"He's not a very good priest is he?" Half-Breed asked me almost conversationally.

The comment was so far from any response I'd been expecting that it took a second for me to get my mental train back on its tracks.

"If I were to be honest, I would say it's more believable that he's actually an atheist just pretending." I hissed in agitation, "I've received better service from youth group leaders than that... Ferret? Stoat? Whatever he is!"

"Yeah, not to try and shift the blame or nothing," the fluffy rhino flopped down onto his side in an almost cat like manner that seemed at odds with his bulky body, "but a lot of us were feeling lost and in need of guidance when we all woke up stuck in an egg and like this. After searching six churches and him being the first person even claiming to be a priest we turned to him. He basically told us that God was a metaphor and that in troubled times we must depend on each other to make it through. So when Jorge had his dumb idea to basically force everyone to work together under our rule, because of course no one was stronger than Tango Blast, everyone took that as a sign and followed him."

"Sure sounds like you're trying to shift blame to me," I made a low sound somewhere between a yowling cat and a truck downshifting as I thought about it for a moment, "Though I can see how that would lead you boys down this path. It does little to nothing to exonerate you, but it lets me understand your actions some." I raised my body higher to better look down at the de facto leader of what remained of Tango Blast's Fort Worth chapter, "Why tell me this? You must know this won't give you any more slack in your leash or make us forgive your actions."

He looked up at me with an almost mournful look, "Because Tango Blast also had major chapters in Dallas, El Paso, and Houston. I've been told the gang numbered nearly twenty thousand strong. There is more of us out there. There will be more of us in later waves. What happens if we don't have any kind of guidance better than him? Will we become caught in a cycle of lashing out at those around us and getting culled in a far more brutal world than what we knew? How long until Tango members are killed on sight and wiped out? I don't want that for my brothers."

He shifted, rolling onto his belly and awkwardly trying to position his body in a way that, I'm not sure what he was aiming for. Bowing? Begging? Yoga? Eventually he seemed to settle on a 'good enough' pose with his butt held high and his head pointing out forwards on its side, kind of like a dog trying to scratch its cheek on the floor. "I heard you are planning to head south for some reason. While you're on your journey, I beg of you. Please, if you find another priest, one of a respectable caliber who is willing, send him this way so he can help guide my brothers and shepherd them from this bloody path we have walked. I don't want Tango to just be another forgotten clan of raiders and thugs."

I blinked and all but gaped at the man in open mouth shock. This was a man who had attacked me, watched me murder kill a friend of his, heard me admit to executing several more, and whom I was forcing to sit under a Sword of Damocles. He should absolutely abhor me with every fiber of his soul. Yet here he is, face down in the dirt, beseeching to try and help him save the souls of his people and give them hope for the future. I could barely comprehend being so desperate as to ask such of a friend. How fearful must he be to be asking me, his conqueror and foe to do this for him.

Could I in good conscience deny a man so willing to debase himself for those he called his brothers?

"I can give you my word that I will keep an eye out for you and everyone else in town," I stated cautiously, "Do keep in mind that any priest of merit that I find will likely already be busy tending to their own flocks and won't be willing to make such a trip for strangers." Huh, I'm surprised that I didn't receive a quest pop up there. Are we mere mortals not good enough to bestow quest?

"I'm not stupid coño-erm sir?" He seemed to flinch a bit as if expecting to be struck before returning to the respectful tone that seemed so alien coming from him, "I understand that, but at least then I can say I tried."

"I get it Half-Breed," I then found myself rudely interrupted.

"Sir, only my friends call me that," the rhino started getting back to his feet. "Please, call me Hugo"

This cheeky bitch. I couldn't suppress an amused smile as I said, "Fair enough, Hugo. Do remember that God sends calamity and trials, but never evil. So even if I can't find you a priest you might want to do what you can to help guide any of your brothers onto the right path yourself. After all, if you can find the spine to call me a cunt to my face," I gave him a cheeky smile to show I knew exactly what he'd called me as he paled noticeably enough for it to be visible through his thick coat, "I'm sure you can whip at least a few of your boys into being productive members of society given a little time."

"I'll keep that in mind sir," Hugo swallowed nervously, "And thank you for not killing me over that slip of the tongue."

I threw my head back, jiggling loudly, as I had a good belly laugh at that. "Hells man, I'm not going to kill someone over some light bants. If you aren't actively threatening me or anyone else I don't care what you say or call me. Well, okay, if you blaspheme in a non-hilarious way I'll disapprove, along with a few other niche cases, but I'm not going to kill you over words."

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"Then I think you should know that you're a maldito pinche pendejo chupamedias coño gilipollas and hope you vete a la mierda hijo de puta." he spat at me.

It took me a minute to pick that apart and translate it but it made me laugh, "Fick dich ins Knie, du blöde kuh!" I shot back with a smile, "Küss meinen arsch und halt die spasti klappe!"

"I didn't understand half of that tu hijo de puta!" Hugo snapped, trying to maintain a glare but a bit of smile fighting its way onto his face.

"Oh a whore is my mother?" I grumped pressing my tail into my 'hips', "Well your mama so fat she fills the night sky and the nightmares of Elder Gods!"

