Thorax shivered due the negative temperatures he was forced to endure. He adjusted the blanket that was warming him up a bit as he walked through the forest. It has been a few months since he left the Hive and his queen. As much as it was hard for him to admit it, leaving the Hive was one of the best decisions he ever made. Every changelings, including his own brother Pharynx were crazy. All they wanted is to fed off love of the other creatures, unlike him. The only thing he ever wanted since hatched was a friend. He was hoping that he'll be able to make one, after leaving the Hive, but because of the bad reputation his species had, every potential friend he could make, ended up attacking him or running away from him.
He looked up at the sky to see smoke which was coming from the distance. Someone could be camping out there! He quickly rushed towards the place from which the smoke was coming from. As he was in the middle of the distance, he started to question what he was doing right now. The creatures who were camping out there would probably attack him because of his spieces, but he didn't care about it. It was so cold out here and he wanted to warm himself up, even for a moment.
Once, he made his way to the place. He looked around in confusion as he saw a few of bi-pedal creatures, laying on the ground, lifeless. He let out a long deep breath and nervously looked around because the creatures that could be responsible for the deaths of those creatures could be this here, then he looked at the house and looked down, sadly, because the house was burning, which caused his hopes that he'll warm himself up to melt way.
Suddenly, the door of this house shut open, which made him gasp in fear, as four bi-pedal creatures walked out through the front doors. Three of theses creatures seemed to be male as the fourth one seemed to be female.
"What the hell is that?" One of the men asked, holding a lantern in his right hand.
"I don't know Morgan, but it's dangerous for sure." The other man said to Morgan, before pulling out a strange device which Thorax assumed to be a weapon, "I mean, have you ever seen something like that?"
"No! No! Please!" Thorax said, tears appearing in his eyes.
The man who was aiming his weapon at Thorax, eyes shot open in suprise, "It can talk?"
"Please! Don't hurt me! I'll leave! You'll never see me again! I just wanted a shelter to wait out the storm!" Thorax explained, covering his face with his hole-filled hooves.
"Arthur. Take this woman to my horse. I'll talk with that creature over here." The person who seemed to be in charge of these creatures ordered.
"Whatever you say, Dutch." Arthur said back, handing his lantern to Dutch before leading the woman to their horses, "Get on, you can stay with us at camp till you can figure out what are you doing to do next."
As Arthur took the woman to the horses, Dutch stepped forward to Thorax who seemed nervous about it, "Who are you, sir?"
"I'm Thorax..." Thorax replied fearfully, stuttering.
"Thorax... What are you exactly? We've never seen anything like you before." Dutch asked.
"I'm a changeling..." Thorax replied.
"A changeling? What does a changeling do?" Dutch wanted to know.
"We feed off love to survive and we can also shape shift..." Thorax replied.
"Well Mr. Thorax, if you're a friend in need of assistance we can help you. I and my friends here found a shelter in an abandoned mine town not far from here. How about you go there with us and warm yourself?" Dutch asked as Thorax looked up at him in disablief. He couldn't believe that another creature just invited him to come to their shelter, as if they didn't care about him being a changeling at all.
"What are you doing Dutch? We can't trust him!" The man said, still aiming his weapon at Thorax who seemed not to be afraid of it anymore.
"Micah. He is out here in the storm starving just like the rest of us, we don't turn anyone away." Dutch said to Micah who was angered by it and growled. He wished he could change Dutch's mind but he knew he couldn't. Arthur didn't really care, it just meant more people for the gang.
"Dutch. We should go." Arthur said to Dutch who nodded, before moving to his horse, followed by Micah and Thorax.
"You okay, Miss?" Dutch asked the woman.
"They came three days ago... and my husband they..." The woman replied, almost breaking into tears
"It's okay, Miss. You are safe now." Dutch told her.
"You have a name miss?" Dutch asked the woman. The woman was silent for a moment, "Miss?"
"Adler... Sadie Adler... I... he was my husband..." Sadie replied.
"Miss. We will make sure no harm comes to you, we will try to keep you fed and protected." Arthur assured Sadie.
"Thank you, you two are kind men for letting me and this changeling stay." Sadie said, shooting a look to Micah who a had smug face.
They group finally arrived at the camp and saw one of the men, keeping his watch as he readied his rifle, "Guys! Somebody is coming! It looks like Dutch and the others." He lowered his rifle as the others started walking out of the cabins.
"How did you guys get on?" The old man asked as Dutch, Arthur, Micah and Sadie hopped off their horses. Soon enough, the three men were surrounded by the others, as Sadie and Thorax stood in the back.
"We found a homestead, but Colm O'Driscoll and his scum, they beat us to it. We found more of them there and they're appereantly scouting a train." Dutch replied.
"That's the last we need right now, Dutch." The old man replied.
"Well... it is what is it... but we found some supplies, some blankets... a little bit of food... and this poor saul." Dutch said as he pointed at Sadie, "Ms. Adler. Miss Tilly, Miss Karen, would you warm her up and get something to drink?"
"Sure thing, Dutch." Tilly said, moving towards Sadie with Karen. The two young women were about to grab Sadie and lead her into the cabin but they stopped, once they saw Thorax, their eyes widened in suprise, at the view of a strange creature.
"Guys? What's that?" Karen asked, pointing at Thorax to which Tilly nodded.
"That's Thorax. Don't worry everyone. He means no harm to us. I'll explain everything later." Dutch replied as Tilly and Karen nodded in understandment.
"Ms. Adler. Everything is going to be okay." Arthur said to Sadie before the widow was taken into the cabin by Tilly and Karen.
"They turned her into a widow, animals. I need some rest, I haven't sleep in three days." Dutch said with disgust in his voice.
It was when an old woman walked over to Dutch, "Your cabin is over there, Miss O'Shea will show you the way." She said before turning her attention to Arthur, "Arthur. Your cabin is over this way."
"Thank you Miss Grimshaw." Arthur said with a nod.
Miss Grimshaw nodded as she looked at Micah, "Mr Bell. You're with the fellers over there." She said, making Micah groan in frustation as she looked at Thorax, "And you're Thorax, right?"
"Yes." Thorax said with a nod.
"You'll be sleeping with Arthur." Miss Grimshaw said as Thorax nodded before looking up at Arthur who shrugged his shoulders before making his was into his cabin.
"What? A creature gets a room and I get a bunk next to Bill Williamson and a bunch of darkies?" Micah asked, annoyed.
"Get yourself to bed, Micah." Arthur said, before walking into his cabin, followed by Thorax. Inside, they found a room with two beds, then they laid down as Thorax spoke up.
"Arthur. Thank you for letting me stay here." He said to Arthur.
"It's Dutch you should be thanking to, but no problem." Arthur said back.
Then, they both began to drift to sleep.
Author's Note
It's something that I was planning to write since I finished RDR2 storyline .
And this story will most likely have slow updates just like my "A Child of a Changeling" story did before I put it on hiatus.
