Amevello Deux

A collection of all the BlueLime stories I've got!

Key

☀️ Main Story 🌙 Side Story ❤️ NSFW

>> A note: Any writing marked as NSFW may only contain a chapter or scene with NSFW in it and will contain a warning in the notes of the chapter so it's skip-able if you prefer.

BlueLime Universe Main

Based on the Chessboard AU with some worldbuilding changes. Tag is #base bluelime.

☀️ The Sun and the Moon's Personal Gravity ❤️

AU Masterlists

"Things have changed," Bardi said simply.

His brothers, riding beside him on their journey into town, all looked over at him.

"Yeah," Simoni said slowly. "That happens a lot."

"Our original plan is not accomodating of our new situation."

Davinci smiled slightly. "You're worried about the others?"

"This is the first time we have left them alone," Bardi murmured. "Because we trust them now. Don't we?"

"Yes. We trust them." Davinci nodded.

"Is that what changed?" Sanzio asked.

Bardi fidgeted with his reins. His mare's ears flicked back towards him, listening. He patted her neck absently.

"I do not like things changing," Bardi said quietly.

"We know," Simoni said.

"You never have," Sanzio said.

Bardi looked at the red shadow of the egg he held, after he'd checked it for the twelfth time in three days. He checked the second egg, and saw the same reddish shadow, anchored by veins to the inside of the shell.

"Oh," Miles said, staring with him.

Bardi took a slow breath, and laid down beside the two eggs. The other four eggs in the clutch, empty, had been secreted away, dumped nearby where a coyote or raccoon would be thrilled to find them. They had made Bardi feel ill once he'd found the two to be full of life. The others were empty, dead, rotten. They needed to be away from the two that would be kept safe, tucked in the nest, where it was warm with straw and a blanket and Bardi's tail coiled over them.

"They're mine?" Miles asked.

Bardi bared his teeth at the insinuation. "Who else could it have been?"

The Sun and the Moon's Personal Gravity -- aka the Hotel Arc.

Words: 1170

"Surprise!" Simoni lifted his hands from Dante's eyes.

Dante blinked, saw the horse standing in front of him, and took a step back right into Simoni's chest. "Eep!"

Simoni chuckled and grasped his arms, rubbing them encouragingly. "It's okay!"

"What is— that?" Dante asked, nose wrinkling.

"Your horse," Simoni said brightly.

"My— what?!" Dante squeaked.

"Yeah, you didn't think you'd keep riding with me all the time, did ya?" Simoni patted his arms and stepped around him to stroke the horse's neck. "This guy is a retired ranch horse. Gelded, super well trained, hardly ever spooks. Great for a beginner."

Dante shook his head, stepping back further. "Simoni, I think you have vastly overestimated—"

"C'mon, you gotta meet him first." Simoni caught Dante's hand and pulled him closer, putting an arm around his waist despite the salfin's discomforted stiffness. "His name's Baa."

"B-Baa?" Dante shot Simoni an incredulous look.

"Yeah, like the sheep."

"Why?"

"Miles named him."

Dante pressed a hand over his face, took a slow breath, and looked at Simoni with a calm, collected look. "Thank you, Simoni, but I will not be riding any horse by myself any time soon."

He turned to go, but Simoni caught him again and turned him around to the horse. "Listen," Simoni said. "Will you trust me on this?"

"You kidnapped me," Dante answered flatly.

"Yeah, but so what? Anyone could kidnap you." Simoni flashed a smile.

Dante made a disgusted sound and tried to leave again.

"Come on, Dante," Simoni pleaded, catching his hand. "He's the gentlest thing we could find, and you need to ride separate. You need to learn how to ride or you're not gonna survive out here."

"Then perhaps I should just go and expire!" Dante snapped, pulling his hand back and stomping back towards camp.

Simoni sighed and looked at Baa, who lowered his head to munch more grass, uninterested in Simoni's toiling. Simoni patted his shoulder lightly and Baa continued to graze.

"Guess I gotta say sorry or something…?" Simoni muttered, looking down at the horse.

Baa had no insights for him, so Simoni followed after Dante.

The sailfin was sulking by his bed roll, back turned to the others. He'd pulled out his notebook, pretending to busy himself with it. Miles was watching him, a look of consideration on his face before he spotted Simoni approaching. The leopard gecko smiled at Simoni, who just shot him a grin back then quickly focused on Dante.

"Can you hear me out?" Simoni asked.

"I've heard your plan," Dante muttered.

"Then, can you at least let me show you that he's okay? He didn't chase you, right?"

Dante didn't respond, worrying the corner of his notebook.

"So can you maybe believe that I wouldn't try to get you hurt or killed by putting you on a horse, considering I could just put you on mine and be done with it?"

Dante glared up at him. Simoni offered his hand.

"Just eight seconds," Simoni murmured. "Eight seconds, and if he scares you, you can get off, and just ride behind me for the rest of time, okay?"

Dante's nose scrunched distastefully. He took Simoni's hand anyway, and allowed himself to be pulled up onto his feet.

Simoni led him back to Baa, who lifted his head to look at them both. Dante stopped, sucking in a breath and dipping behind Simoni.

"It's okay," Simoni reassured, trying not to laugh at how flighty Dante was. "Can I see your hand?"

"No," Dante hissed.

Simoni snorted and nodded. "Okay, okay. Just relax."

Simoni reached out and stroked over Baa's shoulder. "He's really calm, I promise. C'mon." He took Dante's hand and pulled it out under his own arm, and held it outstretched to touch Baa's shoulder. "See?"

"It thinks I'm you," Dante grumbled. "You're tricking it."

Simoni snickered. "Horses aren't that stupid."

Dante huffed, tail curling around his own leg. "Okay, I touched it. Can I stop now?"

