Tiddles had lost the scent again; he was getting annoyed; whenever he thought he was on the right path, the scent would fade off suddenly. His olfactory receptors were phenomenal. He knew that he could tell virtually every scent apart from another. Still, it appeared as though, due to the vehicle these people were travelling in, the scent was dispersed over such a vast area that when he caught it, he would head in that direction to discover it would fade off again. He could no longer continue to track as no more scent could be picked up in range. He would then turn around and head back, getting more frustrated each time.
He had been doing this for nearly the whole second-day tracking, going backwards and forwards, changing directions and following new roads. There was just no way of him guaranteeing that the direction he was taking them in was correct. He only hoped that it was. At one point, he thought of trying to follow a vehicle trail. Still, he soon changed his mind when he realised that he struggled to tell Sniffer’s vehicle scent that it left with that of any other vehicles that may have travelled in the area recently and had managed to circle round and back to the point that they had stopped at briefly.
Sniffer climbed out of the truck and joined him by a crossroads, “What’s up boy?” he asked. Tiddles was not sure again. He sat on his haunches with what could only be called a sad look on his beastly face. “Don’t worry, the longer it takes, the more money we earn,” Sniffer stated. Tiddles just tilted his head, looking at Sniffer, and huffed. It was then that he heard it, a very distant sound of a vehicle engine. His ears pricked up, and he stood bolt upright, straining in the direction the sound had come from. There it was again, he thought, his ears turning like radars homing in on the sound. “What have you heard?” Sniffer asked. Tiddles growled slightly and took a pace in the direction of the sound. “You got 'em, boy?” Sniffer asked, “Let’s go then”.
Sniffer returned to the truck, and Tiddles waited before setting off towards the sound. He could tell the vehicle was moving away as it became harder to hear. Tiddles started to pick up his pace. Sniffer could not travel as fast in the truck as Tiddles on foot due to the state of the roads, so he had to keep waiting for him to catch up. They kept going like this for a while when suddenly the engine noise he had been following stopped. Tiddles slowed and came to a halt, carefully listening for another sound of the engine. He knew they had been getting closer as it had slowly but surely got louder as they followed it. He could only hope that he would find it if he continued in the same direction on the road.
Sniffer climbed from the truck again, “What’s up?” Sniffer asked.
Tiddles crouched down, looking in the direction the sound had been coming from.
“Ok, boy, I understand; we must be getting close. Let us carry on, on foot then.” Sniffer stated. He grabbed his small tracking backpack from the rear of the truck, where he kept a few supplies, some rope, and a medical kit. He had been told that the lad had to be brought back alive, so he wanted to be able to secure him once they found them. He would probably bring both back alive and let Monty and John deal with them as they wished.
They continued down the road; the light faded, and little daylight remained. Sniffer did not fancy being out in the dark, but being this close to their prey was worth the risk. They had travelled another half a mile on foot when Tiddles suddenly hit the ground. Sniffer did the same, crouching next to him.
‘This does not feel right’, Tiddles thought. He had not smelt the scent of their prey for a long time now. He had been so focused on following the sound that he had paid little attention. He sniffed the air deeply; there was a human scent, but it was not the scent he should have been tracking. He felt stupid and dropped his head, resting it on the floor.
Tiddles let out a low growl. Sniffer looked at him and gave him a confused look. This was not like Tiddles would be set ready and tense, and he had dropped his head almost in shame with wide eyes looking at him. “What’s wrong?” he whispered. Tiddles turned his head and jerked it in the opposite direction. Sniffer was still confused and unsure why Tiddles wanted to move back.
“Come on, boy. Let’s keep going.” Sniffer whispered. Tiddles did not want to carry on as he knew it was not their target, but he would not leave Sniffer alone, especially when it was starting to get dark. They both crept forward down the edge of the road. In the fading light, Sniffer caught a glimpse of firelight ahead reflecting off the underside of a tree canopy to the right of the road. Tiddles had changed his approach to match the direction in which Sniffer had now observed the fire light a couple of hundred feet away. There was no vehicle visible from where they were.
As they continued to approach, Sniffer picked up voices. A male and a female were up ahead, which matched their targets. The road turned to the right around a bend, and as the pair reached the corner, Sniffer came in range to overhear the conversation.
