[Winter – Parso]

It had been a little over a week since Jennings agreed to look into Anette's problem, due to the unrelenting advances Penny had made on the issue. Walking the halls became risky, with passing comments hurled swift. As the famed outlaw sat in his inherited study, cleaning his pistol, Jennings couldn't keep his mind from wandering to a familiar place.

The aftermath of his father's downfall still resonated through his thoughts. Sleepless nights have never been a frequent occurrence, until recent events transpired the way they did. Leeroy and Isaac's untimely passing to be precise.

Before Jennings had believed that he feared losing more people closer to him. Penny, Poni, anyone else that forcibly caused the man always on the run to care for them.

After several jagged shifts of introspection within, Jennings came to a different conclusion than usual however. He was aware that it was still the feeling of fear that he resented within. Not the fear of losing more companions, or killing another Agist, but the fear of being able to move on with his life so easily afterward.

He couldn't help but contemplate whether there was something truly wrong with him mentally that caused him to lose his last remaining family. Most reunions don’t occur that way.

He would forever remember the low in his life. He would have to learn to somehow grow from the experience. Memory was a useful, yet cruel tool of the mind.

He was finally disrupted from his unpleasant daydreaming by a stranger in a hurry, dashing by his open doors nearby and not showing a hint of awareness. Safety to that person, was in that exact direction.

Jennings stood up from his chair and went to investigate the trail of dust left behind the seemingly rushed individual. When he turned a corner to peak in the direction where the man had raced away to, he was shocked to see a pair of familiar eyes behind a cloaking blue bandana.

“Well shit!” yells out Ollie before proceeding, “I thought that was you racing by us with a few drinks in your system, ain't that usually how it goes?”

The old acquaintance teased his pal as he approached on his tall blonde horse, with two more familiar riders to Jennings approaching at his side.

To Ollie's right was a short-statured, short black-haired female named Rosemary Conway, but the gang would always keep it simple with “Rose.” She had a reputation of using her small frame to get in just about any damn crevice she wanted without anyone becoming wise of her presence. She had a tendency of using her unique skill set to steal from anyone with valuables within a two-mile radius, but the truly scary part of her repertoire was the fact that she was fearless. Jennings had witnessed on multiple occasions instances where Rosemary would take down men nearly triple her size and end their life before they could even make another comment about her stature.

On the other side of Ollie, was a man with a broad frame and charming smile to match. His name was Brody Sanz and he was the definition of a misfit. A person that on first-impressions or behavior alone, wouldn't appear as a criminal. He even stumbled off his horse that he dwarfed. Yet, when Brody got involved in an altercation, it usually ended up with his enemies crawling away on the floor in a bloody pulp.

“We heard what had happened.” said Rosemary. She looked away from eye-contact in her usual disconnected demeanor.

Brody butt into the conversation, and spoke.

“We're sorry we couldn't make it in time and that you had to go through whatever it is that you went through back then. We're here now though.”

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All three riders got off their horses and positioned themselves in front of Jennings with Brody reaching out to console his comrade.

“You know our saying, when there’s blood in the water, Sharks come together.”

After a delay Jennings walked backwards from Brody's dour grip on his right shoulder and began heading back into his study.

“We have a job to do. Let's begin to prepare.” said Jennings.

The spurs rattling behind felt like a constant reminder to keep moving. The active Shark members glanced at each other and followed him indoors.

Now seated behind the desk where Jennings sat previously, Ollie asked Jennings a question while pouring himself some tea.

“So, what's the hand we've been dealt, brother?”

Jennings paused his motion of reassembling his firearm and turned to face his fellow members directly. Proceeding to fill them in on the recent events that transpired with Anette and this unknown 'Immortal'.

The nature of the situation was a ruckus for Ollie and company. He responded by asking, “Now, I don't want to sound like a timid turtle but. . .this doesn't sound like the type of stew you like to mix yourself up in JJ. Why do you feel compelled to drag yourself into it?”

Ollie finished his remark by taking a sip of his freshly-poured beverage. He was genuinely concerned and perhaps even a bit confused.

The outlaw pondered the question and hesitated to answer. A look of concern was evident on both Rosemary and Brody's face as they sat next to Ollie awaiting, knowing the type of person Jennings was and how rare it was to find him lost for words on an issue of this magnitude. Jennings knew in return the proper response, but failed to be sure if the people he trusted would understand fully. As if a mind-reader, Brody spoke up.

“You have to be honest with us JJ. We're not here to hold you back from anything, we're here to make sure that you make it through whatever the fuck is in your way.” he said in a heartfelt fashion.

As if finishing his colleagues' statement, Jennings opened his mouth to say his truth.

“I-I don't have a good feeling about this one. I've gone through too much loss recently and I don't want to take any unnecessary risks. The truth is I wasn't alone when things turned south, I have those that stood by my side because they saw what I experienced. They're the only thing holding me together right now and I need to help them like they helped me.”

Ollie peered at Jennings before nodding. He replied.

“Well. . .you never were a good gambler JJ. I don't think risks are your specialty.”

He let out a slight laugh before continuing, “How about we go peek at what's been causing strangers to scurry past your place in a hurry. You think it has something to do with this Immortal guy, so let's find some certainty. If we need to get our hands dirty, well, that's more your specialty right?”

After some reinforcing words from the guests, time had passed along with the day overhead. Evening had brought in a new sense of group understanding as their plan had been forged and confidence was at the forethought of the Shark members. They take their riding positions atop their steeds and strapped up for potential combat if it presented itself.

Jennings placed his pistol in its holster and talked down beside Poni’s determined face.

“You ready to do some good for some good people, friend?”

Poni neighed in agreement as the saddled men and women headed out to gain some insight on what they're up against, together.

[Winter – Parso - Later that night]

Later that same night, approaching screams can be heard as Penny ran toward the residence, yelling out Jennings' nickname at the top of her lungs between gasps of air.

“J.J.! Oh god, J.J.!”

She reached the back door of his study and opened the floral sliding door to a sight she had feared. The panic-stricken girl began to sweat more profusely than when she approached the house sprinting. The lump in her throat was a feeling she had hoped she never experienced again and yet as her vision darted around the room, it grew more bothersome by each inhale.

As her sweaty palm gripped the door to the main hallway open, she emerged face-to-face with their housekeeper Olivia. She was taken aback by the urgency of Penny's words to her.

Penny shouted while holding onto Olivia, infecting her with that same fearful energy.

“Where are Jennings and his friends?! They cannot go yet, they have no clue what they're getting into!”