"Nope, you gotta mount up. Eight seconds."

Dante whined, and hid his face in Simoni's shoulder. "Do I have to…?"

Simoni gave him a look that had Dante groan and slowly get pulled out from behind him. Simoni helped him mount up, despite Dante's stiffness and nerves.

"Eight seconds," Simoni reassured him, holding Baa's bridle just in case.

Dante gripped the reins and saddle horn.

"Seven," Simoni counted, patting Dante's leg. "Six."

Dante sat stubbornly still, waiting for the other shoe to drop and Baa to start running off with him. The gelding was less than interested, snuffling on Simoni instead. Simoni pulled the apple he was holding onto out of his pocket and offered it to Baa, who crunched down on it greedily.

"Five," Simoni said with a smile. Dante huffed at him. "Four. Three. Two. One."

Baa was standing still, otherwise occupied. Dante swallowed.

"You did great," Simoni praised.

Dante's cheeks flushed faintly, and he looked back down at Baa. "He's just waiting for the right opportunity."

Simoni snickered, and patted Baa's neck. "Sure, Dante. Whatever you say."

Dante timidly pet over the horse's mane. Baa's withers twitched, and Dante squeaked.

Simoni snorted and grinned up at Dante. "Alright, you can come down, now. I'll show you some ground work you can do with him so you guys can get to know each other better."

Dante dismounted, and staggered back a few feet once he was on the ground again. He huffed and smoothed down his clothes. Baa pulled his head from Simoni's hold and went back to grazing.

Simoni noticed Dante's hands quivering subtly. He smiled, and offered, "Maybe after some coffee?"

"Yes," Dante said quickly. "Yes, that would be excellent."

They settled down on a rock watching the horses graze while nursing their mugs. Simoni blew absently on his while Dante was already sipping despite the steam rising.

"Why are you so scared, anyway?" Simoni asked. "Of horses."

Dante focused down on his cup. "I…" He hesitated, and Simoni leaned forward a little, trying to look at him. "When I was a child, there was an… incident…"

Simoni imagined a little Dante being thrown from a horse, or trampled over like a rag. Maybe a horse bit him, or struck him. "Yeah…?"

Dante took a slow breath. "I was with Father, waiting while he spoke with some associates, and… A horse stepped on my tail."

Simoni blinked.

"It was bruised for weeks," Dante mourned.

"Wait— that's it?"

"What do you mean 'that's it'?!" Dante cried.

"No, no, I didn't mean it like—!" Simoni covered his face and tried not to laugh. "I thought— sorry, when you said all that, I really thought you'd been attacked or something. They just stepped on your tail?"

"It stomped on me!" Dante said reproachfully.

"It probably didn't notice your tail," Simoni snickered.

Dante glared at him. He stood and started to walk away, then turned back and snatched Simoni's coffee from him. He stalked off, and Simoni followed after.

"Aw, Dante, come on… I'm sorry for laughing!"

Words: 833

Davinci sat alone, further up from the camp. He had a good view from the outcropping he'd found to sit on, so keeping watch was no trouble. He'd dragged one of his blankets all the way up here with him, wrapping it around his shoulders as some thin protection from whatever feeling was clinging to him this time.

He noticed someone stirring in the camp, looking around. Lucius, by the height and build. He wasn't surprised when the leatherback stood and did a loose amble around the camp before starting to peer through the trees. Davinci just waited to be spotted; it wasn't too hard to see him with how bright and full the moon was that night.

Davinci scooted over a bit on his rock when he saw Lucius making his way up towards him. It didn't take him long; Lucius was a decent climber. Better at brawling.

"Nightmare?" Lucius asked.

Davinci nodded quietly.

Lucius settled beside him without another word, following his gaze over the horizon and up into the stars. They sat like that for a long time, just quiet. Davinci appreciated it, even if it was mostly because Lucius didn't know what to say.

"My dad taught me about the stars," Davinci murmured. "How to navigate by them. Told us stories about the rabbit in the moon. Made it sound like we could reach out and touch if we wanted."

Lucius leaned back on the palms of his hands, staring up at the sky. "I never really thought much about it," he admitted. "Just thought it looked nice."

"Ironic, isn't it?" Davinci asked with a soft smile, cheek resting against his knee.

"What is?"

"You look like the night sky. All those pale freckles."

Lucius shrugged.

"Never really thought about it?" Davinci guessed.

Lucius glanced down at himself. "No. Never gave a shit what I looked like."

Davinci sighed, looking up at the stars again. "Did you get told stories?"

"Miles made stuff up, sometimes."

"That's not the same, though."

"No." Lucius hesitated. "I heard… some stuff. As I got older. Nothing about the moon, though."

"My dad told me it was the eye of death," Davinci murmured with a sly smile. "Watching over us until it was time to gather us up as stars in his fur cloak and carry us to the next life."

Lucius snorted, and covered it with a cough. "Sounds kinda… fantastical to me."

"Yeah. But it makes me feel better. Thinking that one of those stars might be my dad."

Lucius gave him a sidelong look. "Then he's…?"

"Yeah. When I was 17. Humans came through looking for yokai to burn." Davinci squeezed his legs closer to his chest. "We barely escaped. Still running."

"Bishop?" Lucius asked.

Davinci nodded. "We went back. We were stupid, and went back, and he was watching for us. We nearly got caught again. We've been running ever since. Can't stay in one place too long, can't settle, can't do honest work. Etcetera."

Lucius leaned back more, groaning faintly as he laid fully on his back. Davinci took it as an invitation, and laid down beside him, staring up at the full eye of the moon.

"You guys don't talk much about them," Lucius said.

