#please take note

"If 'm not back by at LEAST ten, Huron will have my head!" "I doubt it will take you that long.... actually knowing you, it is possible." "Hardy har. 'M serious!" "mhm. And have you asked me if I care?" "...I hate you." "it is a mutual dislike."

Dylan lay on the back of Finn, who he had renamed Brownie. At least until the whole... Bounty thing was over. He had become a new errand boy to his new 'bestie', Nawel. That ohhh so kind bounty hunter with cards up his sleeve. Literally.

The two, and the little kid Joey, were supposed to go on a trip. Gain information, commit a sin probably (or two), then the likes would follow. But NOPE. Nawel saw one look at Dylan state, bandaged and tired and immediately said a firm no. They could wait another week or two. He told Dylan the boy was useless for long trips right now; but... he could be helpful in another way.

Returning horses to the Wapiti Tribe in a reservation up near Grizzlies. Or was it in the grizzlies? Dylan had asked so many questions (trying to get out of the task), that Nawel drew him a map with the words "Dumb of ass" at the top. So very nice to one another.

Dylan believed he was the last person to go to a tribe. What if he did something disrespectful on accident? What if they yelled at him because they were the wrong horses?? Were they the wrong horses? Oh christ almighty. He didn't show his nerves usually so... he would do his best not to now.

He patted Brownies neck as they neared light commotion, glancing back at the three other horses that were tied to the back. Not spooked.

"Hey!"

Dylan made a 'YIP' I surprise, clutching the reigns to put Brownie in a sudden stop, tail puffing at the sudden yell. He hadn't realized how close he came to the edge of the camp, now focusing and seeing the huts abd people, some cows in a pen.

A young man, looking suspicious and irritated, had been helping another when he saw the newcomer. Immediately he was on gaurd and on the defense, not expecting visitors.

"You arn't welcome. This is private territory." He practically growled, looking up at the boy on the big horse. He didn't look like he was in the army. Not one bit.

Dylan looked at him, processing and slowly trying to hide his tail, hoping his hair was fluffed up enough his horns blended in. "I uh-"

"Didn't you hear me? Get out!" Fiesty. He tried to shoo Brownie off, who tried to forcefully nudge against his palm. "This isn't something travel trail!"

Why hadn't he pulled a weapon?? To scare him off? Dylan bit his cheek, now thankful his horse was to Dull to scare off. "Nawel sent me." He was allowed to say his name here right?

The other pushed Brownies snout away, crinkling his nose. "We don't know anybody by that name. Get-"

"Anyone who is a friend, is welcome." Another voice, and another man. Walking up with a very light limp. His voice was a bit raspy.

He offered Dylan a light smile. "We do not know anyone by the name of Nawel. But I believe i know who it is."

Oh thank god. Or.... something. Yeah. The boy returned the smile a bit nervously, swallowing. Put up that act, c'mon. "Yeah. Uh. Three horses as... wanted?"

The younger mans eyes narrowed as he walked past Brownie to the other horses, running a habd over their body. "Did... you took them!" He glared at Dylan. "You are the one who stole these and now-"

"If I stole them, I assure you I wouldn't return them." Dylan rolled his eyes. "Trust me, I do NOT need another horse. I have a third on the way and.. I-it's a whole thing." He clicked his tongue once, shaking his head. "All I know is you talked to Nawel, and 'm just the delivery boy."

"We are thankful." The chief hummed, looking at the horses for a moment as well before looking up at Dylan, eyes searching. The boy avoided his gaze. "....Come."

Dylan didn't think he was talking to him so he stayed on the horse, actually about to turn and leave when the younger slapped his ankle. "Ow- hey, what the-"

Oh... OhOH! Him follow! Right, yes! Dylan scrambled down, grabbing his crutches in a hurry, ignoring the stings of pain on his wrist as he quickly followed behind, embarrassment filling him. Wait... why was he following this man...?

"I am Chief Rains Fall." He spoke after a moment, leading them to a few buckets of water. "I want to properly thank you."

"Huh? Oh. It was nothin'." Was he supposed to pick up a bucket too? "Like I said, just a delivery boy." He tried to grab the last wooden bucket of water, left hand first. Nope. Right? Nuh uh. Jaw?

He placed the handle between his teeth; AHA, he- oh fuck. The bucket yanked down once let go, and he released it as his jaw clicked once. The bucket cracked a bit and water splashed out, falling over. Dylan winced and bit his cheek.

Rains fall looked over, watching the boy for a moment before setting down the buckets near the hitching posts, walking back over. "You did not need to help."

"We-well I just- i thought you- i-" dammit all. Dylan shuffled his foot, gaze turned down. "I can fix it, or- or get a new one! I didn't mean-"

"It was broken anyway." The chief chuckled lightly, shaking his head. "There is no need, I know you didn't mean too."

