howdy y'all

She stepped back as he got himself lined up for the shot, only to chuckle when he started muttering. “I told you, training with a heavy weapon teaches you control. You’ll stop focusing on your target and start focusing on how you handle the weapon. It stops stuff like that–” Astrid gestured to the arrow– “from happening.”

Trusty looked back at the woman with a raised brow. “Ya sure know a lot ‘bout this stuff to not be from Texas. I’m sure ya would’ve made a nice addition to the greatest state in the country. And for your information: it was just a ‘lil wind. I know what I’m doin’.” He chuckled.

“Yeah, it kinda is,” she said with a wide, and slightly guilty, smile. “I mean, I understand both sides. It seems like it’d be fun, but I don’t know if I could really do it considering how clumsy I am–not that clumsy people can’t climb or anything, but you know, it doesn’t help–but who knows, maybe one day I’ll wake up and just decide to do it and see what happens, yeah?”

“I’m a ‘lil clumsy but somethin’ tells me that ya just might beat me in that category. But it’s always good to have goals, right? Just make sure that you’re fully equipped to do somethin’ as major as climbin’ a mountain, ‘kay?”

“I don’t think I have. And here I was thinking I’d been just about everywhere interesting.” Elena thought for a second. “Got any suggestions? I think I’d love to scare my friend Kiara somewhere.”

“There’s always a few gems that aren’t included in the brochures. They say if ya go down by the coastline on a full moon you’ll see the ghost of a lady who drowned there. But I ain’t buyin’ it, I definitely think it’s just one of those stories used to scare folks.”

“Shoulders.” It was meant to be a question, and yet– his eyes widened as he quickly made out the shape the other man had described. “Oh, isn’t that… well, isn’t that wonderful.” Charles’ panic manifested itself into a neutral expression of sheer disturbance. “By the look on your face and my better judgment, I’ll place a bet on it being something that will make me circle it and head straight back the unfortunate path whence I came.”

“It is, yeah.” The sarcasm went right over Trusty’s head. “Nah c’mon, we gotta figure this out! Ya can’t just point out somethin’ that looks like an apparition then just leave. I promise ya won’t get hurt, I’m a professional when it comes to this kinda stuff.”

“It’s fun, you should try it sometime,” she said with a smirk. “Plus, you’d be surprised how much control a weapon like that can teach you. Certainly helps with your control on a bow and arrow. Anything lighter than an axe won’t be a problem. You sure you’re so scared of an axe now? Maybe you should look into training with one.”

“I don’t know, maybe I will. But I don’t really see how wieldin’ an axe is gonna help me durin’ deer season.” He let go of the arrow and muttered under his breath when the wind caught it. “But I can see ya reasonin’ behind it - it’s kinda like when m’brother would wear ankle weights while trainin’ so that he’d be stronger on his feet durin’ the season.”

“So…completely hypothetically thinking, you don’t think it’d be at all possible?” Anna eyed him for a moment before laughing at his answer. “What–you don’t wanna be on a plane for almost 3 hours just to hike up a crazy tall mountain just to see if you can do it? That seems like a fun way to spend my time!”

“You have maybe a one in two billion chance... but I feel like that’s basically like me tellin’ ya to go for it, ain’t it?” He chuckled. “Ya know, I ain’t never really understood the hype ‘round climbin’ mountains if we’re bein’ honest. M’mom would kill me and m’brother if we’d ever tried climbin’ anythin’ taller than the trees in the backyard.”

“It was my weapon of choice when i started training,” she said with a shrug and a small chuckle. After a beat, she steadied herself and aimed for the target, releasing the arrow. “I mean, a bow and arrow is great and all, but there’s more strength behind an axe and it was more fun to learn.” Astrid held the bow out to him while she admired her handiwork. “I don’t train with it here. It’s easier when I was back in Scotland since there weren’t as many people.”

Trusty whistled as the arrow was let loose, impressed with Astrid’s accuracy. “Can’t say I’ve ever done more with an axe than choppin’ up firewood for the winter but that sounds awesome.” He took back the bow with a raised brow. “Scotland, huh? What made ya come here?” He loaded the bow with another arrow and took aim.