"It's only been, what, five years?" Davinci smiled sadly. "Feels like last week, sometimes. Hurts a lot to talk about, and… well, you know how Bardi is about 'weaknesses' and everything. He's really just scared to talk about it. I don't think he's processed any of it. He's just been in survival mode this whole time. We all have."

Lucius nodded, and Davinci sighed slowly.

"I'm sort of dumping this on you out of nowhere, huh?" Davinci chuckled.

"I don't mind." Lucius looked at him. Davinci met his eyes and saw a gentle look that Lucius hardly ever gave anyone. His horse, maybe. Or that kid that Davinci had watched him go see before they'd left Lucius' house. Sometimes Davinci, when he thought Davinci wasn't looking. But here it was, open and admitting.

Davinci smiled slightly. "You a light sleeper? It always seems like it's you coming after me when I've got nightmares."

Lucius shrugged. "Sort of."

Davinci decided not to press. Lucius, enigma that he was, could be solved another day, when Davinci's head wasn't sticky with grief and fear from memories turned nightmares.

"I didn't know my parents," Lucius said hesitantly. Davinci felt like he should hold his breath or something, just so he didn't interrupt. "Just the orphanage and Redd. Miles and Dante came along, then we were just… Stuck together. When we were adopted I thought it was great that we had been taken in together."

Something caught in his throat.

"It wasn't," Davinci concluded for him.

Lucius scoffed. "A huge understatement."

Davinci's hand drifted sideways to touch Lucius'. Lucius' fingers twined with his.

"Thanks," Davinci whispered.

"For?"

"Coming up here after me."

"Any time, Vinny."

Davinci stared up at the moon, and squeezed Lucius' hand.

Words: 857

"We need to go by the grocer's for salt pork, beans, and dried fruit, and Davinci said we have enough to get mollasses and a couple cans of peaches," Dante recited from the list in his hand. "We also need more gunpowder and grain for the horses…"

Simoni nodded. "We can get all that. We need cornmeal too, is that on there?"

"Yes," Dante confirmed. "Soap?"

"Davinci can find soap," Simoni dismissed.

"Davinci's very resourceful with plants," Dante said, licking over his teeth. Davinci had recently showed him how to chew mint, which made their breath smell better and their teeth cleaner.

"He likes figuring out what they do." Simoni shot him a grin. "Our uncle taught him."

Dante didn't press on the enigmatic uncles or fathers they spoke of occasionally. It was rare that the four bandits mentioned them, and they never allowed for pressing. Something wounded showed behind their eyes when anyone asked.

"Town's kinda fancy," Simoni said, glancing around as they approached.

It was a larger town, with cobbles down the main road and well stamped down dirt webbing outwards. The main attractions were the bank and the local saloon on the corner, which was bigger than any Simoni had seen before. There was a train station nearby, which meant there was news, too. They would have to be very careful.

"Are you going to behave?" Dante asked.

Simoni blinked at him. "Me?"

"Yes, you. You're not known for your… decorum."

"My decor— who do you think does most of the talking usually?" Simoni laughed.

"Davinci should," Dante huffed. "You have such a snappy temper."

Simoni just grinned at him. "So what, do you wanna do the talking?"

"I think that'd be best," Dante muttered, eyeing Simoni.

Simoni snickered. "Alright, fine. Consider me your bodyguard for the day, then."

They tied off their horses in front of the grocer's, and Simoni grabbed the foodstuffs while Dante perused and marked off what supplies they'd found. When they put everything on the counter, Dante stepped forward to speak with the grocer while Simoni looked over their supplies.

Simoni slipped a bag of coffee onto the counter and stood with a smirk beside Dante.

"—and thank you," Dante said as he finished up the transaction. "I'm sure we'll be by again."

Simoni was sure they wouldn't be.

He packed their things into the bag he'd brought and followed Dante back out.

"How long has it been since you were in town somewhere?" Dante asked.

"One this big?" Simoni rubbed the back of his neck. "About the time we grabbed you, I'd guess."

Dante sighed. "So a while now."

Simoni gave him a cheeky grin. "Six months and seventeen days."

"You're counting?"

"Yup, I gotta remember the anniversary of when we met~"

Dante rolled his eyes. Simoni was pleased to see the faint dark purplish blush on the sailfin's cheeks.

They moved over to the feed store just next door, grabbing some extra grain and supplies for the horses. Simoni eyed a particularly pretty saddle he thought Dante would look good sitting in. It was way too expensive to afford now, but maybe one day.

When they weren't thieving and hollering all over the place.

When they could find home.

Simoni focused back on Dante as he haggled with the shopkeep, pleased at how sharp Dante was. Though he was only a decent shot when they were on the move, the worst rider Simoni had ever seen, and the whiniest cowboy he'd ever come across, the man was good with money and people. Dante had a tongue of quicksilver and could strike anyone with it in just the right way that made them give in to whatever he wanted.

Simoni included, though Dante didn't really need to try for him.

Simoni tensed when the shopkeep drew his shoulders. It was a subtle display of intimidation, and one that Dante was not swayed by. He was thin but tall, and it worked in his favor in moments like these, where he could look down his nose at his opponent and make them shrivel.

They gathered the grain and supplies and slung them over their horse's backs.

"You handled that pretty well," Simoni commented, holding Dante's bridle while he mounted up.

"I'm very— oomf— I'm good at business transactions." Dante recovered from the clumsy mount quickly, taking the reins. His horse didn't even bother to lift its head. "I was studying to be a banker."

"Yeah, I remember." Simoni gave him a grin and mounted up, guiding the pack horse beside him. Dante's horse automatically fell in to follow its herdmates. "Anything else before we go?"

Dante's eyes lingered on a tailor's, and Simoni could feel the longing for his old life cracking some of the strong facade he put on.

