Chasing the Sun

[Follower]

Specially for avenger69ie and everybody else, who cares - My grammar is bad, so if you are offended by it, than leave this topic.

Chasing the Sun

Chapter one - Dance of the Rope

The sun was running slowly through the sparking, blue sky of the wasteland. It's clear, alive colours were as joke against lifeless and colourless nature of the wasteland. All the ground below it was gray or black with no signs of beaty. Only dirt and dust could be found in this appocalyptic world.

The world was lieing in the ruins of it's former glory. Death and ignorance were the only remains of the past. The whole plant became deadly, radioactive desert, full of thugs, mutants and other scum... An older woman looked at the young boy, hanging near her and smiled - this one rather different than most of her friends...
"Your last chance boy... " - she came closer and looked in his large, misty eyes. He was almost ready. Young man felt the presence of death already... An older woman gave a sign and her companion - large supermutant - released him. A young boy was hanging on the quick=made gallows. Some remains of the dead tree and old well-used rope was everything to create this naughty device. An older woman came closer and asked him again:
"This is not time for heroes. Your primary purpose now is to survive, boy... Tell me where is she and I'll let you go. There is no point for this shit." - she looked at this severly wounded boy in bloodstained rags and waited for the response. But there were nothing. She didn't hear a word from his lips though she and her companion were busy with him for a whole morning.

Al older woman looked at the sun and sighed. It was only midday, but it looked like that it was evening already. All this torture stuff was so draining and unpleasant. The sun was shining brightly, sending it's cold rays on the dead, lifeless desert. It was not able to bring warmth or to some life there. All was dead. The winter was rulling this part of the continent now and nothing could be done. Though even it was summer there will be only few plants, capable to grow in this harsh spoil... Older woman looked at her hands, covered with blood and grined. It was a hard day for her. This blasted fool didn't want to some share knowledge with her. He was playing in some fucking hero for a whole morning now and it became to annoy her. An older woman wanted to retire soon enough - life of raider was rather harsh for her now. Her age and her tired body were not a good combination for such life as raider. Well, her friend Rex wanted to get some real action too, but he stayed with her until the end... the end of their small party. Older woman looked into the eyes of this young man standing on his kneels before him and spitted to the ground near him. He didn't talk, he didn't moan, he said nothing and even didn't try to do anything. He was standing simple near her and was looking directly before. Older woman turned around and cried to Rex:
"Hit one's ass, mutie... This blasted boy pissed me off..." - she muttered something unpleasant and left the scene.

The sun was setting slowly over the huge mountains on the West. The endless Wasteland was running in all direactions from this place - dead, lifeless, colourless... it were the only names fot this place. Sand and dirt were the only remarkable things there. Several ruined buildings and cars were seen nearby, but it was the ordinary things in this destroyed by nuclear fire world and didn't attract a lot of interest. An older woman was siting in one of this ruined buildings, thinking about something. Sometimes her face was becoming pale, sometimes she was becoming angry and was rushing out of the building with some grim determination, but she was coming back. An older woman was fighting with herself - she was thinking all the day about this boy. She didn't want to kill him, she liked him a little, but his behavior and her friends really pissed her off. The ruins of the pre-war building was a poor shelter for an older woman. The air was damn cold, the surrounding was as lifeless as everything else all around. Black walls covered with dirt, destroyed furniture and all other stuff was lieing all around near her. An older woman looked at the sky, seen through the ruined roof and thought about future. One day she will be the prey and some young fool will be playing with her. This thought always helped her to make something, that she didn't want to do, but now it was so meaningless. She was tired from this stuff and became more tired with every minute.
"I hope that Rex killed him..." - she muttered tiredly. It was annoying her to kill this man. - "It must be old age." - she said to herself and got up quickly. Though she was rather old, she never allowed herself to became weak or sentemental. May be her soul was kind and gentel, but her actions and reputation was much more darker... A lot of people found their death on the end of her blade or the shotgun. An old leather armour was cracking from the cold. Her shotgun was cooling her skin with frost, but she didn't allow it to stop her. She didn't pay much attention to the surrounding, though it was damn cold and her old sickness was annoying her greatly. No, she didn't allow to be beatn while she was alive. She made the decision and left the building. The sun was setting slowly on the West.

Disgusting pile of human flesh was lieing near the supermutant. This large fellow was standing near him and was looking at his work with satisfaction. Rex was a famous for his ability to broke every bone in human's body without killing him. More than likely that this young boy dead already or didn't feel anything at all, but it was a grand sight. An older woman looked at the body, lieing near her foots and smiled:
"Good work, Rex... as always. Did he say something?"
A large supermutant looked at her and said slowly:
"No boss, it looked like that I hit pile of brahmin's shit. Not a sound except broking bones..." - he laughed evily and returned to his thoughts. One could think that this large and slow fella had no thoughts, but it was wrong. May be he looked like slow and all this stuff, but an older woman noticed the cunning intelligence long enough. It was rather strange and unusual for a common supermutant, but she didn't care about it while he was her companion. "Every soul has it's own mysteries and to ask about it is unpleasant and dangerous business." - one smart ghoul said, before he was hanged as witch by one of local tribes...

An older woman came closer and whispered quietly to the boy. She was not sure that he was conscious and was able to hear her, but she wanted to try anyway:
"Where is she, boy..? Tell me and you can leave - I give you my word."
"Your word..?!" - suddenly a wave furious anger rushed over her and she found herself in deadly embrace of this boy.
"Your word... Word of Jace the damned..." - he was crying madly, trying to smash all the shit from her ass. - "A word of Jace the murderer... Jace the baby-killer... Jace the Devil." - Rex quickly rushed at him and knocked to the ground with strong punch. He was ready to finish him, but an older woman stopped him and laughed. This boy began to talk and it was good. She didn't wait to hear any word from him now and to get something from this half-dead ass was good enough. It proved that she was not so useless old hag, as she looked like:
"I see that I am rather famous in this parts, boy... Heh, yeah, my activety here attract to much attention. That's why I don't like the region of Rocky Hills."
"Everybody knows about you. Every old man or young boy knows what you have done. Every village and tribe have victims of your actions. You'll never find peace, old woman. Your sins will follow you everywhere... I know what do you want. She told me about it, but you'll never find her. You'll never get her soul, old witch..."
An older woman became angry for a few seconds, ready to make harsh actions. The shotgun was hanging on her back. Even her hand tried to grab it, but she stoped and smiled evily. She looked at Rex and grinned.
"Hey, baby... it's time to play in our favorite game - the dance of the rope. Prepare the stuff." - supermutand nodded quietly and came to the dead tree, standing nearby. He began to do some stuff and was quiet busy. So Jace came closer to her victims and whispered quietly. Her voice was calm, but there was felt deadly poison there:
"Don't try to flatter me. I know exactly what and when happens. I know this wasteland better, than it's own fucking dwellers... And I'll find her even if it means to kill every man and woman on my way from here to her. Tell me where is she and you'll get quick and mercyful death... I am sure that you heard about this game, you will play soon enough."
Her victim became pale. It was clear that he heard about it. He wanted to say something, but he was too badly wounded and agitated for this... But finally he muttered his last words with blood and hatred:
"You'll never find her... your daughter will..." - Jace stood up and left the dyeing man. He had of no use for her. Of course, if she had a lot of time, she could get some information from him, but this one was stubborn and she had no time. The job was calling for her and she had to follow. Jace sighed and asked her companion:
"I think that it's time for a game, Rex... We have no time for this asshole any more."
"Don't worry, boss. We'll find her - this Wasteland is yours and nobody can hide from you..."
Jace smiled and looked at large supermutant. This huge fella surely had some brains in his head:
"I know it, Rex... I know it..."

The dance of the Rope was very old and very savage tradition of the raiders. Only few of the victims were killed by it, but their horrorous death made this type of execution quiet famous. It was very slowly and painful death, when the victim was killing himself through hanging on the rope. The idea of this execution was that the rope was killing him, draining him from the air and blood slowly. Every move of the victim was bringing another step of death, but not the final... It was difficult to explain, but it was really a horrable death. Jace made some improvments - the ritual of dozens of wounds. With her small and lovely knife she was cutting her most hatred enemies and they were dieing slowly losing their blood...

"It's a pity that I have no more time to spend on you, my sweet heart. If you'll see my daughter say hi..." - Jace said meanly and turned around, though some strange light was seen in her eyes. The supermutant was following her, leaving the scene. Behind her back was seen the lonely figure of the man, hanging on the roup. The agony of death began to hurt him and he was shaking greatly on the rope, but he knew that this agony will last for hours, until he lost last signs of air or blood... He couldn't think any more. The pain consumed his vision and mind. A whole world became red and dark... He saw only her face now. This face was so beatiful and gentel. It looked like that it's spirit could bring peace for him... but than pain returned. He felt another wave of pain and now he saw another face. It was an older woman's face. It was covered with scares. Old signs of harsh life and several bullets were seen on it, though she was rather attractive for her age. Yes, it was her mother. Every time, young man looked at this woman he thought about her daughter... about his lovely girl...
"Good bye..." - he muttered quietly, falling into the terrible embrace of the endless agony.

***************

The young woman was standing on her kneels near the tree. The body of the unfortunate soul was hanging calmly. It was lifeless. It was dead... His face had terrible mask of death and pain on it, though broken limbs and blood made it even more horrible. The young woman was standing near and was whispering something quietly. It was not heard clearly and it's sense was meant for these two only. It looked like that she was prying, but her face was not so peacful. The tears and hatred was sparking in the eyes of this young woman. In this moments she looked like her mother most of all. In a few minutes of her anger no men dared to approach this girl. The dark reputation of her mother and her blood was granting safe life mostly for her... but not so happy one. May be long time ago her face was happy and cheerful, but now it reflected only pain and suffer. Suddenly a woman stood up and looked with the determination to the West. Her torn clothes was protecting her barely from the cold air or common looks, but she didn't care about it. There were only two important things in the wasteland - life and death... Young woman looked at her former friend and said nothing. She only took her large knife and went to the West, following trial, left on the sand. Two persons went there and she was following them. She didn't want to talk or think, she didn't try to imagine what she will do when she'll find them. Young woman had made the decision - she wanted to kill...

[Follower]

Chapter two - Sand and Blood.

The sand was whirling madly in the cold air. Strong wind was blowling with all its fury. There were seen nothing at all in the darkness of the coming night. The sun disappeared over the horizon long ago. All signs of day's life left with it. Only the wailing of the wind and sand was heard all around... All other sounds disappeared or were swallowed by it. There were heard no cries of wounded or dead. There were no sounds of alive people at all. Only the wailing of the wind. Sometimes loud gunshots was heard nearby, but the cries of their victims were not heard. It was not so important.

Jace was standing and watching after her friend, who was scavanging bodies of dead people. It was her job to take everything valuable from people, who didn't want to give it... and there was only one way to make them to do it. A good-aimed bullet in one's throat could solve all problems. Sometimes Jace had good mood and she didn't kill every alive soul in her presence. Sometimes she felt herself almost kind, sending half-dead people into the wasteland without any hope to survive. Well, it was a poor chance to survive, but it was a chance... Yeah, she was doing it sometimes, but mostly she had a bad mood and now she had a bad mood too. Scavanged, destroyed trading party was lieing dead before her. It was easy fight - old men and children mostly, several worthy guards ran away as soon as they noticed Rex - her pet supermutant. They even didn't dare to fight with Jace. An older woman sighed - sometimes it was bad to be so famous. No real action could be found any more. All do-gooders were busy with more important stuff than protecting caravans or kicking raider's butts. Most of raiders felt ok with it, but Jace was boring... That young man, she hanged not long ago, reminded her about real action... about honest fight with real enemy. She didn't meet one for a long time already.

Jace sighed and looked around. Dead wasteland was lieing before her, as usual. Dozens of dead bodies were lieing nearby. Several brahmins were standing near their former masters and could not understand what has happened. This animals couldn't understand why all their masters lay to the ground and didn't move any more... and what were these guys were doing with them. An older woman looked around. Several of raiders were standing near her and was waiting thier turn to get their piece of booty. As leader of this small raiding party, Jace had right to get all, she wanted, but this poor people had nothing valuable. Some kind of mutated food, several barrels of water - it was their most precious treasure. They even didn't have fire arms, because they thought that nobody will be interested in their sorry skins. Well, it looked like that they were wrong. If you are weak, than there will be somebody who will use your weakness and it's no matter who it will be. This rule of the Wasteland was working all the time, but people had to learn it again and again. They hoped to find some sort of logic in behavior of people... some sense in their actions... Jace looked at the dead body of a child. She killed him, because she was boring. She had no real action, but she wanted to check her gun and her keen eye. Her target was running in several dozens of feets but Jace killed him anyway. She was in a good shape...

Rex was searching the bodies of the dead people without any purpose. He could find only several coins these and some fried gecko on the stick, but it was not most important part for him. It was a tradition, a way to prove the leadership in the raider's ranks. Every raider, who felt himself strong enough could challenge the leader, and sometimes it was quiet a blood sight... but nobody dared to challenge Jace for a very long time. Her shotgun was bringing death to every person, nobody could dodge, surive or run away from her wrath... She was becoming alive legend in raider's camp. But it didn't bring her calm life. Every raider looked at her as she was his enemy. Leaders of the raiders had to be bloody and savage or they'll be killed soon enough... And Jace was a good leader, killing and torturing every alive person. Even now, when the raid was so successful - no raiders were killed - every raider was watching after Jace with hatred. Dozens of eyes were following her every second ready to tear her apart, if she'll show any sign of weakness. Long ago, when she was apointed to lead one of her first raiding parties, she couldn't understand such hatred to herself. Jace tried to be a good leader, but soon enough she understood the rules of this game...

Wind was gathering heavy clouds from the south. It was promising to bring rain or strom and it was not good news. It was becoming damn difficult to survive in such times. Storm could continue for a whole damn months and rain was as deadly and radioactive, as black waters of Dread South Sea... All raiders were gathering near the destroyed trading party. Not a soul ran away from them. Even now there were heard loud cries of running away people and chasing raiders. Gunshots were heard seldom now. All was over already. Only few children or women were left, but soon enough they'll join their friends too. Another caravan was lost in the wasteland. Another day of this blasted post-nuclear world. Jace looked at Rex with anticiptation and cried loudly, trying to be heard through the wind:
"Hey, buddy, we don't have enough time. Leave this carrion for our boys. We have more important business to do..." - supermutant and most of the raiders looked at her with surprise. It was a rude breach of the tradition and could meant only one thing - leader is going to leave the party. One of the oldest raiders came closer to Jace and looked at her with caution. His old and unfriendly face was expressing the warning, but his voice was quiet and gentel:
"Are you sure that we understood you correctly, leader..? I suppose that you know our traditions..." - it was the first sign of trouble. An older woman was confident in her abilities and was sure that she would be able to control this bunch of filth, but she had to reconsider once again. She knew what it could bring on her ass. It was promising a lot of problems, a lot of nasty stuff - she will be left alone now against the wasteland. If leader wanted to leave them, than he couldn't return. It meant that now she will be hunted as any other prey... she willn't find home anywhere. Even in this most remoted places of this blasted desert. Jace knew this all and she didn't want to do it, but she had little choice. An older woman had to do it sooner or later. She began to notice unfriendly looks in her back even by the other leaders. She had to run away or lose her life in some occasional run with Brotherhood of Steel. She heard enough about such actions - it was bringing the confidence to steel-heads that they are controlling the situation and was solving the problem with the most naughty and smart-assed persons...