Thorax awoke next morning feeling very refreshed. For the first time in a long time, he was able to sleep without any interruptions. It was also, one of the best nights he had since he left the Hive. He finally warmed himself up, after coming to these mountains and another creature finally showed him kidness, despite him being a changeling.
He looked to his left to see Arthur still asleep. He hopped off his bed and rubbed his front hooves together. His horn lit up and his green engulfs picked up the blanket which was warming him up since he found himself in those mountains. He wrapped this blanket around himself before heading outside. He walked over to the nearest shack before entering it.
Inside, he was met with the stares from everyone who were inside and an awkward silence filled the room which was broken when an old man from the last night got up from his chair and walked over to him, "You're name is Thorax, right?"
"Yes. What's your name, sir?" Thorax asked as the old man extended his hand for a handshake.
"Hosea. Nice to meet you." Hosea introduced himself as Thorax hesitantly extended his hoof. He clenched his teeth in pain as Hosea shook his hoof. Who would know that an old man like Hosea would have such a strong grip?
The next several minutes Thorax spent talking with Hosea. He learnt that Hosea is Dutch's best friend the co-founder of the gang. The two men met when they both tried to rob each other. After that event, the two became best friends and they both founded the Van der Linde gang with Hosea being Dutch's right-hand man.
Then, he talked with a young man who went by the name of Lenny Summers. Thorax was so sad to hear about Lenny's past which was not very good. The young man told Thorax about how his father was beaten to death by a few drunk men, whom Lenny killed in revenge. He was forced to go on the run afterward, being only 15 at the time. Thorax told him that he was sorry that his happen to Lenny. They young man thanked him and told that he found a new family in the Van der Linde gang.
The next person he talked with was a man by the name of Javier Escuella who told him about the country from which he came from. Thorax in awe at Javier's stories and told him that his country must be really beautiful and he wished he could visit it. That made Javier very happy, then he asked Thorax about the country from which he came from, but all Thorax said was that his country is not a very good one, because it's ruler is crazy. Javier was sad to hear that and offered him a cigarette. Thorax gently declined his offer.
Then, the door shut open and a woman entered the cabin with a worried expression on her face. She sat down by the fire as she rubbed her hands together.
"You okay, Abigail?" Hosea asked.
"It's John. He ain't been seen in days. The weather ain't let up.'' Abigail began as the door opened and Arthur walked in the cabin, shaking some snow off his coat, "He's strong and smart, strong at least." She continued as Arthur came up to the fireplace and put a log in it, "Morning, Arthur." She greeted him.
"Abigail." Arthur greeted her back.
"Arthur. How are you doing?" Abigail asked him.
"Just fine." Arthur replied before asking, "And you?"
"I'm fine but..." Abigail tried to say.
"She's worried about John." Tilly explained.
Abigail groaned in annoyance as she said, "I'm... I'm sorry to ask."
"Your John'll be fine. I mean he may be dumb as rocks and dull as rusted iron... but that ain't changing because he got caught in some snowstorm." Arthur stated.
Hosea got up from his chair and spoke up to Arthur, "C'mon Arthur. At least go take a look." He said as he looked over at Javier who was smoking in the corner of the room, "Javier?"
"Yes?" Javier said.
"Javier will you go out with Arthur and look for John? You're the two best fit men we've got."
"Now?" Javier asked.
"She is worried about him and it won't hurt to take a look." Hosea replied as Javier finished his cigarette and got up from his chair.
''I know if the situation were reserved he'd look out for me." He stated.
"Thank you." Abigail thanked them as Arthur and Javier walked out of the cabin.
As Javier and Arthur were outside looking for Abigail's husband, Thorax continued to get to know the people with which he was staying in this mine town. He went to talk with Mary-Beth, Tilly, Karen and Abigail and he learnt that Mary-Beth wanted to write stories, then she asked what kind of books does he like. His reply was that no one taught him how to read because the only changelings in the Hive that could read were Chrysalis' most trusted warriors, so she could sent them on a mission inside a community they were planning to attack. Hosea and Lenny told him that they could teach him, which Thorax appreciated a lot.
The next person in the cabin he approached was a young boy who happened to be Abigail's and John's son. The boy who as Thorax learnt was named Jack was at first a little afraid of what Thorax was. Thorax came up with an idea how to make Jack stop fearing him. He changed his shift into a dog which left everyone except Jack stunned for a few moments, even though they knew about Thorax's ability. The young boy cheered loudly in awe at what Thorax just did and asked if he can do more of his magic. Thorax agreed to do this and for the next hour he continued to change his shift into anything Jack wanted, which made the young boy really happy. Abigail, Tilly, Karen, Mary-Beth, Hosea and Lenny smiled at view of the young boy smiling for the first time since Blackwater.
Then, Thorax spoke with a man who went by the name of Bill Williamson who as he found out, used to be a soldier and had fought in a battles. Thorax told him that he just like Bill had fought in a battle before and if someone would give him a hard time, he would always have someone with who he can talk with in him. Bill really appreciated that.
After his talk with Bill, Thorax headed out of the cabin to talk with the others. At first, he tried to talk with Sadie, but the woman just ignored him. Thorax couldn't blame her. Especially after she's been through in recent days, then he meet Susan Grimshaw, the main housekeeper. Mr Pearson, the cook, Uncle, an old man who as Thorax found out, was suffering from a disease called Lumbago, Charles Smith, the hunter of the gang, Molly O'Shea, Dutch's lover, Orville Swanson, a priest and Leopold Strauss, the accountant who came from a country known as Austria. Thorax was suprised how kind these people were to him.
And the last man he went to talk with was Micah. The man who aimed his weapon at him last night, was mocking him because of what he was, everytime he tried to talk with him.
After his failed talk with Micah, he walked out of the cabin and he saw someone riding into the mine town.
"Come on! Someone help John down off this horse!" Javier shouted.
Abigail rushed out of the cabin, a huge smile on her face, "You're alive! You're alive!"
Bill and Lenny, then came over to Javier's horse in order to get John off it. As they were helping John, he screamed out in pain.
"Careful idiotas! It's his legs!" Javier scolded them as they got John off his horse.
"Thank you, thank you both." Abigail smiled at Javier and Arthur before following Bill, Lenny and John into the cabin, "This is a new low, even by your standards."
"Thank you, both." Came Hosea's voice, causing Arthur, Javier and Thorax to turn back to see Hosea with Herr Strauss by his side.
"You got any other lost maidens in need of saving?" Arthur asked, sarcastically.
"Don't worry Arthur, not today." Hosea assured Arthur.
"Have you and Dutch talked about how we're gonna get out of this?" Arthur wanted to know.
"Yes, we were discussing with Herr Strauss when the weather breaks, we'll have to keep heading east." Hosea explained as Arthur and Javier looked at him in suprised while Thorax looked a bit confused.