“I hate being out in the open”, a female said.
“Tell me about it, but we have to get to the meeting point first thing tomorrow, so if we had not set off today, we would not make it in time, and we need more fuel.” A male replied.
“That bastard needs to do his own work in future. Scouting is such a shit job.” The female replied.
“As if he ever will, I guess you are not going to tell him, are you?” the male enquired.
“I am not that fucking stupid.” The female replied.
The male voice laughed, “We did not do too bad today. There were at least two sites that looked good for picking.”
“Possibly. We won’t know until we hit them, though”.
Sniffer stopped suddenly, realising why Tiddles had wanted to turn back. The conversation he overheard sounded more like a scouting party for a raiding group. ‘Shit’, Sniffer thought.
The light had now faded and been replaced by a waning moon. The temperature had been dropping steadily, and the cold of the night was settling in. Sniffer wished he had put his thicker jacket on before they had left the truck.
‘Fuck’, Sniffer thought, ‘we may as well see if there is anything worth taking.’ They had taken down scout parties previously, usually only in defence when a scout party had come upon them when they had been out in the truck. They would always head to a local township unless tracking or in an area where the distance was too great to travel in one day. Over the years, Sniffer got quite predictable and had a route he usually followed unless they had been informed of any work over radio messages.
Several towns had radios, and he would check in with the operators as he sometimes was left messages, or they had heard of issues where he could help. He wished he had a radio of his own, but they were expensive and fuel-hungry, and fuel was expensive enough as it was for his truck. He would have to fill up the truck again as soon as it was, and it could be very costly at 15 stacks a time. He would usually charge fuel on top of his day rate if he needed to use his truck, as they could usually complete most jobs on foot.
He made his way closer until he could see where a fire had been set just from the roadside. It was not a large fire, but it was large enough that he could make out the shape of a vehicle under the canopy. The light cast from the fire reflected off its metal surface. At this range, he could now make out the shape of a man and a woman. He was probably about fifty feet away, and minimal cover was available between himself and the people. Tiddles was still crouched by his side. Due to the colour of Tiddle's fur, he became almost invisible at night-time. His practically black colour seemed to absorb light, and it was even difficult for Sniffer to make out with him right next to him in the moonlight.
Sniffer hoped that they would find something useful. Disposing of raiders was something he had no problems with.
Tiddles’s ears pricked up, and he smiled, showing his fangs.
Sniffer could not see any weapons visible, but they could have some laid down. Raiders always had weapons of some form, although guns were not common. Most townships only owned a couple of rifles or handguns, which they used for defence, not that guns were not common. Thousands were left after the Falling, but most had become unserviceable over the years due to general degradation and lack of expertise in repairing or maintaining them.
The prominent issue had been a lack of ammunition. Ammunition over time had become scarce, and any ammunition found that had not been stored in appropriate conditions could also have degraded. Sniffer was aware of a case where a weapon had exploded in a man’s hand when he went to fire it in self-defence at a Wild One due to the ammunition they had used.
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Sniffer was unaware of anywhere on the East Coast that could produce ammunition, although rumours had started out of the West Coast that one of the factions had been trying to produce it. Raiders were known sometimes to have bows or crossbows, but most of the time, they resorted to brute force using bats or maces, and several he knew of had swords.
“Let’s have some fun, go see.” He whispered to Tiddles.
Tiddles did not need to be told twice. He swiftly moved off into the bushes at the side of the road. Sniffer stayed where he was, watching the small campsite they had made. He could hear laughing and joking, and the conversation had turned to debauchery. The raiders were now discussing their latest sex antics with some of their slaves. It sickened Sniffer. He did not mind hunting slaves for his work, but he had no reason ever to consider having any form of non-consensual sex towards another person. Raiders were known to be horrific in their treatment of others and would use both male and female slaves as they saw fit, using them as toys.
Tiddles kept low, moving slowly through the bushes by the road. Even with his considerable size, he was silent when stalking. He made his way towards the campfire, and from the edge of the bushes where he now lay, he was only twenty feet from the nearest target. It was a male with his back to him, and the female was sitting off to the side and only a few feet further. He thought about which approach would be best. Neither of them was holding a weapon, not that weapons bothered him, but if he could avoid being swung at by a bat or someone trying to shoot him, that was always beneficial.
