>>6278997You can’t see it, but it’s snowing.
https://youtu.be/cpGgQHAublYFlakes fall like feathers, blanketing the forest floor and settling in your messy hair as you let your <span class="mu-s">CHINCHILL PUMP-ACTION</span> linger above your head–its smoking barrel making the powdery precipitation hiss on contact.
You missed the cold.
“<span class="mu-i">P-p-please….</span>” Whines the six-eyed sneak from where you kicked him to the ground, “<span class="mu-i">I… I didn’t mean nothin’...</span>”
His heart, or whatever’s pumping in this thing’s chest, is jackhammering as you stare him down–hard enough for you to feel it in your <span class="mu-i">teeth</span>.
Poor little gun thief, you think to yourself as he clutches the kiss you gave him with your knife, you must have scared him half to <span class="mu-i">death</span>.
He won’t be a problem, you reason, but his friends might. Still stunned from the shotgun’s discharge, the would-be thief’s pals watch your every movement like a pack of coyotes. Wary, but not sure whether to bolt or bite yet.
Four freaks. Eight eyes between them: puce on the little shifty one, orange on tall and tusks, red hidden behind a pair of gaudy glasses…
… and periwinkle on the only one who isn’t sweating bullets.
“You’re not from around here, are y-”
You shut him up with another gunshot–this one going into the powder next to him. Stupid, especially if you ended up hitting a rock, but it does the job: the shotgun’s report sends them all ducking for cover like roaches. The subtle shift in the leader’s stare tells you everything you need to know:
He’s not used to not being in charge.
You idly load a few more shells.
First time for everything.
What do?
>Eliminate them. The locals have been nothing but trouble.>Interrogate them. ‘Knowledge is power’~>Leave while you can. You’ll lose them in the hills.>Answer Periwinkle’s question. You can be nice.>Stay silent. Let them stew a bit.>Write-In! 