The Eyes of Fate (Currently in Rewrite)

Old Friends

Sentinel

Crosswind Park

Laine, Oklahoma, USA

December 5th, 2019

Fang's contact had requested they meet in "Crosswind Park," which was on the opposite side of Laine from where they were staying. Fang had driven them there, with all of them riding in one truck. Stellan had opted not to go, instead saying he was going to go try to get them some more backup. 

Fang had driven through the park, which had several walking trails that were filled with people despite the cool weather, and parked near an area that had almost nothing but flat, dead grass. He turned off the truck and they all climbed out. 

"This is an... interesting meeting spot," Chesyr said.

"Looks like a great spot for a setup." Ranger grimaced, turning a slow circle. "Do you see anything out there, Sentinel?"

Sentinel made the same 360 that Ranger did, looking for anything concerning. There was a playground about a hundred yards to their left, a dog park across the parking lot behind them with a handful of dogs and people in it, and a winding walking path going off to their right until it disappeared into a stand of trees about a half-mile out. He couldn't see anybody in the forest, or on their specific path, and the handful of other cars in the lot were all empty. 

"We're safe, as far as I can tell," Sentinel said. Ranger didn't look completely convinced, but he nodded. Sentinel looked at Fang, who was also looking out at their surroundings. "Why'd your contact pick here, Fang?"

"Because he doesn't trust anybody, and he knew he could give me this spot without actually telling me.

"How so?" Vyper asked. 

"This is where we met for the first time." Fang pointed at a bench a little ways out. "I had just gotten in a fight over there with some teenage punks who thought I was an easy target. He came over to see if I was alright."

"To see if you were alright?" Chesyr asked. "Why would he be checking on you if... Hang on. How old were you?"

"Twelve." Fang said with a shrug, like it was no big deal.

Sentinel's jaw fell open, and a glance at the others showed they were about as surprised as he was. He opened his mouth to say something, but Oracle beat him to it.

"You're telling me you've known him that long? That you started fighting at twelve??"

"Yeah." Fang shrugged again, completely unfazed by Oracle's rising voice.

"How could he let you do that?" Oracle ran a hand down her face, trying to calm down.

"You can ask him yourself," Fang said, pointing at an old model truck that was coming up the road. "That's him."

The truck got pulled in two spots from their own before turning off. Sentinel turned to face the newcomer before he got out, and the others gathered up so they were roughly in a line. The man who got out looked more like he should've been getting off a horse: Cowboy boots and hat, blue jeans, belt with a huge buckle on it, and a flannel shirt. When he tipped his hat up at them Sentinel could see his salt and pepper beard and frost-blue eyes. 

Fang stepped up so the two were almost eye-to-eye, the man being a few inches taller than the captain. The man probably also had twenty pounds on him. Oracle stood just behind Fang.

"Bout time you showed up," Fang growled, his southern accent crawling out of him. 

"Not my fault you always show up earlier than me," The man said back, his voice every bit as country as his clothes, but noticeably missing the drawl that Fang had when he brought his out. Then he grinned. "It's good to see you, Fang."