Jace looked at him calmly and nodded. She had some business to deal with and she didn't want to have a bunch of raiders at her back. It will be better if she'll get as less attention as possible. It was the best and the only solution to her problem. Large shadow of her friend appeared near her. His voice was coming from the wailing of the wind itself and looked like human's voice and not supermutant's one at all:
"This is a dangerous path you choose, leader. Are you sure that it worth it. You know that she is big girl now and I don't think that she'll accept you. Your fame is travelling much faster than you are. If she'll know who is her mother, she will curse her bloodline..."
Jace looked at Rex calmly and said nothing. She didn't want to say anything. An older woman was waiting for this time all her life. Long time ago she lost her child and was looking for her a whole life. Thousands of times she was imagining how she will find her. She wanted to find her, she was dreaming about it every night. She was afraid of every raid, because she could be there... But wandering among the dead bodies of fallen enemies or captured would-be slaves she was looking only for her. With years her constant search lost any sense, but she continued to do it as a tradition... the only beam of light, left for her in this blasted world. Her only point of life... and to her surprise Rex found the picture of young girl in the possition of one of the dead man. This girl was looked like Jace so much that supermutant was confused. In that time he was only another ordinary raider and was afraid of Jace as any other in her camp, but he said her about it. Her reaction was strange - he became her lietenant and was friend. He was following her in all her vast travels and gain quiet a power. Jace gave him a lot, but he even couldn't imagine what he gave her. It was not a simple picture - it was something more, much more... of course, Rex understood what it was soon enough, but tried not to talk about it. Jace didn't like to talk about her past and the collection of tongues, hanging near her hut was showing it clearly. But not so ago Jace found alive friend of her daughter and all has changed. Jace became desperate. Her actions became so... strange and uncontrolled. Supermutant was watching after her with worry. It was promising to bring her and him a lot of problems, because he was her most trusted advisor. If she will fall, he will fall soon enough too. He was thinking about it all this week, when they were travelling with other raiders to the West. Jace said that she had information about large caravan, but he knew why she was chose this way - it was the way, where her girl was heard about the last time... But there were no signs of her as usual. To tell the truth there were no people at all in that small town. They all ran away as soon as they heard that terrible Jace was coming in their small town. After that time an older woman was coming pale for a few days and now she said this stuff. Rex was not surprised to hear it and was waiting for it. He even prepared this words, though he was sure that she'll do it anyway. He began to understand her long ago and it was really simple to understand what was happening in her head. She wanted to find her daughter and the mother's instinct consumed the real mind. Rex respected this feeling, but he never thought that something, like this could happen with his Jace...
"As you wish, commander... So where are we going?" - supermutant sighed and said. He will find nothing more with this raiders now, except problems. His leader was leaving his fortune with herself. Jace looked at him and smiled:
"It is good to have at least one friend at my side this time. Your words are true, but I must do it... I am sure that you understand me."
"I am, my leader..." - Rex said quietly and fell back. He said no more and was watching after the rest of the raiders now... He was almost sure that it willn't end so peacfully. The word - peace was almost useless with word raider.

When the last words of Jace disappeared in the wind, it brought a whole mess of chaos. There were about two dozens of people and nobody was happy with this news.

****************

[Follower]

Chapter three – Shadows of the Soul.

Quite noise of coming footsteps was heard in the air. Night was hanging over the small town in the middle of the Wastes. Its dwellers were sleeping calmly in their beds and were trying to be ready for another harsh day. They did were sleeping calm, though their souls were not easy. People were too tired and they were used to this life. Every night could be the last one for them and they didn't worry to much about it. Life in the Wasteland made them to feel and think like this...

The town guards didn't sleep only. They were protecting peace and life of local community. They were paid not too much and their weaponry was not the best, but they were good guards and tried to protect this small town, though it was a hard job. Guards were dieing too quickly in this parts. Raiding parties, monsters, deasesies... all this shit was taking its price over the local population and guards had to mess with it in the first ranks. To tell the truth there were not many people left in this town to protect as a large slaver's caravan left the town not so long ago and most of its goods left this place on his own will. It was much better to live as slave and peace, than to live as free man in this hellish place. No water, no food, no job - this place even don't have name. People didn't think about this place - they lived there because they had no other place to go. Every man wanted to live this cursed town, but where will he go? There were dozens of such small towns all around and life in that places was even worser... That's why the guards were trying to do their job good - they wanted to have home and this place wasn't the worse than any other... Night was the harsh time for the guards. Almost every night one or two guards were leaving to patrol and didn't come back. It was useless to search for them. In the best way they'll find bloodstained body parts and torn pieces of guards uniform. And in the worse way the lookers will disappear too. Thier town was situated on the southern ways and a lot of mutants were roaming all around by some unknown reason. But it had its good sides too - most raiders and other scum tried to avoid this parts and they had only several raids over the month... This town had its advantages and disadvantages as any other place... and people get used to it.

Darkness was shining with it's black glory, reflecting in the night's sky. Stars were shining poorly and hid over the clouds, running slowly by the sky, as they were afraid of it. Moon disappeared over the horizon and only it's white, pale light was seen there. There were several hours left until the morning - the best hour for the raid. It was light enough to attack, but there was no sun to notice coming danger. Dark shadow was coming closer to the town gates.
"Halt, who goes there?" - cried a young guard and drew his rifle. He was inexperiened and young - most of the guards prefered to shot and than ask questions in night time, but this young fella had this job only for a few days now.
"With such attitude you willn't live long enough to get your money for this job, pal..." - an older guard said, coming closer. He was standing in the shadow of the gates and was sleeping. Loud cries of his young friend woke him up, so he decided to check the mess.
"What do you mean? I am acting as you said me -guarding the gates and don't mess with all this outside's shit..." - young guard asked and looked at his boss. An older guard grinned and looked at the person, coming closer with every minute. He was alone and it looked like that he wasn't hostile, so the old guard relaxed a little... but his hand was lieing on his shotgun all the time:
"Yeah, I know Nick... I told you a lot of shit, but you shouldn't listen old fools. You primary objection is to survive in this world. You shouldn't risk your ass or to be hero. There is enough fools somewhere downthere. You must protect the gates and don't show your back to the enemies. If you see any signs of danger, you should fell back to the shadow or call for help. You are a good target in the light of the town. Now, is it clear?" - young guard nodded quietly and disappeared in the darkness of the wall too. Old guard smiled to himself and followed him, this boy looked like him in his youth... the same light in the eyes, the same hunger for knowledge... An older guard looked once again at the person, coming closer by the wasteland to their town and shuddered. Few dared to travel at night in the wasteland. And it was only damn good fighters or sneakers... or damn stupid heroes with BIG guns. But this person was not a fighter... and she was not a hero. She looked like any other beggar. Her clothes were torn and dirty. It was hard enough to understand what was her cloths from the beggining - may be it was some kind of uniform or leather armour, but now it was only rags with unknow colour and bad smell, which could be sensed even from that distance. Her belonging... she had nothing except her clothes. The keen trained eye of the old guard didn't notice any weapon or at least something, that could be weapon. Her small, slim figure was almost disappearing in her clothes... An older guard couldn't see her face yet, but he has understood already who was she:
"Relax, pal... this is just another beggar from the Wasteland, looking for a shelter. Heh, may be she will tell us some news. I didn't heard anything from the nearby settlements for a quite time..." - he yawned and returned into the guard room. It was rather chill to stand all the time in the gates and an old guard didn't want to catch a cold or something worser. In a few seconds there was heard already quiet breath of the sleeping guard and his muttering. The morning was coming soon and he was going to be changed, so he wanted to be ready for that... young guard wanted to follow the example of his old friend, but he was not so sure in this person. He was looking into the dim, chill air of the coming morning trying to understand who was coming closer to him. There was also a rather large distance between them and it was difficult to say something, but a young guard was sure that it was woman... a young girl. Her young white skin was sparking as peril in the moon's light. Her figure was seen rather good too - her cloth was protecting her barely against cold air or common looks. It was obvious that she was not a shy person... or may be she was so ugly, that nobody wanted to look at her. Her face was covered in hood and it was difficult to say something for sure. May be it was his young blood or curiousity, but he wanted to see her face. He wandered why did she hid her face, though the rest of her body... er, hm... guard turned around. He was rather shy person and many guarding were laughing at him. They knew that with time he would become as "spit on everything" as they were, but they liked to laugh. So it was a good point. Now the young guard remembered it and cursed them all. It was like a scorn in his back now. He checked his weapon and looked at this person again. Something was really wrong with, some sense of dispear and horror was coming from her. Young man felt it by his back, but he tried not to show any signs of worry. He sat on the chair, put specially for him and checked his warm coat. The nights were damn cold in this time... and this blasted southern wind... He tried to think about something else, but his eyes were following after the dark shadow, coming closer with every minute.

The sun was ready to rise and it's brick appeared over the mountains, colouring its snow peaks in bloody red. The breath of death was coming from the West. The mountains were surrounding this small town as fingers of the dead, trying to grab it into it's eternal embrace... Young man shooke his head, trying not to fall asleep. The other part of guards was going to change them soon enough. The last minutes of the waiting were the most hard for him. Young man wanted to sleep; he wanted to eat and drink... he wanted to get some action. This blasted shadow disappeared into nowhere. One second ago she was there near that large rock, lieing the the southern wall and than she vanished. For the first time young boy though that he simply lost her way for several moments, but looking for her for some time, he didn't notice anything. There were not a sign of her presence. He told about it to his boss, but an old guard only laughed:
"You'd better sleep lesser, pal, or you'll wake up at the claw of Deathclaw..."
Young guard said nothing, but continued to look after the wasteland. It happened several hours ago and nothing happened since that time. All was calm. The young boy looked at the mountains and grinned. He was very tired for this time and now he saw danger in every corner. Even this mountains seemed dangerous and creepy for him, though he never liked it. He thought that the town was situated too close to the mountains. A lot of mutants and cannibals lived in it's vast caves and ruins of ancients, located by some unknown reason there in great numbers. But who was interested in complains of a young guard. The town was founded about twenty years ago and survived yet. No bad feelings or logic was able to make some people to leave this town. It was their home, their last place, they could to go, and they valued it. Young boy looked around and sighed. He hated to wait... and the sun was running so slowly.

****************

Quiet, unclear shadow was sliding by the empty streets of sleeping town. Most of the windows were dark yet and most of the dwellers didn't leave their beds yet. The murky air of the town was calm and only barking of several dogs or moaning of the rusty doors was interrupting one's rest. The young woman was satisfied with it. Several days have passed since that time, when her life changed... when she found her friend dead... the cold steel of the metal near her heart expressing her feelings. At first she was mad and wanted to get blood. Than she felt the dispear... but now she wanted to finish only one thing. She understood it, when she looked into the dead, open eyes of her friend. Young woman drew large knife and looked at it's sparking, sharp blade. It could cut one's throat as easy as butter and it was promising the revenge. Sweet and quick revenge. Wave of fury was rushing in her blood, making her feel herself warm. Her head was hurting a little and her hands were shaking a little, but she knew what she wanted to accomplish... But she'll have to be patient. Young woman knew that it was hard to find that person who did it - it was hard enough to ply this information from raider, she captured not so ago. She didn't hurt alive person yet, but her fury gave her strengthes and she... Young woman couldn't believe that she did it, but she knew that that man was bad. He killed a lot of people and it was not so bad to cut his... Young woman put away her knife and shooke her head, trying to put away this thoughts, but they were following her. She didn't like what she had to do, but there was so wild, dark pleasure in it. One her side liked it, though the others turned away from it with disgust:
"What's your difference from that woman, who killed Mark? You are sick, Daisy..." - she was telling to herself many times, but than she was answering the question:
"He deserved it. They all deserved it and that woman, who did that stuff with my Mark will be sorry. She'll get something more, than simple death..." - this voice was full of rage and hatred. It was quiet and loud. It was whispering and crying, filling every side of her's soul. She felt that she began to hear it louder and more clearly with every day, but she tried not to listen this voice... though it was becoming so tempting... Daisy turned around and disappeared over the corner of the building. This town was keeping some information she needed and she'll get it. Nobody will stop her - no sleeping or blind guards, no stubborn or stupid raiders... she sneaked into the town easily and she'll get what she want by all costs. She didn't know what will happen than, but she was sure in it.

Chapter four - Sand and Blood

Part 2

Cries of the angry people was coming louder. The strong wind was changing the sounds and Jace heard only wailing and barking. Like an old leader in wolf's pack, she had to defend herself. Young blood felt her weakness and now began to bite. She was surrounded from all sides. Dozens of angry, bloodlustly eyes were watching after her. Only several minutes ago there was only fear, but now it harboured hatred, desire to kill... some mad pleasure. Jace... every raider felt this at least one time in their life. This strange feeling, when blood is running faster in your veins. The head is hurting a little, but you are happy. Your body is becoming so easy and it looks like that you can do everything. It looks like that nobody can kick your ass - the real pleasure of fight... several of Jet-addicted were talking about something like this too, but Jace tried to keep her nose clean from this shit. She saw what this stuff is doing with people and she didn't want to be in need of this stuff. An older woman had to travel a lot and she couldn't take bags of this shit with herself...

The wind was blowing stronger with every minute, as it felt the anger, growing in the air. Jace didn't understand the words any more. She understood only one thing - she will hear no pleasant words any more. Her party was rebelling against her and she had to fight with them... So it will be. She carved her position here with blood and she had to leave it in such way too. She drew her shotgun and looked at the nearest raider, standing before her. His one yellow eye was looking at her evilly. He was waiting for a command to atack their former leader, but nobody dared yet to attack first. In some other time she would be attacked long ago, but she was too respected and they were too afraid of her to attack so quickly. Jace made a good job with them. Rex came closer to Jace and said quitly:
"They are offering you the last chance... They respect you as leader and... what a load of shit - this bunch of coward is too frighten to fullfil their duty. They must attack you, but they are afraid of it." - supermutant looked at people, surrounding them and spitted to the ground. The heavy machine gun was glowing evily in the murky air and was promising nothing good to would-be enemies... Jace looked at her friend and smiled:
"Don't be too harsh, Rex. You know that they don't like to atack good fighters. Their losses will be harsh... if they'll win. Most of them can barely load their weapons and will kill each other without good leadership in battle..." - Jace looked at her former raider's party and smiled, thinking about the past. May be it was not the best time in her life, but it was surely not the most boring time... She began to be boring again. This bunch of cowards was barking, but they didn't try to bite. Their teeth were dull and broken...

A large disc of sun was running slowly over the mountains. Jace was tired of all this comedy, surrounding her. She looked at sun and smiled. May be her daughter was looking at the sun at the same moment too... Jace sighed and looked at her first opponent. Small, sick raider - he joined her party to survive the harshes of Wasteland. He didn't like to kill at all, but when he tasted the blood, he became one of the most feared of her boys and girls. She was very proud with him... and now she had to kill him first. Well, she was the leader of this party and if they don't want to leave her, than she'll have to do it... An older woman looked at supermutant and he noticed the same gleam in her eyes - the gleam of happiness, she always felt in battle. The call of battle was like a drug for her, making her unstopable. Rex sighed deeply and prepared himself. He knew that this would end in this by all terms. There were only two ways - to kill or to be killed... as usual. Jace laughed happily and said with cheerful smile:
"Let's finish with it, Rex... Time to dance..."

*******************

The West... Two broken figures were coming slowly to the West. Thier shadows almost disappeared over the scene of setting sun. They were coming very slowly and it looked like sometimes that they didn't move at all. Only the signs on the sand showed that they were coming. The weather was calm... all was quiet. Deadly silence... not a cry, not a moan. Jace smiled and looked at the severly wounded Rex - it was a good fight; damn good fight. Raiders were fighting as mad dogs with them, using any possible way to kill - rocks, fist, their poor weapons... Jace had several wounds from knifes and bullets and her left arm was broken, but it didn't matter. Rex got full round of UZI and it was not a good stuff. Stimpacks healed him, but he had to get some medical attention soon. May be she should leave him among the dead bodies of raiders and traders, but she needed his steady arm in the future. He remained her most trusted friend (and the only one), so she had to grab him and to drag him over the whole blasted wasteland to some fucking doctor. Thanks godness, there was one small town not so far from here near the foundation of the Great mountains... Jace looked at the mountains, raising before her. She dared to travel through this place only twice... and only by miracle she survived the harshness of that places. An older woman shuddered, thinking about the past and looked at the sun. For a whole her life, she was chasing after the sun. In her endless raids and travels only the sun was her constand companion. It greeted her in the morning and said good bye in the evening. Sometimes she was running from him, coming to the East or to the South, but it always caught her in the evening... Jace grinned and looked at her pestering wound. An old age and wound made her mind weak and now she was thinking about all this shit. She sighed and grabed Rex again. His broken gun was left somewhere down there among the dead bodies of the raiders. When no ammo left, he used his gun as a club, crushing skulls and smashing guts... Two figures was coming slowly to the West, disappearing over the distance. Leaving the scene of ravaged trading party and dozens of dead people. Wild dogs and wolfs will have a grand party today. Their loud howling was heard already in the quiet air. Now only the small wind was whirling small amount of sand and town clothes in the air among the dead bodies. Heavy smell of blood was travelling over the large distance. It could be felt even by our companions, but they were busy with their own wounds. Not a man survived this slaughter... heavy weaponry and shotgun made it's job. Sand was red with blood and warm air was rising from their bodies... All was quiet...

