Dickgotiations

Gunfire since its inception as a viable killing utensil is always unmistakeable.  The sound of bullets being fired is part of the allure of them as weapons.  Nothing scares someone more than the report of ballistic weaponry, well ok there are some things, but for most people not named Trezlan Lorentino, the sound of firearm going off is frightening. It is also an indicator for anyone else in a given area that there is a conflict nearby. Which can either be a good thing (help arrives) or a bad thing (bad things arrive alerted by conflict).

Since I was seeking Ruk and his crew when I heard what sounded like the report of a rifle I steered my horse towards it (also because I hadn't seen people or damn near anything for a couple days, so I was looking for the comfort of dealing with other people, yes I know I've said how much I hate dealing with people, look its a love hate relationship). The situation as I arrived at it looked pretty grim.

I could see what looked like Ruk's group (because of Jules, her clothing and demeanor was hard to miss) trapped at the top of a small open cliff.  Below them was what looked like some kind of mob, complete with torches and pitchforks. I didn't know much of these people from the east, but what I'd learned over my small time of being with them was enough to tell me they were all pretty much ass clowns.

"Don't come any closer!" Ruk fired a shot in the general direction of the mob. I could tell from the tone of his voice he was scared, it was the kind of high pitched wail you hear from the doomed.

"You all brought this on us, you will pay for what happened!" One of the townsfolk, I couldn't make out which one because mobs are full of cowards and most of the shouting comes from within (if they weren't cowards they wouldn't be in a mob threatening children).

"What's going on here?" I tried to sound commanding from my horse, I think it worked because the townsfolk turned to me with a bit of awe and fear (my prefered reaction).

"They are demon children, they brought the doom of the flesh upon us." A small child in the mob said this which made me feel sad for that childs future.

"WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!" It was Jules screaming from their trapped position.

"No one calls this madness, what's wrong with all of you?" My guess, a lot.

"And who are you mister? Another one of THEM?" He said them like it was an actual group of things.  I dunno it was one of those moments where I had to try hard not to shake my head at the situation.

"I'm the man asking you a simple question and I expect a simple answer." I can put venom behind my words with the best of them. They did not respond to my venom well, I could see now they had all turned, pitchforks and torches at the ready.

"Looks like we have their ringleader boys!" That shout was followed up with a bunch of yeahs.  I knew I'd stepped in stupid (you can always tell because you think to yourself "if only these people weren't so damn stupid" as an explination for why something escalated).  I hopped down off my horse and got ready to flex my fire muscles (because exploding bullets earlier was just a simple exercise, I was ready for a little fire and damnation like something written in a holy book or two) when the idiots got scared and ran off.  I was actually feeling pretty strong at that point, like the simple act of me looking like I was about to bring down some pain was enough to scare off some dumb townsfolk, when I turned around to get back on my horse I saw the large creature staring at my back and knew I was not what they feared.  I also knew that as always things were about to get worse before they got better.

"Well Shit."