Maybe you can believe it, if it helps you to sleep.

by **Samantha McManus** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 5:36 pm

In the wilderness overlooking the town, someone had made camp. A single horse was tied up, and a fire built with a lone figure tending it.

by **Nailah Weaver** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 6:23 pm

Do'noma making her way through the wilderness (not that she'd call it that), searching for certain plants and tree barks when she spotted the thin smoke trail in the distance. Worried about clumsy town people she makes her way in the general direction, keeping her eyes open and trying not to make too much noise. She's no hunter but she manages to be at least somewhat quiet.

by **Samantha McManus** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 6:25 pm

It was a slight figure in a duster and a wide-brimmed hat. Or so it seemed at first, though as she approached it seemed to tremble for a moment, and then seemed much broader, sitting up straighter.

by **Nailah Weaver** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 6:28 pm

A skinwalker? Dressed like them? she blinks, stepping closer and abandoning any attempts to be quiet.

by **Samantha McManus** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 6:32 pm

"Ain't lookin' for trouble," came a man's voice from the figure, though it didn't turn around.

by **Nailah Weaver** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 6:36 pm

"Then why you are not with your people?"

by **Samantha McManus** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 6:37 pm

"What makes ya think they're my people?"

by **Nailah Weaver** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 6:42 pm

"Dressed like them. Make camp like them."

by **Samantha McManus** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 6:43 pm

"Don't mean I'm any more welcome there than you," the figure said, still not turning around to look at her.

by **Nailah Weaver** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 6:50 pm

"Outcast..." she says, searching for the right word. "Crime? Criminal?"

by **Samantha McManus** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 6:51 pm

"None o' your never-mind, if I'm not hurting you and yours, right?"

by **Nailah Weaver** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 6:56 pm

"Not at this time, no. But you camp close to our land. Closer than to town."

by **Samantha McManus** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 6:56 pm

"I'll move if you ask."

by **Nailah Weaver** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 3:11 am

"Maybe. Why are you here?"

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 3:37 am

"Because there..." the figure pointed to the right "...is a rattlesnake den, there..." it pointed left "...is a coyote on the prowl, and there..." it pointed back towards the town "...is a bunch of damned drunken fools that would love to steal my horse."

by **Nailah Weaver** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 3:41 am

"You don't like people from town?" she asks, seeming a little surprised. Usually the strangers seemed to stick together at least somewhat.

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 3:46 am

"Not most of 'em, no."

by **Nailah Weaver** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 3:48 am

"But you are one of them, yes?" she asks, circling around the figure a bit while still keeping her distance.

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 3:50 am

"You keep sayin' that, but I don't think ya really know."

by **Nailah Weaver** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 3:54 am

"Talk like them, camp like them, travel like them." she says, looking around the small camp. "Maybe not act like them." Something was weird about this person and it made her curious.

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 3:57 am

"An' there ain't many of 'em that'll bother me, 'cause that's all they'll see."

"Some fool that likes to sleep in the desert, and'll put one between their eyes if they ignore the rattlesnake and the coyote and go for his horse."

by **Nailah Weaver** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 4:00 am

"They don't like you 'cause you shoot them in the desert?" she asks, not really sure if she got that right.

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 4:03 am

"M'saying most of 'em won't think that hard on it."

by **Nailah Weaver** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 4:08 am

"Why you kill people?" And why would he just tell me. Maybe he wants to scare me off?

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 4:09 am

"Man gets kinda attached to his horse."

by **Nailah Weaver** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 4:13 am

"Oh they try taking your horse! Still don't need to shoot them dead."

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 10:16 am

"Don't think so? Seems a mighty mean thing to do a man."

by **Nailah Weaver** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 10:42 am

"You are confusing. But maybe my fault of not understanding you right." she says, making her way around the figure to catch a glimpse of him or to see if he'd keep his back to her.

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 10:46 am

The figure didn't make any move to avoid her, but also didn't look up from the fire. A grizzled, weather-worn man. Almost a cliche, and definitely taller and broader than it had seemed at a distance.

"Probably because you're thinking harder than they do."

by **Nailah Weaver** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 10:58 am

"Very much look like them." she corrects herself, not knowing the word cliche directly.

"And everyone knows they do not think hard at all." she laughs slightly.

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 11:00 am

"Maybe that's the point."

The pack by the horse had clothes in it. By some of the fabric, they didn't look quite like clothes this man would wear.

by **Nailah Weaver** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 11:09 am

"You want people to think you are stupid as them. You only want them to think you are one of them but you are not?"

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 11:10 am

"Like I said, no more'n you are."

by **Nailah Weaver** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 11:16 am

"What do I care what they think of me and mine?"

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 11:18 am

The figure sighed.

"Not going to let this go, are ya?"

by **Nailah Weaver** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 11:26 am

"There is someone strange near home who does not like the newcomers but wants to be seen as them. It's curious."

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 11:30 am

"Well the way I see it..." the figure let out a breath and its features softened, its stature receding. Younger, smaller, the clothes not fitting so well now, and the feminine voice that came now was rather different. "...you're not exactly normal, yourself."

by **Nailah Weaver** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 11:35 am

Do'noma blinks, her mouth slightly hanging open. "You are Skinwalker! But... but people Skinwalker!"

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 12:15 pm

"Is that what you call it? I knew you had to have seen something..."

by **Nailah Weaver** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 12:20 pm

"Our kind knows of it. But only of becoming your... mind... animal." she gestures, trying to explain the concept without the right words.

Who is online