"Hey." Simoni glanced around before casually revealing a chocolate bar he'd stolen and snuck into his saddlebag.

"Simoni!" Dante gasped.

Simoni snickered. "I'll half it with you if you don't tell the others."

Dante pursed his lips.

"I'll make sure your coffee is stronger too," Simoni tempted.

"Deal," Dante said, turning forward and tilting his nose up.

Words: 1,112

It was a rest day. They didn't get many of them, preferring to keep moving, but they all needed one every once in a while. They had settled camp a twenty minute ride from town, far enough out where no one would stumble across them but close enough where they could go in and get supplies if they needed some.

The horses were untacked and wandering as they grazed. Davinci was busying himself with a map, sat beside Lucius, who was leaned back against a rock with his hat covering his eyes, chewing on a stick of grass. Simoni and Dante were chatting over the leftovers, which were slowly being dwindled away by everyone asking for thirds and fourths. Sanzio was napping, sprawled out in the grass with his chin on his arms. Redd sat beside Bardi, occasionally glancing towards the trees where Miles had disappeared to on a walk.

"He has been gone a while," Bardi noted, watching Redd's eyeline.

Redd nodded, letting out a soft huff. "Not normally gone long."

Redd's voice was always soft. The first time Bardi had heard it he'd been surprised.

"Should we go look for him?" Bardi asked.

Redd paused, looking up towards the sky. The clouds were dark on one end of the sky, but it was moving so slowly they weren't worried. The worst they would get would be a sprinkle.

When Redd didn't give an answer right away, Bardi moved to pack his things. "I will go with you."

Redd's shoulders relaxed, and he nodded, gathering up his own things.

As they were gathering their things, they heard a faint shout from the woods. Everyone looked over, tensing. Miles came charging out, huffing and puffing, clutching his hat to his head.

"Boot scootin' boogie!" He cried.

"What?" Simoni asked incredulously.

Lucius lunged to his feet. "It means get the hell outta here!"

Everyone broke into a scramble, saddling the horses and throwing on saddle bags. Miles came rushing down the hill, practically tripping over himself until he finally hit the ground rolling.

Redd went to scoop him up, but Bardi beat him to it, hissing, "Mount up!"

Bardi caught Miles against his legs and hauled him up under his arm, Miles babbling too quickly for him to understand.

The sound of hooves cresting over the hill and shouts in the forest revealed what Miles was running from. A gang of bandits twice their numbers, a mixture of humans and yokai. Bardi hissed and mounted up, clicking his horse to a gallop. He placed Miles in front of him so he could hold onto him.

"What did you do?!" Lucius shouted over the thunder of hooves.

"I dunno I said hi!" Miles screeched.

A shot rang out, and Bardi felt the bullet barely miss his shoulder. He hunched over Miles more, squashing him down. He pulled out his own pistol and looked over his shoulder, firing once, twice, three times for good measure. One of the humans dropped off their horse.

"You definitely did more than just say hi!" Lucius snapped.

"Okay so I maybe might've done a joke routine—"

"Oh, Miles, no," Dante bemoaned, clinging to the back of Simoni.

"Well, okay, that was after— eep!"

Another bullet whizzed by and Bardi's horse spooked to the left, squealing. Simoni clicked and swept Dante abruptly in front of him, turning to face the other direction. Dante grabbed the reins, babbling incoherently.

"Just hold him steady, gorgeous," Simoni said with a smirk. He pulled out both of his pistols and began shooting.

Two more went down, and one veered off to the right nursing an injury. Another horse spooked at the bullet hitting the ground in front of them, taking off at a panicked gallop off to the left.

Davinci yelped in pain at another gunshot, grabbing at his arm. Lucius pulled up beside his horse and grabbed the reins, before yanking out his own gun and starting to fire back at the guys tailing them.

"Get over the hill!" Bardi snapped, firing off more shots.

They careened over the hill, dropping down the steep incline on the other side they had climbed earlier that day. Down and into the trees again, where it was easier to let their horses weave them between trees to escape.

Hollering followed behind them, and Bardi growled. He gave a sharp whistle, and Sanzio ran up beside Redd, handing over his reins. Sanzio dismounted, rolling to catch himself. He got to his feet and tossed a rope across the pathway, twisting it multiple times around a tree trunk.

Bardi let Miles take the reins. "Keep moving," he growled, and leapt off to join Sanzio. He pulled the rope taut around the tree.

The group tailing them didn't notice until it was too late. Horses slammed into the rope, stopping them as they were flung over and landed hard on their riders. The ones towards the back managed to skid to a stop in time, or went scattering into the woods in fright.

Sanzio leapt out and cracked two skulls together, then grabbed the shotgun that hung across his back and shot several trying to get up.

The remainder scattered, fleeing into the woods.

Bardi huffed, and Sanzio slowly lowered his gun. Quietly, he went about helping the horses that were still trying to untangle themselves from each other.

Their own group circled back around to them.

"Is everybody okay?" Bardi asked.

"Just got grazed," Davinci said, letting Lucius tie off the wound with his bandana until they could dress it better later. "I'm fine."

"Are you okay?" Redd asked quietly.

Bardi nodded. "Yes. Miles, what exactly happened?"

"Well they were all ganging up on this farmer and his son and they were just trying to get into town to sell their stuff and I thought I'd just get them to leave them alone so I sorta tried to scare them off but instead they just laughed so I started making jokes and they didn't like that so much so I—"

"I see." Bardi mounted behind Miles. "You were very kind."

Miles blinked up at him, then grinned broadly. "Aw, thanks, Bart!"

Bardi sighed, absently petting over Miles' head as he looked to Sanzio. "Gather whatever supplies you can. They'll come back for their horses and fellows."

