[ Winter - Moonton ]

“J.J., open your mouth!”

Jennings, leaning back in his makeshift bed of wooden planks and debris from the destroyed shed shook his head. At times he became an aged child of the streets. Penny stood back, disapproving with her hands on her hips.

“You can’t keep freezing the medicine in your mouth to spit out. You ain’t foolin’ no one in this cabin Mr. Jennings.”

The wily outlaw winced and let his tongue loose. Atop it layed the capsule of ice that once was a miracle liquid from Dr. Sid Calvin. The doctor sat in the background on his bare backside, shaking his head next to the stoic Rosemary.

Penny shoves his tongue back into J.J.’s face. He gulps in disgust.

“I swear, I ain’t your mother J.J.”

The woman walks to a nearby piece of floor cleared of debris. There, she poured water into a mug, walking back to hand it to Jennings.

He accepted it with a guilty gaze. Penny scoffs and walks over to the others, taking a seat next to them.

Suddenly, a posture of vigor returned to Jennings, as his face was wiped of wackiness. His blue hue was briefly visible as the tattered door slammed open on its hinges with force. The unanticipated burst spooked the seated Penny and Sid, while Rosemary and Jennings were prepared.

“Howdy, mates!”

Standing in the door frame with a heroic pose was Ollie. Behind him, faded-in the faces of Buck, with a shouldered Wolf from the advanced sunlight. On the bed, Jennings shoved his glowing pistol back into his obscured holster. The outlaw was happy to see them, sporting a deft smirk, he waves them in with his free hand.

The doctor took Wolf from Buck’s gentle support as flies buzzed, harassing the Native for his dried blood. He set the big man on a giant plank then pondered for a second.

Dr. Sid asked Rosemary to fetch some water and a wet towel, she nodded and ran to his bag to search for the latter. Just before setting an open palm on his newest patient, he swung his attention to Jennings, who had risen from his bed.

The doc sighed as he dropped his head. Jennings spoke to the room.

“Alright ya’ll, Anette’s still out there. Let’s work this out.”

The room looked at J.J. for a plan.

[ Winter - outskirts of Gravelrot ]

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Eriko looked ahead as the breeze waves a flag planted in the hilltop soil beside where he stood. He turned behind, looking down the incline for the trailing, and exasperated, Lou.

“I better not be hiking up here for you to throw me off.”

Eriko failed to change his bored expression. He extended his arm, Lou clasps his forearm and slinks himself upward onto the final grassy ledge, rolling to a rest.

After what The Immortal deemed enough time to catch breathe, he speaks to the grounded Lou.

“You know the history of this land?”

Lou sat up, wrapped his arms around his legs.

“Can’t say that I paid much attention.”

Eriko rolls his eyes.

“This here is the border of the Tozin-Western Truce. The outlines our ancestors arranged for our prosperity.”

‘The Tozin, huh?” Lou rose to his feet to garner a glimpse of the view below them. Settlements and wooden structures filled the valleys beneath. The breeze swayed the fields of tall grass and flowers.

Eriko pointed to their right.

“Gravelrot, currently a hotbed of lawlessness and corruption. Yet, one thing they don’t lack, are able men.”

Lou glances at The Immortal, who smirked.

“I’ve worked with Regional Warden, a Mr. Haggard.”

“Oh?” replied Lou, with minimal interest.

“I used his men to intercept supply lines,” Eriko swung his lingering finger to their left. “There.”

Lou squinted his eyes to see the small village on the horizon, next to the onset of the Shadow Valley Desert. The Immortal continued.

“Maverick. A small town on the brink of collapse. One waiting for me to run it dry.”

Eriko now pointed past the Shadow Valley Desert, deep into the rugged territory. Lou gazed on.

“Forty to sixty percent of the water supply has been interrupted. Eighty percent to the Spiri Settlement, Maverick and the Tozin Territory are next. My highwaymen wreaked havoc on trade routes from the Roxin Pier to all mentioned.”

Lou’s eyes grew. The Immortal walked to the edge of the cliff. He peered down as if the steep hillside was calling to him.

“Soon, Lou, you’re about to become one of the richest men in the Western Halfland.”

He grinned, as Lou pondered the circumstances, taking an extra second to quell his inner-guilt. Eriko suddenly grabbed the distracted man, yanking him from his thoughts.

Lou staggered into the next gust, shocking himself. When he regained his sturdiness, The Immortal spoke.

“All this land is up for the taking, at this time now, Lou.”

Lou stood in silence. Eriko turned away and began his descent.

[ Winter - Moonton ]

A frail bucket careens against the sides of a makeshift well. Retrieved at the top by Buck, he leaned forward to process its emptiness.

“Dry.”

J.J. stood in front of the collective, Dr. Sid, Penny, Rosemary, and Ollie all looked amongst each other.

“Last three have been dust collectors,” replied the outlaw.

He pulled back his hat, itching his hairline. Buck walked back to the group.

“A drought has been sweeping the West,” said Buck with confidence. “I passed through Tozin Territory recently, and they were hit hard.”

The group shared concerned glances. Ollie broke the awkward quietude.

“And this Eriko fella’,” He stepped forward, directing his statement to Jennings, “Where does he fit in?”

“That’s what we gotta figure.”