*******************

[Follower]

Chapter four - Mother and Daughter.

Young man was siting calmly in the bar and was playing with his knife. His blasted guarding duty was finally over and now he tried to relax. The bright sunrays were running through the doorway and murky windows of this dirty building, but it was dark in it. That's why he liked this place - it was so calm and peacfully down there... sometimes. But mostly it was full of drunkards, thugs and men for hire as any other place in this blasted town. This day was not very different too. The tavern was full of filth of the wasteland and common citizens of this town, but they didn't look any different... the mark of grim determination was seen clearly on their faces. They laughed, because they could be dead tomorrow; they were drinking as it was their last day of life, spending the last money for booz and chics... The young guard couldn't say that he approved it because it added a lot of work for his kind with all drunken bastards, but at least he could understand them. Sometimes he wanted to be drunk like a brahmin's ass and forget about all this shitty place... well, we all have our own dreams. Young man looked at his empty pocket and grinned. He didn't have enough money even to rent brahmin for a fuck. It was only a dream to get a mug of beer or booz... He was siting there only because he hated to be left alone in his small dirty rathole known as home. In this den at least he didn't think about his fucking life and could be left alone. Nobody wanted to mess with guards or their friends, because they were power in this place. Young guard needed it more than anything else in this world now and this place was the best to think...

He sighed and looked at the drunkards, crying something nearby. Their laugh and cheerful smiles were making him grim. Their happiness were nervousing him, of course he knew that they had far less reasons to laugh, but they laughed anyway. "One day you laugh, the other day you cry..." - they were saying. - "Than let's laugh now and we'll cry some other day..." - Young guard looked at his half-empty bottle of booz. This blasted stuff became his favorite drink for the last few months. He tried to keep his nose clean from all this shit - he saw what booz or some drugs were doing with people, but what else he could do. Every day and night he was living without purpose... even without bleak shadow of purpose. Every morning he looked at the sunrise and asked himself:
"What is it for? Why he was born?!" - he had to answer on this question and he even couldn't find it. Of course, young guard heard a lot about all this stuff. All these messia's and saviors of the world were offering their purpose of life. He talked with many people about it and many offered their thoughts; one old merchant ws thinking that he was living for the others and the good sense of everybody, taking his portion of luck. He thought that he did a good thing, supporting small towns with goods. But young guard knew that merchants were supporing a large number or criminal or half-criminal organisations... not the best purpose of life. The others were talking about duty, about family... about life itself. Some of them were thinking that their prime purpose is to survive and the life was some sort of test before something better... He heard a lot of thoughts, but he was mostly agreed only with one thought - one old woman said him once:
"Your purpose of life is your children. You are the part of this life and your children are supposed to continue it. Nothing else is important..." Young guard thought a lot about it and tried to find this woman again. He wanted to ask some questions... he wanted to argue, but there were no signs of her any more. One man said him later, that she was some kind of raider or something like this and that she left the town soon after this... Young man thought a lot about it since than. He thought about it now too.

Loud noise of crying people and laugh were disturbing him a little, but it was ok overall. Young guard was used to all this shit and was busy with his own thoughts. Occasional fights didn't attract his attention - he had a rest and he had no mood for peace-keeping. As a proof of his intensions, grimly looking pistol was lieing on the table near him. It was sign of warning and reason for any hard head, who wanted to start large mess in this building. One of the guards was nearby and all would be fighters were shuting their mouths or leaving the bar for good. Young guard looked around and noticed that bar become silent. All customers began to whisper and lower their voices. He looked around suspicious, waiting to get some bad news - another bunch of slavers or raiders, may be bunch of high-tecno bastards - BOS or Reavers, he didn't care... he checked his gun and looked at the doorway. But it was clear. No signs of visitors at all... Guard looked at the waitress, coming to him with surprise and asked:
"Why is it so quiet down here? The bozz is over or what?"
Young woman smiled and said:
"Such a brave guard as you are, should know that all filth left this bar and went away to the bar of blind Melly for a good fight. They don't want to mess with you..."
Young guard caught her look and grinned. She was laughing over him. His hot blood was rushing into the face, but he didn't hurry to make harsh actions. He knew what price could come with it. This girl was simply playing and joking(life is changing much faster, than people do). He was rather handsome person for a town, full of one-eyed raiders or crippled guards. Young guard was too young to get at least half-serious wound and he didn't feel the cold breath of death yet. That's why may be he asked himself all this shitty questions and didn't take pleasure in his life. He was looking for something all the time and it looked like strange. All local girls were looking at him with smile first, but than they simply began to laugh over him. Really, it was laughable. Some said that he was virgin, but several of local girls were not agree with it. But rumours were rumours and they were crawling as snakes from the Western mountains. Sometimes, he was attracting the attention of female population of the town with its behavior, but mostly they were busy, discussing news from abroad or weather...

"Bottle of finest booz for a brave guard of our small town" - waitress said and laughed, putting cracked bottle of booz on the table near him. The stink of this mess was going to make his guts clear, but he thanked young girl nevertheless... than he smiled to the bartender and nodded him too. This old weathel was asking to be hanged somewhere outside the town, but young guard had to be gentel with him. His old ass was as powerful as shit of gecko and could swallow you as easy as one. Young guard had to accept presents of this old man and smiled him all the time... But it had its own good sides too - he got some free booz or chics sometimes and such presents were not so bad at all. He stood up and decided to thank him personaly, though he didn't want to mess with him. It was his blasted life and he used to it.
"Thanks for booz, pal..." - young guard said, coming closer to the bartender.
"You are welcome, son. It is always to have good friends with power in our world..." - old man laughed and grinned, looking at the guard with his small running eyes. Half of the town wanted to burry him alive, but nobody dared to do it. Anyway, every man or woman in this town wanted to burry at least dozen of people on his own... but there were laws in this town and people had to follow it. The main law was strict and simple - you kill, you will be killed; you rob, you will be robbed; you dead... than you are dead. RIP... haha. Famous joke of the first mayor and gravekeeper of this town. He had a lot of work to do, but finally he joined his customers and all power was lost. The town had no leader since than. Only guards were supporting at least some kind of order and local merchants wer paying their bills. Young guard nodded him quietly and took his place again. Booz was waiting for him. May be it tasted like gecko's piss and smelled like brahmin's shit, but it wasn't watered and it could smash one's mind as brahmin's back... He drank half of the bottle with one gulp and smiled with pleasure. A whole world began to whirl madly. Bar and all it's people disappeared in the large amount of colours like rainbow. He feeled something like this, when he got in head by one of the raiders. It was damn painful, but now it was pleasant. He felt as he was falling slowly into abyss... and suddenly he noticed some shadow. It appeared again in his mind, though he tried to push it away. Something terrible was hidden in this shadow; something, what was going to ruin everything. He knew it and he was afraid of it, though he hated this blasted it. It was the only place which he could call home. Young man once again saw that girl. He sensed that something dark was following her. He didn't see her face, but he was sure that he knew her... He shuddered and opened his eyes - drunken stupor was interrupted mostly rudly. Somebody was shaking him madly and was crying about something over his own ear.
"What's the matter?!" - he muttered unpleased and opened his eyes. His arm was holding his gun ready for all sorts of problems. May be his mind was shut down now, but his back was not going to die without fight. Young guard opened one his eye and looked at the waitress, who stopped to shake him and now was looking directly forward over his head.
"What's the matter?!" - he had to repeat his question and added several bad words to attract her attention. She was pale and could say barely, but she whispered one word quite clearly:
"Problems..." - she said, looking at the young girl, who was entering the bar. The knife in her hands were gleaming very badly...

****************

Wind of the winter was too cold for her old bones. Jace had to creak with her teeth not to cry. She was tired, wounded and angry. Huge supermutant was becoming more weak with every minute. Old woman had to drag him all the time now and he was not so light. His back was too much for her, but she didn't like to be beaten... even by this small event. She always followed her plans to the last point and never give up. Jace stood up, put away sweet from her forehead and looked around. Large rock to the north were blocking a view for her, but if she remembered correctly, there was to be a small town behind this rock... if it was inhabitated yet. There were a lot of hostile neighbours all around. She looked at Rex grimly - he looked shitty. Blood didn't flow from his wounds, but well-known bad smell and yellow fluid near his wound showed clearly the problem:
"Blood desease... Damn." - Jace looked at her broken arm and cursed her raiding party again. They caused her a lot of problems instead of killing her. She didn't afraid of death. She was too old and had a good action in her time. An only interest of old woman in this life was only her daughter. She was chasing after her for too long to give up now, when she was so close. Jace heard that young woman looked like here were travelling in this parts, but she was too fast to catch her. But Jace knew - after the killing of her boyfriend she will come to her on her own. An old woman wanted only to see her daughter, to look in her young eyes. Was she so similiar to her, as some said... Jace caught herself thinking about her daughter. She began to think about their life... what she will say. Smile and grim expression were changing places on her face. Finally she shook her head and continued her way. She had a lot to walk this day and the wind was blowing so strongly. Once again Jace remembered about her old body and wrecked bones. Cold winter sun was high in the sky and was sending its lifeless rays in the wasteland. She had several hours more before the sunset and after this time she would be surely dead. Weak was a prey in the Wasteland... Rex was moaning quitly nearby. Supermutant looked like skined gecko, ready for cooking. He lost his conscious several hours ago and now he even didn't notice the stuff, happening all around. Jace was quite sure in it, but she was watching after him all the time. Something was wrong with him from the very begining and not to look after him was a big mistake.

"Ho..." - guard began to say idely, watching after another traveller coming to the town. The sun was ready to set and dark shadows began to crawl by the earth... Middleaged weather-beaten guard was waiting for his turn to leave the post and join his friends in bar, so he didn't pay a lot of attention to the visitors, coming by. Several travellers and lonely merchants passed for the last two hours. One band of filthy kin left the town... there were nothing outstanding. The guard yawned and looked at his partner. Another guard was sleeping already even without waiting to get to his room. Several bottles of booz were lieing nearby.
"One day captain will catch you, Fill, and than..." - he muttered and turned to another visitor of their humble town - "Ho... " - suddenly he stoped and looked at lonely person, coming to them by the road. She looked like common traveller and nothing attracted attention to her, except one thing. All her clothes, skin and gun were covered with dried blood... and, what was even more suspicious - there was wounded supermutant, lieing nearby. Guard took his gun quickly and kicked his partner to wake up.
"Identify yourself now" - he cried loudly, raising his gun. Guard tried to cry as loud as possible to overcry the wind... and to inform the other guards about this problem. It could be something serious, because in such parts any incompitence was ending in blood of dozens of people. It looked like that old woman was not confused by such actions and came calmly to the guard. She smiled to him kindly and said:
"What's the matter boy? Are you afraid of old women?!"
Guard looked at her nervously and answered:
"I am not afraid of you, but caution. Every thing in this fucking desert is bringing death..." - he looked at wounded supermutant and continued - "I see that you are fighting sort. You are not welcomed in this town and there is not place here for wounded ones or mutated freaks..."
"I see." - smile disappeared from old woman's face and guard felt almost deadly cold, coming from her... or may be it was another blow of cold wind. She put her arm into the pocket and got warning shout of the guard:
"Another wrong move and you are dead, pal. I am waiting for now only because you are old woman."
She smiled and put away her arm from the pocket, holding something there.
"It's very nice of you, young man. May be I'll inform some person about such guy... Do you know who is Rangers of NCR or Jace?!"
"You mean that Jace?!" - another guard joined their conversation. He looked at old woman with interest and whistled with surprise - "I haven't seen such things for a veeeery long time... Ranger's pin. Not so bad..."
"So, you are ranger..." - the first guard said, looking at small tatoo, seen on her right hand - "Yeah, that's you... Heh, let me guess. You are hunting after this raider's scum and this wounded supermutant is all remained party after your meeting with her. Am I right?" - he smiled cheerfully and let her pass. An old woman smiled and nodded quietly. Guard felt himself gentel, so he cried:
"Hey, Fred, Chack... yes, you, old morons... take this wounded piece of mutated shit and follow after the old lady. You'll get your usual fee..."
An older woman smiled again. The memories of her troublesome youth were following her. All this small secrets of survival in common towns were good enough for her. Even most suspicious of guards couldn't believe that terrible Jace is just simple old woman. Her good-natured face gave her additional bonus to this and endless rumours about fiery raider with lightbringer were working too. She was watching as too rather strong men were dragging her friend to the doctor. Her smile were dancing on the lips and was promising nothing good.

***************

[Follower]

The murky air of the bar was quiet. Sunrays were running slowly by the walls of the bar, but didn't bring a lot of light. Most of the customers of this place suited it well. They didn't like the light and they didn't like to show their faces often... Young guard looked at the new guest, entering the bar and started. She was the same girl, he was looking after in the morning. She looked like that she came here from his dream and something strange could be felt in her presence. Nick felt it by his back... He stood up quickly, though the booz began to kick his brains, and tried to say clearly:
"Hold, pal... state your business. This is a peacful place..."
Young girl stoped at the doorway, thinking about something for a while and than continued her way. She said nothing, but Nick understood that the danger is growing. He looked at bartender, asking about help, but he only shook his shoulders. Old man saw a lot of filth in his life and was used to most anything.
"Tell me why are you here and you will be welcomed or continue to push all this shit and you'll find your sorry ass outdoors sooner than you say Fuck..." - bartender drew his shotgun and grinned evily. He could defend his lovely bar against all problems if it needed to be done.

Young girl stoped again, but now she was thinking much longer. She was standing near the walls and tried not to get into the sunrays, as she was afraid of sunlights. Young girl tried to move in the darkest of shadows and it suited her well. Now Nick began to understand why he couldn't notice her. When she wanted to be sneaky she could be so. Even now he could see her barely in the murky air of the dirty bar. The last customers of the bar left it as quickly as possible, trying to avoid problems. Only Nick and bartender left to deal with this person. Young guard sighed and sat back to his chair - it looked like that he wouldn't have a good rest today. He checked his gun and looked at the woman.

Yeah, she was the same person, he saw near the gates. It was for sure. Rags, sneaky figure, hood over the head...
"I don't want any problems... I only need to get some information." - Nick suddenly heard quiet and sad voice. He looked attentivly at the girl, trying to understand what was so different with her. She looked like normal beggar or scavenger of the Wastes; nothing more, but this voice...
"Put away your hood... I don't like to talk with someone, who is hiding his face" - bartender said and laughed nervously. Nick noticed it in his voice. Old man was very agitated.
"As you wish, old man..." - young girl answered. In her voice was heard the warning. Nick should leave this place for good, because something troublesome was going to happen there, but he was a guard and he was too drunk to think or move - blasted booz was too ass-kicking for his side. So he was sitting and was watching after the show. It was becoming more and more interesting with every turn.

Young girl entered the circle of the light falling into the center of the bar from the large hole in the roof of the building and began to put away her hood slowly. At first, Nick saw nothing except dirty clothes of the hood and rags... and her lovely body, but he tried not to think about it now. He was busy with something else. His mind was falling into pieces and blasted booz was ready to smash his guts into ashes, but he was fighting with it to remain conscious... Than appeared her light hair... its colour was strange - mix of dirty yellow and red. There were seen something else dark there... may be some kind of jewelry, which was so popular among tribals... Suddenly Nick shuddered and fell from his chair. May be his eyes were playing tricks with him, but he thought that he had seen her eyes... her face, but it couldn't be possible. More than likely that it was dream or he was too drunk to see clearly - large bloody red eyes of deathclaw were looking at him.

"Impossible..." - bartender was looking at this beast, standing before him with admire - "Than the rumours are true... Half-deathclaw... Jace's spawn. Hm, I didn't think that this monsters are breeding with other spicies... or may be genetic mutations... or engeneiring. Enclave's mess..." - bartender was muttering and was examining her quickly, though he didn't leave his weapon.
"So you know this business." - the eyes of the half-breed began to shine evily - "You know the fiend, who did it... and you know where is she."
Bartender came closer to examine her better as it was rather dark in his bar and his weak eyes were not the best.
"Yeah, yeah... I had some business with them long ago... Impressive. Majestic work. Genes of human and deathclaw are mixed perfectly..." - bartender was coming closer with every minute and couldn't notice the fury, growing in her eyes. He didn't understand that this "majestic work" could be quite deadly... but Nick saw it. Now young guard saw her clearly, because she was standing directly near him, though she was looking after the old man. At first Nick thought that the beast, which was standing before him, was deathclaw. He didn't see it in this parts, but he heard a lot about this quick and merciless killers. Only few could survive the meeting with this masters of the Wasteland, but there were roaming quite nasty rumours about their habits... But than Nick noticed that this creature was much more human, than deathclaw - impressive combination of strength and agility, hatred and intelligence... May be it was his young blood, but the first thing, Nick thought about was that she was damn beatiful. Her body was so strong and flexible... her face was rather savage and had signs of her animal heritage, but it was human's face mostly... Her grace and power could be felt in her every move... Young guard stood up slowly and sat back in his chair. The show was continueing and he didn't want to miss something.