"East? Into all that... civilization?" Arthur asked as Hosea nodded in confirmation.
"We know, Arthur. The west is where our problems are worse." Hosea stated, before turning his attention to the closest cabin, "Let's go guys, let's get warm."
"Oh and Mr Thorax. Dutch wants to talk with you in private." Herr Strauss added.
"Thank you for telling me, Herr Strauss." Thorax said with a nod before making his way into the cabin where Dutch was staying to see the leader of these people, warming himself up by the chimmey, "Dutch? You wanted to see me?"
"Oh! Thorax!" Dutch said as he turned his attention to Thorax, "I see Hosea and Herr Strauss informed you that I want to talk with you?"
"They did." Thorax confirmed with a nod.
"Well Mr Thorax. I don't know how you did it but for all day along I've been getting visits from my people, asking me if you could stay with us for a longer period of time than our stay in the mountains. You also found yourself on the good side of Bill Williamson which I admit is quite an accomplishment. Even Jack and his mom came here, asking me if you could stay with us. The little boy took a liking in you after you played with him" Dutch explained as Thorax looked at him curiously, wondering what Dutch was going to say, "So, Mr Thorax, Would you like to join our family?"
Thorax's eyes shot open in suprise, as he felt like he was gonna start crying in joy. He smiled widely at Dutch before answering, "I'll be happy to be a part of your family, Dutch. Thank you for giving me this opportunity."
"You're very welcome, Thorax. Tommorow, I'll make this official." Dutch said as Thorax nodded, then the changeling made his way into his cabin and laid down on his bed. Once, he made sure nobody was going to watch him, he finally let his tears of joy fell down his cheeks. He cried for a few minutes, before he heard someone walk into the cabin. He quickly turned to the other side, trying to hide the fact that he cried from the person who happened to Arthur.
"Thorax? Why are you crying?" Arthur asked as he laid down on his bed.
"I'm just happy, Arthur." Thorax replied as he closed his eyes. He couldn't help but smile as he drifted into sleep. He finally got something he wanted for his whole life.
A friend...
It has been a few days since Thorax became a part of the Van der Linde gang and the changeling could easily say that these days were one of the best in his life. Most of the gang welcomed him warmly and as those days passed Thorax was slowly becoming closer with each of them.
On his first day after he joined the gang. Mr Pearson offered him to try his stew, even though he didn't had to eat normal food like everyone else in the gang. Thorax reminded it to the cook who insisted. Thorax, knowing he had no other choice decided to try it and he didn't regret his choice. The stew was delicious! He told that he really enjoyed it to Pearson, which made him really happy.
He finally had a chance to talk with John Marston, after the man who was injured in the mountains started healing his wounds. The man was suprised to see Thorax, because like everyone in the gang, had never seen anything like him before, but as they talked with each other, he started to take a liking in Thorax. Thorax also took a liking in John, but the thing that suprised was that John seemed not to care about his family. He was even more suprised when Arthur told him that John left a gang for a year because he didn't believe that Jack was his son. Thorax didn't know why, but he had a feeling that something will happen, which was cause John to care to for his family, more than he does now.
Playing with little Jack became regular part of his day. The little boy loved playing with him, because of Thorax's ability. This was very tiring for Thorax but seeing the joy he was bringing to the boy was making him really happy, which also resulted in satisfying some parts of his hunger but his hunger was not the thing he cared at this moment. He had received a chance of having family he wanted since he left the Hive and he didn't want to ruin this chance. He had came up how to earn his keep.
Lenny started teaching him how to read, which at first seemed hard for Thorax, but as the time passed, it became easier for him and the changeling actually started to enjoy reading.
However, Thorax was not the only newcomer to the gang. A few days ago, Dutch, Arthur and a few others ambushed an outpost of O'Driscolls, people who as Thorax remembered were responsible for the death of Sadie's husband. They brought someone from the O'Driscolls camp into their camp, so the gang could interrogate him and find out about Colm's O'Driscoll plans for the future.
Thorax really wanted to talk with the O'Driscoll that Dutch and the rest brought but he didn't got an occasion with him private because the man was guarded by one of the members of the gang, mostly Micah. Thorax knew that he had to wait for the moment where he would be able to talk with the man in private and his waiting paid off. When most of the gang had gone to rob a train which was property of a man who went by the name of Leviticus Cornwall, he finally had an ocassion to sneak into the cabin where this man was held.
"Hello?" He asked, slowly opening the door with his magic before spotting a young man who was tied up to a support beam. The man's eyes shot open at the view of him. He slowly started to panic because he saw Thorax on the day when Arthur brought him to camp. He has never seen anything like him before, which caused him to develop a fear for the changeling, even though he didn't get to know him.
"Please!" The man shouted as the realization that Thorax was sent by the gang to kill him popped into his mind, "Don't kill me! Please! I'm not an O'Driscoll!"
"Don't worry. I'm not going to hurt you. I've brought you some food." Thorax explained as he walked closer to the man who was still a bit afraid of him, "My name is Thorax. What's your name?"
"Kieran... Kieran Duffy..." Kieran replied, nervously.
"Well, Kieran. Nice to meet you." Thorax said before gesturing towards the bowl with Pearson's stew which he held in his magic, "Are you hungry?"
Kieran nodded his head in response as Thorax grabbed the spoon and fed him one portion of the stew.
"Why are you doing this?" Kieran wanted to know.
"Because you remind me of myself. I'm too, treated like a monster because of my species doing. Dutch, Arthur and the rest are the only creatures that showed me kidness and gave me a chance. I want to do the same for another creature who is the same situation as I was." Thorax explained as Kieran nodded in understanding before Thorax fed him another portion of the stew.
"Thank you for doing this." Kieran smiled slightly.
"No problem." Thorax smiled back as he proceed to fed Kieran.
The next two hours, Thorax spent in the cabin. He and Kieran talked with each other and learned about each other's history. He learnt that Kieran lost his parents when he was a kid due to a disease known as Cholera and that he worked as stable boy while in his time in the Colm O'Driscoll gang, then he asked Thorax about his story. Thorax told him everything, starting with the day when he hatched in the Hive, going to the bullying he got from other changelings, including his own brother for not wanting to fight, to leaving the Hive and surviving on his own and ending on the day where he met Dutch Van der Linde who offered him to stay with his gang to wait out the snowstorm in the mountains, and becoming friends with most of the the gang. He told Kieran that they could be his friends as well, and promised to convice Dutch to let him go, or even let him join his gang which Kieran appreciated a lot. However Thorax knew that it was not going to be an easy task, because he was a part of the gang just for a few days.
Their talk was interrupted by Lenny who walked in the cabin, "Thorax! There you are!"
"Hi, Lenny. What's going on?" Thorax wanted to know.
"We're moving to another place." Lenny explained, "They wanted me to take Kieran to one of the carriages."
"Where are we going?" Thorax wanted to know.
"We'll be heading to a place called Horseshoe Overlook." Lenny explained.
