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Chapter 5 Pt.I

"The Aftermath of Genesis"

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Something bitter churned inside of everyone, the gnawing hunger burned as the frigid air touched their skins. The storm settled for only a small bit, but it was still windy. The atmosphere improved, yet a sense of depression was still present, everyone was starving.

Tulip was seen writing and drawing in her journal in silence as usual, while Willow was checking on their supplies, or, the lack of it.

"- Camp Colter -"

"Been weeks now, folks are starving and the Winter sure likes to take its time to thaw. The wagons are frozen over, so even if we could move and we wanted to, we can't. But since the storm has calmed for the time being, perhaps hunting would be in our favor. While we waited like sitting ducks in this old town, most of the men went off Southwest to get back at Colm O'Driscoll yesterday. I wanted to come with, but it was more reasonable that I stayed behind to defend the camp with Charles, Pearson, and Hosea. They said I could come with to rob and take Colm's score though."

Tulip thought deeply, Willow didn't actually know much about Colm.

"Colm O'Driscoll and Dutch used to be like partners, as crazy as it sounds. I don't know much myself, but all I know is that Dutch's love was killed and Colm's brother was shot to death. Next thing you know, it both became a personal blood feud for the both of 'em."

During the past few weeks, Tulip was drawing each person in the gang, which Willow liked. Especially the drawing of Micah, and Tulip felt slightly proud that Willow love to see her drawings. She wouldn't let the other men see it though, because they'd probably get agitated, and Arthur, Tulip thinks Arthur is the better drawer. Willow had stolen Arthur's journal once and showed it to Tulip, as much as she acted motherly and said it wasn't right, she didn't really stop her, and they took a peek of it before. Arthur...wasn't happy.

Tulip, of course, drew each of the gang in silence and in secret. Sure, it was somewhat creepy, but she did her best to do it discreetly. If anyone were to compliment her drawings other than Willow, she'd be timid. As much as she hates it, even though she's a feared bounty hunter and outlaw, Tulip admittedly would hide her face behind a book or her hat.

"Lenny"  

When the men returned by nighttime, Arthur was the last to arrive, brought along a friend and he was hogtied on his Tennessee Walker. It was one of O'Driscoll's men, Kieran Duffy. He didn't do anything wrong to the gang, yet, so frankly, Tulip didn't care about him.

"Tulip, can you come with me?" She looked up from her journal, slightly hugging it close to her chest in timidity. "Take the bow too."

It was Charles Smith, he had dark skin and Native blood. Out of all the people in the gang, he was most likely the strongest, Arthur probably being second. "Huntin'?" Willow asked.

"Yes, these people are starving to death, and food is scarce around here."

Tulip shrugged, Willow replied. "It beats watching her 'n bury her face in her journal all day." Tulip closed her book, the sound making a muffled thump. As she grabbed a wooden bow that peeked out of their belongings and a quiver, she held out a hand to Willow sitting. "Ya want me to come with? Out there?" Tulip didn't budge and she sighed. "Oh, alrighty then."

She moved her fingers and hands, Charles recognizing the signs.

"Wait, Charles, ya can't hunt with your hand like that." Willow pointed out.

"We're bringing Arthur along, he can hunt and carry the heavy animals." He said.

Willow retorted. "The more the merrier?"

"Uh-huh." Tulip hummed.

They all came out of the cabins and headed over to Mr. Pearson, the butcherer of the gang that prepares the stew. Arthur was already there, talking with the butcher. To Tulip, it seems more like Pearson's rambling on about his life in the sea, and Arthur not willing to listen to it.

"We have had a few cans of food and a rabbit, for what, ten, twelve people?" Pearson was seen scurrying around with cooking utensils and Arthur was warming himself with the fire in the furnace. "When I was in the Navy..."

"I- I do not wish to hear about..." He walked to him and spoke quickly, "...what you got up to in the Navy, Mr. Pearson."

"We were stranded at sea for fifty days..."

"And you unfortunately survived." He cut in.

Pearson sighed, stressed over. "When we ran away from Blackwater, I wasn't able to get supplies in." Sweat rolled down his balding head as he threw the metal ladle into the pot and carried it over.

Arthur rubbed his black gloved hands. "Well when the government agents are huntin' you down, sometimes shoppin' trips need to be cut short. We'll survive, we always have."

Charles approached his beautiful horse, Taima. "Get your horse."

Tulip pointed where Sunny's hitched, which is near the cabins and the girls are at. " 'Kay!"

Tulip watched the two talk while Charles brushed Taima's soft mane. "And if it needs be...we can eat you, you're the fattest." She chuckled at Arthur's comment and Charles lowered his head to try to hide his grin.

Pearson shook his head, pretending he didn't hear that. "I sent Lenny and Bill hunting and they found nothing."

Charles whispered under his breath to Tulip, "Bill? Hunting?" She couldn't imagine.

"Well, Lenny's more into book learnin' than huntin'."

Charles tapped her shoulder, Tulip was leaning on a table with her arms crossed. "Come on." She strolled in with him.

"Bill's a fool." He said to Pearson, who's fiddling around the metal ladle and trying to prepare a stew from so little ingredients. "Unless those mountains are full of game that wanna to read...ain't no wonder they found..."

"Enough of this." Charles Smith stepped in as he slung his bow to his back. "We'll go find something. C'mon, Arthur."