"Where is she?" - young girl said quietly, coming closer to the old man.
"Who? Jace..?" - it looked like that bartender was busy with some other thoughts and he had no time to mess with such shit - "I don't know... running somewhere with her boys. She left us long ago..." - he shood his head and continued - "After her losing of you and the destruction of our main base we lost a lot of informations... Bunch of good plans as you were, were lost. But it looked like that you survive after all. Well, you were created for this..."
"Where is my mother?" - she began to growl quietly and sharp teeth appeared in her mouth.
"I don't know... Who cares about it? Live and be happy, that you were forgotten or you would be cleared as all other unfinished or failed experiments. Your DNA is regressive so you are harmless... Leave me be and I'll forget about you..." - old man was calm, as she was not a furious half-deathclaw, but some young weak girl. Nick shook his shoulder and said quietly:
"Hey, pal... May be you should be more caution with her... I don't like her actions."
"Don't worry, son. She is harmless. I was working in a team to create her and I know that she..." - old man stopped and looked with great surprise at his guts. Large blade was shining in his guts evily and blood was flowing on the dirty floor with madly. His misty eyes looked at the young girl, standing before him and small smile appeared on his lips:
"Like... your mother..." - he fell to the floor and stoped breathing. He was dead.

Nick was siting and watching after it calmly. He saw as she drew her knife and throw it in him... Young guard saw as the old man was wheezing and bleeding, losing his last breath. He was too drunk to do something, but he understood one thing clearly - this creature was able to kill him easily. Her claws looked like human hands, but she could tear every alive being apart easily by it. He understood that soon enough he will feel the steel of this blade in his guts too... Nick didn't understand only one thing - why was she using a knife? It was damn difficult for her to do it with her clawlike hands... and it was much easy to use it by it's purpose. Young guard sighed and looked at this creautre. In her anger she was even more beatiful and nobody could deny it - masterpiece of nature, radiation and human's genius mind... or madness. He didn't feel fear. He was too drunk for it. Now Nick was only curious how it all will end - young girl was standing in several steps before him and was thinking about something, hesitating. She was looking at him and he felt nothing good for him in this look, but Nick smiled anyway and asked:
"Hey, one question before you'll gut me, like this old fella... why are you using a knife? Don't you think that it is much more easy to tear your victims with your claws?!"
Young girl looked at him with confusion and looked directly in his eyes. She didn't wait such question and now tried to understand what he was plying at.
"I am human and not some fucking monster... this blasted fool was one of these, who made me like this. They all have paid for this, except him... and her..."
"I see... So, what are you going to do. As I understood, I didn't get the information you need..." - Nick said and laughed. It was humourious to see confusion on her face, but soon enough he saw another expression there.
"Are you laughing at me, human?! I are mocking me as this fool..."
"No... not at all. I know that you are going to kill me, so I want to help you. I know how difficult it is to kill first several times... Oh, I am such a generious man."
"I didn't decide to kill you... yet, but you are right. The blood is new for me, but it's calling is so... tempting." - young girl looked at this guard with interest and came closer - "I see that you don't afraid of me. Why?"
"I don't know... I can't feel fear when I look at such beatiful creature as you are." - Nick stood up and tried to came closer to her, but fall to the floor and laughed drunkly.
"Filthy drunkard... you are moking me." - she growled and rushed at him. Young guard closed his eyes and prepared to feel his ass, to being torn apart. It was bad stuff, but he didn't care about it. At least it was funny...

Nope, it was not funny. He opened his eyes after dozens of seconds and found this girl, sitting near him. She was smiling too and her bloodcovered knife was lieing at the table near her.
"You know... you are funny" she said and drank another mug of beer, standing near her. Nick looked at her grimly and noticed signs of blood near her mouth. The beer had some strange colour, but he tried not to think about it. He didn't want to think about why he was alive yet or why she was there, if she wanted to leave him alive... He didn't want to talk - he found his bottle of booz and smiled happily. Several gulps from it will solve everything and this blasted thoughts in his mind will become quiet.
"Cheers..." - he said loudly, looking at the dead body of the bartender and empty bar...
"Cheers..." - young girl said and drank another bottle of this stuff. Her loud, low laugh was heard in her voice. Nick grinned and drank his booz. Now he knew what was so grim in this person, but he tried not to think about it.

[Follower]

Chapter five - By dark streets.

The day was running slowly to its end. Cold, bright disc of the sun was seen clearly in the gray, lifeless sky. Chill blows of the wind was dancing in the air, bringing deadly presence of the winter. Even thick walls or warm clothes couldn't save people from its embrace.

An older woman shoke her shoulders and continued her way. Her newly bought coat was protecting her barely against chill wind, coming from the Western mountains, but she didn't care about it. Jace didn't pay much attention at the weather, but her clothers, covered with blood, looked too suspicious... So she decided to buy something, though it was very hard not to take the goods by force as usuall. This well-known feeling under her belly was gonna tear her apart, when she began to count money, but... An older woman couldn't show her true identity. Especially now, when every scum of the Wasteland was running after her ass. She was sure in it - raider's leaders didn't like to leave their former comrads alone. You are mine or you are dead... that's what they are saying usually, when they are ready to pull the trigger. A lot of people didn't like all this raiding stuff, but what else they left to do. Sooner or later they'll become as mad, as their more stubborn companions... Jace grinned and thought about her clarity. May be she was crasy... May be she didn't know what she was doing. Her recent actions looked so hazard. But she was sure that she was ok and that her current station is much better than anything else...

An older woman was coming fast through the town, watching after the common people. It looked like that nobody noticed her, but she knew that all this small towns are suspicious to outsiders, as hell cats. Her old gray coat and pants from gecko's skin shouldn't attract a lot of attention and should grand her at least several days of safe time. The other problem was the wounded supermutant - Jace left him in care of local doctor and he said that this pal would be ok in a few days, but rumours. This town was too small to even hope to hide such event as wounded mutant. It was promising a lot of mess, but Jace didn't care about it. She had something worser to deal with than common blabers of the town...

Sun was high yet, but dark shadows began to swarm in the corners of the streets. Their darkness was swallowing street by street and cold wind was moaning freely on it's empty streets. Common people tried not to leave their homes during night and not to walk by it. It was not safe, because even guards couldn't keep order for a whole town, full of thieves and raiders. An older woman looked around and smiled. The streets, she was passing by, were full of hurry people. They were trying to deal with all business until the sun set. The streets were becoming quiet as soon as night was showing its face on it.

An older woman turned to the other street. It was full of people yet - it was the main street of this place. The downtown of this community. There were several small shops and running merchants, trying to pull several coins for their trush. An older woman smiled and thought about the past. She was in this town several years ago and plundered it greatly... Signs of fire or bullets could be seen yet in several buildings. But she got nothing so valuable from this place - several herbs of brahmins, a load of useless pre-war junk and a lot of pain in her ass with all this local authorities. But it was a funny business anyway - one of her most favorite raider's runs. This town had several worthy guards and they were fighting as hell's spawns or deathclaws. An older woman passed through the large street, full of people, continued her thoughts, passing through one of many lonely small streets of this town. This one was dark already, but she didn't care about it - she could handle with something worser than simple thug or raider. She was busy now with her own problems - Jace was worried only by two things: how long she'll have to spend in this town, because her small ass-kicking party of her former raider's friends promised nothing good from their friends. She was sure that they already started the hunt, because her old ass was a too good target. So many towns and organizations placed a good bouty on her head... An older woman quickly checked her shotgun, hanging on the belt under the coat and drew her small knife. This weapon was the most effective on the small town streets as this one. Loud gunshots could attract attention, but quiet, calm dead body of the raider was a common stuff there...

Jace grinned, looking at sharp blade of the knife, glowing grimly in the poor light of the dark street and continued her way. She was thinking now about her daughter. What she will tell, when she'll find her. An older woman was sure in this and even didn't doubt about it. The other problem was that she killed her boyfriend, but old mother didn't think too much about it. She only wanted to find her small girl, she wanted to find Daisy and now was coming to the one bar. The bartender of that place was her old friend from that time, when she was part of that huge and ass-kicking organization - Enclave. Soon enough it fell into ruins and she left it as quickly as possible, because BOS began to tear one's asses... Well, she heard that some of them survived after all as this old bastard, but she didn't hear a lot about them...

"Hey, honey..." - rude voice nearby interrupted her thoughts. She looked at the dark street ahead and noticed two unclear figures ahead. They were standing directly before her, blocking the way. Jace looked around and notice dark shadow at her back - she smiled evily and hid her knife in her hand.
"What do you want, young man?" - she asked quietly, coming closer to them.
"You know, mam... we have a problem. A friend of mine is sick and we need money; may be you can borrow us some..?" - one of thugs came closer and Jace saw his face. She knew him... He was one of the raiders of Max the Dickless. This blasted fool liked to mess with her and got enough for that. Somehow she was not surprised to see especially this faces here, but she couldn't understand why they appeared so soon. Jace was waiting for them at least in a few days.
"Of course, son... Come here. I have a good medicine for your friend. I am sure that it will help him..." - she tried to change her voice and hide in the shadow as long as possible because they knew her. This three thugs were only small part of the raiding party and Jace didn't want to leave witnesses. One of the thugs came closer, grinning and said:
"You know... you look like my mother. I always wanted to..." - he couldn't finish his speech, because his guts began to fall on the dirty street. Blood was falling slowly from the small and fucking sharp blade of this knife.
"Come closer, boys... Ya mam have a small present for you." - she said evily and looked around. Two thugs stopped and looked at each other with worry. They didn't wait to get such mess from common old woman. Two thugs stoped and began to think - they didn't like to risk their lifes, but there were only an old helpless woman before them... well, may be not so helpless, but it was too much for them to run away from this harp.
"That's it, bitch... We wanted simply to fuck you, but now you are gonna to know what does it mean to spend a night on the blades in embrace of Max's boys..."
Two of them rushed at her as quickly as possible and their murky shadows were seen barely in the darkness of the street. An old woman was standing directly before them and didn't want to do anything. She was waiting calmly as they were coming closer with every minute. Suddenly they stopped and fell back.
"Jace..." - one of them muttered and turned around to run away. In a second he fell to the ground and began to shake in agony. Blade of a small knife was stumping in his throat.
"So, what now boy? Are you brave enough to attack poor helpless old woman on your own?" - she grinned and came closer to him. The left thug, standing before her, became pale and began to shake visibly:
"But miss... I didn't know that you... I mean I was said that you..." - he stopped suddenly and looked around with confusion.
"Yes... I am listening you attentivly" - Jace was coming closer with every minute.
"I am sorry, miss Jace... I didn't want to... I was said that you'll arrive only tomorrow. He said that your daughter will be a good bait."
"Oh really." - she narrowed her eyes and her hands disappeared under her coat - "You know... may be you'll be lucky enough to live another day after all. Where is she..? And who is your boss? Max?"
"Y-y-yess... he and this old bartender. They were talking about some monster as a good present for... for their new patrons."
Jace became grim and looked darkly at large thug, standing before her. It looked funny - it looked like that this man could tear her appart easily, but he was frightened and was shacking greatly.
"So, they want to steal my baby again... I was looking for her for a whole life and now they try to leave me my only joy in this life?!" - her quiet voice was crying madly now and was heard in every corner of this lonly street.
"Where is she?!" - an older woman rushed at him suddenly and knocked to the ground. Her fingers were like steel, there were heard chill breath in her voice. A thug felt as his ribs are breaking, but he tried not to cry. He saw only her furious eyes - "Where is she?!" - her voice was tearing his ears and he began to feel the bleeding.
"In his bar... I was told that she..."

Jace throw away the body of the raider and run with all haste to that bar. Her old friend began his blasted mess again. This time he willn't end up so easily... An older woman looked at her back with sorry. She should kill this small proublem, but she had no more time now. Jace took her lovely knife from the body of the dead raider, lieing nearby and run by the street as quickly as possible... Sun was setting slowly over the horizon on the West.

[Follower]

Young guard was lieing calmly on the floor and was watching after the light. Sunrays of the setting sun were running slowly by the murky covering of the bar and were leaving outside. All was quiet. Noises of the street disappeared with last signs of day's life. It was time of evening's calm hours now... His time to return to his duty.

Nick moaned and got up slowly. Several empty bottles showed clearly that he had a good day off today, but he had so big headache that he could barely remembered his name. It looked like that a whole herd of brahmins was dancing jiga in his head. Young guard opened his eyes slowly and tried to look around. Something was wrong with all surrouding - all his last years as caravan driver, bartender or bouncer he has got a good habit to spend all his free time in bars or taverns... Now he was expert in this business and could notice even in his current state that something was wrong. All was quiet... Damn quiet. Nick tried to understand at least something, but his terrible headache was gonna make him mad. All the surrounding around him was blurry and unclear. This place was dark on its own, but evening's time and his blurry vision made him completly blind. He made one unsteady step and fell to the floor.
"Blasted bottle..." - he muttered quietly, trying to get up again. He was more than sure that guards were cursing him greatly because he was late on his duty. Young guard made another great try to stand up, but this time
somebody took his hand and helped him to stand up firmly. Nick looked at this strong hand, supporting him, but noticed only dark murky point before his eyes - his state of mind was less than confident.
"Good morning, my prince... or may be good evening... It's time to get up" - he heard woman's cheerful voice and laugh. Nick began to think hardly - what has happened in this bar? But he was no able to think something worthy and he didn't see a clue. May be some sort of another bar fight or something...
"Errr... Can you give some beer, miss. I need a medicine for this terrible headache." - he said trying to look around. The sun didn't set yet and he had at least dozen of minutes.
"Heh, man... You'd better leave this stuff for big boys and girls. You should tell me that booz is kicking your ass so quickly. I am sure that now you don't even remember your name, do you?" - woman's voice was ringing in his brain and it was damn painful, but he tried not to show it. Really, today he was little too overhelmed with booz.
"I suppose that you caught the picure... Now, will you help me a bit; I am rather helpless right now."
Young woman laughed and came closer. Nick began to notice some details of the surrounding. Drunken fog was clouding his vision, but it was becoming clearer with every minute. Memories began to rush in his skull too - childhood, full of chasing after old guards and merchats, spilling their stories to every moron... his first years in the wasteland, when he lost his parents in one of the numerous raids... his guarding duty and freelancer's activety in local area. Now he couldn't remember only the last day. It was something too difficult to him, as something was preventing him from doing it.
"Here... refresh a little." - strong hand offered him a bottle of beer and he thanked the girl. He looked at her clearly and now began to notice that this girl was rather different... to say the least. He looked at her with surprise, trying to understand if she was a human or a beast. It was very difficult to say for certain. To clear his head a bit young guard drunk a whole bottle in one gulp and felt as warm feeling of alcohole is running through his body. It was so pleasant that he almost forgot about this girl - he saw enough mutated freaks in the wasteland to be surprised by this chic, but she was surely beatiful.
"So... miss... may be you'll help me with one problem." - he looked around with confusion and sighed helplessly. His brain was shut down now. - "Please, tell me who are you and what a fuck is going on down here..." - something wrong with all this stuff. He felt it by his back and he didn't like it at all. Something dark... unpleasant was crawling in this place.
"I see that you remeber nothing from this day... Well, may be it's better because some of it is not so pleasant... Ok, let's start from the begging. My name is Daisy. Your name is Nick, I suppose... Am I right?"
"Definitly" - young guard nodded and looked at her with hope. His head have never had such a state.
"So, I visited this humble place in the morning and left a whole day here... having fun." - she laughed and looked at Nick strangly. He started because he wasn't used for a look of deathclaw's large bloodred eyes - "I killed the bartender for my own purposes and now I am having luck with his stock as you do... or did. Anyway, about two hours ago large crowd of people rushed through the bar to the northern gates. I suppose it's another raider's attack. So, I was left alone in this bar and now we are having a party..."
Nick became pale. Memories of the last hours ruined his mind, crushing all sense. He began to rember what was happening in the town... and in the bar. Fights, cries, loud gunshots... it was a slaughter. Town guards couldn't resist such attack. It was too well organised and armed... they were fighting. Dozens of dead bodies were lieing here and there. Several guard even run into the bar, seeking for shelter, but they died within from their wounds or loss of the blood. Nick looked at disfigured bodies lieing near him and shuddered. He began to see clearly... may be too clearly. The whole bar... the whole town was covered with blood. The fights were running yet, but the fate of this town was sealed - silence of death was hanging over the most of the town, bringing the rest of the dead. The raid was too successful - the losses were large, but raiders took this town. Whatever was the reason to do it, it was something really important. Raiders were fighting as devils of the Sand.