"Thank you for telling me, Lenny." Thorax thanked Lenny before getting himself up from the floor.
"No problem, Thorax." Lenny said as Thorax headed towards the exit.
"It was nice talking with you, Kieran." Thorax said to Kieran who nodded his head before Thorax walked out of the cabin, to see everyone from the gang preparing themselves for the journey.
"Mr Thorax!" Dutch said as Thorax made his way to him, Arthur and Hosea.
"Yes?" Thorax asked.
"I see that Lenny informed you about our plans?" Hosea asked, gesturing towards Lenny who was bringing Kieran out of the cabin.
"He did." Thorax confirmed with a nod, " He also said that we're moving to a place called Horseshoe Overlook?"
"That is correct. It's a place near Valentine." Hosea said.
"Well then, let's go." Dutch said, before gesturing towards one of the carriages, "Arthur, you're in that one, bring Hosea... Thorax you're in..."
"He can ride with me, Arthur and Charles." Hosea offered as Dutch nodded, then Thorax hopped on the back of the carriage and sat down next to Charles as Arthur and Hosea sat in the front, before the gang started moving out of the mountains.
The gang had already left the mountains. Thorax, along with many others was happy to finally leave the mountains. Some of them were also admiring surrounding, because some place they passed were really beautiful to look at. Micah and Lenny were sent by Dutch to investigate road to Horseshoe Overlook to see if there were any O'Driscolls or Pinkertons around.
The trip was going as many other one's, until one of the wheels in the carriage broke, causing it to stop.
"Ah shit!" Arthur cursed.
"Okay... Let's take a look." Hosea said, before hopping off his seat. Arthur, Thorax and Charles followed his example and soon the four of them were standing in front of the place where the wheel was supposed to be.
"You alright back there?" Uncle asked from the other carriage that was in front of them.
"Does everything look alright?" Arthur asked, sarcastically.
''Well, what's going on?" Javier asked, sitting in the same carriage as Uncle.
"I broke the goddamn wheel!" Arthur groaned.
"Alright, let's get it fixed." Hosea said as Arthur, Charles and Thorax nodded in agreement.
"You need help?" Javier asked.
"I reckon we can handle it." Hosea stated as Arthur moved towards the wheel and lifted it up.
Hosea and Charles were about to lift up the carriage, so Arthur could place the wheel back at it's place but Thorax stopped them, "Excuse me, Hosea, but I can do it if don't want to."
"That's okay, Thorax. Besides, no offense, Thorax but..." Hosea didn't even had a chance to finish his sentence as Thorax changed his shift into Charles, which caused him to rub back of his head, "Oh right... I forgot about it.... well if want to... go ahead."
Thorax let out a small chuckle in response as he lifted the carriage up with Charles as Hosea and Arthur started pushing the wheel towards it. Charles had to admit that it was was really uncomfortable for him, because Thorax who looked just like him at this moment was standing next to him.
As they were done with fixing the wheel, Thorax changed into his normal form.
"See, you're not so useless, after all." Arthur said to Thorax who smiled at him in respose, before the four men of them spotted three men on their horses on the small hill that was nearby.
"What do you think?" Arthur asked Charles.
"If they wanted trouble, we wouldn't have seen them." Charles stated.
''Poor bastards." Hosea said, giving the unknown men a small wave. The men disappeared from their view soon after, "We really screwed them over the years. Come on, let's not push our luck."
''What happened?" Arthur asked, walking towards his seat as Thorax and Charles hopped on the back of the carriage again.
"Well, get in and I'll tell you. " Hosea said, before them two of them got themselves back on their seats and started riding back towards their destination. It was also the moment when Hosea began his explanation, "So, yes. The indians in these parts got sold a very raw deal. This is the Heartlands we're going to. Good farming and grazing country, they lost it all. Stolen clean away from them it was, every blade of grass. Killed or herded up to the reservations in the middle of nowhere."
"And how's that different from anywhere else?" Arthur wanted to know.
"Well, maybe it's not." Hosea agreed, "I just heard some of the army out here was particularly unpleasant about it."
"Unpleasant? How do you kill and rob people pleasantly?" Charles asked.
"We don't." Arthur replied, "In spit of Dutch's talk."
"I fear I was perharps trying to simplify something more complicated for the benefit of out blockheaded driver here." Hosea said, gesturing towards Arthur, also causing Thorax to hold back a laugh, which Arthur thankfully failed to notice.
"Charles. You mind if I ask what happened with your tribe? You told me you were a part of one of them." Thorax asked Charles.
"I told you that I probably was a part of one of them. Honestly, I don't remember myself." Charles began, earning Thorax's attention. Even Arthur and Hosea were curious about it because they didn't know much about Charles' backstory themselves.
"My father was a colored man. They told me he lived with our people for a while. A number of free men did, but when we were forced to move from our lands, the three of us fled. I was too young to even remember much. All life, I've been on run. A couple of years later, some soldiers captured my mother, took her somewhere. We never saw her again. We drifted around. He was a very sad man and the drink had a mean hold on him. Around thirteen, I just took off on my own."
"I'm sorry to hear that, Charles." Thorax said as Charles sent him a small smile and nodded.
"Thirteen, huh? That was about the age we found young Arthur here, maybe a little older. A wilder delinquent you never did see, but he learned fast." Hosea said.
"Not as fast as Marston, apparently." Arthur stated.
"Wait. I don't understand. What's the problem between you two?" Charles asked.
"It has something to do with that left you for a year?" Thorax asked.
"It's a long story, but this is one of reasons." Arthur replied, before asking, "We still heading this way."
"That depends. Are we still heading west, in search of fortune and repose in virgin forests, as we planned? No." Hosea began, "Are we heading in the correct direction on out desperate escape from law eastwards down the mountains? Yes. I believe so."
"You know this area?" Thorax asked Hosea.
"A little. I've been through a couple of times. There's a livestock town not far from here, called Valentine. Cowboys, outlaws, working girls. Our kind of place.'' Hosea replied.
"O'Driscolls?'' Arthur asked.
"Probably them too." Hosea replied.
''Pinkertons?"
"Let's hope not."
''And this place we're going, what is it called again?'' Arthur asked.
"Horseshoe Overlook." Thorax replied.
"What he said." Hosea added.
''It's good place to lie low?" Arthur asked.
"It'll do for now." Hosea replied, "And how low do you think Dutch is going to lie? It's just... you know. Maybe it's me who's changed, not him, but we kept telling him that ferry job didn't feel right. You and me had real lead in Blackwater that could have worked out."
"Maybe." Arthur said with a shrug of his shoulders.
''It's just... isn't like Dutch to lose his head like that." Hosea said.
"Things can go wrong sometimes. People die. It's the way it is, always has been... Me, you, Dutch... we've all been in this line for a long time and we're still here so, I figure we must've got it right. A hell of a lot more than we got it wrong..." Arthur stated.
