Chapter Text
Chapter 5
Toth's frustrated sigh was timed perfectly with her brunette horse's grunt as he continued forward, hooves stamping against the woodsy ground.
It was soil, not sand for a change. The horse seemed to walk with more ease on the terrain.
Skout couldn't help but notice the annoyance that wrinkled on Toth's features. She always looked stern, but her eyebrows were more pulled together.
"Toth..?" Her cheerful voice rang clear through the unfamiliar forest.
"What, Skout?"
"Maybe we should take a break, you look tired. A small rest won't hurt."
"The sooner we catch this Nomad, the sooner we can rest easy. Keep on, troops."
The Dandy Lions gave a collective sigh, Red Manuel sharing the reaction towards the insistent women as he adjusted his hat upon his head.
"For once, I actually agree with your scout girl." Red Manuel commented.
"You agree with anyone who shares your opinion." Toth bit back, tone unapproaching.
"Ouch. I got feelings, y'know."
"And ego."
For once through the tense trip, a chuckle spread through the group. Red Manuel felt his cheeks grow a twinge hot at the attention.
Toth smiled a little herself at the fact she got him to shut up.
Egotistical bastard.
"Toth, look, a town!" Skouts voice broke through the gossip-like murmurs, and everyone pointed their attention to the town ahead of them.
A crooked wood sign labeled:
Redwood Run
"Haven't been here before." Toth said to herself before encouraging her horse to keep moving forward. Everyone else has slowed a bit due to exhaustion, but Toth was motivated by her goal: catch the Nomad of Nowhere.
Plus, she'd been through much more. A long walk was a mere walk in the park for a muscular woman with her training.
Toth unmounted her horse and tied them to the nearest pole.
"I'm gonna ask the sheriff, maybe he's seen that damned Nomad."
Toth didn't wait for a reply as she walked into the saloon. It was pretty small with two holding cells which looked rather flimsy.
She walked up to the sheriff.
"You seen a Nomad anywhere?"
The sheriff looked up from his kicked-back position, scratching the side of his beard with a colorful pistol hooked on one finger.
Toth cringed. "Maybe don't do that.."
"Oh, it ain't loaded. Not yet, anyway." The sheriff pointed the gun at the wall's dart board, pulling the trigger in demonstration.
Toth cringed even more.
"Anyway, what's up? I haven't seen you around Redwood Run. Man, two new friends in one day!"
Quite the chatterbox it seems…
"I'm looking for the Nomad of Nowhere."
"Nomad..Nomad..a mute fellow addressed himself as that. Poster was a bit over exaggerated, if anything."
Toth's eyes lit up. "Yes, that's the culprit. Where is he?"
"Probably in one of the units back there. Only two, after all."
"Perfect!"
Toth nearly completely forgot the reckless use of a gun the friendly sheriff displayed. The Nomad was here.
She walked over to one of the flimsy cells considered a prison cell, finding herself looking at a lanky guy with a golden eye and an ugly Hawaiian shirt.
The only thing she could think was: rat.
It was a random thought at best, but it fit appearances.
"Hey, stranger, have you seen a Nomad fellow?"
"Nope, don't know who you're talking about."
"The Nomad of Nowhere?"
"Nope."
"God dammit!" She stormed away.
As Toth stormed away, whenever she was out of ear shot, Ramsey whistled to himself.
"That chick is after you, partner? She's hot."
The Nomad, clung to Ramsey's side to hide himself, gave a side glance.
"What? We were both thinking it."
A shake of his head.
"Suit yourself."
The Nomad double-checked before standing, eyes with lingering paranoia.
"I'm sorry, not exactly the time to joke around. I'd be scared of a woman that muscular myself." Ramsey said in an attempt to lighten the mood.
It was a poor attempt at that. There's a reason he was never the class-clown. Maybe for his appearance, but never his humor.
It sucked.
The Nomad sat back down, sighing.
"Outta curiosity, you always rely on strangers?"
A meek nod was the response Ramsey got. No particular emotion, just meek.
"That could get ya' in some trouble. You oughta' join the underground trades, much more private. Also, the dark web is a hell of a thing."
Ramsey started to feel awkward as he was rambling, remembering his questionable fanart. That was where this conversation was going.
No one needs to know about that shit…
Ramsey cleared his throat. "Anyway! You understand the basics?"
The Nomad gave a cock of his head.
"I mean the phone."
The Nomad's eyes widened ever so slightly in realization, and he nodded.
"Wonderful! First step to joining the dark web."