Nick closed his eyes and remembered that time, when he left the bar. This young girl said not to go there. It was clear that all was finished, but he wanted to be sure. Young guard arrived just in time to watch as first raiders were rushing into the town. The smell of blood and fire was all around. Black smoke of fire and black clouds of gunpowder were making him blind. Cries of the wounded and dead people were making him deaf. He saw nothing except fighting people - raiders - madmen and scavangers of the desert. Most of them could barely walk, but they were as deadly as anybody else. Thier weapons were ordinary knifes, rusty tubes, rocks and bare hands. They were rushing at their enemies with blind hatred and dispear... Some of them had a good weaponry and armour, but mostly they were almost naked and completly mad. Nick looked at one woman, coming closer to him and noticed nothing in her eyes. She was mad, all her feeling left with her past life, except one thing - hunger for vengence. This was was terribly pale and thin. Signs of hunger and endless diseases were seen on her face... Nick drew his gun and shot. Was it a mercy or crime to kill her? He didn't have time to think about it - another man rushed at him...

Nick took one of the bottles of booz, lieing near him and drank it. He wanted to make this visions to leave, but he couldn't... He has never seen such attacks before. All this people - they were now raiders. They were meat for guns... they were supposed to die. A usual tactics of raiders to send their weak or old into the heat of battle as his old friend told him one time before he even joined the guard's duty...
"Oh, please... Don't start it again. I am tired of your constand wailing..." - Daisy moaned and looked at him with hatred - "You look so pathetic now. Try to be a man..."
Nick looked at her and grinned:
"This world is dead. There is no more men or women here... There is only beasts. You should know it."
Young girl smile and wanted to something harsh, but suddenly she stoped. Expression of pain appeared on her all-time confident face. Nick understood that it was only mask. Something dark was lurking in her soul...
"What am I doing here? I suppose to be near the gates... with my friends." - he asked himself. Daisy looked at him and grinned:
"Sorry, fella, but I have different plans for you... If you want to die I am not going to stop and I am not going to risk my neck for you again.
"Again?!" - Nick looked at her with surprise - "You followed me. Why?"
Half-deathclaw looked at him grimly and shook her shoulders:
"I don't know... May be I like you because you are so wierd... or may be I want to save your ass because I left one friend not so ago. He looked like you..." - dark shadow ran by her face and she turned away.
"May be you simply want to talk with somebody..? It's a normal human's feeling and I doubt that you have a lot of conversation lately..." - guard asked and sat to his chair. He began to fell weakness in his legs again.
Daisy said nothing and became grim. By her look Nick understood that he'd better shut up.
"I have a lot of conversations lately, but most of them were not so pleasant for the speakers... To leave the bar now is dangerous. I see that you understood that the only chance to run away from this town is to use night as a cover. There are too many of raiders here..."
"It looked like somebody woke up a sleeping deathcla... I mean... Nevermind." - Nick became silent and took another bottle of booz. His mood was shitty.
"Heh, ok..." - Daisy said and grinned. She had a strange feeling about this young guard. But she couldn't express or describe it... So Daisy followed the insticts... at least sometimes. She looked at the barred door of the bar grimly. It was so quiet now... Deadly quiet.

[Follower]

Silence... deadly silence was hanging in the air. Smal clouds of white smoke was coming from the ground. The earth all around was filled with warm blood of nearby battle. An older woman tried to avoid most vital places of the battle, but even in the dark streets she was finding signs of this slaughter... Jace smiled. It was a grand battle and it was making her blood to flow more smoothy. She was watching after the fight from the darkness of the streets and was smiling. Raiders and guards... common people and killers... hunters and prey... They all were the one - grand sight to look at.

Jace was hoping to get to the bar until the sunset, but this sudden attack ruined everything. The town became as living hell. Cries of the battle, fights and blood on every street, dozens of enemies... It took a lot of time to pass even two streets. An older woman looked at her newly bought clothes, torn and bloodstained with her blood and blood of her enemies, and cursed everything. She has sent already bunch of people to the hell, but it was far from over. Jace didn't like to kill, but she had to fight to reach that place. She didn't notice as sun began to set. She didn't notice as night entered the town. Dark streets were the same for her. Her old eyes were looking for the next enemy and her steady hands were holding an old shotgun and small knife, warm of spilled blood...

Track of blood and dead bodies was running from street to street. The air was warm now from the heat of battle and spilled warm blood. Town was fighting to the death with raiders. Every man, woman or child was rushing at them. The endless dance of death and madness was raging there. Common looker could say that it was madness, but it was a fight of the doomed ones... There were no hope and no point. They all knew that they'll be dead when the sun will rise again, but they continued to fight. It was their only choice and hope to survive. It was their only right to live.

The cold air of the night was cracking on the streets. Seldom gunshots were singing grim song of death. Wind was wailing lonely in the empty streets and ruined houses. Fire began to dance in several parts of the town, but it was weak yet... Night was dark. Clouds were swarming in the sky, hiding it's cold lifeless light in it. Grey, dark carpet of sky's reaches was hanging heavily upon the cursed and doomed town... Sometimes raiders tried not to ruin towns, which could be robbed and left for better luck, but it was not the same case. Jace understood it already. This raid was something more. Even more than a simple hunt for her. There were too many raiders down there. There were too many causilties... Raiders were cowards and scum. They didn't like risk their dirty skins. An older woman knew it good enough. That's why it was pleasant and suprising sight to look after them. They were attacking this town without fear or mercy. The guard and civilians tried to push them back, but this battle was lost... There were too many of them.

Jace shook her shoulders and continued her way. She was running quietly by the dark streets, hiding in the shadows of the night. Flashs of gunshots and poor light of burning town were the only source of light there. Sometimes Jace saw raiders or common people running near her, but it looked like that they were busy with fight and didn't notice quick shadow, running around. An older woman stopped and looked grimly at house, standing before her... She knew the family, who was lieing now before her. Several years ago she spent several weeks there. They didn't like raiders or that stuff, but she paid a good money. So they were keeping her and her stuff safe. Jace had few moments, when she could say, that she was happy, but it was one of them... Now they were lieing near her feets. A whole family was slaughtered without any purpose. An older woman saw all this stuff for so long that now she felt nothing. She only sighed and continued her way. The fate of this family was the fate of a whole town - it looked like that one of the raider's lords decided to wipe out this town. Jace didn't know all this mess and didn't care about it, but she understood that chances to find her girl in this burning town were becoming lesser with every minute. She has left the town or was captured and killed... An older woman once again cursed the blasted turn of events and disappeared in the shadow of nearby house. Group of agitated raiders run through the street and began to pillage another house... The fire was growing and soon enough Jace would have to fight or flee this place. She understood it, but didn't hurry to run away...

The town was living his last hours, wailing in the agony of burning death. Murky shadows of common people were seen all around. Some of them tried to run away, the others tried to defend their home, but none of them had a lot of chances. Roll of luck was bad for this town and nothing could be changes... Jace ruined several towns too on her own, but she didn't think that somebody will dare to ruin such a big town. There were a lot of guards, enough of people and merchants were living there. Such a massive attack could attract a lot of attention from bigger towns and organisations, like BOS... It was damn brave or damn stupid attack - an older woman grinned and looked at her back. Another bunch of dead raiders were colouring the earth with their entrails and guts... Sometimes she wondered why did it happen now. Was it a bad luck or something else? Why was it Max - one of her most hatred enemies - who attacked this town? Why was he looking after her girl? There were so many questions and no answers. It was making her nervous, but she didn't care. Her only option was to reach the bar. Only there she could find at least some hope for sense, but of corse it could be trap...

Rex... Suddenly Jace felt the pain and thought about her large friend. She left him in care of that blasted suspicious looking doctor with mad gleam in his eyes, but she had little choice. He was almost dead and only this bastard could cure him. An older woman paid quite good for it and hoped that he will be okey soon, but what will happen with him now? The doctor was located not so far from her current place, but she knew that it will take at least two hours to reach him. To avoid fighting guards and robbing raiders was a mess business. She stopped for a while and looked around with confusion. She was surrounded by dark, silent walls of the houses. Unsteady shadows of fire was jumping by it's cover. Dust was whirling in the cold air and making it to look like snow... black snow of ashes... The town was burning and she had lesser time with every moment. Jace made a decision and turned into the other way. The streets look alike for her, but she was sure that real was only begining...

******************

The center of the town was consumed by fire. In recent time it was the richest and most heavily guarded portion of the town. Now it was burning hell... It was light was day there. Piles of dead bodies were lieing everywhere. Raiders and guards alike were fighting and dieing all around. Common people and guards were using every chance to fight and to survive. To run was not a option - they had nowhere to run and they knew it perfectly, so they tried to save at least something... The guards were using the weapons of their fallen comrades and raiders. Civilians were rushing at raiders with mad rage, trying to stop or confuse them and to give the guards at least a little more time to attack or regroup. There were no real or central defense lines. The guards were torn on several large groups and they were trying to hold their positions as long as possible. Riaders were dirty skins and had to bad habit to run away often... But now they were as stubborn as young children. They were attacking again and again. In several places the number of bodies was blocking the view of the enemy, but it was only the beggining. An old guard knew that this attack will be the hardest to survive in his whole life. He had never seen such attack, but he understood that somebody wanted to destroy this town. Ruin every building and kill every alive person there. He spent half of his life there and didn't like it at all.

"Damn, where is this blasted Nick..? I am sure that he has already found piece for his soul. He was a restless guy" - an old guard muttered quietly and wash his face, putting away blood and sweet... or tears. The fire was raging near him and his boys. Large clouds of black smoke were hurting his eyes and lungs, but he tried not to pay attention to this. His old age was taking his price too, but there were no time for this now. He was the most experienced guard in this group right now and he had to show the example to the others. Several of the younger guards were near panic and he had to hold the situation in his hands. He was elder guard after all and he had to be leader for this bunch:
"Hold the positions, motherfuckers... This is not a joke. Do you think that they'll spare your worthless asses if they'll walk through? Jim, what a hell are you looking at?! Return to your position, NOW!"
"They are everywhere... We are dead... DEAD!" - one of the guard rushed at older guard and tried to grab him, but he was easily thrown away by him. An older guard drew his weapon and pointed at the lieing guard.
"Your fear is your real enemy, guard... You are guard and you must protect this fucking place from all filth, like raiders. Even by cost of your blasted life. It was your job and time has come to prove it... I see that you forgot about it. You lost to your enemy and there is only one punishment..." - he looked around grimly and pushed the trigger. The fire was wailing madly all around. Cries of fighting and dieing people were united in one endless and terrible song of death. Another cry of dieing man joined this song.
"Men, enemy is coming again. Ready yourself..." - an older guard turned away and continued to look into the murly air of the night. He didn't notice and he didn't want to see the looks, full of hatred, thrown in his back. He performed his duty and he was satisfied. They were returning to their positions...

***************

The fire was jumping quickly from house to house, ready to consume a whole town. In several of houses were heard cries of people. They bared inside trying to save from alive treat, but nameless killer was finding them. The smell of burning flesh was felt really strong here. Jace was standing near the burning ruins of the hospital. Several of the patients and their doctor was lieing nearby. Most of them were dead already, but two or three were alive yet. Their bodies were black and burnt by fire, but they were able to live the hospital and survive yet. They were fighting for every second of live. Their limbs were shaking greatly with every breath, weak moan and wheeze were heard all around, but there were no hope for them. Black pieces of flesh was hanging on thier burn limbs. Their faces looked like terrible masks of death. Grinning skulls of the dead or wailing sounds of the dieing people followed Jace all the way. She sighed deeply and turned away. An older woman couldn't watch after this calmly for long. She burnt down at least several towns like this and more than dozen of small villages, but she didn't like it mostly.

The hospital was full of fire. Only few of the patients could leave it, but they found there only death. The others burnt alive inside... Jace looked at the doctor, lieing near her with crushed skull, and spitted. All was over. Rex was cooked as a whole town.
"A good way to heal people, as you said one time..." - she muttered quietly, watching after fire. Who could think that he will die like this? It was a fate. Several months ago he did the same stuff with one of the churches on the East coast... He liked to crush people, leaving the burning house... And now this.
"I wonder what is waiting for me..." - she muttered quietly, leaving the scene. She had nothing else to do there. Jace looked at this grim joke, burning somewhere behind her and grinned. What was Rex thinking about it, if he was in Hell now..? An older woman sighed. She already began to miss him.

***************

"Quickly, you fat-assed morons... They are attacking from the south. Ann, what a hell are you looking at? You have a machine gun - USE it..." - the air was damn hot now. The smell of gunpowder and fire was felt in the air. Ashes of burning houses and blood were all around. Sweat was running richly by the forehead. It was winter's night, but now has turned into hell. It was the hardest atack for a whole night. The other large groups of guards were crushed already and now only his boys and bunch of small posts to the West were fighting with them... An older guard looked at his people and became grim. All was over - he had only two dozens of people under his command. Most of them were common people - half of guards were dead already, lieing here and there. The left people were looking at him with hope as he could save them. In this moment he was their only chance to surivive and they knew it... An older guard sighed and mopped his face. Soot and dust was covering his face with thick cover. Small roads of sweat were seen there... His old gray eyes were looking at his people tiredly. He coughed and wheezed greatly. He could barely breath in this air, full of dust. His old lungs were tearing him apart, but he couldn't die now. He had to continue a fight:
"You two... go and check the southern gates... You two - to the tower. The rest of you - hold the positions. We need some time..."
"For what?" - one of the tired men asked. He didn't see any hope now and was fighting only to survive.
An old guard looked at people, left under his command. He saw people, who lost a hope. They lost their families and homes, they lost their lifes and future. They lost everything and they couldn't understand why they were living yet. An older guard looked at the black clouds of smoke, rising in the sky. This town was doomed and dead. There were no hope to survive and there was only one chance to save their skins... He noticed two murky shadows, disappeared in the shadows of the nearby house. For a second he thought that it was Nick, but he was sure that this young hard-head was dead so he laughed grimly and said:
"Be ready, men... We are retreating."

[Follower]

Well, I feel myself little better now. I knew that it would help me. It's a pity that I am damn busy now and that I can't blab with somebody... with this vVolf guy for example... heh Well, may be later.

Chapter six - Talk with shadows.

Warm quiet wind was blowing slowly from the south, brining long-waited warmth into this frozen lands. Thick, milky mist was crawling slowly by the earth, consuming everything in it's gentel embrace. The smell of smoke and blood hadn't been felt any more. Black ruins of the burnt town were mercifully hidden by it's white carpet...

Lonely figure sighed and continued her way. The air was damn damp and she began to miss the heat of the battle. Her old heart didn't work too good now and couldn't warm her whole body. The bones were wailing and cracking, the teeth began to moan... An older woman stoped for a while and looked around. It was difficult to find the right way in this ruined town and now appeared this fucking mist. Well, it was not so bad after all. This stuff was hiding her from drunken raiders and scavangers, running here and there. The fire destroyed almost half of the town and now was raging in the northern parts. This part was remained undamaged mostly and now it was full of all kind of filth... An older woman put away her shotgun and checked her small knife. This sharp, metal fiend didn't get so much blood for a very long time. She killed a lot of people in this night and the list wasn't full yet. Jace was sure in it... She put on a cloak, which she found on the body of one of the commoners and continued her way. The cloak was protecting her at least barely from damp air.