The rest of the journey to Horseshoe Overlook went calmly and in silent. Everyone remained silent and decided to do their own thing. Arthur kept riding, Hosea lit up a cigarette, Charles just sat in silent and Thorax looked around the surrounding which he really liked. Views like that were a really rare sign for him, so he decided to enjoy them as long as he could.
As they reached Horseshoe Overlook, Charles went to start unpacking his tent, Arthur and Hosea went to talk with him and Thorax, wanting to help, started to unpack things that the gang brought with them to this place. Everyone were working on setting up their new camp, until Dutch called everyone to come to him.
''I know. Things have been tought, but we are safe now, and we are far too poor. So it is time to get to work." Dutch said to the whole gang.
"Get to work, but stay out of trouble." Hosea added, "Remember we are itinerant workers."
''Laid off when they shut down out factory to the north. Now, get out there, and see what you can find." Dutch said, before gesturing towards Uncle and Swanson, "Uncle, Reverend Swanson. No more passangers, and you Thorax. I hope you won't be a passanger like them."
"Don't worry, Dutch. I won't." Thorax assured his new boss.
''It is time for everyone to earn their keep." Dutch told everyone.
''There's a town a little way down the track... name of Valentine... live stock town. All mud and morons if I remember right. It'll be a good place to start." Hosea added.
''And we need food. Real food." Pearson said, stepping forward, "That means every day, one of you has to go hunting."
"And remember, whatever it is you find." Dutch said, putting a small wooden box on the barrel, "The camp gets its slice. Now, be sensible out there.''
With that, everyone started to set the camp, once again.
The recent night, Thorax spent sleeping on the grass, under the stars, because unlike others. He didn't had a tent, yet. Charles offered him a place in his tent, because it was big enough for both of them but Thorax gently declined his offer, telling that he doesn't mind sleeping on the ground because he did it for his whole life. Charles understood his reasons, but told him if he changes his mind, there will be a place for him in his tent.
As, Thorax woke up, he was greeted by Pearson, Hosea, Charles, Lenny and a few other member who were not sleeping at this point. The changeling greeted them back as he made his way to Arthur's tent.
"Arthur." He said as he walked into Arthur's tent, to see the owner of it, writing something down in his journal.
"Yes?" Arthur asked, looking up at Thorax from his journal.
"Can you teach me how to use your weapon? I want to earn my keep." Thorax replied.
"Sure." Arthur said with a shrug of his shoulders before, setting his journal down on his bunk before getting up. He took his Cattleman Revolver out before leading Thorax out of the camp, in order to teach him how to use it
Author's Note
After so many months, I present to you the next chapter of my Thorax The Outlaw story!
Valentine
Two weeks has passed since the Van der Linde gang has arrived at Horseshoe Overlook and these weeks has been a very busy ones from Thorax. He was trying to prove himself for being worthy to the gang, and was doing as much chores as he was able to, which the people of the gang really appreciated, even Hosea bought him a holster and a revolver while he was visiting Valentine, when he heard that Arthur was teaching Thorax how to shot.
He and Kieran became really good friends. They both spent a lot of time, talking with each other and learning about each other's past. Some of the gang members found this suspicious that Thorax has been becoming friends with their enemy but Dutch just decided to leave them be and see how it will go. Perharps Kieran would tell Thorax about Colm O'Driscoll location, which would end up with Colm's death.
At this moment, Thorax who changed his shift into a human and was standing in front of a crate that had a few bottles on it. Arthur was standing next to him.
"Now!" Arthur shouted as Thorax drew his revolver and fired the whole magazine at the bottle on the crate, hitting half of them, causing them to burst into pieces, "You're getting better. In both of your shifts."
"Thank you, Arthur." Thorax said as he changed into his changeling shift. Arthur has been teaching him how to use a gun in both human and changelings shifts, in case if he needed to use them, "I'm really doing my best to improve."
Arthur looked back for a second, before looking down at Thorax, "Now, let's get us something to drink."
Thorax nodded his head, before the two of them mae their way to the barrel with water. Arthur picked up a cup and filled with water, while Thorax engulfed the cup in his green magic, before he filled with water as well. They shared a quick drink together, before Arthur spotted Uncle. The old lazy man was leaning against the wagon as he was sleeping. Arthur sighed and put his cup away. He walked up to Uncle, followed by Thorax and kicked him in the leg, waking up the old man from his slumber.
"Careful not to work yourself to death, Uncle." He said to Uncle who stood up from the ground.
"I was thinking." The old man said.
"Does it pay well?" Arthur asked.
"Eventually." Uncle said as Arthur patted him on his shoulder.
"So, while the rest of us are busy, stealing, killing, lying." Arthur began as he looked down at Thorax, "Or learning some useful things, so he could help us in doing these things. You get to think all day."
"It's a strange world we live in, Arthur Morgan." Uncle stated.
"Do you wanna, head into town see if we can find anything out?" Arthur asked.
"Sure, I got some errands to run." Uncle replied, before pointing at Thorax, "Besides, we still have to buy our changeling friend here a tent."
"There's no need for that, Uncle. I'm okay with sleeping the way how I do." Thorax assured Uncle.
"Oh, believe me. You've been with us for almost three weeks. You deserve to have something over your head." Uncle stated.
"If you say, so, Uncle." Thorax said with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Great. That makes us three." Arthur said, before gesturing towards horses, "Go check the horses are ready."
Uncle groaned as he went towards horses, in order to check if they were ready before Arthur and Thorax were approached by Karen, Tilly and Mary-Beth.
"If you two are going to take the old man into town could you take us too?" Karen asked.
''Why what you got planned?" Arthur asked, pulling a cigarrete out of the pack. He offered it to Thorax who shook his head.
"Thank you, Arthur but I already told you that I don't smoke." Thorax reminded Arthur who shrugged his shoulders and lit the cigarette up, before putting it between his teeth.
"We have nothing planned, we'll find something for y'all to do. We always do." Karen stated.
"We're bored out of our minds, been couped up here for two weeks, now!" Mary-Beth exclaimed, her hands on her hips, "Karen's about ready to murder Grimshaw!"
"Well, can Miss Grimshaw spare you?" Arthur asked, amused. He seemed to be a little annoyed, looking at Uncle and Thorax, then back at Karen.
Karen huffed, "Can Grimshaw spare you? What's happened to you Arthur? Three young heathly women want you to take'em robbing you're worried about house chores? Let's go!"
Arthur sighed, "Fair enough. You got me. Come on then!"
Karen, Tilly and Mary-Beth cheered as Arthur, Thorax and Uncle made their way to the front of the carriage.
"Hey, Thorax." Arthur said, stopping Thorax from hopping onto the wagon.
"Yes?" Thorax asked.
"Perharps you should change your shift just like you did with Charles or during our trainings. You would drag too much attention in your normal shift." Arthur pointed out.
