya is bloody on the ground, but in the corner of his eye, he sees a glint of metal.
A round that everyone in the sands should avoid.
Trampled by hooves for a split second, he coughs up. Something else hovers over him.
Kiya
Lost Assassin
...I am so fucking mad.
He doesn't even bother resisting.
Part 2
Location: Sunrise Canyon
Kiya
Lost Assassin
....
The view of the sunrise was beautiful from here, even when he's tied up on a chair.
How utterly convenient.
The bandit who saved Kiya pulls up a chair, and sits next to him. He doesn't pull down his bandana, nor does he face him at first.
Rymek Luke
Lone-Shot Terror
Bold move, back there.
Rymek Luke
Lone-Shot Terror
Most folks woulda died in an instant, ya know.
Rymek Luke
Lone-Shot Terror
Persistent? Or reckless? Both?
Kiya
Lost Assassin
Probably both.
Rymek Luke
Lone-Shot Terror
Sounds about right.
Kiya
Lost Assassin
....I was fine back there, you know.
Kiya
Lost Assassin
I can't kill four horses, but I can kill their owners just fine.
Rymek Luke
Lone-Shot Terror
Ya think I saved you 'cause I wanted to, lad?
Kiya
Lost Assassin
Well, yes.
Rymek Luke
Lone-Shot Terror
Funny. They didn't even see what was coming. Didn't even realize they were in my space.
Kiya
Lost Assassin
Well, yes. I didn't know either.
Kiya
Lost Assassin
I can leave right now.
Rymek Luke
Lone-Shot Terror
Ya ain't leavin' on my watch. Stay still.
Kiya
Lost Assassin
No way!
Kiya struggles a bit, not registering that he could just cast a spell. Though, Luke is quick to shove something up his mouth.
He was, after all, a terror no man should meet.
Kiya
Lost Assassin
Mrrph! Mrr-Oh.
Kiya
Lost Assassin
...This is nice, actually?
Rymek Luke
Lone-Shot Terror
Medicinal herb. The Eagle tribe gave me some as thank you.
Kiya
Lost Assassin
As thank you??
Kiya
Lost Assassin
Did you save them from a beast or something?
Rymek Luke
Lone-Shot Terror
Like actually? Yea.
Kiya
Lost Assassin
Oh.
Kiya
Lost Assassin
...Okay. My bad. I guess it makes sense to have connections out here.
Rymek Luke
Lone-Shot Terror
I like to pass it forward.
Rymek Luke
Lone-Shot Terror
You best do that when you're out of this house.
Kiya stops struggling, chewing on the bits of the herb still left on his teeth. The two of them keep at it - Small talk, awkward conversations.
Neither of them share too much detail.
Pretty soon, however, Kiya manages to untie the rope behind his back.
Rymek Luke
Lone-Shot Terror
Oh, yer rope's gone.
Rymek Luke
Lone-Shot Terror
Should prolly kill you for that.
Rymek Luke
Lone-Shot Terror
Hey, why don't you teach me how to do that?
Kiya
Lost Assassin
How to...untie rope?
Kiya
Lost Assassin
You never learned?
Rymek Luke
Lone-Shot Terror
Never needed to.
Kiya
Lost Assassin
Sure, why not. I've got time now I guess.
Passing kindness forward was easy, with what Kiya knew.
Simple cooking recipes, odd skills, and weird quirks.
He never really did get to sit down and think about how all the lives he's taken, and tried to take...were living similarly.
Kiya wonders if this war really was as endless as people say.
Part 3
Location: Sunrise Canyon
Rymek Luke
Lone-Shot Terror
This horse will take ya straight to Rymek.
Kiya did not like horses very much.
Mostly because they would kick him off, and also because he didn't need them to move quickly.
Nonetheless, the guide always helps.
Kiya
Lost Assassin
A horse, a map, and...what is this.
Kiya
Lost Assassin
More herbs?
Rymek Luke
Lone-Shot Terror
It's just in case. Give it to yer friends, I don't care.
Kiya
Lost Assassin
I'll use them for cooking.
Kiya
Lost Assassin
....
In the past, these two have met under worse circumstances. But this was still new to him.
Frankly, it's bizarre how much one's view can change over the course of one night.
He was sure their next meeting will end in death.
Kiya
Lost Assassin
Are you really not coming with?
Rymek Luke
Lone-Shot Terror
Naw. I'm destined to be alone.
Rymek Luke
Lone-Shot Terror
And I know this damn well.
Rymek Luke
Lone-Shot Terror
I'll be sure to dig a grave for the next time ya come around.
Kiya
Lost Assassin
Great.
Kiya
Lost Assassin
...Nobody's gonna believe me when I explain this.
Rymek Luke
Lone-Shot Terror
Keep it that way.
Rymek Luke
Lone-Shot Terror
Now, git the fuck out of here!
The horse whinnies and clops away, Kiya strapped on its saddle.
Knowing how Rymek Luke basically promised to kill him if they ever meet, he's not sure he wants to come back.
It was fated from the very beginning that one of them will die.
Some part of Kiya hopes to keep the pouch of herbs, just to have that minor memory all over again.