Johnny started another song, this one faster. "Alrat boys, let's see if we can wake up Miss Nellie!"
The music got louder and the mercenaries started singing along as loud as they could.
They were just reaching the middle of the song when there was suddenly a loud, guttural roar from the dark water behind them, and the sound of splashing.
"Woops, there she is!" Johnny stood up and faced the stream, still fiddling. "C'mon girl, come and join us!"
Bernon choked on his coffee. "Um–"
Tanrial stopped dancing and sat down next to Bernon and confused look on her face, which looked more like a frown and a scowl, “That is Miss Nellie?” She asked, her mouth hanging open.
(No, I gotta goooo T.T seeya later)
Johnny stepped aside to reveal a giant, pure white alligator pulling herself out of the water. Her scales were covered in delicate black markings like a cascade of crescent moons down her back, and a pair of curly ram's horns hugged her skull. Her eyes were a bright, sharp green. She hissed at the crackling campfire, her teeth long and snaggly.
"Miss Nellie's our mascot," Johnny explained, finishing the tune with a flourish. "Say hi to her and don' get too close, now. She ain't too fond of strangers."
(Okay, seeya later)
“I think I’ll stay over here…” Tanrial said, swallowing.
Mike stared at the creature without blinking. "What is it?"
"What is she," Johnny corrected. "Why, she's a swamp crawler! They come in all shapes n' sizes, but miss Nellie's the purdiest one around. She takes care o' camp while me an' th' boys are off shootin' up stuff." He lowered his voice in a conspiratorial manner. "She eats people sometimes, ya know. Kind of a bad habit, but she's a hard 'un to train."
“Yeah, I think that’s expected seeing as she is a large sharp toothed animal,” She looked at Johnny, “When I meant females I meant humans or someone that resembles a human.”
(Sorry, I can’t talk tonight :( I’ll be back when I can)
(that's okay :) I'll see you when I see you)
"Human? Naw, somebody's gotta hold the fort back home. Girls 'r better at point defense, so we let 'em protec th' kids while we do the bread-winnin'. Ev'ry once 'n a blue moon thar's a gal that wants to come with us, but generally they like stayin' home."
"Hey bawss," one of the men interrupted. "Reckon Miss Nellie's up for a match or two?"
Johnny brightened. "Sounds fun! Why don't yew ask her?"
The man stepped closer to the alligator and whispered something. The beast hissed louder and snapped her jaws at him, but he danced away, playfully taunting her. The others joined in, drawing her farther out of the water. After several minutes she gave another angry roar and reared up, her form shifting as she did so. In a heartbeat she was a human, with pure white skin and hair, wearing ragged clothes that seemed to come from thin air. Her horns, claws, and sharp teeth remained, and her still-reptilian eyes gleamed in the firelight.
"Whaddaya want?" she snarled at Johnny. "Wanna fight?"
"Ye read my mind, Ma'am," Johnny replied, shrugging off his coat. "Stand back, y'all. It's time fer some quality entertainment."
Tanrial blinked a few times, “In all my years that is a sight I actually haven’t seen before…and I thought I’d seen loads but clearly not.” She watched the…human, how she moved, held herself and readied herself for the fight. Yes, she looked human but at heart she was still the alligator, still had those instincts drilled into her brain. This fight was going to be interesting.
The mercenaries made a large circle around the two fighters, cheering Johnny on. He and Nellie circled each other, carefully keeping their distance. Nellie continued to growl, and at first Johnny only grinned in response. But then, he suddenly stopped and stepped forward, growling just as deeply and fiercely as her. She blinked, then bared her teeth in a smile. And at that moment, they lunged at each other.
Bernon jumped. Mike didn't move, watching intently.
It was a whirl of snarling and laughing, the laughing mist,y coming from Johnny and the other mercenaries and the snarling from Nellie. They bit and clawed at each other, Nellie having the advantage because if what she was but Johnny seemed to actually be doing alright. He hadn’t tapped out there which was interesting.
“I saw Nellie wins the fight and Johnny ends up with some more scars…” She said quietly.
"We'll see," Mike said.
The fight did seem to be leaning in Nelle's favor. She brutally forced him back towards the fire with blow after blow, and he only just managed to avoid being slashed in the face. He took one more step back, then stopped.
"Tell 'er, Johnny," someone shouted.
And suddenly he gave a bellow and leaped forward. He didn't attack, just shoved her away. His eyes were pinpricks of blue ice, and he loomed over her. She hissed and shrank back, somehow seeing a change in him. The game was over. With firm, forceful steps, Johnny pushed her back, and she retreated. Their eyes were locked together, but while hers were wide and staring, his were narrowed and fierce. They reached the stream's edge and paused. Then Johnny gave one last loud roar and she lowered her head, clearly admitting defeat.