"You're right." Thorax agreed with Arthur, before changing his shift into a human, "Better?"
"Better." Arthur said with a nod, before the two of them hopped onto the front of the wagon, as the girls got themselves into the wagon.
"I can't believe we're going to see civilization! Feels like weeks since we did!" Tilly exclaimed as the wagon started leaving the camp, towards Valentine.
''Valentine. The very embodiment of civilization." Uncle said, looking at the three women in the back, as he sat beside Thorax, "You ladies are gonna love it... and ladies sing us a song."
Karen laughed, as she started the song.
"I got a girl in Berryvile!
Can't be screwed cause she's too damn ill!
So, I don't go down there no more!
There's a blue horse lays outside her door!
I got a girl in Valentine!
Likes to drink that fancy wine!
Plumes in her hat was two feet tall.
The crack are paid for it all!
I got girl in Berryvile!
Can't get it in her cause she won't stay still!
She kicks and squeals and farts and hollers!
Won't take less than seven dollars!
Then, before they could finish their song, a stagecoach just near them starts breaking off. And the next thing, they knew, one carriage horse was loose from his harnesses and started bolting in different direction, leaving the owner frustated.
"Is one of you gonna get that feller's horse?" Tilly asked.
"Oh, I got Lumbago. It's very serious." Uncle said as Arthur and Thorax hopped off the wagon.
"We'll see what we can do." The disgused changeling said.
"Lumbago, really..." Arthur said to himself as they approached the owner that stood by his carriage, "You alright there, friend?"
"Oh hey, you two couldn't help me get me my other horse back from over there, could you?" The owner said, pointing at his horse that was standing by the hill, eating grass.
"Sure." Arthur said, before he and Thorax made their way towards the horse. He pulled his rope out of his bag as Thorax stood close to him.
"Go on, guys." They heard Tilly say from the wagon as Arthur and Thorax approached the horse and began to calm it down. Thorax had admit that it wasn't an easy thing to do, but eventually, he and Arthur managed to calm the horse down, then Arthur and he began leading the horse back to it's owner.
"There! You got it!" The women in the wagon cheered at them, as they made their back to the owner, returning his horse to him.
"You sirs are a gentlemen! A gentlemen!" The owner smiled at them.
Thorax smiled back at the owner as Arthur said, "No. Not really. We just wanted to trying to impress the women."
The owner chuckled as Arthur and Thorax made they way back onto the wagon, "Well, anyway, thank you."
"C'mon! Let's go!" Uncle said as they started riding again.
"To Valentine!" Karen cheered, glancing over at Valentine that was not too far from them.
''Thorax might have got a good influence on you while you were teaching him how to shot, Arthur. You're turning into a regular fairly godmother." Uncle told Arthur.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Arthur wanted to know.
"He's trying to tell you that you have a heart." Thorax grinned.
"It may be a small one, perharps hidden deep inside, but a real one." Mary-Beth added, before turning her attention to Uncle, "And you haven't you repulsive old lizard."
''Lizards have hearts!" Uncle argued as they rode into Valentine.
"Well, Arthur. I'm proud of you." Tilly spoke up.
"To be honest, if you hadn't been here, or Thorax didn't went there with me. I probably would have robbed him." Arthur explained, earning chuckles from everyone.
"Well you didn't!' Mary-Beth pointed out.
''Smell those sheep." Karen said, as they rode past sheep farm, "Or is that Uncle?"
''Very funny." Uncle said, rolling his eyes at the unfunny joke.
''This looks like a decent town." Thorax stated, looking around the town.
''I agree. Other people, finally." Tilly agreed with Thorax.
''Look at the snow in the mountains." Mary-Beth said, gesturing towards the mountains in the distance, "Sure don't want to be back up there."
"You know, when I was young changeling. I always wanted to see the snow since it doesn't snow in the Hive. Now I think I'm done with it for the rest of my life." Thorax said, earning chuckles from everyone.
"You think we should have asked Molly to come with us?" Tilly asked.
"Oh, no. Miss O'Shea is far too high and mighty now for the likes like us." Karen stated, "Or to do any real work. She's a society lady now."
"Go left here. Down the main street" Uncle said as Arthur turned to the left, before he pointed at the Sheriff's office that was nearby, "Sheriff's office on the right. Sure you can pick up some bounties there, Arthur."
"Heaven forbid you put your head in the line." Arthur stated, earning a fake laugh from Uncle.
"That's a young man's game." Uncle stated.
''Oh, yes. We can get up to some mischief here, alright." Karen grinned, looking around the surroudings.
''Just remember, keep a low profile." Arthur reminded Karen, Tilly and Mary-Beth.
''Will you remember that, though, Arthur?" Karen asked.
''Probably not." Arthur replied as he stopped the carriage next to the stables.
"Alright! Here we are, just like I said!" Uncle began, as everyone began getting off the carriage, "The cultural center of civilization! Man at his finest!"
"Uncle. What are we going?" Thorax asked.
''Well, we're going to get you a tent, but before that we're gonna do what any self-respecting maniac does. Put women to work." Uncle said, as he hopped off the carriage, joining the rest.
''With pleasure. We'll start with the saloon." Karen said back.
"Okay. Just stay out of the trouble and don't get yourself noticed." Arthur reminded them.
''We'll see each other later." Thorax added.
''Come on, ladies. Imagine we're in Paris." Karen said to Mary-Beth and Tilly, before the three of them started walking towards salloon.
''So, we headed to the general store?" Thorax asked.
"Yup." Uncle answered, as they began to walk towards the General store.
Arthur looked at Uncle and asked, "So that's how you see yourself, is it. A maniac?"
"Well, in my youth, I used to be known as the "one-shot kid"." Uncle answered.
"Okay... I'm not gonna ask why." Arthur stated.
"I think, I'm going to stay silent about it as well." Thorax added.
"You're a sad men, both of you. But I know you love me." Uncle said to them, walking up the small set of stairs.
"Desperately. You're my favourite parasite." Arthur stated, as Uncle stopped in front of the entrance to the store, "No, wait,
ringworm's my favourite parasite, you're my second favourite parasite."
"Very funny." Uncle said, rolling his eyes.
"I lied... ringworm, then rats with plague, then you." Arthur corrected himself.
"Shut up." Uncle shushed him, "This is the place, now, come on."
"Go without me, I went with you because I wanted to keep your company." Thoraxsaid as Uncle and Arthur nodded their heads, before walking into the General store.
Once Uncle and Arthur were done with buying their things, they went outside, and sat on the benches next to Thorax who was waiting for them there. About an hour later, they were still waiting for women to come back. They didn't had nothing to do while waiting for them, so it didn't took them that long before all of them fell asleep.
Arthur and Thorax suddenly felt someone poking their bodies, which made them wake up from their slumber. They looked up and saw Mary-Beth, "Gentlemen."
"Mary-Beth. Did you find anything interesting?" Arthur asked them.