He decided on his plan and attacked. He pounced from the bushes like a bullet from a gun; he had aligned himself so that he would hit the woman but, in doing so, would also knock the man. That way, they would both be taken by surprise and need to recover before reacting to him. His left foreleg smashed into the back of the man as his main body weight continued towards the woman. The man screamed in surprise, and as Tiddles flew past him, he saw him sprawl forward into the fire. The woman screamed in terror as the first thing she saw of Tiddles was his huge head as it smashed into her chest.
The woman’s scream was suddenly cut off as the wind was knocked from her lungs, making her gasp for air as she was catapulted twenty feet, rolling across the ground until she eventually came to rest face down, groaning. The size and power of Tiddles hitting the woman was equivalent to being hit by a truck. The man who had been knocked over that he had been sat down and landed sprawling on his face by the fire. He had placed his right hand out to stop himself as he fell straight into the flames. As he pulled his arm out screaming, his jacket caught fire and started to burn. The man frantically started to sit up, slapping at his burning sleeve with his other hand, trying to beat the flames out.
Tiddle’s display had triggered as he had hit the man.
Risen hit with a surprise attack of +25% damage and successfully caused confusion.
Secondary damage caused by fire.
Risen hit by Critical Surprise Attack +75% damage.
Target successfully incapacitated.
Congratulations. The Offensive Strategy has increased to level 18.
Tiddles turned on the man. He knew the woman was not going anywhere soon. He had heard her bones crack as he had hit her and thought he must have broken a few ribs on impact. He ran at the man, and as he tried to raise himself from his sprawled position, he placed his considerably large paw onto his back, pushing him forward and back down. The air was forcefully driven from the man’s lungs, and the only sound that emitted from his mouth was a deep groan as he hit the earth again. The man’s arm was smoking, and Tiddles growled loudly, placing his chin by the side of the man’s head.
Sniffer watched the action unfold. Tiddles was so effective in brawling that he had incapacitated both raiders in under five seconds. His display flashed with a message.
Your imprinted has just raised its Offensive Strategy to level 18.
‘Damn, Missy never got above 15; Tiddles seems to level his skills much faster’, he thought. He jumped up, hurrying forward to join Tiddles at the fire. Sniffer could hear the whimpering of the man where Tiddles had him pinned and saw the prone form of the woman and heard her gasping breath. Neither was going to be able to put up a fight.
“Not the best night to be out in the wild,” Sniffer said. The man turned his head slightly, hearing a man's voice, and looked at Sniffer. “So, what are a pair of fucking bastards like you doing here?” he asked.
The man could not reply as he was struggling to even breathe with Tiddles putting substantial pressure onto his back, and the pain in his arm must be severe from the burnt material that now appeared glued to his skin. Sniffer took out the rope that he had in his small backpack and grabbed the man’s arms roughly, forcing them behind his back before securing them. The man groaned in pain. He then walked over to the woman to do the same but saw she would not move soon. Her breath was coming in short, sharp gasps, and she could not move from her position. He left the woman lying on the ground and returned to the man, where he forced him to sit up.
“I asked you a question?” Sniffer said.
“Fuck you”, the raider replied.
Tiddles snarled and opened his jaws slightly, staring at the man. The colour had already drained from the man’s face on seeing Tiddles; if possible, he had gone an even ghostlier white.
“Look, this can go one of two ways. You can answer my questions, and I may let you live, or you don’t, and I won’t let you live.” Sniffer said.
The man looked at Sniffer and then at Tiddles again. “Just scouting”, he said.
“For whom?” Sniffer asked.
“For the gang,” he said.
“Which fucking gang?” Sniffer snarled.
“Golgo’s”, he replied.
Sniffer had heard of Golgo and knew he was a raid leader generally based in the Northern regions. His reputation was well known, his group excelled in violence, and Sniffer had come upon several townships while doing his rounds looking for work. They would ransack, pillage, and burn most settlements they raided, leaving any townsfolk either dead or captured for slavery. Only those who had managed to hide had ever been spared.
“Where is Golgo heading?” he asked.
“Nowhere he is just after fresh meat, that’s all.” The man replied.