The men cheered. Johnny bowed and grinned at his guests. "Well, that was fun! Any of yew want ter have a go with her?"
“Or…not,” Tanrial looked at Johnny, “How’d you do that?” He asked, utterly confused and a frown plastered on her face.
He shrugged. "Was easy. I jus' pulled rank on 'er. Swamp Crawlers don't listen to words very well, but if you speak 'n their own language, they sit up an' pay attention. Gotta make yourself huge 'n show 'em th' Stare, ya know? She knows I'm Alpha, but sometimes I gotta remind her a bit."
“Right, yeah…” He shook her head, “Let’s not bring Nellie out again. I don’t feel like being her dinner tonight.”
"Ye sure ye don' wanna give it a try? We'd stop 'er if she got too unfriendly, acourse."
“Oh I’m sure…I’m fine, but maybe Mike or Bernon would want to have a go?” She nudged them both, “Or both at the same time perhaps? That’s be one hell of a fight for you all, well, Mike would put up a fight Bernon…” She shrugged, “We’ll see.” She grinned at them both.
Bernon laughed a bit nervously. "Ohoho, I don't think so. I'm more of a spectator, thanks."
Mike glanced at Nellie, who was watching them from the water. He almost seemed tempted for a minute, but then shook his head. "I'll pass. It's been a long day."
Johnny slowly nodded, squinting thoughtfully at Mike. "Say……do I know you, son?"
Mike looked up at him, his face closed. "Don't think so. I've heard of you, though. Stonehand was the talk of my town when you went through last fall."
"Oh yeah?" Johnny eyed him for a moment longer. "I s'pose you must be right. Jus' a face in a crowd, that's what I'm rememberin'." He turned away. "Walp, guess it's time to hit th' hay. Y'alll can have those tents over thar, an don' worry about keepin' watch. We'll be postin' guards ourselves."
Tanrail nodded and stood, “Well, goodnight everyone, see you in the morning.” She flicked two fingers in some sort of salute, grabbed her things and headed to one of the tents, disappearing from view.
Mike and Bernon followed, heading to the other tent. Bernon stopped on the way by and called out quietly. "Hey, Tanrial? If anything happens in the night, we'll be just to your right, okay? Mike says not to sleep too deep."
“Gotcha, night Bernon.” She said quietly, setting up the bed roll again.
Fortunately, the night passed quietly. Only once did any sound break the camp's stillness, and that was just the cry of some unlucky animal as it became Nellie's dinner. Other than that, there was nothing.
At dawn, Mike's voice came drifting through the entrance of Tanrial's tent. "Tanrial? Get up and pack your things. We're leaving."
Tanrial hadn’t slept well that night so was already awake when Mike told her to pack her things. She did it quietly and quietly and was soon out the tent, “Let’s go.”
Bernon was there as well, still yawning. He waved at Tanrial and nodded towards the trees. "There's a sentry out there somewhere," he whispered. "We'll have to go the long way around." Mike led them stealthily through camp, stopping regularly to check for movement nearby. They were almost at the edge of camp when there was a loud crash from up ahead and a shout.
"Get down," Mike hissed, ducking around behind a tent.
Tanrial did as Mike instructed, “Nayla?” She asked looking up a little. She couldn’t see anything but there was diffidently something there.
A second later there was another shout, and the hulking shape of Johnny came charging out of the morning mist.
"MIKE BLOODHUNTER," he howled, his voice contorted with rage. "Oh, I remember yew now, you low-down son of a–COME OUT HERE!" He barreled past their hiding place, heading for the tents they'd been in moments before.
Mike's face was set. "Run," he said flatly.
They ran into the trees, “Bloodhunter? What a name…” She panted, jumping over a log, “What did you do this time?”
"Later," was Mike's only reply. "We have to follow the stream through the marsh and get onto the river before they catch up. Change form, you're faster that way."
Tanrial shifted mid jump and skidded to a slight halt so Mike could jump on. As soon as he was, she took off again, hoping Bernon had shifted as well. Johnny and the mercenaries shouts were growing louder and Tanrial picked up the pace.
They raced through the trees and splashed across the ever-softening ground, staying just ahead f their pursuers. At last they spotted the wide expanse of the Mississippi ahead. It was so big that, in this light, it was impossible to see the other side. An old dock lay in front of them, sticking far out over the water.
"Jump! Mike yelled. "Get far out and let the current carry you. They'll start shooting any minute."
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