The town was full of the bodies. The smell of death surrounded every street, she was walking by. It's streets were generously enriched with blood. Fire took it's part too. The smell of smoke was whirling in the town faintly... The damp air hid most of the results of the raid... of the slaughter, but it was helpless to clear all signs of it. Black walls of the burnt and ruined building were watching after the lonely woman grimly. Dead bodies were following her with their empty motionless eyes. Long ago Jace was afraid of dead men, thinking that they were watching after her... It was so long ago. She looked at another dead body lieing near her - who was it? Raider or common people. It was difficult to say - the body was burnt and disfigured. There were signs of chewed limbs... Was it wild dogs, rats or cannibals, who did it. Jace didn't know and didn't care. Raiders had a lot of filth in their ranks. Wasteland was full of their own scum too. The wailing of the dog, heard somewhere nearby attracted her attention. The smell of blood began to attract a lot of attention from the Wasteland and she didn't want to find out who could be brought there... She shuddered and continued her way. An older woman heard enough rumours about mutated creatures like deathclaw, but she heard some stuff from her fellow raiders about some even more ugly creatures. Its description was bringing horror and nightmares in heart of this sturdy and merciless raider. She wraped herself up and continued her way.

Black clouds of smoke and ashes were whirling in the air. The mist was swarming on the earth near her feets. Warm wind was blowing lightly in her face, refreshing her a little. The smell of blood and sounds of battle were quiet now. The silence was hanging over the town. It looked like that mist as great monster, consumed a whole world with all it's colours and sounds. Now there were only white and black colours all around... But it was only the illusion. Sometimes Jace saw weak relfection of the fire and cries of the people, heard somewhere downthere. The battle wasn't finished yet and the fire was raging madly. The white, murky walls of mist were surrounding Jace from all sides. The black skeletons of ruined building were watching after her with its empty windows... All was quiet. Jace stoped and looked around. She wasn't here for a quite time, but she was sure that this was the same place... the bar of that blasted motherfucker. An older woman put away her cloak and looked around attentivly.

The building all around were burnt mostly, but bar remained undamaged. There were seen signs of fire on its walls, but this building was unhurmed. She grinned and spitted on the ground, covered with ashes.
"Yeah, this old fool valued every piece of his own shit... He willn't allow to burn his precious bar. Of course, he'll do it on his own." - she drew her shotgun and make her first step to the door, leading to the bar. Suddenly the heart began to beat madly and blood rushed to her face. Jace stopped and looked around with surprise. What was that? It looked like that somebody tried to drag her back by her own guts. It was not very pleasant feeling, but she continued anyway... Once again she felt the same feeling. Her hands became cold and sweat appeared on her forehead. She felt strange emptyness in her belly and stoped. The heart was beating madly. Blood was runing through her veins with terrible speed. The weather was not so cold, but she was shaking from cold...
"What a hell is this? Am I worry?!" - she grinned and shoke her head. Jace didn't believe that she will feel something like this again. Most of her feelings died long ago, when she found out that her daughter was lost... And now it looked like that she began to feel something again. An older woman grined and made another step to the bar. The wind was blowing slowly, whirling black ashes in the air. The mist was clouding quietly in the dark streets all around - "A perfect place for a trap" - she thought slowly, but she put away all thoughts immidiatly. Jace didn't care about anything now - the bar was standing before her and the doors were wailing quietly as greeting her. An older woman checked the surrounding quickly, but noticed nothing suspicious, so she entered the building. It other time she would leave it and run as quickly as possible from this doomed town, but now... Her shadow disappeared in the darkness of the bar and doors closed slowly after her on it's rusty hinges. Its quiet, unpleasant laugh was heard for long in the air.

Jace had to spend some time inside to get used to the darkness, swarming inside. The air was heavy and motionless there. The smell of smoke and blood didn't disappear from here. It looked like that it was espacially strong there... The lungs of Jace began to hurt a little from large amount of dust, whirling all around, but she didn't pay a lot of attention to it. An older woman was looking for something. First of all she noticed signs of fight and blood on the floor. Several dead bodies were lieing in random poses all around. Than she began to notice unclear, murky surrounding of the bar. It had signs of fire in it. Heavy cloud of soot was hanging in the air. Jace had a small headache now. All the surrounding was pushing on her, but she tried to resist. An older woman endured something worser than dark, dusty bars... She came closer to one of the men, lieing on the floor and looked at his face. It was an old bartender... Jace cursed blasted town and stood up quickly. Something was going wrong. Why was he dead? He was an excellent fighter, who passed a special training in Enclave's camp. Yes, it was damn long ago and he was old now, but he couldn't perish so easily. There were no signs of battle except large cutting wound through a whole body. His gun was lieing unloaded nearby...

She stood up quickly and looked around, as she was waiting to find out something, but there were no clues there. Bar was emtpy. Darkness was hanging all around with thick wall. No sound was passing through its embrace. Jace sighed deeply and sat down slowly. Suddenly she felt herself so unhappy. The wave of depression rushed at her so suddenly, that she was left defensless. An older woman put away her shotgun and took one bottle of booz, standing on the table nearby. Its stuff was dusty and unpleasant, but she felt herself so shitty, that she didn't care. Jace julped a half of the bottle and closed her eyes, trying to fall a sleep, but she couldn't. The thoughts were swarming in her mind as worms, clashing and wailing. Her past and future were hanging before her minds. Endless merciless and meaningless pictures. Why was she doing it? Why did she want to find her daughter? She had no direct answer for it. An older woman didn't accept easy and simple answer - she wanted to see logic and harsh fellings there... but she couldn't. Her soul and her mind were fighting with each other madly, tearing her mind apart, but it was useless. There were no solution... And now it was all meaningless. Her daughter was gone now. All hopes to find her alive died with this bartender... if she was alive yet. Of course, Jace heard all this shit that her baby was created to survive in the wastes and all this stuff, but she looked like so helpless and defenseless for her. An older woman closed her eyes and imagined that time, when she saw her for the first...

"It was about thirty years ago... Now it looks like that it was so long ago... Ages ago. In that time I was only the simple raider, nothing more. I was lieing under every male to get my piece of fortune. To beg, to rob, to scavange... I was familiar to this all. From the very begining I was born as raider. My parents came from one of the Vaults... and were trying to settle in one small village. Heh, they understood soon enough what that had left. That life was too harsh for them and they left me alone in my five. For the first several days I wanted to die too, but than I understood that I must survive. It was my duty to live, though I didn't know why should I live for... First of all, I was begging and robbing. Than I joined one of the fun houses. Do you know what is it? A house full of whores and psycoes... Drugs and diseases were filling that place as sand flies..." - an older woman stoped for a while and gulped another portion of booz. She didn't notice as she began to talk with herself. In the past she often talked with illusion of her daughter, but she tried to do it in her mind, but now... May be she was mad, but she was as mad as everybody else around her... - "I left that blasted place in my sixteen, when I was strong enough to hold the gun. In my first several months I was a poor sight to look at. My riches were two hundred of bottlecaps and rusty 10mm pistol. I was able to rob only blind ghouls or some fucking farmer. On my own I was a good target for any lucky guy or self-rightous bastard. I couldn't do anything else, except lie under some fucking bastard or spill his guts... I chose to do the second stuff." - she laughed and remembed her youth. The smile was harsh and expression of pain was seen in her eyes, but she was smileing anyway, as it was something pleasant... Than her smile disappeared and her face took grinning expression - "In few years I was able to take some experience and join one of local raiding parties. It was a harsh stuff, but it suited me well... Occasional raids, bloody parties... It was a simple and happy life. I didn't think about the results of my actions and didn't want to think... we had a leader to deal with all this shit. But this leader was a bad one - he sold our necks to the one of the local authorities and it was a damn bloody fight. I was able to survive barely and took my sorry ass as quickly as possible from there... That bastard Max got enough for this shit... After that I began to feel hunger again. My wounds didn't want to heal without good food. No community wanted to except me and I was forced to wander through the Desert, dyeing slowly..." - she became silent, thinking about something. Wind was wailing quietly outside, but the air was hot and calm inside. Darkness was hanging outside as it looked like that it was part of Jace. An older woman sometimes disappeared in it... There were little of light and shadows looked so strange here. It looked like that some of them had human's or semi-human's forms. This shadow for example near the exist looked like that bastard Max - huge and clumsy shadow, as it was trying to pull everything in itself. Jace laughed quietly and continued:
"That was that time, when I met the Enclave... In that time this organisation was in full power. Few knew about it, but I heard a lot about that freaks. Their tech and heavy power were awesome. Even great Brotherhood of Steel was afraid of them, though it sounds funny now. Now they are weak shadow of their former glory, the last agony of dyeing man... but in that time this organisation was a true power in the Wastes. I stumbled with one of their patrols on thier own. I was lucky that they needed several slaves to experiment upon and I was taken in one of their minor bases. Even their small bases were full of high-tech stuff and smart-assed fellows, but can you imagine what was their main base... It's a pity that I wasn't able to get there. It was destroyed by some freaks in a several monthes... Most of the slaves were gutted alive soon after as they were some part of great experiment to deal with viruses or something like this - messy stuff - but my DNA was damaged lesser with radiation and I was offered to take place in rather unique experiment on my free will. It was my chance to take the advantage and to join them. Surely it was my hour... and if I wouldn't agree I would be thrown to some psyco to tear me apart as everybody else. As you can see I had little choice and it was my luckiest day in my life... That day changed everything." - she became silent and looked at the door. She thought that she had heard some suspicious noises, but all was quiet, so she continued:
"Before that time I was an ordinary girl. I was fighting as I could. My best teacher was my experience. Bar fights and raids on local farms couldn't learn me a lot and I was a poot fighter... but I didn't understand it until I saw the boys in Enclave... it was an impressive sight. Even without their high-tech stuff and weaponry they were as weapons. Sturdy, deadly, ready for combat and without questions - ideal weapons. I remember that in that time I thought that nobody could resist them... I was shocked and surprised when I saw their training camps. I had to pass through it to be ready for the experiments. My body was too weak and I had to change it... One of the scientist said that if I should be able to survive the test than I'll join their great destiny. I can't say that I believed any of his words, but they offered me a good chances to improve my status and I used it. It was a hell, I must say. I was training day and night - endless lessons to use all kinds of weapons from easiest to the most scientesific. Their blasted food, full of drugs and some shit was following me for the next several years. Days and nights I was running, swimming, jumping with the rest of the students. Most of them were not ready for that and I didn't see them again. I knew that the same fate was waiting for me if I'll fail... But I was more succesful. I passed the training and my score was one of the best. Nobody waited such results from puny outsider, who I was, but I joined the experiment... In that time the Enclave was looking for a way to clear the land from muties... and everybody else. They were researching different viruses, weapons, animals in a way to find a way to clear the land from all semi-humans. And they achieved great results I must say... You are one of this results, Daisy. You was created as supersoldier. Different teams were working on creating different stuff. One of them were trying to boost animals intelligent as a problem with Deathclaws... The others with playing in gods with DNA. My team had it's own purpose. Its main scientist was rather mad. He was looking for a way to save the Earth or something. I didn't listen his blabing too much, but I understood that he wanted to create the mix of human and deathclaw... And I was something like breeding chamber for him. Well, in that time I was already sterile anyway (too much of drugs and fucking ) so I didn't care much... It looked like that it didn't stop him too so I didn't complain. I didn't know what will happen than." - an older woman paused for a long time, gathering with strengths. It was dark in the bar, but one could say that something sparking appear on her face. Her voice was low and dead now, when she began to talk again - " You are woman, Daisy, but you are sterile, as your mother is... So you willn't know what does it mean to have children... to born them. May be it's good... or bad. I don't know. I remeber that time, when the experiments started. The breeding process was started automaticly with human's DNA and than it was changed to Deathclaw's nature. They were using different styles and ways - drugs, viruses, strange procedures... You can't even imagine what does it mean when something is growing in you. It's so beatiful and great... But what were they doing wasn't right. They were messing with DNA. They were playing in gods. I saw the results of it in the Wasteland all the time, but I could say nothing. I was only the part of the experiment. With every week something was happening with me. Strange feelings began to awoke. Something, that I didn't feel recently. It was frightening and cheering me... But every new test was bringing new portion of fear and horror..." - she stoped talking and threw away the empty bottle away with hatred.
"Blasted fools. Morons... Fucking bastards. It was they who created all this world. Such peple turned all this world into hell... <Sigh> It was so long ago, but I feel it as it was yesterday. My hatred is bowling yet within... In a nine months you was born, Daisy... Everybody was satisfied with it. You was... you are the fine example of great technology of the Past. I was said that you combine the intelligence of human and power of the deathclaw. You was only a baby, but you've already been the real treat. To that time most of the experiments were finished or closed. The main base was destroyed and BOS was pushing the thingy. We had to leave the base as quickly as possible and it was decided to kill you... You was sterile but you was a large treat anyway. I wanted to help you, but I was sent away in first ranks... It was a suicide to do something else. I was ready to do something stupid, but in a few days I found out that you was lost... I didn't get any specific information, but I was searching for you since than... and I didn't stop until I'll find you..." - she muttered her last words quietly and fall to the ground. The head was whirling madly. The lung was burning as it was full of fire... She closed her eyes and fell unconscious...

****************

[Follower]

The damp wood was wailing and spiting with sparks. Fire was dancing poorly on its dirty face, giving more smoke than warmth. But it was enough for two persons, sitting near the fire. Young guard was looking at small fire and was thinking about the future... The young woman, sitting before him, was thinking about the past. She didn't have future. In her short life she lost almost everything she was cared for. Now only fury and hatred were dancing in her eyes. The gleam of the fire was reflecting in her eyes, making her gaze very creepy... Nick got used to her appearance mostly, but her look of that blasted eyes always made him to shudder.
"What are you thinking about, pal?" - she asked Nick quietly, looking into the fire - "Your whole life is ruined. Most of your friends are dead... Your home is destroyed and your family is killed. Do you want to revenge them?"
Young guard looked briefly in her eyes and quickly turned back:
"Nay. I lost nothing. This town was a rat hole. I lost my family long ago. My so-called friends didn't deserve my tears... They all were bastards and deserved something worser. Well, may be most of them... There was one old man, who didn't offend me too much... Oh, what a hell, this town is ruined and everybody is dead. So let's leave them alone..." - he threw another piece of wood into the fire and looked around nervously.

Our companions stoped on the edge of one of small hills, surrounding great Mountains. Large rock was hanging above them, protecting from cold wind and curious looks. There were difficult to find any good wood down there, but soon enough it will be impossible. Nick heard all kinds of nasty rumours about this mountains and didn't want to check it... He looked at his gun, hanging on his back and relaxed a little. At least he was ready for this shit:
"Why have you asked it... Daisy?" - booz began to leave his head and Nick began to realise the true situation. He was messing with mad half-beast, who could tear him apart in one second, in the middle of the Wastes, full of raiders and crazy mutated freaks... His chances to survive were dropping as quickly as sooner he began to think about it. Several hours ago, when they were sneaking through the burning town, he didn't care much about this half-deathclaw, but now all his fears and doubts arose in his head. Nick was watching after this... creature with worry and didn't know what to do. Should he trust her or tried to kill her. She looked so different and... strange. Nick couldn't describe it, but his back was pushing to her. He has noticed already that she was a pretty lass. May be too pretty for this harsh world. Beaty could be present or curse for her. Nick saw all this stuff too often. He looked at this... girl and sighed. She was his only hope to survive and he had to travel with her. Young guard understood it in the darkness of the bar.

The wind was blowing slowly, bringing small clouds of the mist from the East. The smell of smoke and blood wasn't almost felt, but its faint presence could be noticed. The air was calm and quiet. The mountains were silent in this night. Nothing was interrupting the peace of the night. Nick looked around and thought that it was too quiet, though he had never been in this fucking moutains. May be this place was far less populated that he was told about... And now he had far more important business to deal with. Young guard looked grimly at his companion, sitting calmly near the fire and turned away.