She nodded, “A very cool robot.” The thought forced Raphi to pause and reevaluate. “I don’t know,” she realized, “but it would have been nice to be a part of that history.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right... well, how ‘bout we do the next best thing? Makin’ your own history I mean. How ‘bout a time capsule or somethin’ along those lines?”

“Well now I don’t want too”! She huffed out still a bit grumpy about everything, but she followed where Trusty  moved anyways. “Well.. that sounds a lot better than this! And animal free.” She laughed softly. “Thank you..” 

“Don’t be like that. Ya should definitely come ‘round any other time of the year and see what Texas has to offer. It’s a great place to be.” Trusty laughed and opened up the door of his truck to show a cooler. He handed Caroline a bottle of sweet tea and held up his own. “Cheers.”

She shot him a glare as he called her ‘ma’am’ but she didn’t comment on it. Instead, she just chuckled. “I don’t doubt that,” Astrid said honestly. “I’m more of a traditional bow kind of gal, but I’m not unfamiliar with a compound.” She took the bow from him and prepped it. “But, then again, I’m also more of an axe kind of gal too.”

Trusty nodded his approval but still took a few steps back. “Axe? What in the world could you be doin’ runnin’ ‘round with an axe? That’s a ‘lil more scary than me bein’ out here in the middle of no where with a bow.” He chuckled.

“I’ve gotta be honest. When I saw someone out here with a compound bow, I was a little worried.” Astrid looked around at the open field, untucking her hands from her pockets and shrugging. “Why the hell not? I’ve got nothing better to do yet, hand me that bow.”

“Don’t worry ma’am, I know what I’m doin’ and I’ve got the license to prove it.” He grinned and handed over the bow. “Ever shot one of these ‘fore? No offense but if the answer is no then I wanna get a ‘lil further back.”

Well honestly I don’t always trust the meat from the grocery store either. Who knows what hormones and chemicals they pump it with. But I think I’d feel just as nervous with other animals, honestly. Like, how would I know if they had an infection or something.” He chuckled, considering. “Well I party. Or go out to the beach or hang around the art galeries that are always popping up and dying down around town.”

“What, like somethin’ to turn ya into a zombie?” Trusty joked. “Hunters can usually tell right away if an animal is healthy or not. If they can’t tell ‘fore bringin’ it down then durin’ the whole cleanin’ process they’re sure to find some signs that show they shouldn’t eat it.” He nodded. “I don’t think I’ve ever been to one of the art galleries... and I’m not much of a party person. I used to wanna be, back in high school, but I liked bein’ home by a certain time and not bein’ surrounded by too many folks I guess. Plus most of the ‘parties’ were just sittin’ ‘round a bonfire or goin’ to somebody’s house after the football game. Couldn’t do much with that considerin’ if ya did somethin’ ya weren’t supposed to and got caught the gossip would get back home ‘fore you did.”

“Not rude at all. I grew up in South Carolina.” Archie replied. “Yes, that makes a lot of sense, wouldn’t want a gust of wind to cause your arrow to stray and end up god knows where.” He smiled softly, he’d tried hunting back when he was younger, he’d never been the best at it. At this point, he’d rather watch. “Sure, I can cheer you on and everything.” He joked.

“I had a buddy from South Carolina. He was a pretty nice guy. I’ve never been but I hear it’s nice.” Trusty nodded. “Exactly. Especially since this huntin’ stuff is gettin’ more expensive every year.” He chuckled and loaded up the bow again, took aim, and fired but the arrow ended up just left of the target. “What kinda hobbies do they have for folks in South Carolina?”

“It really does. Sometimes it goes impossibly slow though.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. Have ya been ‘round any of the ‘haunted’ spots yet? It’s mostly just tales folks tell the kids to keep ‘em away from dangerous abandoned property, but some... well, some I think there might actually be a ‘lil hauntin’ goin’ on.”