New Home, New Life (Laramie FanFic)

Chapter 1

"Slim!" Andy Sherman screamed suddenly as he was dragged behind a large boulder, but a hand was clasped over his mouth before he could say anything more. He struggled against the strange blue-eyed boy who had grabbed him.

"Ya promise ya keep quiet?" The boy whispered. Andy nodded nervously as his eyes widened. The stranger pushed him to the ground and stared at him.

Andy sat on the ground observing the new boy. He was built like his older brother Slim. A little shorter and very thin. His clothes were dotted with holes and his thick wavy dark hair was messed up. His face was covered in dirt. He was a sight, and one which Andy wasn't sure of.

"What ya lookin' at?" The boy asked sitting down across from Andy. Andy turned his gaze away from the boy and looked at the ground; then at the boy's feet. His boots were so worn down that they hardly provided any protection.

"I...what were you thinking of draggin' me here that way?" Andy asked a bit angered.

The kid shrugged his boney shoulders. "Didn't want t'take a chance."

"A chance of what?" Andy asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"Ya bein' a..." The boy looked around and then whispered. "A skin walker."

"A what?"

"Skin walker...someone who turns into a...a hungry animal and...and eats boys like you'n me."

"Aaah," Andy waved his hand and shook his head. "That sounds like the boogie man. And my brother says he ain't real."

"I've seen 'em. And...and an ol' Indian told me 'bout 'em. Where they like t'hang out and how t'keep 'em off ya."

"If you're so smart, then...how do you get them off you?"

"Food. If I had food then they'd take it n' not me. But I dint have food so I can't give them none."

"Never heard of a 'skin walker' before. Are you sure they're around here?" Andy stood and cocked his head to the side.

The blue eyed boy nodded. "If they see ya yer dinner. Unless ya have food. Ya know how long it takes to have 'em off yer back?"

Andy shook his head.

"A long time. Now we both are in for it...unless you bring food to this spot and ea…" The boy stopped and tried to catch his breath, while shutting his eyes tight. "Look, ya bring the food; then they'll let ya be. Since ya saw me we need to fight 'em t'gether."

"What? They will?" Andy was starting to get scared even to move. This boy and the 'skin walkers' had him scared stiff. Slim even said that there were hungry creatures at night and sometimes during the day. It was one reason he wasn't allowed to be alone out here.

"Just sneak food from home. But ya can't tell no one. Or else them skin walkers'll get ya."

"Why would they get me if I…" Andy started to say but the boy covered his mouth.

"I answered that…" The boy glanced quickly over his shoulder.

Andy heard some leaves rustle, and his eyes looked in the same direction. His heart began to pump faster and his temperature rose.

"That's one. They is sizin' us up. Walkin' 'round, until they decide to...attack!"

Andy gasped and stepped away from the boy who lunged at him, his hand cupped around Andy's mouth.

"Don't. Tell." He hissed.

"I won't tell!" Andy exclaimed quickly once the sticky hand was removed from his mouth, his eyes were wide. He wasn't sure whether it was the boy or the skin-walkers that scared him. His parents warned him about strangers.