“You have travelled halfway across the country just in search of fresh meat. I do not believe you.” Sniffer stated.
“Look, man, I am telling you the truth. Pickings are limited further North,” he said. “I only go where I am told to go.”
“He is not going to tell us anything of use. Just finish him.” Sniffer said.
Tiddles stepped towards the man.
“Wait, wait. I will tell you what I know.” The man cried out in panic.
Tiddles stopped and looked at the man, slowly snarling.
“Golgo has heard of a township that has been making fuel.” He stammered.
“Fuel?” Sniffer asked.
“Yeah, there is a township rumoured to have been making fuel, and if Golgo can capture the Bioengineer, then we can get our own supply.” He said.
“Which township? I travel the areas regularly and am only aware of the three main sites that produce fuel. Fuel cannot be engineered easily, you need specific equipment, and it is fucking dangerous.” Sniffer said.
“All I know is that a local township in this region has been making its own fuel.” He said.
“And where did this information come from?” Sniffer asked.
“I have no idea. I am just a raider. I am not one of his close crew.” He replied.
“So that is all you can tell me,” Sniffer told him.
“Yes, I know nothing else, " the man frantically replied.
“Kill him, boy,” Sniffer said.
Tiddles immediately stepped forward, opening his jaws. The man screamed in terror but could do nothing to defend himself as Tiddles slowly closed his jaws around his head. The man’s screams became muffled inside Tiddle's huge mouth, and he then snapped his jaws shut and pulled away violently. The headless torso of the man convulsed, and a massive pool of blood spilt onto the clearing floor from the remains. The spine of the man was visible where Tiddle's teeth had cleanly severed his head.
Tiddles chewed a couple of times, crunching the man’s skull in his immensely powerful jaws, and then swallowed, licking his lips. He looked at Sniffer and appeared to smile. Tiddles dropped his head and began lapping at the pooled blood.
“One down,” Sniffer said.
The woman was still lying prone on the floor. Her breathing had become shallower, and she gasped with every breath. Sniffer could see bubbles of blood frothing at the corner of her mouth every time she exhaled. Tiddles must have shattered her ribs into her lung when he hit her in the chest, Sniffer thought. She was not going to last long from an injury like that without seeing a doctor, and although Sniffer was skilled as a medic, there was nothing he could have done to save her, even if he wanted to. He honestly doubted even a doctor could save the woman. He was not going to waste time with her.
“Leave her, boy, she hasn’t long left.” He said to Tiddles.
Sniffer searched through the pockets on the headless torso and then went over to the woman doing the same. As he moved her arms to search in her jacket, she took her last deep, rattling breath and exhaled dead. He found two stacks on the man and a pouch of Radstim on the woman. He never used Radstim. They were the drug of raiders mainly. Originally, Radstim had been developed as a pain remedy, but over the years, better treatments had been discovered, and they were now just used as a leisure drug due to the sense of euphoria it created in the user. They were processed from two new plant variants, which were abundant everywhere. Several people had died from overdosing on the drug, and there were a few townsfolk Sniffer had met who would occasionally use them for leisure. A regular Radstim user was always easy to spot. They ended up with dark, sunken and red eyes.
Sniffer went over to the vehicle and scoured it. He found four bottles of nectar, several dried meat packets, and a few tools. The fuel tank on the vehicle was virtually empty, as per the conversation he had overheard, and they needed to make a meeting point. Both the raiders had maces left by the fire, but neither had a chance to use them due to Tiddle's unnatural prowess at brawling. Sniffer picked them up any way he could. He could always give them in at a township for the guards. There was little of value. He had found some manacles, a few lengths of chain which he did not need, and some canvas and two worn-out blankets that he guessed they used for shelter. Overall, he was disappointed with the poor haul.
Sniffer went to the vehicle and smashed the engine and windows with one of the clubs. If raiders did come up on the vehicle at some point in the future, he did not want them to be able to use it again. “Tiddles, do the tyres, please,” Sniffer said.
Tiddles walked over and obliged, extending his very sharp claws straight through the walls of the tyres, shredding them.
“Oh well, that’s another two less fuckers out there.” He said, looking and smiling at Tiddles. “Let us get back to the truck and get some rest. We must try to get back on the trail in the morning.”