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Chapter 5 Pt.II

"The Aftermath of Genesis"

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The snow trails slithered behind the horses like white snakes carving through the pale white powder, the snow piled up less here than back at Camp Colter.

They headed up the river, Tulip's raven-black curled hair was being blown by the frigid winds. She looked at Willow, who shuddered. Willow felt a gentle weighty blanket that fell on her shoulders, she glanced back at Tulip. Tulip had removed her wolf pelt and wrapped her in it.

She smiled, a genuine one that was beautifully etched upon Tulip's lips. "Thanks." Willow whispered, who, smiled in return.

Underneath, Tulip was wearing a thick, brown coat, her rosy pink-red bandana was tightly wrapped around her neck. She also wore a gray vest inside.

"Let's head up the river." Charles led, having a deep voice that's as calm as undisturbed water. "I see some of the ground uncovered here." They veered to the right, down the little slope. "Come on, let's try this way. Keep your eyes peeled for any movement."

Willow was examining the ground closely while Tulip kept watch of their surroundings, she noticed that Arthur wasn't bothering to look around. As they moved on cautiously, he was more like blindly following Charles' command. Guessed that hunting wasn't really his forte.

"The winds died down too." They trotted along the river, compared to the time when they were rescuing John, the water was soothing.

"And that's good?" Arthur asked as snow softly flaked the brim of their hats.

"No wind at all is bad, but if it's too strong, they won't move. Now shh, stay quiet." They continued to a serene trot. "Hey, stop here for a second. I see something."

The girls dismounted, Tulip removed her bow and handed it to Willow. She whispered. "Oh, I see... Ya want to see how my huntin' is." She then smirked, her voice low for only Tulip to hear. "Compared to old man Morgan?" Tulip chuckled, rolling her eyes at her ever-cocky student.

"There's deer been here...recently." He said, bending over to inspect the trail.

"How can ya tell?"

"How can you not? Let's walk it from here."

Arthur and Charles hopped off.

"Okay, keep it down. Move quietly and slowly." They all crouched low like a predator. "You see the tracks?"

"I think so...maybe not." Arthur slung the bow to his back, peering into the pearly, colorless canvas of the land.

"Focus. It's easier in the snow but, once you get your eye in, you'll be able to track as nearly as well in grass and woods." The group moved along the river, Tulip showing Willow the tracks and prints in the white dust of winter, Willow dropped all her humorous demeanor and became a determined hunter. She still had a slight prideful grin, but overall, she was serious.

Tulip paid close attention to the wind. She knew the direction of their scent was blowing behind them, making the dangerous game tipped in their favor. Animals are not dull creatures, underestimating them would be a mistake. If one were to be alerted and sense danger from their instincts, then the whole herd flees.

They brushed passed the frost-covered twigs and leaves, Tulip spotted a brown creature that was along the river. She pointed and Charles whispered, "Down there. Do you see it?"

"Sure, I see it alright." Before Arthur would nock and draw the arrow, he glanced over his shoulder to the blondie. "Shall I take the honors, or ladies first?"

The corner of Willow's cherry lip tugged into a small smile. "Yer just afraid of missin', I'll show ya how it's done."

He chuckled and shook his head, Willow's such a young lady with a big ego.

Tulip knelt right beside her, observing her stature and movement like a true mentor. Willow drew her arrow, Tulip silently showing her to puff out her chest and straighten her back a little. She gently guided her aim and pointed the arrow tip by placing her hands, the arms and bow perfectly perpendicular. Arthur was also paying careful attention, since he's so used to animals that likes to run around and shoot back at him, not animals that lurk within Nature's playground.

"Head, or neck...for clean kill." Willow's expression became serious, Tulip backed away and nodded as a signal.

*twip!*

The arrow launched and tore through the frigid air, and with a powerful impact, the deer fell, limp and lifeless. "Gotcha." She smiled triumphantly.

"Good shot." Charles complimented. "Let's try for another. Arthur, you try."

They headed further down, Willow pulling out the arrow from the dead animal. Tulip tapped her shoulder, gesturing to hand the bow over. "Alrighty then, hope ya didn't get rusty." She teased, her teacher put a hand over her heart, gasping slightly and pretended to look hurt.

The girls chuckled to each other.