Sanzio nodded, taking saddle bags and slinging them over one of the pack horses.

Miles snuggled back against Bardi, who wrapped his arms around him and squeezed.

"Next time, call for us," Bardi muttered.

"Were you worried about me?" Miles teased.

"This is a big herd," Simoni noted, looking over the group of cows settled in the valley.

"We'll be able to take half of it pretty easy," Davinci said, and shot a smile over at the other set of brothers. "You ready?"

"No," Dante grumbled. His horse was tied to Redd's so it didn't go running off with him in the excitement.

"Me and Simoni will do pressure on the sides," Davinci said. "Bardi will keep pressure at the back. The rest of you stay behind Bardi unless I call for you, we don't want to stress out the herd and cause a bunch of noise."

"We cutting it?" Simoni asked.

Davinci hummed. "We could take all of them if we wanted. We've got enough people now." He looked to Bardi.

Bardi surveyed the herd, silent for a moment. He gave a short nod. "We're not far from the livestock auction. We can get them there before anyone even notices their cows are gone."

"We can get about $45 per if we're lucky," Davinci noted.

"Forty—" Miles balked. "We should've became cow rustlers forever ago, Redd!"

Redd cast him a look.

"I get the impression you don't approve?" Simoni asked, grinning.

Redd glanced at Simoni, then quietly shook his head. He didn't say more than that.

Bardi murmured, "Let's begin, then."

The three brothers approached slowly, the cows moving away as Bardi began his work pushing them forward with a tight zigzag pattern. Simoni moved away from the herd at an angle on the right, looping back around to walk against the tide. He moved back away from the herd as they began to move.

They followed this pattern, letting up pressure and backing off when the herd moved, and dipping back in when they slowed. Soon they had it moving, and Miles joined Simoni on the right while Davinci and Lucius handled the left.

With so many of them, it was easy to get all the cattle moved away from the grazing fields they'd been in and off towards town. It was quiet, only the thuds of the cattle's hooves and the occasional whistle to mark pressure.

They made it away from the farm's territory without incident, and the thrill of sneaking a herd of 20 away lost its edge. Miles squirmed in the saddle.

"Do you think they'll be okay?" He asked Simoni.

Simoni blinked, looking down at him. "What do you mean?"

"Like, what if they have an old grandma with one tooth, and she really needs these cows—"

"With one tooth?" Simoni asked.

"Yeah, that's what I said, keep up." Miles huffed. "What if it's their only income? What if they put their whole life savings into the cows?"

Simoni shrugged. "They aren't our problem."

Miles' brow furrowed. "Should we have left some?"

"Each cow is $45 a head," Simoni said. "With all of them, that's $895 total. You know what that kind of money can get us?"

"20 cows?" Miles guessed.

"Food. A good amount of it. Shelter when we need it. Grain for the horses. Maybe some land and building materials once we get out far enough west."

"Couldn't we work for all that, though?" Miles asked.

Simoni sighed. "We can't get far enough away fast enough. The closer we are to humans, the more danger we're in. We can't stop and work, or he'll catch up to us."

"Bishop," Miles said quietly.

"Yeah." Simoni's frown deepened. "And you guys, you'll be able to go back to however you were living before. We kidnapped Dante, kept the rest of you hostage. You can always pull that card out if we get caught. But us?" He scoffed. "The second a human gets their hands on us, they'll kill us. Or worse."

"What's worse than dying?" Miles looked up at him.

"Lots of things." Simoni kept his gaze forward steady. "Point is, we can't work until we get settled far enough away that Bishop can't find us. Then… maybe then we'll do something honest. But for now this is how we survive."

Miles looked over the herd and nodded. "Yeah, okay. I get it."

A low whistle called them back into movement, turning their horses to walk against the flow of the cattle, driving them forward faster.

Miles tried not to think about it.

They settled down nearby the herd and let them graze while Simoni started breakfast. Dante sat himself beside Simoni, flipping through his notebook.

"The next town has a livestock auction," Dante said. "We can sell them there for a pretty penny."

"If we're lucky," Simoni noted.

"I can negotiate a price."

Simoni grinned. "You don't have any problem with what we did?"

"Not particularly." Dante blinked at him. "Why?"

"Something Miles said. No big deal. You're gonna negotiate with them?"

"With Davinci and I it shouldn't be a problem," Dante said smugly.

"Can't wait." Simoni offered him a bowl of beans.

Dante accepted it, and wrote in his notebook while he ate. Simoni passed out all the food before tucking into his own.

The first cattle rustling with the Stockman boys was uneventful. They got to the town without hearing anything about rustlers in the area and sold off the cows for a good amount. Enough money to keep them going for a long time. They wouldn't have to do this again any time soon.

Words: 830

"Keep your toes up," Simoni said. "Back straight."

Dante did as he was told, looking nervously down at Simoni's horse. Simoni had a hold of its halter, keeping it from bolting. It was less than interested, shifting its weight with a sigh.

"Better," Simoni praised with a grin. "Now show me holding the reins."

Dante fumbled with the reins a little.

"Under your pinky," Simoni reminded.

"Oh, yes, of course." Dante fixed his hold nervously.

"Keep the reins loose," Simoni instructed. "But don't move 'em up his neck or he'll get jumpy."

"Jumpy?" Dante looked down at Simoni, frowning. "I don't know if I want to do this anymore."

"You've been saying that this whole time, but we don't have a wagon," Simoni retorted. "Besides, we're putting a lot of weight on him, riding with two people. Can't carry as many supplies. The idea is to get you on your own horse by the end of this."

"My own—" Dante sputtered indignantly. "I am not getting on a second one of these!"

"We'll get you an old gelding," Simoni snickered, patting his horse's neck. "Way better than this spitfire."