Mary-Bethlooked around to see to make sure that no one was going to hear what were they going to say,"I think we got something. We snuck into this fancy house. Acting like a servants girl, it usually works."
"And?" Arthur asked them.
"Someone was saying her sister was taking a trip from New York or someplace. Train full of rich tourists heading to Saint Denis, and then cruising off to Brazil." Mary-Beth explained.
"Okay." Arthur said.
"A train ladden with baggage and passing through a bit of deserted country at night as to get to the docks in time for the tides is some place called Scarlett Meadows." Mary-Beth finished explaining.
"Yeah, I know it. Yeah, yeah. It's right out in New Hanover. Right, it's real quiet out there." Uncle said.
"Sounds good." Arthur stated, as he looked around himself, "Where's Karen and Tilly?"
"I think at the hotel, they were picking up some drunken fellers, that they were going to rob." Mary-Beth explained.
"Why?" Arthur asked.
"Seemed easy." Mary-Beth's answer was short and quick, "But I'll have to admit. It's been a while since we saw them."
Arthur, Thorax and Uncle shared a quick look with each other, and nodded, before Arthur spoke up, "I guess, we'll go see if there's any trouble."
"I'll go too." Thorax offered to help.
"Are you sure?" Arthur asked him.
"Yes. As I said, I want to earn my keep." Thorax answered.
"Then, you'll go after Tilly, I'll go after Karen." Arthur said to Thorax who nodded his head in understanding, before the two of them stood up from the bench.
"Look, there's Tilly over there." Mary-Beth spotted Tilly on the other side of the street, as Thorax and Arthur looked over there and saw her dragged over to the corner by some stranger.
"It doesn't seem so good." Mary-Beth stated.
"Excuse us." Arthur said as they made their way to the other side of the street, "Take care of it, Thorax."
Thorax and Arthur went to the other side to street, before they parted ways. Thorax went to take care of Tilly, as Arthur went to find Karen. When he approached them, he called out, "Hey! You leave her alone!"
"Who are you?" The stranger asked, as he turned his attention towards Thorax.
"A friend of mine." Tilly answered.
"Oh, what is he going to do?" The stranger asked.
Thorax opened his mouth and was about to say something, but suddenly he did something he hadn't done since he joined Dutch's gang. He hissed, confusing Tilly and the stranger.
"No! Not now!" He thought to himself, trying to resist as best he could, but he failed. He hissed again, causing his shift to change back into the changeling.
"What in the bloody hell is that?" The man asked, confused by what just happened. Tilly used the opportunity and punched him as hard she could in the face, knocking him down.
"Thorax? What happened?" She asked, approaching him as Thorax changed his shift back into them human, before anyone could see him in his normal form.
"Remember when I told that I fed off love instead of normal food?" Thorax asked as Tilly nodded in confirmation, "My hunger can almost never be satisfied. It makes me hiss. It didn't happen since I joined your group..."
"It's okay. I understand." Tilly said, understanding what Thorax just said.
"If I can ask, who was this guy?" Thorax asked.
"Anthony Foreman. We used to hang out, but... let's just say we had some differences and we're not on good terms now." Tilly explained, "Oh, and thank you by the way."
"Well, don't mention it. I want to start earning my keep. I want you stay with you guys." Thorax said, as the two of them made back to Uncle and Mary-Beth and waited for Arthur and Karen to come back.
It didn't take that long, after a moment, Arthur came out of the hotel with Karen behind him, as Tilly asked Karen, "You okay?"
"Sure." Karen answered, as they approached the rest, "He only punched me but Arthur punched him harder."
"Uh, guys. Is that guy staring at us?" Mary-Beth asked, as she pointed at the man behind them. They all looked behind and saw a man on his horse.
"Weren't you in Blackwater a few weeks back?" He asked them.
"Us? I ain't from there." Arthur answered.
"Oh you were. I definitely saw you with a bunch of fellers." The man stated.
"Listen, buddy. Come here for a minute." Arthur said to the man.
"I saw you." The man repeated himself, as he turned back and began to ride away from on his horse.
"Come here!" Arthur repeated himself, this time sounding more demanding.
"I don't like this." Uncle stated.
"Me too." Arthur agreed with him, as he looked at Uncle and Thorax, "You two go and get girls home. I'm gonna have a word with our friend."
"Be safe, Arthur." Thorax said, as Arthur nodded his head as he ran over to the closest horse and hopped on it, before riding after the man, "Okay, shall we?"
Then, they started loading the supplies on the wagon. It didn't take them that long before the whole wagon was loaded, when they were ready to go back to the camp, Uncle spoke up, "Let's go."
"Go without me. I'll stay here for a bit longer." Thorax told them.
"Are you sure?" Mary-Beth asked him.
"Yeah." Thorax replied with a nod of his head, "I'll wait here for Arthur."
"Alright then. If you're going to stay here, head to the saloon. Javier, Charles and Bill are probably going to be there." Karen said.
"I'll visit them with Arthur, once he comes back." Thorax said.
"Oh, and Thorax. I almost forgot. I and Arthur bought it to you in the shop." Uncle said, handing something to Thorax.
"A hat?" Thorax asked, eyeing the hat which was very similiar to Arthur's. The only difference between them was that Thorax's was a little lighter, "Thank you."
Uncle smiled in response as Thorax put his new hat on this head. They said their goodbyes to each other, as the carriage began to take off. He gave them one last wave, before they disappeared from his view.
A few minutes later, Arthur appeared in his view. His fellow gang member walked over to him and asked, "You didn't left with them?"
"I wanted to wait for you, and Karen told me that we should check out what Javier, Charles and Bill are doing in the saloon." Thorax explained.
"Let's go then." Arthur said as he and Thorax began walking towards the saloon, "And I see that Uncle gave you that hat."
"Yes. Thank you for buying that for me, Arthur." Thorax thanked Arthur.
A moment later, when he made his way to the saloon, they heard familiar voice say, "We got a wild one here!"
"Javier." Thorax instantly recognized the voice, as he walked into the saloon, spotting that Javier and Charles were standing by the bar, with two women, "Hey guys."
"Oh, Arthur, Thorax, come here." Javier said, walking over to Arthur and Thorax, only to lead them to the women, "Come over, I need you to meet our friends."
"Nice to meet you." Thorax said.
"Likewise." One of the women said, before turning towards Arthur, "And well, ain't you just the tough as teak mountain, now?"
"Oh, you be quiet, Anastasia, anyone can tell that this one is a pussy cat." The other woman stated.
"Exactly, yes, he's a pussy... cat." Javier said, "Ain't that so, Arthur?"
"How much do you take, anyway?" Arthur asked them, being straight to the point.
"Well, ain't that a nice way to talk to a lady?" Anastasia asked.
"Oh, I didn't know I was talking to a lady." Arthur answered, with a smirk growing on his face.
