Investigating (Open)

[Deleted]

July 10th; Morning

Sam was off the streets, but it didn’t mean he didn’t look around for adventure.

The boy had started a life here in earnest, working for the Sheriff. Which wasn’t too bad so far - he had the room, board, clothes, and food he was promised. And for once he didn’t feel prosecuted around here, so he absolutely was starting to feel comfortable.

So on one of his off days from working for Troy he’d decided to go exploring the forest. He was careful to remember where to go to get back to town, knowing full well the dangers of the forest. He wasn’t a man yet, he was only a boy after all.

So far he’d climbed a handful of trees and encountered a handful of critters. Having a bit of fun as he went.

Before long a few hours had passed and Sam was ready to turn back, and head back to town. At which point he realized his initial attempt to keep from getting lost had failed.

And that’s where he was now. Walking around in circles with a quiet groan as he tried to figure out the path back. If anything he figured Troy might get a bit worried if he didn’t see him around town. And he didn’t want to worry the one person he’d found in forever who actually gave a damn about him.

“Darnit, I really screwed up this time.” He grunted a little as he tried yet another direction.

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He wasn't alone, not in the sense that he was lost...but he wasn't the only one out there. The morning had passed quick it seemed and was a little later, not quite noon yet but still early enough to have a light fog on the ground, even a chill in the air. The crack of twigs caught his attention, Robert rose his head fast from the kneeling position he had been in. A rifle in one hand draped over the opposite arm and his twin six shooters off each hip. He was hunting, but not animal. He was hunting a more dangerous game, man.

Robert had caught wind that one of Davis' boys was out in the forest somewhere, held up in a shack. Jimmy Bones, he was one of the psycho murders that felt the need to butcher Robert's wife and son one night along with Davis and his gang. Ever since then this man was on a path of vengeance to make the wrong things right, the only issue was, this wouldn't change what had happened to him. These days it was blood and booze for Robert, not much else..even thoughts of suicide and near attempts to end his own life before he realized he had to get his revenge before he offed himself.

He set out early in the morning, just before sunrise in hopes of finding the shack, smoke from a fire, anything. He had the patience, but it was looking to be a long day ahead until he heard the noise of Sam wondering nearby. Not having spotted the boy just yet he was now on full alert. His eyes blinked a few times, breathing a bit heavy. He was ready to kill if he saw Jimmy, first it would be a shot to the leg to slow him down or drop him to the ground...then probably make it a slow death.

Robert rose to his feet and proceeded slowly, each step as a soft as he could to make as little noise as possible. He kept his sight down the top of the rifle so the minute he saw the man he could pull the trigger with precision aim and a bullseye like shot. There went another snap of a twig, this time from his left and he moved the rifle aim just as quick in that direction. He could hear his own heart pounding like a hammer in his chest. Another snap and Robert quickened himself around a tree and Sam found a rifle right in his face.

"Jesus Christ!

Rob lowered the rifle quick when he realized it was just a kid, nowhere near the man he was looking for.

"What the hell are you doing out here, you want to get yourself shot?"

[Deleted]

Sam yelped.

Ok so the twelve year old had had a gun in his face before. Some people were just mad when he did anything, or stole from them. And not everyone was all too kind to kids - especially street ones. I’m fact a lot of them felt like you could just shoot them and “do the world a favor”.

The man didn’t look like that type though. Especially not as he scolded him the way he did. The man almost seemed... Concerned about him getting hurt? That was a new one. Maybe he knew he was helping out the sheriff and just didn’t want to get in any trouble he figured?

He chewed his lip slowly. “Not much I could right do if I was. And can’t think of a person it’d hurt,” he said as calmly as he could, at least once the man had lowered his gun. “And it ain’t like anyone owns the forest. I have every right to explore if I want to. Even if I did get a little lost.”

He tilted his head a bit, wondering why the man looked so irritated and determined. What was he doing out there anyway? Hunting? No, he didn’t look like he was hunting for animals anyway. “And what are ye doing out here? Huntin’?” He asked. “I s’pose not. You don’t look like a hunter - ‘cent maybe a bounty hunter.” He noted rather jokingly.