Quest of Theyral Desert 7

Chapter 7: Confrontation

"WHAT'RE THESE PUNKS DOIN' HERE?" Jesse shouted, face filled with pure rage.

"Jesse, calm down." Moises said, holding up his hands in an attempt to try and calm the younger edgedog.

"Friggin' humans AND an elf goin' with 'im!" Jesse growled, pulling out a revolver and pointing it at the questers.

"We're not here for trouble..." Seth said as his hand made its way to his belt, grabbing the hilt of his vi-blade.

"Well, trouble just found ya, ya friggin' human." Jesse growled, pulling the hammer back on his pistol, "Now get out!"

"Look, lad," Willthor said, stepping in front of Jesse, "It's a complicated story. One of our friends has fallen ill and needs medical-"

"I said GET OUT." Jesse said, firing a bullet, which narrowly missed Nunkish.

"Hey, watch it!" The fairy shouted, indignantly.

"JESSE!" Moises barked, staggering over to Jesse and smacking the younger edgedog across the face with the back of his hand, "Put a sock in it and shut up. They're just passin' through, lookin' for the Desert Pistol."

Jesse scoffed as he massaged his cheek, his scowl still on his face, "That ol' kid's story? Screw it. Ya say they're on their wild slicer chase? Fine. Just get 'em outta here before I shoot 'em all."

"Tough talk coming from a mongrel like you." Yukai murmured.

"What was that?" Jesse asked, eyes shooting to the elf and his hand tightening around his revolver.

"You heard me, mutt." Yukai stated.

"Uh, no offense, Yukai, but I doubt slurs will make him more sympathetic towards us." Willthor stated.

"Listen to your elder." Seth said in a calm voice to Jesse, "We're simply passing through, whether you believe in this quest or not."

"Also, I don't think it's YOUR call as to whether or not someone stays." Came a voice. A slightly shorter edgedog had followed them in. It was Jim Taylor. He then noticed Bracken and his eyes widened, "You're...a werewolf?"

"Obviously." Bracken growled.

"I've been wanting to meet a werewolf my whole life!" Jim exclaimed, looking ecstatic, "I read once that the very first alchemist was a werewolf!"

"He appears in our legends." Bracken stated, "His name was Kaaden. He was a cripple and wound up being discarded. Somehow, he survived and learned the secrets of transfiguration, healing his leg, but robbing him of most of his fur."

"Well, y'know how it is with alchemy." Jim said, "You need to take some material to make something else!"

"Whatever your impression of werewolves is, you are mistaken." Bracken stated, "Our species does not study alchemy nor do we encourage it."

"Oh..." Jim said, looking somewhat disappointed, "Sorry..."

"Jesse, be reasonable." Moises said to Jesse, "These people bring their very sick Nymph friend. If you drive them out NOW..."

"Then I'll be savin' a few extra bullets." Jesse interrupted, glaring at the questers, "Y'all better get out or else I'm gonna bring my gang in here and you'll be dealin' with FIFTY guys with a burnin' passion to put lead in your guts."

"Including a sick one?" Luun asked, glaring at Jesse, "Our friend simply requires medical attention."

"How about a compromise?" Seth asked, "We leave, but our friend stays for medical attention. You don't have to worry about us, our friend gets the required treatment, and we get to continue searching for the Desert Pistol."

"Slicer crap." Jesse muttered.

"You dare to insult the great quest laid down by Hevan Joh?" Bracken asked with a snarl. The werewolves were a deeply religious people and insulting Hevan Joh around one was on-par with poking one in the eye.

"Sorry, dog-man," Jesse replied, "But I find it kinda hard to think of some all-mighty bein' who lets edgedog boys get enslaved and killed."

Bracken looked about ready to lunge at the edgedog and possibly rip out his throat. Willthor put a hand on the werewolf's hip and shook his head and said, "He's just tryin' to provoke ya, lad. He's lookin' for a fight. Be the bigger man an' don't...'course, it's not that hard to be the bigger man from my perspective."

"Where's the nearest settlement?" Seth asked.

"Gold Town, about ten miles south of here." Jim answered, "That is, if you ride slicers."

"We ride lizadros." Seth said.

"Lizadros." Jesse scoffed, "Those things went out 'round these parts LONG ago. Ya also use single-shot rifles and flitlocks?"

"Slicers are faster." Yukai stated, stepping in front of Jesse, "But lizadros have staying power and can keep up longer in the desert heat."

Jesse growled before pointing his revolver directly into Yukai's face, "Ya want me to paint the place with your brains, elf?"

"Do NOT shed blood in Hevan Joh's temple!" Moises shouted.

"Don't worry, the idiot mutt doesn't have the guts to pull the trigger." Yukai stated.

"Your insultin's only givin' me more reason to fire!" Jesse growled.

"Show me." Yukai stated.

Jesse's face contorted in rage. His hand eventually started shaking. He roared before pulling the pistol away from Yukai's face.

"Barking DOGS seldom bite." Yukai smirked.

"Just get outta here." Jesse snarled.

"Deal." Nunkish said, "Let's just get outta here before we make this worse than it already is."

"Never thought I'd ever say this, but that's a good idea, Nunkish." Willthor said. He looked at Moises before saying, "Well, we'd best be off. See ya in a week, Mr. Ramirez."

"Adios." Moises said as the questers walked out.

"We'll be back, Hamane." Seth said in a low voice, "And, when we do, we'll have the second crystal."

"How cliché can ya get?" Nunkish asked as the questers walked to the outskirts of the villa before getting onto their lizadros. Seth got onto Kilo, Luun and Willthor onto Jilo, and Yukai onto Bilo.

"Hek-hek." Seth said. The giant lizard let out a hiss before beginning to walk through the vast desert.