No Time To Die- ARTHURMORGAN x O/C

part 43- A Rat

                       The warm sun streams through the canvas covering Arthur's cot, casting soft patterns of light and shadow across the small space. Claudia groans at the feeling of the late morning sun seeping into her consciousness, its rays coaxing her from the comforting cocoon of sleep. She stretches feeling an empty space, realizing that Arthur is not beside her. Sitting up and rubbing her eyes, she rolls out of the messy bed. Claudia hesitates, then puts on her well-worn boots and her favorite hat.
Camp is silent, usually at this time Miss Grimshaw would have Claudia and the girls working doing the breakfast washing, drying clothes, feeding the horses or chopping vegetables for lunch. Claudia looks around seeing how camp has changed since she first joined, it has gotten colder, greyer, more miserable than ever. She takes a deep breath, moving through the camp, her eyes fall on Charles. He sits by himself next to the table sharpening his knife once again, his eyebrows furrowing in concentration.
"Hey, Charles," Claudia greets as she approaches, sunlight bouncing off her hat and illuminating her features.
Charles looks up, his face softening slightly at her presence, "Claudia. Morning."
"Mind if I join you?" she asks as she pulls out a chair and sits down, a hint of apprehension settling over her.
"Not at all. How are you doing?" he replies cautiously.
Claudia hesitates before answering, "I'm alright, I guess. Just trying to find my way through all this." She gestures vaguely around the camp, indicating the tumult of their lives.
Charles studies her face thoughtfully, "Have you been drinking lately?"
The question catches her off guard, she shakes her head, "No, I haven't had a drink since that night, since the argument we had in Lagras," she admits, her voice soft but steady. The memory of that night hangs heavy in her mind of their friendship.
"Well done, not going to lie thought you'd be in a saloon near by," he says, his tone neutral despite the hint of sincerity behind his words. Claudia feels a strange mix of pride and unease at his acknowledgment.
"Thanks. I guess," she replies, looking down at her hands, "Just... wanted to focus on the things that matter, I suppose."
Charles nods solemnly, his brow furrowing deeper, "Sometimes it's easy to get lost in everything that's happening around us, especially in a place like this."
Claudia draws in a breath, the conversation opening pathways she hasn't  yet explored, "What do you think about the gang now? With everything that's happened, the way things have changed?"
Charles straightens, shifting his posture as he considers the weight of her question. "To be honest, Claudia, I think it's going downhill," he says, whispering his voice barely loud enough for Claudia to hear, "We've lost sight of what brought us together. The mission, the purpose... it feels muddled. People are starting to look out for themselves more than for each other."
Claudia nods, her heart sinking at his words, "I've felt that too," she admits, "There's a tension in the air. Things don't feel right."
"You're not alone in that feeling," he replies, his gaze unwavering, "I think a lot of us are starting to wonder if this is worth it anymore, whether we're really a family, or just a group of people clinging to something that's falling apart. Dutch seems different, more reckless about his decisions. I don't want to be a part of something that's only going to lead to more pain."
Claudia glances around the camp, the tension palpable as she recognises the familiar faces of their comrades suffering under the burden of uncertainty, "We need to stick together," she says firmly, "But it's hard when people are so divided. Sometimes it feels like we're just waiting for the other shoe to drop."
Charles sighs. his features hardening as he leaned closer, "And when it does drop? What will we have left? We need to find a way to reconnect with what we really believe in and not let this place change us."
Claudia meets his gaze, feeling a sense of camaraderie begin to form between them, "I guess we will find out soon, I don't this gang will last long."
Charles nods his head slowly, he says nothing. The words lost in his mind, he doesn't know what to say. He doesn't want to think like that as the gang has been his family for months now but sooner or later he will have to face the truth. Claudia smiles softly and gets up from her position, and starts making her way to her horse.
Claudia pulls the straps of the saddle tight over Nyrah, she sees Tilly walking over to her from the corner of her eye, "Oh Claudia, Dutch wanted me to tell you to meet him in Annesburg, this morning" Tilly says with a small smile on her face.
"Thank you, Tilly" Claudia replies, feeding Nyrah some sugar cubes.
Tilly strolls off with a little skip in her movement, Claudia sighs mounting her horse. She digs her spurs as she exits camp, giving Javier a small nod as she gallops by him.