The Red River

Act 1: The Wolf Chapter Two: The Arrival

It was mid-August 2015. I remember the beautiful blue sky and warm weather. There was a small breeze that made the day feel more like summer. Spring County, what a place. Kids running around; playing outside, no one inside playing games or watching television. I was a police officer in California. Me and my best friend Nathan was having a playful argument about the city, on our porch at the time.

"I mean, look at this weather! I'm glad we live in the country, and not in them big cities filled with them crazy people. They don't know what it's like to have fun. You know, I'd rather be stuck in this hot weather for my whole life than to go over in the city filled with that technology. Me and Nathan have known each other since we were kids. We called each other brothers; however, we were not related, we just had the same experiences as children. My dad left my mother before I was born, and Nathan's dad died before he was born. Both of our mothers raised us alone and we both suffered poverty at very young ages; however, when my mother died, Nathan's mother took me in as her own. Nathan wore a sleeveless blue button shirt with light blue jeans. He was a little shorter than me but older. He had dark blue eyes and short bushy dark brown hair.

"Nate, you always talk about the people in the city! We don't know how that life is! It could be better than seeing tractors plowing fields all day! And how do you know those people are crazy? Hell, we could be the crazy ones out here in this heat." I stated, joking with Nathan.

"Oh, I know all about them cities out there! They got all them factories that pollute our skies and contaminate the water. Pollution Stephen! It's their fault! We ain't got nothing that dangerous to be polluting these skies, but they do!" Explained Nathan. He chuckled softy after. We were drinking homemade lemonade out of glass cups when we saw a man coming from the east. He walked slowly with his head low and his fist clinched. He wore all an all-black short sleeve shirt with black jeans and a black fedora, but his lizard-like eyes stood out the most. Me and Nathan's house was on the edge of town. There were no homes to the east for at least fifty miles.

"Evening Sir. You headed to any specific place?" Asked Nathan when the man approached our yard. I observed his clothing. His hat had dark red symbols all over it. I could not make out what they all were however, I did see the symbol on the front. It was a wolf's head. The man looked up at Nathan, then over at me before speaking.

"Actually, I believe I have arrived at my destination. My journey is almost complete. You see, I've been walking for three days." Said the strange man. I glanced over at Nathan who seemed comfortable with this guy. I, however, was not fond of him or his comments. He seemed off by the way he dressed already. I could tell he was not from here.

"Why don't you come in for a drink? You've got to be thirsty in this kind of weather. My name is Nathan Watson" Said Nathan proudly. I was not surprised on Nathan's actions. He was the nice one between the two of us. He never treated anyone with disrespect unless he had reason to, he also never took caution on strangers. That alone could get him killed if we were in a big town. Luckly for him, this town barley had any crime.

"I'm Stephen." I said cautiously as if it was my first-time meeting someone. I understood why Nathan invited the stranger in for a drink. He wanted to get to know this guy better. Plus, this town was never the selfish type. We barely had crimes and we were friendly with everybody. Nathan looked over at me for approval since it was my house. I nodded.

"Well come one in. Watch your step though these porch stairs are unstable." Nathan said loudly as he showed the man inside.

"So, what particular journey are you on, sir?" I asked. I did not care for the journey at first, I just tried to get him to say his name.