The horse snorted, turning its head to snuffle Simoni's shoulder. Dante squeaked.

"It's trying to eat my leg," Dante mourned.

"He is not," Simoni laughed. "He's just checking things out. Look, see?"

Simoni scrubbed his horse's nose, and it gave another big sigh before swinging its head back around again. It lowered its head to eat some of the grass, nearly pulling Dante off.

"Don't rely on the reins to balance you," Simoni chuckled as Dante clutched the saddlehorn. "He'll pull you off."

"He'll buck me off the moment you let go of him," Dante hissed.

Simoni grinned and gently patted Dante's knee. "You're worrying too much. Now keep your tail laid neat or you'll spook him."

Dante shifted his tail, tapping the horse's flank just enough to make it jolt forward. Dante yelped, which only started the horse further. Simoni took the reins, walking the horse in tight circles while Dante clung on for dear life.

"Get me down!" Dante demanded. "I'm not putting up with this! This is ridiculous, why do I need to learn how to ride?!"

"You're in the west, Dante, what'd you expect?" Simoni cooed woah's to the horse until it stopped, huffing. Scratching against the front of its neck, Simoni looked back up at Dante. "You just gonna be riding behind me the rest of your life?"

Dante sputtered. "I don't expect I'll be with you the rest of my—" He paled. "Will I be?"

"Don't look so eager," Simoni teased. He led the horse around, letting it walk while Dante whimpered and tried to retrieve his balance. "Nah. We're taking you west. We'll drop you and your brothers off nearby a city and you can start new lives there."

Dante was quiet. "I see."

Simoni glanced up at him, noticing he was lost in thought. He cleared his throat and asked, "Want me to teach you how to shoot instead?"

"I know how to shoot," Dante scoffed.

Simoni raised a brow. "Really?"

Dante nodded, turning his chin up. "I can shoot wonderfully!"

"Alright, dismount."

"W-what?"

"Dismount. I'm gonna have you shoot something."

"What?" Dante's voice went up an octave.

"I thought you said you could shoot?" Simoni asked innocently, watching Dante nervously and clumsily dismount the horse. He swung its reins over its neck and let it graze.

"W-well yes, but I've— I mean, I've only ever done it i-in a—"

Simoni looped his arm around Dante's waist and guided him along, the taller lizard griping the whole way. He stood Dante in one spot, grabbed a spare piece of firewood, and set it up on a rock. He pulled out his gun and checked the bullets, then offered it to Dante.

"What if I shoot you?" Dante asked despite accepting it.

"What are you gonna do, ride away?" Simoni snorted. "My brothers would catch you even if you did. And they won't be nearly as nice as we have been if you hurt me."

Dante glowered at him. "You haven't exactly been hospitable."

"Oh, pardon me, Mister, want some towels?" Simoni cooed. "Extra shitrag maybe? Up your ration of beans?"

Dante's cheeks flushed red, and he turned away from him. "You're an ass."

"If I was we could carry a whole lot more shit," Simoni snickered. "Now focus. Show me how you shoot."

Dante huffed and with confidence raised the pistol and fired. The piece of firewood flew back off the rock, and Simoni whistled.

"You're a good shot." Simoni gave him a sly grin. "Now I just need to teach you to shoot from a horse and you'll be golden."

"Shoot from—" Dante sputtered. "Now wait a moment—!"

Simoni took the gun and holstered it with a laugh. "C'mon, back up onto the horse you go! I'm not done with you yet!"

Words: 1475

"We'll stop and ask for a barn for the night," Bardi said, dismounting and lifting Miles down off the saddle. The leopard gecko's tail wiggled. "You two will stay with Davinci and Sanzio. Simoni and I will take Dante with us."

"Me?" Dante squawked. "Why me?!"

"On account of your pretty face," Simoni purred, and Dante's nose scrunched in disgust. Simoni was pleased to see he blushed anyway.

"My face isn't pretty enough?!" Miles asked indignantly.

"You talk too much," Bardi said solemnly, placing a hand on his head.

"I'm a great talker," Miles scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest.

Bardi lifted him up easily under the arms, holding him out to Redd. "This is yours," he said flatly.

Redd, now dismounted, took Miles in his arms.

"I don't understand why I'm necessary for this," Dante sulked as Bardi mounted up and they started towards the ranch.

"We are taking you so that Redd and Miles will not leave or try anything." Bardi side-eyed Dante, who clung a little closer to Simoni. "And if you try to alert someone, Sanzio and Davinci will handle your brothers."

Dante's cheeks burned, and he lifted his chin to ignore the turtle.

As they approached the ranch house, someone stepped out onto the porch. He was shorter but stocky, a solid looking yokai with simple clothes and a shotgun. He cocked it as they came closer.

"I'm only going to say it once," he called. "Leave or I shoot you both."

They stopped their horses. Dante peeked around Simoni's shoulder, brow furrowed.

"There is a sandstorm coming," Bardi called. "We are looking for shelter."

"You won't find it here."

"Lucius?!" Dante cried.

The yokai squinted, turning his head slightly.

"You know him?" Simoni asked, eyeing Bardi. His eldest brother's hand had released the reins, resting on his knee, close to his pistol.

"Lucius, i-it's me!" Dante wobbled in the saddle. "Dante! I had no idea— why are you so far out—"

A shot rang off, and Simoni and Dante both felt the whizz of the bullet right next to their heads. Dante yelped and Simoni's horse spooked, front hooves leaving the ground. Simoni struggled to get the horse under control and Dante hung on for dear life.

BANG!

A roar of pain followed the second shot. Simoni circled his horse and got a good look at 'Lucius', who was now lying on the floor of his porch, scrabbling to level his shotgun at a charging Bardi.

