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

Chapter 9

Night time soon fell on the west, and our two protagonists thought it would be a good idea to rest up for the day. They settled camp pretty quickly, and both of them were now grouped around the campfire.

''So... what d'ya think of'em ?'' Pete asked her.

''Well, I find Ivy and Noah friendly ! And Rudy... is himself. I can't really blame him for that, though. But... he is friendly, too !''

''Haha, I kno' right !''

''I found him very brave, and strong during our fight with those cows, back at the cave... unlike me-''

''Dun' say that ! Ye were pret' strong, too !''

''I wish to be as tough as he is. Yet, look at me. I barely have basics about combat experiences and I fly away from danger at any occasion ! ... if only there was a way for me to make it,'' she sighed, before groping her knees against her. She looked to the side. Pete regarded her intently, before sitting next to her.

''You dun'ave ter worry like dat. Yer already goody strong like dis. I tell ya, lad : ya 'ave lotsa more things to prove to everyone, it will come by !! Fer now, ya already made a good job, prolly more than what you could make ! And you gotta keep it up, if ya wanna prove yerself, as ye say.''

''Pete...!'' she was now holding hands with him. ''Thank you. What you said to me tonight sure helped me feeling better. Thank you for everything, really !''

''Ya dun'ave to. Helpin' a lad ain't nothin' fer an ol'man like me.''

''Though, it is best we sleep about now... we got to rest up, so we can tell Dan the good news !''

''Heh, sure thing, pardner !'' they both agreed and now laid down the floor. ''Goo'night, Cory.''

''Good night, Pete... sleep well,'' she said before falling soundly asleep...

The very next morning, Coraline woke up, feeling dizzy. She opened her eyes to reveal that she was now raised up, probably did she sit down. She also saw she was now facing a piece of fabric preventing the sun from falling on her head.

I don't remember waking up during the night... she thought, now glancing everywhere.

She immediately felt that she couldn't move her arms at all. With a worried face, she looked behind her. Pete was just there, at the opposite of her. She blinked. Then, she shuddered... where in tarnation was she ?!

''We're doomed !'' she cried. ''If we don't find a way to get out of this by tonight, Dan will never give us the explosives !''

''We chill, Cory ! First of all, we gotta look at where we are.''

''A tent... it looks like red patterns are drawn in it.''

''Patterns ? Looks like we met a Beanslinger tribe !''

''Pete, do you know about them ?''

''And not just a bit ! Though, dat's weird, the leader didn' meet us yet. Prolly he still sleep-''

''Pete, check this out !''

The tent's opening flew sideways, to reveal two silhouettes appearing, shadowed by the blinding sunlight. Their eyes adjusted themselves, and they could see soon enough two people standing before them. One of them was imposing. His face was stern, cold. His hair was almost entirely hidden by his feathery white crown. He crossed arms. We could see his suede clothes lining his built body. Next to him was a young lady, her dark hair, tied in bangs, covering her eyes. She wore a dress that landed to her ankles. Her skin... was immaculate. And she didn't smile. Not that she was stern, as well – on the contrary, she had the face of a child. A child that had yet to build its future. Yet... she didn't smile. How come was she so neutral about something as grave as what was she going to do ?