Marks of deer hooves were found imprinted within the ground as they crossed the humming river. They found a pair of Whitetail Deers and the duo readied their weapons.

Arthur saw the chance to take a shot at one of the deers, so he did the same as Willow had done and fired. But it noticed them, and it turned, then fled. The arrow narrowly missed its head. "Damn." He cursed.

"Hehe." Willow snickered. Tulip was ready to see the both start a childish fight.

"That didn't count." He said quickly.

Charles replied, "Take your time. They went further there."

Once again, they prepared and Arthur made sure to aim to the right a bit, remembering the flight path and mark of where the last arrow had made. Tulip coughed to get his attention, "Oh, right. Ya can't whistle without that thing of yours." Charles raised his eyebrow in a silent question. "I'll do it."

As they both aimed, Willow chimed in, seeing that Tulip nodded. "Call 'em."

As Arthur whistled, the pair of animals both lifted their heads. In the very next moment, Tulip let the arrow fly, Arthur allowed it to rip through the air like a spear almost simultaneously.

When both were taken down, they took a quick glance at each other with a satisfied grin. "Bit fun, ain't it?"

"I guess bows aren't too troubling to learn." He admitted, a bit prideful about the clean kill.

"Let's take these back to Pearson."

"Mm-hm." Tulip carried her's, while Arthur carried the other he hunted down.

"Willow, I'll carry the deer." Charles stated.

Arthur grunted slightly as he settled it, "Are you sure with that hand of yours?"

"It'll be fine once I get it on my shoulder."

Willow gleefully smiled, "Thanks, Mr. Smith, I'll get 'em horses over here."

"Not a problem, you may call me Charles."

With a nod, she went off, leading the horses over as the trio trekked with the deer over their shoulders. They stowed it and secured it with ropes on their respective horses, "Ready to head back when you are."

"Come on then. Nice work, should be enough meat to keep us all fed for a few days."

"You found 'em."

"I knew you'd be okay with that bow."

"Almost."

"Shut up, Willow. I told ya, that didn't count. At least it's easier when they aren't shootin' back."

They all laughed. "We've seen enough of that." Charles tapped Taima, urging the horse to trot faster.

"Agreed." Willow added, and Tulip hummed in a silent agreement too.

"Considering how things were going a couple of days back, maybe our luck is finally on the turn."

"Seems to me we should be putting in our effort into getting off this mountain now."

"Soon." Arthur thought. "People are still weak and you've seen how snowed in those wagons are... They ain't goin' nowhere until we get some more thaw."

"Just wished it was faster..." The blonde sighed.

Charles wholeheartedly agreed. "Yeah, you're probably right. And even if we do get off of here...what then? We all still have a big price on our heads."

Willow looked at Tulip worryingly, her eyes were clear on showing just how afraid she really was. Wanting to not have another Blackwater Massacre, and more of the blood being added to their hands.

"This is a big country...we'll find somewhere to lie low, Dutch and Hosea will have a plan." A moment of silence fell upon them, he spoke up again. "You lot noticed how Pearson's had a bottle in his hand ever since we fled Blackwater? We gave the camp cook five minutes to grab the essentials and go, and he doesn't even bring a crumb of food."

"Maybe it's 'cause he ate it all." Willow let the words fly right out of her mouth, and realizing what she just said, they all laughed.

Charles continued. "Good that we caught more than one. We've only been up here for few days and have already picked up two more mouths to feed."

"One more." Arthur replied. "We ain't feeding the O'Driscoll a damn thing, 'cept maybe that can of salted offal Pearson was kind to give to Tulip. I doubt you'd want to eat that." He addressed the aforementioned woman, Tulip shook her head, thinking to herself that she preferred raw deer meat instead.

"The girl... She has a wild look in her eye." Charles talked, which was about Miss Adler.

"Of course... She lost her husband, her home, everything she had." He said the rest under his breath to the side, "No thanks to Micah being an idiot and shattering that damn lantern..."

"So what do we do with her?"

Willow had a question and was eager to ask Arthur, "We're... Not just gonna leave her, are we?"

"No, o-of course not. Once we get outta here, and we're back on our feet, we'll see. She might have family somewhere. Who knows, maybe she'll deal with the O'Driscoll for us." Arthur laughed, "I know who my money's on for that fight. He's weak, but that makes him much more useful. Maybe we can get to them before they can get to us."