"So, where are you going to go now, Nick?" - Daisy have asked finally. She was trying to sound cheerful, but young man noticed strange notes. What was it? What was she trying to achieve? He looked at her attentivly, but understood nothing.
"What else I have to do..? I don't know. Any ideas?" - Nick sighed and looked at Daisy. This girl was so... cute sometimes. He shook his head and grinned grimly. He had much more important stuff, that this shit. Heh, may be later. Young guard looked at her and suddenly caught her look. She understood his thoughts. There were no laugh or smile in her eyes now... Only seconds before now in her eyes were dancing fury and fire. The call for revenge was her only thought, but now Nick noticed something else, crawling in the back of her soul. This strange gleam... this strange feelings all around. Young guard grinned and turned away. This feeling had a name, but it sounded so stupid, that he even didn't want to think about it. May be it was his imagination or he saw only that stuff, which he wanted to see but... Once again he looked at Daisy and once again he felt her look. His back became wet. Sweat appeared on the forehead. He had never been so close with a girl. No, surely, he had enough sex for fun in his life, but this feeling... It was something different. Suddenly he felt someone's touch. Nick shuddered and fell back, ready for defense. With wide opened eyes he was scanning the camp and felt as he was shaking visibly. There were nobody around, except this blasted Daisy:
"Hey, pal, relax... What's the problem?" - she looked at him with confusion and Nick noticed the same feelings in her mind. She was agitated too, though she tried to hide it. Young guard looked at fire... It was so hot and calm. It was bringing rest to his soul. It would be so nice to lay for a... He sighed deeply and opened his eyes. Young blood was whirling in his veins faster. He had a light headache... No, Nick couldn't afford such luxury. Not now. He looked coldly at Daisy and said calmly:
"We should prepare for the journey. I heard a lot about this moutains and if this is at least half-true, than we have a lot of problems..."
Young girl was waiting different words and started visibly. In her eyes sparked the anger, but it quickly disappeared. Now she was looking at him coldly too. Grim smile appeared on her lips and harsh words were ready to leave it, but she calmed herself and smiled lightly:
"Yeah... may be later." - she muttered to herself and than said loudly - "As you can see, our way is running to the West. I wanted to find one person in this town... but now I have tp save my neck... and your's, by the way. Bad luck. We have a raiders in the back and bunch of mutants ahead. I have a small shelter over this mountains, so it have a sense. This place is damn dangerous and chances to survive on our own are none... Little choice. You help me, I help you - everybody is happy and healthy... So, are you gonna run with me through this mountains or may be your nose is too clean to mess with half-breed..?"
Nick caught her smile and smiled too. He surely liked this lass. May be she was too harsh sometimes and had several spare horns and tail, but she was ok never the less... and what was more important, she didn't hurry to tear him apart, as he was waiting.

"Have you ever travelled through this mountains?" - he asked, looking at the high snow peaks, seen in the distance. Their hugeness and darkness were overhelming him. It looked like that such mass could smash him like a bug. Nothing were important for that stone giants...
"Yes... I was here several times... with my... er, friends, but I left a bad memory about myself in this mountains and I'd prefer to choose the other way... Every way in this mountains is very dangerous." - Daisy looked grimly at the mountains too and sighed - "To tell the truth I spend more than half of my life in this mountains... I was as everybody else down here - hunter, raider, madman and cannibal..."
Nick looked at her calmly and smiled:
"Past is the past... Let's leave it alone and go forward."
Daisy looked at him too and smiled lighly. Her eyes were so kind and gentel now. Her face suddenly became calm and relaxed. Signs of hatred and anger disappeared. Now it was another person, who was looking at Nick. She was so... gentel. Suddenly Nick noticed that he wanted serve her, to do any her biding... to do anything she wanted just to keep this expression of happiness on her face. It looked like that she was born to be some kind toy and bring happyness to small children. But than her face changed. The shadows ran by her face and eyes began to reflect pain and suffer again. She turned away and said quietly.
"You'd better sleep. It was a long night and sunrise is soon. We have a long journey tomorrow and we need all our strength."
Nick looked around cautionly and noticed:
"It's too dangerous down here and this fire may attract something nasty. We'd better put a guard."
Daisy sighed and nodded:
"Sleep than, I'll watch your back..."
Nick grinned and look at her. May be he was wrong - he has never seen half-deathclaw - but he thought that she was damn tired. Her face was pale and tired. Her red eyes were misty and murky now. She was fighting hard to remain conscious.
"My duty is the first, Daisy. Go to sleep and leave this shit for somebody else. I see that you need rest more." - young woman wanted to say something, but her words didn't leave her lips. She was sleeping calmly on the heap of old clothes near the fire. Her quiet snore was traveling by the stone peaks.

Nick looked at sleeping Daisy and grinned. Once again he noticed that childish expression on her face. Suddenly he thought about how old was she. She looked like adult woman, but who could knew what were making this DNA modifications... He sighed deeply and put away the fire. The day was coming slowly, though it hadn't been felt yet. The milky mist disappeared in the cold fresh air of the mountains. The clouds continued their run to the north. Now only wind reminded about the horror of terrible night... and wounds. Nick looked at large bruise on his hand and remembered that time, when they were sneaking through the western gates. One of the raiders throw a whole spear into him and he was nailed to the ground. It was lucky that Daisy had a spare stimpack near... He looked at large scare on his back and grinned. It was a hard night for everybody. Nick looked at sleeping woman once again - she was so calm now, but he saw her later, when she was fighting and killing. It was another side of her... as opposite sides of moon and sun, rising slowly over the horizon. Young guard was standing on the guard, watching after it.

****************

[Follower]

Rusty wailing of the old chains was travelling slowly through the darkness of her consciousness. Dust and ghousts of the past were whirling madly in the head of older woman, so she didn't pay attention on this strange sound. Jace didn't remember when she fell unconscious or why did it happen. She didn't feel fucking strong hit in her back. Her body didn't felt the pain, rushing through all body with speed of fire. An older woman didn't feel the blood, coming madly from her large wound on the forehead. The wind was moaning quietly outside the bar, but it was dark and calm there... only quiet whispers of the shadows could be heard. Jace heard only several words before she lost conscious:
"Careful, you moron, Max said to get her alive..." - this words meant nothing to her. Quiet laugh of her invisble captors followed her for some time, but it disappeared soon enough. She will think about it, when she'll wake up, but now she was busy with her thoughts... with her past. Jace closed her eyes and remembered her baby. She saw her only once, when the child was born, but this moment stucked in her mind forever... Dust and dirt of the floor were mixing in the dark air of the building.

Shadows were following Jace in her constant run all the time. Past and Future were mixing in strange configurations, making her to act strangly sometimes. Some of the raiders called her mad - most of them thought that great and terrible Brahmin god is talking with them in their dreams so to call somebody mad was an outstanding business... but an older woman got this nickname during her endless raids. Her victims called her merciless, furious, madly savage... her friends simply called her mad. But nobody dared to call her like this in her eyes. Even her masters from all-powerful organisations or large towns, who used her abilities quite often, didn't try to offend her. There was a good proverb - "Don't mock caged deathclaw. Who knows where you'll meet him again?!" This stuff worked quite nicely in this world and many found their death not looking after their back. She moaned quietly and opened her eyes lightly. Terrible pain rushed at her as it was waiting its chance. Head began to hurt madly. Jace felt something wet on her forehead... by smell she understood that it was blood. She felt strong weakness in her whole body - the chains of the dream held her strongly - but she tried to move. Even with this blasted headache she understood one thing quite clearly - she was chained.

The rusty iron chain was whirling around her body as large snake. It's sturdy body was making quiet hissing with their rusty covering. An older woman was hanging in the middle of the bar as some fucking piece of meat in the butcherhouse... She had a bad feeling about that place and tried to get free, but couldn't. Jace lost a lot of blood and was too weak. Chain was stoping her too, but she was able to free herself several times from such things... though it was so long ago and her body lost a lot of her agility and flexebility... Blood was flowing slowly now, head was hurting slowler, if she didn't try to move, but this blasted feeling of helplessness was torturing her even more. The bar was empty mostly - her captors left her alone, thinking that she will go nowhere. She couldn't believe that she was captured as some fucking blind young girl. Jace was crying madly and raging in her mind, but she was behaiving herself quiet and calm. An older woman knew that harsh actions will only make her captors to laugh and willn't help her. Now she have to think about saving her neck. Jace knew that she willn't survive for long in such a state...

An older woman sighed deeply, gathered some of her strengths and looked around. The air was dark and misty. The smell of near combat was roaming freely in this low reaches... and it was damn difficult to see something. Jace couldn't believe that she didn't notice coming danger. "It must be old age..." - she thought in a twentyth time and cursed everything. It looked like that rusty chain was laughing quietly at her. Jace muttered something unpleasant and tried to reach her left hand. She had a nice collection of lockpicks in her pocket down there... Jace turned around in air and tried to grab it, but her hands were shaking so strongly that she could do nothing. Blood began to flow with new strength and all was consumed with pain. Sticky warm mess was flowing on her face, blocking the sight. She didn't see or feel anything. An older woman felt such strong weakness that she fought hardly to remain conscious. She couldn't allow it to happen again. She was alive yet and she was going to fight for the death.

Dark air was surrounding her and she could see barely there. Dusty air and mist, crawling in the bar was consuming everything, bringing smells of the battle, death and gunpowder. All sounds were disappearing under its milky covering. Every sign of life was consumed by it...
"Soon I'll disappear too..." - Jace muttered quietly and closed her eyes. She could do nothing. An older woman had no time like this in her whole life. She was fighting, begging, betraying - she was doing everything to gain her wishes... Nothing could stop her and nobody could do it. May be in her youth Jace could find a way to free herself, but now she was tired, wounded and caged old woman. It was as obvious, as that she lost her only chance to find her girl. Soon enough she will feel what does it mean to be a prey of the raiders. Jace wasn't afraid of it. Such feelings like fear left her soul long ago. Now she was only disappointed. To be captured like this by some worthless raiders. She was killing filth like them by dozens in her past and now some fucking brahmin-lovers captured her. Jace closed her eyes - she knew what was waiting for her. Mockery, slavery, a lot of fucking... may be very slowly and painful death, if they know who was she. More than likely that they knew it clearly... She grined lightly and thought about that young man, who was hanged by her not so long ago. May be she'll even endure something like this, though only few knew the secrets of really painful death. The really good masters of the torture were staying in large criminal towns as New Reno. They had a lot of work and good money there. Only few individuals like her liked to roam the Wasteland as freelancers. Every serious raider's leader was working in team with somebody with power. Jace wished now that she had some connection with Enclave yet. Even now they had some influence over the world and it could help her now to save her skin, but she left them long ago and didn't sorry about it... yet.

The mantle of mist was whirling slowly around her. Quiet unclear sounds of running combat was heard from somewhere down there. Gunshots, cries of the men... it was whirling all around with dust. Clouds of mist were swiming in the dark air covering all the surrouding. It was making the shadows to look strangly. Little different. They became unclear and began to disappear in one place and to appear in the other. Thier forms were changed by mist and now looked very suspicous. Several time Jace even thought that she saw the small figure of young woman... and some boy near her, but this shadow quickly disappeared as everything else. She closed her eyes... Suddenly she became attentivly and gathered all her strenghts. An older woman heard the quiet noises of coming people and their conversations. Their talk was quiet and unclear, but she understood clearly that they were not her friends. Their voices were self-confident and loud. They were laughing. That men didn't hide in the mist - they were coming in as winners which they were. They battle was over - town was ruined.
"Is she ok? Boss said not to hurt her... too much." - one of them said cheerfully and grabed her face. Jace started and fell back, but an old chain hold her strongly. Two raiders laughed evily and the same raider said:
"You see - she is fine. And you was worry that her poor old body was too weak... Jace the terrible can endure a lot." - he punched her easily into the face and turned back. An older woman opened her eyes and looked at her captors attentivly. Who knows, may be she will run away from them somehow... And if this happen she will take care to talk with them again. This two raiders were quite common for the Wasteland's scum. One of them was strong and bulky fella. He was moving slowly and didn't talk a lot. The second one was a small and quick guy. Evily looking knife was hanging on his belt... Thier faces were covered with scars and darkness and it was difficult to say how old were they. Their rags were protecting them barely and there were seen blood on their bodies. Was it their blood or blood of their victims? May be they were wounded and she will be able to deal with them somehow. Jace looked at them and sighed hopelessly. She could deal with small fella, but his large friend could crush her skull with single puch. He was too large for the human - more than likely that he had a large portion of radiation in his blood.

Two shadows were standing in the darkness near their victim and were talking quietly. Jace didn't hear and didn't want to hear them. They were discussing this battle and their portion in common luck. Their evil talk and laugh didn't care her much. She felt thier's fear as some blasted wolf. They were afraid of them. Their laugh and grining faces were pale. Their limbs were shaking lightly. The small fella didn't leave his knife alone and was watching after quite attentivly, though it looked like that he was busy in talk with his friend... Suddenly she heard something interesting, that made her to be more attentivly. They were talking about recent fight near the western gates and their voices became even quieter. She hear them more attentivly and heard something:
"I tell you this blasted bitch was tearing us apart. We could do nothing to hold her not to say to capture her..." - a small raider said and spitted to the floor. Several of the lately broken teeth were seen in his mouth.
"I know... this bastard like to send our asses in hell instead of risk his own ass. This beast killed three of us in a second. Their blood didn't reach the earth yet and than these blasted guards atacked... I don't know where they came from, but they smashed us as puny geckos..." - large raider said and looked at his bloodstained cloth. Large sign of dried blood was seen there. It looked like that there was a large wound under it. Small raider nodded and added evily, looking at Jace:
"And this fucking moron said to capture her alive... ALIVE?! This blasted Jace's spawn was even more deadly than her mother... in her best years. I heard a lot of rumours about her, but to tell the truth I am not impressed." - he grinned and put his arm on her back. She even didn't start and looked in his eyes calmly. His arm was harsh and dirty. The smell of fresh blood and smoke was coming from this person... as smell of strong raider's brew. Jace smiled calmly and said nothing, though the gleam of her eyes was very nastly.
"You know... this chick is not so old after all. She didn't lost all her treasures at all." - small raider continued and drew his knife - "What do you think? May be we should have some fun with her while Max is busy."
Large raider looked at her making the decision and than said:
"No... I have different tastes. Young for young I say... but if you want to lay with more adult ones..." - he grinned and began to leave the bar. Jace grined lightly too. It was such an old trick that most of the raiders were catching it. Now he will free her or at least put her on the floor - it is damn difficult for such a small guy to do it in her current position - and she will show him how old is she... Jace already felt the cold breath of steel in her hands. She was imaging how she will broke the neck of this worthless fool with sweet sweet noise... Sounds of fight began to run in her soul again. But suddenly all was ruined. Loud voices interrupted her thoughts:
"What a hell you doing down here? I thought that I had said you clearly to guard her." - loud sound of broking bones and wood was heard from the exit. Jace cursed her bad luck and look at this small raider, standing now before her. His look was even more poor than usual. His underwear was lieing nearby and he was greeting his boss with confusion and fear on his face. It could be funny, but his large friend with crushed head, lieing near the exit proved that it was not...
"Max..." - small raider tried to grab his clothes, but he was not so quick. The man, rushed into the bar, could hardly walk through the bar's door. His old, gray hairs was hanging from his large face as dirty clothes. His skin was thick and sturdy as supermutant's one, but there was one difference. He was like this from his childhood. Nobody knew why he was so strong and ugly. Some said that he was just another result of endless experiments of Enclave... or Master... or BOS... or some other high-tech freaks. He didn't care and he was satisfied with what he had.
"Claus... I said clearly to hold your dick in your panties. I SAID that she was dangerous and that you'd better use your small thingy on dogs..! Or may be do you want to know why am I called Max the DICKLESS?!" - he grabed small raider easily with one hand and threw him with hatred through the whole bar. - "Blasted, worthless fools - you lost half-deathclaw, you almost lost this blasted bitch, one group of guards is leaving the town... you are not capable to follow even the simplest of commands. Should I do everything myself?" - his voice was piercing the silence of darkness as thunder. Every his sound was making Jace to start. Her head began to hurt again, but she tried not to show him her weakness and looked at him calmly:
"Hi, Max. It's a good to see you again. It was... "cough"... a long time ago, when I saw you last time. How is your... er, health." - she said calmly and smiled lightly. Huge raider turned slowly to her and now she was able to see him clearly. Now he was even more stronger and uglier than she remembered him. His face had now only few signs of human. His limbs were large and thick as supermutant's ones, but he didn't lost human's agility. Jace knew it from her personal experience. She grinned and met his killing look:
"What's the matter? It looks like..." - she wasn't able to finish her speech. Large fist with terrible strength flied to her. Jace prepared to lost her conscious... and may be life. The direct punch could break her old bones easily, but suddenly something changed. She looked at Max with surprise and noticed that he was grinning grimly:
"It's good to see you too, Jace. I see that your spirit is strong yet, though your body is weak and mind is in ruins... Your luck, wench, that my masters want to talk with you. But don't worry. Soon enough will meet again. You slaughtered your whole raiding party with this mutie scum. This is too much even for you. Your name in the dead list. This scumish piece of mutated shit had already paid for everything - I looked after it personaly - and soon enough you'll join him... And about your fucking daughter - don't worry. I have friends even in western mountains and beyond. She willn't run away..." - he looked at her grimly and turned to a small raider:
"I told you, fool, that she was dangerous. She is not common woman... Her training in Enclave's camp gave her enough skill to survive for so long in the wastes. She could tear your fucking dick apart. You should follow the commands. Even your own friends told you about her - she killed two of my best spies not so ago and the third one could barely survive. It was good that he informed me that our precious Jace in this town too. Old bartender couldn't even hope to catch two rats in one cage... and now." - he looked grimly at dead body of the bartender and said nothing. Flies began to whirl near the dead bodies and thick smell of blood was hanging heavily in the air.
"Claus, guard her... if something will happen with her. I don't care what - you will taste the present I am keeping for you, Jace, the first..." - he turned around and left the bar. The night hid him...