Dante screamed out a sound that Bardi recognized. This wasn't his usual complaining wails, this was visceral. He was scared for this person.

Couldn't kill him, then. Bardi was glad he'd taken the risk of shooting him in the leg instead.

Bardi leapt off his horse as he got to the porch, landing precisely on the top of the stairs. He snatched Lucius' gun right out of his hand, unloading it and throwing it off the side of the porch. Lucius snarled at him, throwing a punch as best he could as he struggled to try and get to his feet.

"Stop," Bardi said, pressing a hand to his chest and pinning him down.

Lucius gave another furious roar, trying to claw at Bardi's arm. Bardi didn't flinch, and just flipped Lucius over and tied his hands behind his back. Lucius struggled regardless, starting to cuss Bardi out as Bardi tied his ankles as well.

Simoni trotted up with Dante trying not to cry behind him.

"Could have been cleaner," Simoni said.

"I did not want to kill him," Bardi muttered, checking on the bullet wound in Lucius' thigh.

"I'll fucking kill you!" Lucius shouted, still trying to turn so he could bite Bardi's hand.

"Stop struggling, you are making it worse."

"I'll show you worse," Lucius snarled, snapping his teeth.

Bardi hissed back, showing his own sharp teeth.

"J-just stop fighting!" Dante pleaded.

"Fuck you!" Lucius roared at him.

"You shot first," Simoni said, bringing his horse up to the porch. He dismounted, and helped Dante down before the horse took off with him. "You could've hit your friend here."

"He's not my friend," Lucius growled.

Simoni looked at Dante, who turned his face away, rubbing his arm.

"He's my brother," Dante explained quietly.

"Why does everyone we come across hate you?" Simoni asked.

Dante's shoulders hunched further.

"Since we are now in this position," Bardi sighed. "We will be staying here until we decide what to do with him. We have to wait for the sandstorm to pass. Call the others, Simoni."

Simoni turned towards the hills and whistled sharply. A low, long whistle followed, and three shadows started moving towards them.

"Why are you always ruining my goddamned life?" Lucius snarled at Dante.

Dante flinched.

"Oh, he's the only reason you're still alive, bud!" Simoni grinned sharply, setting his hands on his knees to lean down and look at Lucius' face more closely. "If it wasn't for him, I would've shot you in the head! See, we kidnapped him. Your other brothers, too. What a coincidence, running into the last of the Stockman kids out here!"

Lucius hissed, "I've got nothing to do with that fucker."

"Lucius!" Miles gasped from behind Davinci as the others approached.

Davinci swung off his horse and left it standing as he rushed over, crouching down beside Lucius. "You shot him?" He asked Bardi, pulling out supplies from his belt.

"He shot at Simoni. He is lucky I did not kill him."

"Artery was missed," Davinci murmured, checking over the wound. "Let me see— the bullet's still in there. I'll need to remove it."

"Do it," Bardi said, standing.

"Like hell you will!" Lucius snarled. "Don't fucking touch me!"

Redd ran over once he swung off his own horse, pushing past Sanzio trying to hold him back and through Simoni and Dante. He looked agonized, crouching down beside Lucius with trembling hands.

Lucius couldn't meet his eyes.

"What's your name?" Davinci asked, voice softening.

"Suck my dick," Lucius snapped.

"Only if you want me to," Davinci purred, leaning over him.

Lucius turned his head around to retort and finally caught a good look of Davinci. Their eyes met, and Lucius' mouth stayed open. Davinci just offered a small smile.

"I'm sorry my brother shot you," he said softly. "We probably startled you real good. I get it. But we're here now, and you're hurt, so can you please let me treat you?"

Lucius' lip curled into a snarl. "Don't touch me," he growled. "Untie me and I can do it myself."

"Okay." Davinci reached out, carefully untying Lucius' wrists. "But you're bleeding out pretty quickly. You didn't nick an artery, but I'm worried about you passing—"

"I'll be fine," Lucius snapped. He pulled out a knife, hunching over his leg.

"These would help," Davinci offered a pair of forceps.

Lucius hesitated before snatching them, and took a few deep breaths before he began digging for the bullet. He ground his teeth so hard his jaw creaked. He growled and coughed, both to hide the fact he wanted to scream.

Davinci noticed the beads of sweat forming on Lucius' brow, and the way his hands were shaking.

"Please let me help," Davinci murmured, reaching out to tenderly place a hand over Lucius'. "I have steadier hands."

"Shut up," Lucius hissed.

"Please," Davinci repeated as Lucius' head swam from the pain.

Davinci managed to take control of the forceps, and Lucius collapsed backwards against the porch, panting through his teeth. Redd shuffled nervously closer, rumbling quiet reassurances.

Davinci pulled the bullet out, and got to work cleaning and stitching the wound. Lucius didn't make another sound the entire time, but his knuckles were white from clenching so hard, and he was sweating and huffing heavily by the end of it.

"We need to let him rest," Davinci said to Bardi. "He's still got a chance of infection."

"In the house, then," Bardi said. "Simoni, if you could, gather up the horses and get them in the barn. Everyone else, inside."

He looked towards the sandstorm brewing in the distance. It would hit hard and fast.

Redd helped Lucius to his feet, Davinci taking his other side. Lucius growled at him, but Davinci ignored him, helping him limp inside. Dante followed after he was nudged forward with Miles by Sanzio.

"What are we going to do with them?" Simoni asked, pausing with the horse's reins in hand.

"I don't know yet." Bardi watched the clouds on the horizon. "They're stuck with us for the time being."

"Runnin' with the wolves," Simoni whistled, heading for the barn. "Let's hope they don't get bit."