"You mean that Keiran feller?"

"Heheh, yeah."

"What is it with the O'Driscolls?" Charles wondered, since he's new, Tulip thought about it. She hasn't quite seen Charles ever encountering the rival gang yet.

"You ain't dealt with them? I suppose we ain't run into them much these last six months, I guess they've been over this way."

Willow clicked her tongue, "Sorta wished they weren't here..."

The man in blue coat shrugged. "It ain't too bad, we got a chance to rob the train before they do, thanks to them loitering 'round the snow here. Just like the other times back then."

"I've heard a lot of talk about them..." Charles added.

"Well... We've been scrapping over their scores with them for years. A big gang, nasty sons of bitches." Arthur explained distastefully.

"Guys, bear!" Willow pointed to the ginormous, fearsome grizzly bear far ahead of them.

"Let's see if we can find another route around it."

"He's got a lot of meat on him." Arthur eyed the bear.

"Taking down a bear with our peashooters and flimsy, pathetic arrows ain't gonna take down that feller." Willow spoke. It was certainly massive, if it were to stand up in front of them, it'd be a towering wall of muscle and fur. Tulip shook her head, it was one of the animals that she doesn't want to mess with, ever again. "I remember when Tulip tried to hunt one down, my Lord, it was darn terrifying!"

"We got a lot of meat, there's no need to push out luck. He must be real hungry, we should stay away. Spring storms like this are the worst for animals that sleep all of winter. Come on, let's cut up here, off the trail..."

The horses were spooked, Tulip shushed it and patted its amber coat soothingly.

"We ain't talked that much, you and me." It was even more true when it comes to Willow, Tulip, and Charles. They haven't spoken to each other very much either. "How long have you been with us now? Five, Six months?"

"Something like that."

"Bet ya didn't expect this."

"What?"

"Any of this. The Blackwater mess, being up here." Willow thought the same, who knew going with the gang along the ride would be as incredulous and as dangerous as this?

"Sooner or later a job's going to go wrong. Nature of life." Charles replied.

"Just thought you might have moved on by now."

"You want me to move on?"

"No, no, not at all, I just... I know you could run it alone, no problem."

"I did that for a long time I'm done with it. Always wondering if someone's going to kill you in your sleep."

"I still wonder that most nights."

"Don't we pretty much all?" Willow chimed in.

The group laughed. "I reckon you're okay. This suits me. Sure, I could have fallen with another gang, but Dutch... You know..."

"Dutch is different."

"Oh yes, Dutch is certainly different. He treats me fair. Most of you do. And for a feller with a black father and an Indian mother..."

"That ain't normally the case, well... We need you now." The storm began to pick up. "More than ever."

"Good... and how long have you been with these boys? Why ain't you run off?"

"Me?" Arthur let a small, genuine laugh slip. His mind recalling some old memories. "Twenty years, somethin' like that. Since I was a boy."

Charles was truly astonished, "Twenty years?"

"Yeah, heh. He taught me to read. John, too. Taught me a few other things, him and Hosea." Arthur spoke fondly of them.

"I'm sure. But what about you, Tulip? Willow?"

"Us?"

"Yeah, especially the woman behind you." Tulip raised her head at that, the brim of her hat no longer covering her eyes. Willow had Sunny move up faster in order to be right alongside Taima. "No one's asked why you don't talk very much, and seeing how you are with the gang, you seem to have a lot of trust."

"Well, she can't..." A cat got her tongue, she looked at Tulip with an uncertain face.

Tulip waved her arm, she pointed to Arthur and he spoke for the girls. "You see, Tulip can't talk. And she's been runnin' with us just about as long as John, almost."

Willow seemed deep in thought "I reckon it's about ten years, a very rough guess. But ya know, we go way back."

"You can't speak?"

Tulip hummed, with a slow and heavy nod. "Mm-hm..."

"Her...tongue's ain't grown right. So it's basically half of a normal tongue, so yeah, she can speak. But the words don't come out proper." Arthur explained.