The boy didn't speak, unsure what he could even say. He just needed to go. Get back home. No. Be alone? Fuck. He didn't know.

"It was one mistake. Don't think much on it."

Sure. Easy to say, not easy to do. Why did he always fuck something up? A life, a item a-

"Do you know how to fix it?"

Dylsn looked up at thst, confused. He blinked a few times, processing. He shook his head dumbly. "...Say sorry?"

"You have done that already. But do you know how to fix a bucket?"

"Do I need to fix buckets a lot?"

"Do you?"

Dylan watched as the man went to his horse, a gorgeous grullo dun mustang. The boy blinked, slowly going to his own horse, eyeing the other. "....I can't go." He blurted. "I have somewhere to be."

"I understand." Rains fall rumbled in return, gently urging out of the tribe grounds, down a trail to the right. That was all he said.

...what. dylan got the feeling he was welcome to follow, that it was actually the right choice. No. He couldn't. Things to do. He turned his horse, and bit his tongue. Let it go. Go home. Go home. Go home.

grrrrrRRRRRRRR.

-Dylan didn't want another talk about feelings. About how the way he was living was wrong, destructive, how he should focus on him blah blah BLAH. He knew it already. He knew talking to Satan wasn't normal! Dying almost every week was taxing on the body! He KNEW. He didn't need to be reminded of it every god damn minute! Yesss he's a fool, a idiot, he k n o w s.

......

But Rains Fall did not say such. He gave no talk. He actually showed Dylsn where to find good wood, and explained how to actually fix a bucket. It was... new. Weird. Different. It made Dylan paranoid to be truthful.

The two were on their horses, going down the mountain; Dylan tried to focus on the rocks and such, but... he'd be lying to say Rains Fall didn't interest him.

"Do you know what plant that is?"

Dylan broke out of his concentration as he looked up and over to where the chief was pointing. There were some red... flowers! "Flowers!"

"Yarrow."

"Same fuckin difference." Dylan grumbled then paused as Rains fall looked at him. "...force of habit... sorry..."

He slowly slunk his way off Brownie, limping to the flower and crouching as well as he could, leaning onto one crutches to grab the red flower. "...Um. whst does... Yarrow do?"

"It can be blended into medicine. It helps heath."

Huron could use it! Wait, Scarlett! Mags leg? Arthur was sick right, he could use it? Buck? Oh he could find more!

"They normally grow in fields." Rains Fall explained as he adjusted on his horse. "It is rare we see them up here."

Fields. Search in fields. Yarrow. Do NOT forget that D- oh hey a moth. Dylan watched as the winged insect slowly fluttered plant to plant. Fixated on that he watched ot for a sold two minutes before remembering 'oh hey I exist' and looked over to the chief, who was patiently waiting.

"Sorry."

"For?"

"...wasting time?"

"Are you asking me?"

Andddd he was nervous all over again. He shrugged, standing and placing the flowers in his pouch on his thigh. "....no...?"

Rains fall chuckled slightly. "Charles was right about you."

"Excusi-?"

"You are unsure of those around you, and most importantly yourself."

Noooo not another talk... Dylan internally groaned as he limped to his horse abd mounted back up. "Charles talked about me?" They met? Not entirely surprising.

"Faintly."

"'M sure they were wonderous things. My destructive tendencies." Dylan mocked. "Look, I don't need another chat of whst I should be doing or shit. I KNOW, for the most part, what 'm doing." He doesn't have a fuckin clue. "What, gonna tell me how i.. I should stop and enjoy nature? Stop 'n take a moment to feel? How-"

"Do not think less of yourself, but think of yourself less."

....pardon? Dylan was stopped in his rambling as he man spoke and... just walked past, horse snorting. "...are you calling me a narcissist?"

"No." The chief hummed, not glancing back, instead looking forward. "You are worried what others think of you."

"No 'm not, i-"

"You are worried of what you are perceived as. You are always on your mind." Rains fall spoke calmly, no anger or firmness. Just... talking. "And that is ok. In moderation." He stopped a few feet and looked back.

"I know you think of others as well, do not read my words wrong. However in doing so, you put them in front of yourself. You put them on a higher level."

"B-because they're are my family! They deserve more! They deserve more than I can give!" Dylan frowned, watching. "Don't you think the same? With.. with your tribe?"

"Of course. But I do not berate myself. There are times when I question, when I am unsure." Rains fall nodded. "That is being human. I know they deserve more. But what I give, is all I can offer. Create boundaries, not walls. Not pedestals for others to sit upon while you hold it."

"Live. Because you can. Because you do."

"But for what? For myself? Or is that thinking of myself to much? For others? Or is that a fuckin pedestal i am holding!? I-I don't understand 'm to stupid, i-"

"Live because you do." The chief trotted his horse over, reaching a hand to set on the boys shoulder. "Live because this is the only life you may get. Live to experience."