#new guy

"Heads or tails?"

"Don't think it particularly matters..."

"It doesn't. But thought I'd give you a chance."

WHAM! His body thunked along the ground, back hitting the brick wall, elbow bleeding as it skidded across the dirt ground. A blood trail, a new one. Great.

Busted knuckles pressed into the grim as Boone tried to haul himself up to his bruised knees at the very least. He cursed himself, for it was he to blame. Nobody else. Not even these sick fucks.

A group of five. Didn't look particularly poor nor rich, just people. The kind you see on the street shopping but for basic needs. Fresh adults. Blegh. Stuck up sons of-

Boone hissed as his hair was grabbed, yanking his head up. He glared at the lot, as though daring for more. Maybe he wanted them to. What was any different...

The ring leader smirked, scrutinizing the other, tilting his head. "So. Next time you decide to play hero on some brat, think of what good it'll do you." He sneered then dropped him, turning and walking with his gang following.

Boone lay there for a moment before sitting up, wincing. Suppose he deserved that for something. But not for playing hero, for that's not what he had done.

As he sat up his chest felt tighter than normal. Not a good sign for sure. Stupid move to get wrapped up in all this... His hand came up to smooth his chest subconsciously, trailing down to his sore ribs, finding the edge of the bandages he'd wrapped around his torso. Constricting. Shitttt...

Boone sighed, slowly standing to see the damage of himself. Clothes dirty, a little tear in his shirt, a bracelet broken on the ground, one boot on the ground, a bloody mess all over. The knees on his pants were torn, revealing the dry scrapes. His right arm was gushing blood from a single wound. Must have hit a vessel. Hands busted up, along with his lip, a sign to show he had attempted to fight back. But taking on five guys was.... harder than one.

None the less, a good first impression in his eyes. He had stopped some ten year old getting beat by strangers, thst showed something no? Even if he had gotten hauled and beat in the process. Maybe they'd talk about him. "Hey you see that teen, standing up for a kid? How brave?"

....

God he hoped not. He hoped they forget he even was there actually. Whst a foolish move. Grr.

Boobe sighed, shaking his head. Whatever. He'd need to wash himself up, take care of his situation, then a lot of other things. He stepped out of the alleyway, making sure he still looked uh. Himself. Then out into tge town to look for the nearest Inn. Or lake. Room preferably. And his god damn horse, that'd be nice to find....

Shoulda stayed in California.