1880, March -- East Texas (IC)

Townhouse Interior -
The entry hall, stairway an' upstairs hall all reek of gun smoke & metallic blood tang.

None of ya'll are sure what you're looking at--is this creature natural, supernatural; it's hard to say.

But one thing is certain--it took two shots (that should have at least severally wounded it) and seems unaffected in the slightest! Affected by wounds or not, no beast likes being shot.

It roars in agitation and runs down the short hall, fast as a wolf on the hunt, and leaps through the second story window, out in to the night, with a mighty *crash*.



~

Nathaniel's jaw is slightly agape as the beast crashes out the window, seemingly uneffected by the bullets. He looks at his gun, I've kept it clean and ready, just like Papa taught me, no way is it defective, then back at the group of strangers. "We need to go after it before it hurts anyone else, but does anyone know how to stop the thing?! I think we angered it more than hurt it..."

He cautiously steps up to the broken window and looks out, trying to see if he can follow where the beast went.

"Hmm. That beast jumped out a second-story window and proceeded to run off. I'd say that's interesting and we have found ourselves with a rather strong beast that refuses to be killed. What shall we do? If we know we can't kill it very easily, should we hastily chase after it? I think not."

Horace stands at the window next to Nathanial despite the rain as he watches the creature disappear.

Kaladin drawing his pistols and feeling the well worn grips in his hands brings a bit of comfort and steadying of his nerves. Running after the woman and the rest of the motely crew into the building and watching bullets have no effect on what one can only think of as a beast sends a shiver down Kaladin's spine. Walking over next to Nathanial and Horace in joining the odd pair in watching the creature disappear into the night.

Townhouse Second Floor | Nathaniel and Horace
Punctuating Horace's proclamation, Nathaniel, the weather, darkness, and thick pines all about, have obscured the beasts flight from you. You just have a vague idea that it headed east.

The floor creaks as Kaladin adds his weight to hall and approaches the window.

Kaladin, your mind would whirl with the truth of the beast--werewolf.

It'd all make sense to you! Legends of the beast state only one whose love is true for the afflicted can calm the beast within...and only silver has a chance of wounding such a creature.

"It was fierce if simple. Bullets didn't do a damn thing but make it mad. We let it go; takes time to kill a monster." Nathaniel murmured, releasing a breath. He didn't know what kind of monster that was but it was one hell of a beast. Looking back behind him, he would see if the woman was still there.

"Yes, yes. I will be right behind you Jeremiah. Right behind you."

Horace was excited to potentially get involved with the beast as scary as it seemed. Maybe if whatever it was became cornered he could get some information out of it. Perhaps gain an insight into what he might have seen when his experiment went awry. Since the apparition had smiled at him, how bad could it be?

Discouraged at losing the beast's location, he turns around to the motley crew behind him. He's heartened that the others haven't seemed to have lost the will to continue on in stopping this horrible thing. Reholstering his pistol, he looks at Kaladin and notices a look of recognition on the older man's face. "Pardon me, sir? Do you know what that thing was?"

Townhouse Interior | All Present
Thumping up the stair, the Marshall has joined the pose in the hall.

She hears Mr. Bigby's question and looks expectantly at Kaladin.

As she waits for an answer, she asks the group at large, "Any idear which way it went...?" She looks past the posse, out into the night.

"Difficult to tell in this weather, but looks like it headed East ma'am." pointing out toward where he thinks he last saw the beast flee. "Is there anything of note out yonder?"

"It went that way."

Horace points in the direction where he saw the beast run after it crashed through the second-story window.

"But he could have turned at any time and headed the devil only knows where once he was out of view, marshall."

Townhouse Interior | All Present
She nods to Nathaniel and Horace; pensive and thoughtful. "The lumber camps are out in them hills... some of the 'jacks who're newly arrived declined our invite ta stay in town."

She sighs. "If that...thing... is still feelin' peckish after the shots you gave it, it's gonna have a regular feast. I guess there ain't nothin' to do for it now..."



She looks back at Kaladin, waitin' on his insights.

gather round folks, its story time: "with the low light one can't be sure but unless I'm mistaken we may be dealing with a werewolf, can't say I ever saw one before but it does seem to resemble the legends and yonder bullets were just shrugged off like the stories say... only silver can hurt it unless one of ya has love for whoever that poor soul is"

turning to Sue: you've been dealing with this for a while, what can you tell us of this beast and any patterns of behavior/attack targets - anything would help really.

turning to everyone: unless you guys have some silver bullets we better think of a plan before we go running after it...

Jeremiah's face darkens at the news of the creature's invulnerabilities. It seemed that they were outgunned at the moment then.

"Looks like we're going to need the patronage of the town to help slay this beast then." Jeremiah murmurs, sheathing his knife before looking back at the others. "We can see who can donate what they can. Marshall, do you have a blacksmith or a gunsmith in town?" The big man preferred that they had the latter, truthfully, but he would make due with what they could get.

"The way I see it we have to get us some silver and then have bullets made. I don't see any other options. Marshal, we will surely need your help with this."

To be sure they had their work cut out for them but half the battle was getting the silver.

After Kaladin finishes his tale, what a curious name, Nathaniel looks back out at moon. The night sky is clear and the stars glimmer alongside it. That's one thing he's come to love and greatly look forward to about traveling further West. Back home it wasn't near as majestic. He would sometimes go out with his parents to look at the stars, as they all laid down on a blanket and told him about the different constellations and stories behind the names, but the nearby building and factory lights would eventually get in the way... I miss them so much...

Nathaniel blinks his eyes hard wait, speaking of love Looking back at the Marshall, "Mr. Kaladin mentioned true love, have there been any known tiffs or gossip about such in the town or surrounding areas? Was the lady screaming out here more then just a random victim?" Thinking some more, "Does the beast only attack at night? If so, maybe some of us can work on getting silver, and some can try to gather more information at the lumber yard or around town."

Sue bites her lip, and first answers Kaladin -- "Used to be the beast--werewolf, I guess... sweet lord in heaven..." She shakes herself. "Used to be it only attack at the edge of the town, but it seems to be gettin' bolder. If the pattern continues, tomorrow is the last night that it prowls. Then we won't see it till next full moon..."

She turns to Mr. Cross and Mr. Phinney. "We sure do have a blacksmith. Town was boomin' until all this started. James Hayes. He'll be at his bellows come first light, if I know 'im at all." She blushes a tad.


Sue clears her throat then turns to Nathaniel.

She softens her voice when speakin to the young man, given his apparent age. "Woman that lives here is May Decker. She's the proprietor of the general goods store." She pushes her hat back on her head, thinking.

"There's drama now an' then round town--lover's quarrels and the like. But we're polite folk round here, and try not to pry into such things..." her face reddens more. "Either way, if you dig I'm sure ya'll find all sorts of late night callin's and love affairs."

Early Morning, East Texas Lumber Town
Come morning the pine forests round the town drip rain water with a *pitter* *patter*. The air smells heavy of wet wood, sap an' mud.

Where do we find our thrown together travelers? How are you each approaching this morning? What are you doing on this wet spring morning?