In Huck's Hands

FLay the heretic part 2

Lo'Ref found Angus' uniform to be nearly unbearable to wear over his person. The harsh Durik wool it was comprised of allowed little room to even breathe without provoking almost rash-like symptoms. The worst of which for him though was the blood-stained gas mask that did not cover enough of his face with his matted hair in the way.

"Hey...Stop acting like a toddler, you barely got grazed by those slugs--IF you mess this up for me; I'll make your life--" The soldier stopped in his tracks, noticing the expressionless gaze in Lo'Refs grey eyes. "Okay, I am sorry. We will get you patched up back at the capitol, 'Angus'." Lo'Ref shrugged, not wanting to upset him further as the man gruffly spat into the chalky settling dust.

The ache made it difficult to perform the action but it was better than showing the man his scarred throat like he had Beo. He wondered if the man, Angus, was just as talkative as this fellow was. They were nearly a half-mile from an apparent rendevous point near the glass-riddled gulley he run from the night before.

They trudged again after there were no other words to gleam from each other in a small moment among the everchanging Buritian foot-trails. Lo'Ref tried his best to breathe through the fractured mask on his face, the device making the scorching Buriti desert feel twice as hot.

His facade cringed as he imagined how much worse the man must have felt in his stockier armor. "Y'know, I kinda think maybe we can make this work...Angus was an ugly fucker--Annoying too, so nobody is gonna want you around either way." He hauled the large rifle to his side as he scanned the horizon.

"As long as you dont take that mask off or draw attention to the tear in your uniform--We should be fine!" Lo'Ref grinned narrowly. He feared the large man, but it was nice to have someone actually looking out for him. The years of loneliness, then daily assault by the SandHounds were not ideal or what he imagined would be his life after leaving Capitol City.

He mustered a low croaking grumble. "To-totek Moro." The phrase hit the soldier's ears, making him ease slightly. It was a Tahul term of endearment that had made its way into the common tongue of the people that directly translated to 'be patient, my friend.'

The wind kicked up as the rumbling of a large tank made them both straighten up. The vehicle whined and came to a stop as the cycling tracks thundered. Lo'Ref gulped, looking down at the massive barrel of the machine of war.

The lid above the weapon flew open. It revealed a short curly-haired runt of a soldier who was missing a single eye. "Boss! Angus, we have orders to head west and break up--" The wide brown eyes of the man fell into a squint, looking Lo'Ref up and then down. "Who the fuck is that boss..."

"Angus--What the hell do you mean?" The soldier only referred to as 'Boss' threw a canteen of water to the slacked jaw of the tank operator. "Unless you feel like something is off...Maybe we can all explain it to King Vasca and General Aiko ourselves--While we're just making sure." The one-eyed man tried to protest but found nothing to say.

Lo'Ref was relieved that even though his disguise had failed utterly, it seemed to be more important that Angus was replaced rather than actually be alive. He did not personally care much for the fact he killed Angus by accident, feeling the bullets he took after were a fee to balance Dhira's scales.

Lo'Ref heard Angus' last heretical words to the northern gods of Svet; He believed Dhira claimed him and would cleanse him. "Are you two just gonna stand there like LoveMates? Get your asses in the tank, gotta head west right?" Boss jumped with a fluid motion to the base of the armored vehicle. His vest and heavy clothing clinked as he rolled his leg over the second hurdle into the entrance of the tank.

Lo'Ref still stared at the massive beast, head slightly tilted. The one-eyed man, who was now standing at the front of the tank, stuck his hand out toward Lo'Ref, seeing the apprehension in his hallow eyes. "I would be ready for some shit...The west is gonna be--Hell." Lo'Ref took the man's hand as he was rocketed into the air by him.