"Excuse me." Anastasia, clearly offended by what Arthur just said, walked away with her friend, leaving Arthur, Javier, Charles and Thorax alone.
"Well, I must say. You got a fine way with the women, amigo." Javier stated.
Arthur just shrugged his shoulders to that. He didn't have good experiences with women. Thorax looked around himself, trying to spot Bill, but he was nowhere to be seen, "Where's Bill?"
"Oh, man. I dread to think about it." Javier said, as Bill came into the saloon through the main entrance, bumping into a man, spilling his drink on him, "Oh there he is."
"Hey! Watch where you're going!" Bill shouted at the man he just bumped into.
"Take it easy, pal." The man said back.
"Is he going to kiss this guy or punch him?" Arthur asked, as Bill punched the man in the face.
"You just got your answer." Javier said, as the people in the saloon began to rise from their seats. Arthur, Javier and Charles knew that Bill just started a fight. Javier broke his glass on the nearest man's head, Charles ran over to the chair and threw it somewhere, Arthur slowly walked over to the man by the entrance, and Thorax decided to stay behind. He didn't want to fight with anyone, unless he'd have to.
"Come here, you." The man that Arthur just approached said, as he swung his fist at Arthur, who quickly blocked his attack. Then he used this ocassion and grabbed the man's hand and twisted it to the other side, while his other fist made a contact with the man's face, two times, before the man blocked the attack, and broke free from Arthur's grasp. He then punched Arthur two times, one in the torso, and the other one in the head, before Arthur grabbed him by neck, and threw him to the place where Thorax was, where the changeling quickly took care of the man.
"Thanks, Thorax!" Arthur thanked Thorax for the help.
"You're welcome, Arthur!" Thorax said, still staying in the corner, trying to avoid the fight as much as he could. He knocked that man down, because he wanted to help Arthur.
Arthur looked around the saloon, and saw that Bill was pinned to the wall by three men and was about to walk over to help him, but was almost immediately stopped when a large man blocked his way, "Oh great..."
Just a moment after Arthur said it, the large man threw him and he landed by window, "You want some too?"
Arthur was about to get himself back on his feet, as the large man grabbed him again, and threw him through the window. Arthur fell into the muddy road, as the man walked out of the saloon, ready to fight with Arthur, "Come on, pretty boy."
"Pretty boy?" Arthur asked, getting himself back on his feet.
"Go on Tommy!" One of the people of Valentine shouted, as a huge crowd gathered around them to see the fight, Javier, Charles, Bill and Thorax were among them.
Arthu rdidn't even had a chance to ready himself for the fight as Tommy grabbed him by his neck and threw him to the other side of the road. Tommy swung his fist at him, but fortunely for Arthur, this time he was faster than Tommy and managed to hit him in the face, but it seemed to do barely any damage to the large man. He was about to punch him again, but Tommy blocked his attack with left him, before using the other to punch him.
"Come on, Arthur!" He heard Javier shout to him from the crowd, as Arthur sent a series of punches at Tommy's body, after blocking his attack. Tommy then grabbed him by his chin, and used his free hand to hit him in the face, causing Arthur to fall on his fours. Tommy lifed him by his neck, as began to choke him as Arthur tried to break free by punching him a few times in the torso with his elbow. It worked out eventually and he broke free from Tommy's grasp. He saw this as an ocassion to strike back, so he began to punch to Tommy, as fast as it was possible, repeatedly, until the large man finally fell on his back.
Arthur grabbed him by his neck, punched him in the face, and again, and again, and again, before someone from the crowd intervened, "Stop! Please! I beg you! Sir, you won the fight already, surely that's enough."
"What business, is it of yours?" Arthur asked the who coughed a few times, before replying.
"No business." He shook his head, followed by another cough, "No business, sir, but please, I beg you."
Arthurrolled his eyes with a sigh, before letting go off Tommy's neck. He walked through the crowd of people to the barrel with water and began to clean his face from the mud.
"Making new friends again I see, Arthur ." The familiar voice to Arthur sounded in his ears, as he looked towards the direction of the voice and saw Josiah Trelawny, an old friend of his who was accompanied by Dutch.
"Look who we found sniffing about." Dutch said, pointing at Trelawny.
"Josiah Trelawny." Arthur stated, as Trelawny made a quick bow, "I was certain you'd to New York."
"And miss all this glamour? You must be joking." Trelawny said.
"How are you?" Arthur asked him.
"Well, quite well, indeed. I went to Blackwater looking for you gentlemen. You're not very popular there as it seems." Trelawny stated, as he glanced over at the left side of his and saw Charles, Javier, Thorax and Bill, "Ah, Javier, Charles and ! I've missed you! And Bill looking as well as can be. Gentlemen, always a pleasure! And... who's the fourth one? I've never seen him before."
"That's Thorax. He joined us after Blackwater." Dutch explained.
"Thorax, a strange name." Trelawny chuckled, before extending his hand, "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise." Thorax said, shaking his head.
"You're right. We ain't too popular in Blackwater." Dutch agreed.
"We left a lot of money in there." Arthur said.
"And young Sean as it seems." Trelawny said.
"Sean? You've found him?" Dutch asked.
''Yes, I have. He's being held by some bounty hunters, trying to see how much money the government will pay them. I know he's in Blackwater, but there's talk of them moving." Trelawny answered.
"Well, if we step foot in Blackwater we're dead men for sure." Arthur stated.
"There'll be Pinkertons all over the place, but if he's alive we gotta try." Dutch said.
"Yeah, of course." Arthur said, nodding his head.
"It's you they want, Dutch." Trelawny said, glancing over at Dutch.
"Always is." Dutch said, as he looked over at Charles, "Charles, go find what you can, carefully." Then turned his look at Trelawny, "Josiah, take Javier." and then at Arthur, "Arthur, go and get yourself cleaned up."
"Can I go too?" Thorax offered to go with them.
"Thorax, you don't have to." Dutch said. He was certain that, Charles, Arthur, Javier and Trelawny were enough to get Sean back.
"I know, but I want to repay you for accepting me into your family, and I think that I may repay that by helping you save one of us." Thorax said.
Dutch chuckled, "That's a good changeling we found in those mountains. You can go, instead of Arthur if you want to.''
"If he wants to go, then he should go." Arthur asked, shrugging his shoulders, "Besides, he wasn't in Blackwater with us, so they won't be suspicious of him."
"Then you will go with Javier and Trelawny, Thorax." Dutch said, as Thorax nodded his head in understanding.
"A what now?" Trelawny asked, confused by what Dutch just said. What changeling?
"We'll explain to you on the way." Javier said, as he, Thorax and Trelawny began heading out
Arthur watched them leave for a moment, before he walked over to the same barrel and proceeded to clean himself of the mud. Bill then came over to Dutch and asked, "Well, what about me?"
"Well exactly, what about you?" Dutch asked him.
"Wh-what does that mean?" Bill asked him.
Dutch groaned, "Ah, Bill..."