Hugo broke into sputtering laughter at that. "Damn it, pendejo! I'm trying to be mad at you, quit being so chill tu cabrón!"

"Sorry my dude," I said with an insufferably smug snaky smile, "but when I'm not being actively threatened I tend to be a clown more than an asshole."

"Joder," he sighed, "Why couldn't you be an insufferable asshole like Jorge or Carlos?"

"Sorry but life isn't always so kind as to make your enemies dicks everytime," I tilted my head in a shrug, "At least you won't have to deal with me for a while."

"Yeah," Hugo shook himself and started tromping off, "Be safe out there, I need you to be alive when you come back so I can tear you a new one."

I elected not to count that one against him as I slithered away from the 'church' building and towards the large gathering of people at the hole in the wall I'd accidentally made. Jorge's severed head sat there with a lot of people looking on in disbelief or grief. I could spy my people and Donald's mixed in the crowd seemingly trying to organize the massive mess of conscripts, gang members, and former slaves all milling about talking to each other. I saw a few fights trying to break out as liberated civilians tried to pick fights with Tango members only to be stopped by Donald or one of mine putting themselves between the pair and separating them.

Spotting Matilda and Rumi near the edge of the crowd I slithered up to them, noticing how everyone made sure to give me plenty of room as I approached.

"Hey ladies," I greeted, lowering my head down to their level, "How's everything going down over here?"

"It's an utter mess," Rumi snorted, "We're trying to get people organized by who's going to be staying, going with Donald, or going with you to the Stadium, but everyone keeps changing their minds!"

"There does seem to be a fair bit of indecisiveness going on among the groups," Matilda huffed as she shook herself and another six moths fluttered out from under her fluff to dance over the crowd, "At any one point as many as five in six people are planning on leaving to as little as every other, and that's not even considering the number of people who keep flip flopping on if they are going to be coming to the Stadium or going to the Veranda. Currently about two of every three talking about leaving seem to be leaning towards joining us at the stadium, but that number keeps changing as Donald and Michelle keep talking to people about what 'town' has what amenities."

I nodded absently as I noticed one detail in the spiel, "Going with me? Rumi, are you not coming back to the Stadium? I thought you were only going to spend a day or two at the Veranda catching up with friends?"

The massively muscled bicorn shifted awkwardly like a shy girl caught with her hand in the cookie jar. "I am still planning to head back to the Stadium eventually, it's just... There's a lot of stuff that needs doing at the Veranda. That crater you made needs to be filled, damaged houses cleared, trees moved, farms planted, all kinds of things. Then considering that I'm easily the strongest person there with only gruncle Donald coming close, it seems wrong not to spend a few days helping them get their feet under them. It's not like you really need me at the Stadium right now anyways, there's a ton of really strong people there with more useful skills than what I have. So I just kind of figured that I'd-"

I gently tapped the woman's nose with my tail making her snort in confusion, "Breathe woman. It's fine Rumi. I'm not going to be mad at you for helping people in need. I'm certain Omar and everyone else will understand as well, just don't be a stranger and put in a good word for us up there alright?"

"Yeah, sorry Joe." Rumi mumbled.

"For what?" I blinked in confusion, "Being a good samaritan? Yes, how dare you help people in need by minorly inconveniencing us, grr, you monster." I slowly flicked my long forked tongue at her in a weak impression of a raspberry.

"Dick," she chuckled, lowering her head and shoving my head away using her horns, "Thanks for being so understanding Joe."

"It's fine gurl, it cost me nothing to be kind." I sobered slightly as I asked, "So do you think things will remain civil if I head back to the Stadium?"

"There have been a few flare ups," Matilda hummed, brushing her antennas idly, "But they have been small, mostly verbal incidents and they seem to be dropping off as people realize that we aren't going to let them lynch the Tango boys. That and they are coming to understand the power difference between those who have evolved and those that haven't. Yes, even if it does suddenly devolve into a massive brawl we should be able to keep things mostly under control."

"You headed back already?" Rumi asked, "I'd have thought you'd want to stick around to help escort everyone back to the Stadium."

"I wouldn't mind using the chance to get to know some of the people better," I admitted, "But I'm going to be leaving either tonight or tomorrow morning so I need to get some gear built and gathered to be ready to head out."

"Oh yeah," Rumi whispered, "I somehow forgot that you were planning to leave."

"I had been wondering if maybe you had decided to postpone your journey in light of recent events." Matilda stated almost as a question, turning from her perch on Rumi's wide shoulders to fully face me.

"It is tempting to put it off for another day or so," I admitted, "Though knowing myself I'd probably just keep finding reasons to delay the trip. Honestly, I feel I've put it off for too long already. Things are settled enough, there's no big immediate threat to us beyond the general threats of keeping everyone safe, fed, ready for winter. Seems to me it's the perfect time to head out before I get tangled up in something else serious."

"Just be sure you give me a heads up before you leave." Rumi stated, "I want to be there to see you off. You better not sneak off before I've had a chance to say goodbye."

I laughed and nodded, "Of course, I'd never dream of being so crass."