"It's alrighty though, we're still livin'. Tulip taught me how to hunt, fish, and a buncha other stuff. I've been with Tulip since I was very young, even before we've met Dutch and his gang." The woman smiled and tipped her hat, while Willow shared the same bright expression.

Arthur responded, happy to see how the girls have a close relationship, it almost seems to be unbreakable at that. "Dutch saved me, saved most of us. That's why we need to stick by him through this. He always sees us right."

"How's that horse?"

"He's alright." He comforted the Tennessee Walker. "He'll do for now. Appreciate you lettin' me take Taima the other night."

"She's a strong one." He said, referring to his Appaloosa horse. "It's been as hard on the horses as on the rest of us. I don't know what Dutch would do if something happened to the Count."

"Same with Bill and Brown Jack. He's a drunk, miserable bastard, but... He loves that horse."

Willow giggled at Sunny, who brayed. "I love Sunny too."

"I hope they all make it."

"I tried to ride the Count once..." Arthur admittedly chuckled at a rather painful memory, judging by the slightest signs of his facial expression, there was a small hint of wincing. "Bucked me faster than a bull, won't take nobody but him."

Tulip couldn't help but laugh at the old days. A young, idiot Arthur who wanted to so ambitiously try to ride the fierce, albino Arabian. Briefly recalling it, didn't Arthur break a rib or two? Willow laughed too, then Arthur did, and so did Charles.

"I-It was such a dumb idea!" Willow had to wipe a tear away.

"Yeah, I have to admit...it was pretty dumb of me." Once they reached back to camp, Charles went to hitch Taima and so did Willow too, for Sunny. "Bought some food back, boys!" They dismounted. "C'mon, let's get these back to Pearson. Oh, and... Thank you, for showin' me how to use the bow properly."

"Me and Tulip only showed a little, takes a lot of time and practice to master."

"Well, well, well!" Someone was impressed, they had a bottle in hand and a bushy gray beard. "Just drop it down here, boys. And ladies."

"What a surprise, to find the camp rat loitering around the kitchen."

The old man looked hurt by Arthur's retort. "Is that any way to greet an old friend? I feel like we haven't spoken for days."

They all gathered around the furnace, Willow handing the wolf coat over to Tulip as she was sent back to the cabin.

"I do my utmost to avoid you." Arthur spoke, both Charles and Tulip were smirking.

"Oh, he loves me really..." The old man said to the camp cook walking in. "It's his sad way of showing affection."

"No it isn't. Now shoot, get lost, Uncle."

"Well, see you gents, and lady, later."

"See you got on just fine." Pearson complimented.

"Charles and Tulip are a wonder."

"Have a drink boys, Tulip... You earned it."

Arthur took the first sip and taste of it, he was instantly taken in by surprise. "Jesus, what is that?" He handed it to Charles.

"Navy rum, sir...it's the only thing...the only thing. Keeps you sane it does."

"Yes, seems to have done a treat on you." He spoke, sarcasm dripping off his words. "You go rest that hand, Charles."

"It'll be fine in a few days."

"You mind helping me with the skinning, Mr. Morgan? Miss Tulip? It's easier if we do it together."

"Do I get to skin you?"

Mr. Pearson chuckled, "You're always one with the jokes aren't you? Come on."

"This really isn't a job for a man with a burnt hand." Charles replied. "I'll see you both later."

"You skin that one y-you dumped on the floor there."

Then they did what they were told, Tulip's skinning was like an expert. Arthur did a fine job removing the pelt too. Now that the hunting for today was done and dealt with, the camp can finally enjoy the meats and venison. Tulip pulled out her half-empty bottle of Bourbon while Arthur got his and they both cheered, clicking the bottles together. Pearson joined in too, "To your good health!"

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A/N : Doing RDR2 posters again! It's on my Main Art Book or on my twitter, I can't believe it that Noshir, the voice of Charles Smith....SAW AND LIKED MY TWEET OF THE POSTER... And so did the voice of Sean Maguire! Mick! My lord! I feel like a kid and am grinnin like an idiot!

Anyway, apologies for long chapter update. I thought of wrapping this mission up within two parts aaaaand it was still quite lengthy wasn't it, fellers? 
December 13th was the voice actor of Lenny's birthday!

Published : Dec. 12, 2018

Edited : Dec. 14, 2018

Fixed grammar here and there.