[REWRITTEN] Wanted for Protagonizin' [a West of Loathing fanfiction]

Chapter 3

Coraline marched happily, humming a melody as she went further into the pit. She made a few more steps. Nothing seemed to be in sight for her to see…

''Not even a snake ? Aww man, I really  thought there were going to be some-'' she stopped to her track. She looked sideways. There crawled a snake that was approaching her. ''Oh, speaking of which… um,'' she cleared her throat. ''Howdy, little one ! I hope you don't mind me going inside your territory, I need to find something there.''

The snake regarded her for a while. It then nodded, before sliding away. Coraline thanked it before stepping ahead. More snakes came surrounding her. She waved at them. The snakes slid near her, before slowly wrapping themselves around her legs and arms.

''Whoa ! You sure are funny fellas ! And… you tickle !'' she giggled while the snakes hissed happily, rejoicing about them being with her. She spotted in the distance the silhouette of a horse. ''Now, sorry everyone, but I've got a mission waiting here. If you excuse me,'' the snakes then crawled back the floor. She thanked them before waving them goodbye. At last, she reached the horse.
''Hey there boy,'' she greeted. ''Hey, fella. I'm friend, okay ?''

''NnneeRRgh !'' the horse responded.

''It's cool, all right ? Be cool. Please, don't freak out on me…''

''whInnNy ?''

Coraline carefully and gently pat the horse's nose. He twitched a bit -- okay, a lot -- but seemed to recognize that she wasn't going to eat his eyes or suck out his soul or whatever madness was bouncing around in that skull of his.

''That's a good boy,'' she sighed of relief.

''Erng.''

Now, she calmly looked the horse in the eyes. One of them was fixed in a gladdy thousand-yard stare, and the other was just revolving madly in it's socket like he was thinking of trying to escape in every direction simultaneously. He looked to be calming down a ittle now that it was clear she wasn't actually made of spiders, though. Coraline handed him some oats she carefully picked in her hand.

''Are you hungry, boy ?'' she asked. ''I've got a little treat for you.''

''Snrf,'' she then fed the crazy horse some of the homing oats, and it galloped away with a rather strange whinny -- better than him headed home than into the twelfth dimension. Now the deed being done with, she headed back to Boring Springs, fiding Horace.

***

''Aaaand they're both here ! Thank you so much for everything, Cory. Here, you deserve to be paid well. Chose your horse,'' he gestured at the three in the stables. Coraline inspected them carefully.

Definitely not the spooky one, she thought as she glanced at her with her piercing white eyes. She then looked at the crazy eyed one. I mean, he sure is funny, but I don't feel like guidance would be easy with this one.

''I'll go with the normal one,'' she approached the said horse. It's robe was of a clear white, with hints of hazel at the tip of it's hair.

''Ah ! A good choice, actually,'' Horace smirked. ''This one boy is simply like any basic horses you've ever seen.''

''Well… isn't there anything special you can tell about him ?''

''Les'see. He runs pretty fast, has good stamina, likes any kind of veggie… and, oh yeah ! He won the best horse prize back in '86.''

''Wow, an awarded one…? He must be really precious for you, then.''

''Nah, don't worry. If I put it on sell, it ain't for anything.''

Coraline approached the horse. She reached her hand to him. Slowly, but surely, she placed her hand on his nose. He gladly let her pat it, even nuzzling against it ! At this point, she couldn't resist but gush out about him while he neighed, joyfully.

''I'll take him,'' she said, breathing in for air.

''Alright then ! What will be the name ?'' Coraline looked at it intendly, before she tells him :

''Nicholas,'' and the horse nodded. ''I guess he likes it.''

''Sure does ! Nicholas the horse it is then.''

''Hooray ! Also, here,'' she handed over a pouch she filled with Meat coins. ''To cover a bit his prices.''

''O-Oh, Cory, really. You don't have too. That's too nice for a man like me.''

''Yeah ! But you offered me a horse. I offer you what to make a living. Just make sure not to make the other ones flee this time.''

''I-I won't,'' Horace then threw himself in her arms once he took the pouch in hands.

''Aww, there. There,'' she pat his back, now saying, ''I better get going now.''

''Going west already ?''

''Yup ! To Dirtwater. There, I might make a new life.''

''Alright. Good luck with that, then.''

''Thanks ! And good luck aith your horses,'' she waved him off as she grabbed Nicholas by the strings. She tied him here, asking him to wait her here, the time she went to the saloon. She turned her head to the room, until she finds the man of her requirement. She walked to him. ''Alright, Pete ! We go together now. I'm going west, this right instant !''

''Yee-haw ! Jes lemme pack some stuff and I'm all yers,'' Coraline waited for a good five minutes in front of the saloon, until she saw him… riding a mule, a pack on his back.

''Way to go, Pete. That's a lot you've got there.''

''All I ever need ! Now, ready to go ?''

''Readier than ever !'' she hurried to her own steed, which she untied from it's spot, then climbed on it's back. Now she was on his back, she made him gallop in the west direction. The height was just high enough for her to enjoy the wind across her hair. Pete followed her, despite his own steed's speed.
''Onward we go, to the west !!'' she rejoiced. And on that, the two fellows now marked the beginning of what seemed to be the adventure of a lifetime…

''What is he doing ?!'' Rose sighed in impatience. She tapped her foot impatiently. The silhouette of the muscular man soon came into view.

''Serry fer the wait ! Saw an ol' pal of mine. Coul'n't let 'im without any explanation though,'' he rubbed the back of his head that Rose soon clapped.

''Just do not try to delay us next time. It's about to get dark… alright,'' now she calmed down, she approached the now covered chart. ''Is everything in it ?''

''I checked a last time. Got every of our needs in clothes, medicine -- an' veggies !''

''… All clear then,'' she rubbed her hands together, as she climbed into the chart. Robert went to the top, so he'd drive the girls west. ''We shall go now. Dirtwater will be our first stop.''

''Al'ight, lady ! Hold on tight, the ride will be fast ! Hiyah !''

Robert then guided his trustworthy brown horse out of the little bourgade that once used to be Boring Springs. They made their way surely, but slowly, as the sun set past the hills.