Willow gently caressed Sunny's head, the horse brayed happily. Tulip gave her an apple, "I love Sunny!" Willow was about to jump on, but she turned to Tulip. "Can I?" She nodded with a warm smile, "Yes!"

Pearson called out, "Hold on ladies, you'll need to eat something while you're out there." He threw it and Tulip caught it effortlessly.

Arthur glanced at it, scoffing. " "Assorted, Salted Offal"."

Tulip looked at the label of the can, it didn't sound appetizing. Willow tried to imagine it for a bit, and she was almost tempted to pretend gag. Tulip handed it over to Arthur, her brow raised as if asking if he wanted it.

"Starving would be more preferable for me." He declined, she shrugged and put it in her bag. "And I'd hate to leave it to the ladies, but Charles, you can't hunt. Not with your hand like that."

Charles shivered from the cold. "We can't stay here listening to you two. And look, if there's games in those hills, we'll find it... And you and them can kill it."

"You need to rest, Charles."

"You think this is rest?" He responded, his voice stern. "Come on."

Tulip mounted on her Missouri Foxtrotter with Willow, handing the leather reins to her. "I h-hate the snow." Willow complained.

As they waited for Arthur Morgan and Charles Smith to climb on their horses, he handed a bow to him. "Here, you take this. I can't use it and you'll have to."

He didn't seem to enjoy this judging by the frown on his face. "Oh, you're joking..."

Charles unhitched Taima and mounted. "Use a gun...and we'll scare off all the animals for miles around. You're never too old to learn."

"I imagine."

Tulip caught Willow's shoulder lightly shaking. "I can't wait to make fun of him." She whispered to Tulip amusement lacing her voice in a sneaky way.

"Alright, let's head out."

Willow carefully tapped her boots on the sides of Tulip's horse, urging it forward. The four of them soon were riding out of the camp and into the snowy landscape, the grass sprouting out of the white grounds. "Ya know Tulip, this ain't so bad, how this land looks. If it weren't for the storm 'n all..."

Due to the escape from the Blackwater Massacre and all these hectic events happening, Tulip didn't really get much time to peer at the world all around her and to take it all in. Willow wasn't wrong, that's for sure. The forest trees would be spreading their leafy, gorgeous wings. Their frost-covered branches like fingers, reaching out to the golden sun that calmly sits on the horizon. Maybe once all this running is over, Tulip and Willow could leave this life of murdering and thieving behind.

They all trotted through the frigid land, "How you holdin' up, Charles?" Arthur asked.

"I'm fine, apart from this hand. Stupid mistake." Charles shook his head, scolding himself.

"Still bad?"

"It will be fine in a day or two. I just can't pull a bow right now."

"I sure hope I can, I never really got the hang of it." Arthur admitted. "Hell, I... I know these fine ladies can use a bow better than me. And, try not to hurt my pride."

"You'll be fine." Charles reassured.

Willow tried her hardest not to let the faintest of smiles slip through her poker face, "Oh, I'll try not to. I can't make any promises though. Seein' that you act so great when you can shoot better than me!" Tulip had a small laugh escape her lips, remembering the old times. Willow pouted and elbowed Tulip.

He snickered. "Oh, alright. Ya got a point, you're cocky though, I can't help it. So, you reckon we're gonna find something to kill that ain't an O'Driscoll?"

"There's meat up here for sure. Pearson doesn't know what he's talking about, Tulip knows."

Glancing at the mentioned woman, she tipped her hat. "There's meat everywhere pretty much." Willow chimed in.

"Now the weather's eased off a bit, they'll be needing to feed." Charles reasoned. "We'll head up this way. Find higher ground."

"Been a wild few days alright. That ride North from Blackwater, getting stuck in this storm, and going out for John, that thing with the O'Driscolls. You've had a lot put on you."

"I wish I could have done more."

"I didn't mean it like that just...a lot to think back on." Arthur thought deeply as they climbed up the white hills.

"I still don't know what really happened on that boat."

"Me neither, well, Javier told me a bit, but...it sure weren't good."

Willow looked over her shoulder worriedly, she has read Tulip's journal (without stealing it or reading without permission, of course) and imagined how terribly the job had gone down. They weren't participating in the ferry heist, but the shootout during the town? It was a complete mess, sloppy. Around fifty innocent people were killed. Tulip, Willow, and the others could only hope that their luck has turned for the better.

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A/N :

***Added journal pg drawing in Ch3 Pt.3***

***Added journal drawin' of Lenny. :3 ***

Now we can get to see Willow and Tulip out of the cabin and able to get in some action, as well as some interesting interactions between the other main characters. Assorted, Salted Offals... the hell is that? Lol. Yes, that's an actual healing item in the game. And so is Kentucky Bourbon, when Javier offered it to Tulip. Unlike the OCs I've seen and read; Tulip or Willow don't really smoke or drink (unless is a goddarn party hehe! PARTY TIME!) I can't wait to write drunk scenes! But... I must wait, for now. XD

Published : Dec. 7, 2018

Edited : Dec. 7, 2018

Fixed some grammatical errors.

Added this entire part: "Tulip, of course, drew each of the gang in silence and in secret. Sure, it was somewhat creepy, but she did her best to do it discreetly. If anyone were to compliment her drawings other than Willow, she'd be timid. As much as she hates it, even though she's a feared bounty hunter and outlaw, Tulip admittedly would hide her face behind a book or her hat.

"Lenny" "