Bardi leaned on the porch railing and watched the storm roll in, even well after Simoni had ducked inside.

Words: 920

Simoni watched the darkened sky above, reading the shape of the stars. They were blazing tonight, the moon only a sliver, allowing the stars to shine all the brighter in its absence.

He was really enjoying the coolness of the darker night as they continued in a close group, saddle leather creaking and bits clicking against their horses' teeth. Davinci stretched with a little groan, letting the reins sit on the saddle horn.

"Maybe we should camp soon," Sanzio offered.

"We can get further," Bardi murmured. "We'll keep going. We can rest in the morning."

A thin whimper sounded from Simoni's lap. their target was settled across his legs, hands tied behind his back, tail and legs tied together in one knot.

Dante Stockman, the only remaining son of the rich and powerful Baxter Stockman. They had kidnapped him with the plan of receiving a ransom, but Baxter had been… less than interested.

Dante, who had been loud and complaining with lots of screaming and begging to be let off the horse, had gotten very quiet after that.

All the awkward riding was taking its toll. And maybe the fact his dad had sold him out to kidnappers rather than hand over a paltry sum compared to his fortune.

"Just a bit further," Simoni encouraged, patting Dante's back lightly.

The sailfin just whimpered again.

Simoni considered the way he was trembling, and wondered if he was crying. he hadn't heard anything, but…

What a fucked up thing to do to your kid.

"Actually, let's set up camp," Simoni piped up. "I've got a leg cramp that's killin' me."

Bardi sighed. "Very well."

"Since when do you get leg cramps?" Davinci accused.

"Since just now I guess." Simoni grinned back at him, and Davinci huffed and pushed his horse into a trot past Simoni.

They settled in the curve of a rock formation, easy to defend and easy to escape. They kept the fire low, just for warmth and less for light, and untacked their horses to let them rest.

Their bedrolls were laid out, and Simoni settled Dante on his own. Dante didn't move much. He curled up, and Simoni tied Dante's guiding rope around his own arm. The thin little scholar wouldn't know what to do with himself.

Simoni sat beside him, tapping his canteen against Dante's sail.

"Drink," he said shortly.

Dante slowly lifted his head, dragging it like it weighed a ton. He hadn't had anything to eat all day and had gotten only the occasional sip of water, so Simoni assumed he would be thirsty and hungry.

Dante accepted it, touching his lips to the rim of the canteen. Simoni let him drink deeply this time.

"Here, jerky." Simoni offered a bite, and Dante eyed it before looking away. "Oh, c'mon… You need to eat. Don't sulk."

Dante's lip almost curled into something nasty, but he only lowered his head against the bedroll.

"Alright, fine. I guess I'll have to get out the good stuff." Simoni pulled out a bar of pemmican, offering it to Dante instead. "It's pemmican," he said. "Nutrient dense. Decent taste. It'll tide you over until morning."

"Why?" Dante asked, voice hoarse from screaming.

"Because it's food?"

"Aren't you going to kill me?" Dante's voice wobbled with his lip.

Simoni blinked. He glanced at his brothers, then down at Dante. "No."

Dante looked up at him finally, eyes wide and bloodshot. He was exhausted, and hopeless. "You're letting me go…?"

"Where would you go?"

Dante paused. Simoni thought he looked particularly conflicted, and guessed.

"Back to Stockman?"

Dante nodded, eyes casting downwards. "He's my father."

Simoni tilted his head. "Even after he sold you out?"

"H-he has to do what's best for… For the company."

"Sounds like bullshit to me," Simoni said with a shrug. "He's a greedy asshole. Why do you think we chose him as a target?"

"B-because you're thieves!" Dante stammered. "Bandits! My father worked hard for—"

Simoni put the pemmican in Dante's mouth, making the other cough and squeak in alarm. "He didn't work hard for shit. Just eat the pemmican. We'll talk about it tomorrow, what we're going to do with you."

Dante chewed, and Simoni could only assume he wasn't trying to look incredibly pathetic and miserable. It wasn't working.

Simoni tilted his hat down over his eyes and leaned up against the rock, sighing. He could hear Dante shuffling around, trying to get comfortable.

Another quiet whimper.

"Arms uncomfortable?" Simoni asked.

"Of course they are," Dante hissed. "I've been riding across your— your beast all day! I can't—" A miserable sniffle. "I can't feel my fingers anymore!"

Simoni sat up, tilting his hat back. He untied Dante's arms. The sailfin groaned quietly as his arms fell back to his sides, and he rolled his shoulders timidly.

"You're in the middle of the mountains right now," Simoni explained. "We're a two day's hike from the nearest town, and you've got zero survival skills. We aren't gonna kill you, but the mountain lions and the cold will."

Dante looked at him with a glare, and rolled onto his side, facing the fire away from Simoni. "Message heard."

Simoni watched him, and then glanced up at the stars again. He could stay awake for a while and keep an eye on the guy.

Watch the stars. Watch the moon's sliver like a barely open eye gazing down on them.

Links will be added as they're written/posted!

Stars of the Midnight Range

Running with the Wolves

Horsin' Around

Longhorn

Boot Scootin' Boogie

All Hat, No Cattle

Blue Moon

8 Seconds in the Saddle

The Shifting, Whispering Sands

Tumblin Tumbleweeds

The Gambler

Sidewinder

Joshua Tree

Riders in the Sky

Mule Train

Where the Deer and the Antelope Play

In the Valley

Horse to Water

Banjo Pickin' Man

The Big Rock Candy Mountain

Outlaw State of Mind

Legends Never Die

Headin' Down the Wrong Highway

Gila Monster

Cattledog

Settin' the Woods on Fire

Wagon Wheel

Heat Haze

Pesky Varmints

Treasure of the Sierra Madre