[Follower]

The brick of sun appeared in the murky air of the bar. Darkness was fleeing in all sides from its bright rays. It was crawling by the walls and floor, bringing light and clarity of vision. What was hidden by darkness and mist of mind became clear and simple. All lies and false disappeared and now was seen only truth... terrible truth. The town was greeting the new day, but there were no dwellers left to see the sunrise. Only their executers could notice the first rays of sun over the horison, but they didn't care about it. Most of them had more important businesses - to loot the ruined town, to plunder dead bodies, to watch after would-be slaves. They had no time for such stuff, as watching after the sunrise. In that harsh world there were only few, could notice the beaty... beaty of this devastated world. The rest of the people were busy surviving and they had no time for such shit...

Jace closed her eyes and sighed deeply. She had no time for this too lately... All her life she was chasing after the shadows, after the dreams... after the sun. An older woman had no time to stop and look at her back. She was looking forward all the time... Well, now she had enough time. The first sunrays began to swarm in the darkness of the bar, piercing it's motionless mantle. Like heavy carpet, dark air was hanging near Jace draining the last signs of life from her ruined body. This small raider didn't play with her... he simply kicked her ass as bloody deathclaw and left her hanging as piece of shit. Her whole body was hurting, the head was moaning as band of drunken raiders, but she was ok mostly... The first signs of the morning brought some sense in her head. Jace understood that she should save her ass as sooner as possible, but her current station didn't allow her to do it. The wound on the forehead didn't bleed any more and her limbs weren't broken. In some other time she could leave this place easily... but there was one problem. She was becoming too old for this. Her body didn't obey her too good now. Her hands began to shake randomly. An older woman felt herself so helpless now, that even thoughts about her dauther didn't give her any strengths. Jace knew that her girl went to the West. It was a suicide because Western mountains were the deathtrap for everybody, but the strongest and luckiest of travellers. Only few could travel there safely without friends in that parts... An older woman looked at the sunrise...

In her constant run from place to place, from town to town, she didn't notice how beatiful world was around her. Great lakes of the Far East, Endless Canions of the West... deep, mysterious oceans and seas. In her childhood Jace wanted to be the explorer. She wanted to explore this new unknown world. Jace wanted to bring culture even in the deepest reaches of this lands. In her dreams she saw far away continents, full of mysteries and advantures, about witch she was reading a lot in old magasines and newspapers. As any other child, she wanted to travel, to search, to see the whole world... Well, mostly her dream came true, but in some other way. Jace were in many places. An older woman travelled through the Northern harsh Winterlands and Southern deserts, Western wastes and by Eastern rivers... She was almost everywhere. An everywhere Jace left pain, terror and blood. Smoking ruins and weeping orphans were traveling with her in her dreams and black remains of her travellings were seen in every part of the continent. Her childish dreams and hopes, her thoughts and wishes - all was forgotten, thrown away, deleted from her mind. In that harsh world it was difficult to survive with such shit... And now, when the chill breath of death was felt in old bones and weak eyes could barely look at the rising sun, Jace began to see it... She began to notice the beaty. It was a strange feeling to look after the sun, which she saw million of times. From the first look it was nothing, but bright disc. Nothing more. Her whole life she didn't care much about all this stuff. She saw all this romatic people and heard their mindless nonsense. Their wailing was bringing smile on her face only in one case - if they were wailing from pain... But now...

The sky was changing slowly from black to dark blue. Sunrays was colouring it in various depthes bringing strange, unnatural feeling. Small clouds, crawling slowly by the sky, had the most strange forms and colours. One could use his imagination barely to notice a fantastic galley, roaming the reaches of endless seas... The other cloud was some kind of fantastic animal - may be some mysterious animal from the past. Sometime it looked like that this beast was nodding slowly to somebody... And there, over the horizon, Jace noticed a small cloud. It had such a strange form. It looked like that it had a figure of the man... or woman. An older woman was watching after it for some time and with every minute she was finding a new sign of her in it. This cloud looked like her in her youth... or may be it was Daisy... her Daisy. Jace shuddered and closed her eyes for a second. Than she opened them again, but saw nothing. The cloud was slowly falling apart, chasing by wind from the western mountains. An older woman sighed and looked around. May be it was her last sunrise... Surely it was a pity to die when she was so close to find her girl.

*******************

Sounds of the morning didn't follow an old man through the town in this time. The first sunrays didn't bring smile on his grim face. He didn't care about surroundings and was worried only by one thing - to find one person he was looking after. He was said that she had being seen in this place last time, but who could be sure, when you are getting such information from the old, half-mad half-frightened raider. An old man smiled lightly, remembering the face of that fool, and continued the way. His way was lieing through the most ruined part of the town. Several hours ago this place was the center of this town. Now it was nothing more than a graveyard. Dosens of bodies and burnt building as black skeletons was looking at him with their empty eyes. Sometimes it looked like that nearest of the dead men tried to grab him with their cold, motionless hands. Embrace of death took them in the most strange poses... He smiled and continued his way. For his long life he saw enough strangness and horror in this world and scene of ruined town was not so terrible to look at. The remains of breakfast of Deathclaw for example looked like far more worse.

An old man stoped for a while looking around. It was damn difficult to find a right way in this town. All building looked the same. The piles of corpses looked at him from every corner... The raiders, running all around, didn't pay attention to him at all. They were busy, plundering and nobody cared about this old man. More than likely that he was just another messenger or spy of Max... well, they didn't want to worry about it. It was not their business and nobody wanted to mess with it. An old man looked attentivly at one of the raiders, messing with group slaves nearby, and smiled lightly as he saw familiar face.
"Hey, pal..." - he called, but nobody answered. They didn't hear him or may be didn't want to answer. They had fun and didn't want to be interrupted - "Cl... Hey, Claus..." - he called again and began to came closer to the raiders. The nearest to him began look at him suspiciouly. He didn't have raiders outfit or any other way to prove his identity. There were no tattoo or insigna or any raider's band. His face was unfamiliar to most of them and it was good enough reason to kill this old freak.
"Hey, you, small dicksucker... Is it your friend, Claus?" - one of the raiders pushed a small raider, standing in the first lines, and muttered something unpleasant. Claus left the raiders and looked at this old man suspiciously:
"Who the hell are you and what do you want?"
"Max sent me to deal with this woman... By the way, why are you here? I was told..."
"Shut your fucking mouth up, old man. I see no proves that you are from Max... You look strangly and suspicious... If I had time I would deal with you, but we have a party now and I don't want to waste my time on your sorry ass. You are alive than you are one of us... Follow me and you'll see your... heh woman. If something will go wrong or you try to play with me - remember. This place is ours and there is no way to run away. You'd better be who you are..." - small raider looked at him grimly and went fast by the street even without turning back. So he didn't notice grinning face of an old man.

"So, here we are..." - raider looked around with anticiptation and turned to old man - "This is the same person, you was told about. I don't know what's the deal with her and I don't care. I have a whole town to plunder and I don't want to mess with your old sorry asses..." - he turned away and tried to leave the bar. The air was murky there and Jace couldn't see so good, but she could swear that that old man... The crack of raider's bones was flying quietly in heavy air. His hands were almost unseen under his dirty dark cloth covering most of his body, but a second ago this hands were crushing bones of this man as easy as it was ice.
"You'd better be more polite with old men..." - he muttered quietly and came closer to the older woman, hanging before him.

Jace was watching after this man attentivly. She saw enough raiders in her life to understand that this one surely wasn't one of them. He didn't have any savage in his motions or mad gleam in his eyes... An old man had a view of experienced fighter, but there were seen no insignia or tattoo to prove his loyalty."Mercenary" - she thought grimly, examining him.

An old man coming closer slowly, looking at her too. His old, weather beaten face didn't express any feelings. It was impossible to understand what was he going to do. His rare gray hairs could be seen from the old half ruined hat with large holes. His clothes were the mix of different armours and clothes. There were the remains of brahmin's armour and breastplate of metal, plates of combat armour... More than likely that it was scavanged from less fortunate souls...

Jace was tired of that game in silence. So she looked at dead body of raider and grinned:
"It was impressive. You broke his neck in a single move..."
"The body of the human is weak. It can be broken, stunned or killed in a few moments..." - an old man stoped near Jace and looked at her attentivly. An older woman was waiting for his words with interest. It was funny to know what does he want? An old man came so close that Jace could feel his warm breath and looked at her left hand. There were cover of blood and black ashes on it, but an old man found something, he was looking for. He smiled lightly and with one blow crushed the rusty chains.
"It is good to see a fellow ranger in this blasted place..." - Jace heard his calm, quiet voice.

"How did you know about me?" - Jace asked, looking at him grimly. This scene of saving her ass looked a little too suspicious. He looked like some fucking head hunter more than any ranger. This fella caught her look and smiled with his mouth.
"I was working as guard in this town for half of my life and gathered quite a good information about local activity. It was my job to ply information even from the rock... In brief, one of local guards told me that one fellow woman above the mountains came here. You are from NCR, don't you?"
Jace looked quickly at her tattoo and than at the exit of the bar. She should leave that blasted place as soon as possible. Her mood was shitty, but she smiled nevertheless. It looked like that luck had finally smiled to her.
"What do you want, pal? I don't wait such charity from simple fellow man..." - she stood up and looked at him attentivly. Jace noticed that his eyes shone grimly after this words, but he said nothing except few words.
"We must get out of here... Soon enough the leader of this bunch will clean the mess and we will be dead. We don't have time."
"There will be no "we" until I'll hear your answer. What's your interest in your "fellow" woman?" - Jace came closer to him and looked in his eyes. There were seen no confusion or fear there. Cold eyes of the cunning mind was looking at her. He was thinking about possible results of this action. The heavy silence was hanging in the air for too long. It was nervous and dangerous silence... Finally an old man sighed helplessly and smiled:
"What a hell..? What's the point to play in hide-and-seek? Here is the deal - you came above the mountains. I and bunch of my people want to cross it too... I know that this is not the safest route, but all other ways are blocked by raiders or their friends. I suppose that you know some safe way through the mountains..."
Jace looked at him grimly. Her surprise could be seen in her every move and sound.
"To cross the Western mountains... this is madness... suicide... Yes, I know few ways to cross the mountains, but there is no safe passage through it. If at least half of your group will survive during this travel, it will be your luckiest moment in your life. Western mountains is bad place..."
An old man nodded quietly. He was thinking about her words for a while and than answered:
"Yes, it is... but this this our only chance. I suppose you understood it."
Jace looked at him and smiled lightly. All was turning so fortunate that she couldn't even believe it. Her whole life luck tried to fuck her, but now it was simply funny. An older woman will continue her chasing after her girl... western mountains with their treacherous passages were waiting for her, but first she must leave the town.
"Lead..." - she said briefly and two figures disappeared in the murky air of raising sun.

[Follower]

Chapter seven - The Basement of the World.

The light wind was whirling small amount of snow in the air. Fresh and sparking, this air was something new and pleasant after the darkness and blood of the last night. Nick sighed deeply, taking pleasure from frost mountain's air and smiled. He felt himself much better now. The head didn't annoy him any more. The last signs of alcohole disappeared with mist from the East. Future was lieing before him and all was fine... except one thing. This mountains were deadly dangerous place and only few could cross it without problems. It was promising a lot of problems to him and his friend, but he tried not to think about it. It was a too good morning to spoil it with such nonsense.

The weather was fresh and chill a little. The frost breath from the western snow peaks was bringing the feeling of relax. Small cover of sparking white snow was lieing on the ground. It's new, fresh colours were bringing joy into the heart of this young guard. He heard that this place was grim and ugly place, but he didn't see it. Nick didn't see gray colours or cold wind. He tried not to notice lifeless mountains and dead trees. Everything was new and beatiful for him as he was a small child, who was exploring new unknown world... High snow peaks were sparking with various colours in sunrays. Sun was running slowly by the clear blue sky near the mountains. It looked like that sometimes it was touching it by its hot cover. An than the snow was flashing with all colours of rainbow, dancing on it's icy peaks. It was great, unforgettable feeling. Nick couldn't wait to get there - on that high peaks. To see what is be such giant. To look at the whole world from such heighs... The air was so fresh and clear, that his head began to hurt a little. So he had to stop for a while and to return to the world. Young guard sighed with a pity and looked at his friend.

Daisy didn't look so happy at all. Young woman didn't saw the wild beaty of this place. She didn't understand the admirable looks of her companion. She knew what deeds took place in that grim mountains and remembered it quite good. Every way, every path, every passage in that mountains could tell about dozen of bloody stories from the past. Western mountains were the graveyard for many people and mutants. Now their bones were lieing somewhere down there as warning to all unprepared... Daisy grimly looked at Nick and muttered something unpleasant. She didn't want to join the dead so soon.

The wind was blowing from the West, bringing chill breath of the winter. Even warm uniform of Nick and thick hide of Daisy couldn't save them from it. Snow was whirling lightly in the air, biting the skin. Sun was shining brightly, reflecting in the snow. This was making young woman to narrow her eyes. She could see good in the darkness and the strongest wind was nothing for her eyes, but this sun was too bright for her. Her sensible eyes couldn't notice anything so good now and it was not very good. Daisy closed her eyes and put away her tears. Nick looked at her curiously - was she crying or may be it was the result of bright sunrays. He shook his shoulders and stood up. It was her business and he didn't want to mess with her. She was a too dangerous companion to argue with, so he wanted to get rid of her as soon as possible... and there was only one possibility for them all.
"So, let's go... the sooner we'll leave this place, the sooner we'll cross this fucking mountains." - he said loudly and began to gather his equipment. Daisy looked at him attentivly for some time and than joined him.

The way to the West was running through the wastes. The lifeless desert down there wasn't very different than anywhere else. There was only one difference - there were seen far more small rocks and hills all around and to the West were seen great Mountains. There was a rather long way to the passage, they chose as start point, but by the words of Daisy it was the safest route through the mountains. Nick wanted to ask more about it and her past, but she looked at him so grimly that he prefered to remain silent. She was taking him with herself and it was enough for him. Young guard wanted to cross the mountains and this half-breed was the best chance for survival. So he decided to play in her game... at least for a while. Nick looked at his shotgun at his back and well-used 10mm pistol from his past and smiled lightly. It was giving him some sort of hope for the future and promise that it willn't end in his death.

Gray, lifeless desert was looking at her from all sides. Sand was whirling around madly and was ready to consume her. All her thoughts and feelings disappeared in this sand. The world around her had only one colour - dirty yellow colour of the sand. She could feel the taste of sand in her mouth. Young girl couldn't breath because sand was coming in her lungs. Head began to hurt terribly... Daisy opened her eyes and sighed deeply. It happened long ago, when she was too young. She was roaming the wasteland for food and saw the first time in her life what was desert storm. Daisy survived it barely and found the shelter on the Estern sides of this mountains. Since that time she visited it quite often, but she never forgot that time. Young girl felt herself helpless the first time in that time and understood what was the fear of the death. Her instincts saved her, but she couldn't forget this fear any more... Daisy looked at this blasted desert all around and spited. It was about several hours to the nearest good passage to the West. All other ways were far too dangerous or blocked by stonefalls... At least she hoped that nothing has changed since her last visit...

Suddenly a loud wailing stoped her thoughts. Daisy looked around quickly and drew her knife. It was gleaming badly in the sunrays and snow was sparking on it's blade. She felt someone's presence for a long time, but she didn't think that they'll dear to attack.
"Blasted wolfs... They tasted deadmen and now want a warm blood..." - Nick muttered and looked around nervously. His shotgun appeared in his left hand. With his right hand he was ready to drew his pistol in any sense of danger. There were seen fear in his eyes, but his face pale and concentrated. Young guard shuddered suddenly and pointed somewhere to the East - "they don't attack during day. What a hell is happening?" - his voice was shaking a little, but he was more agitated than frightened. He was holding his guns steady and was ready for battle...

Daisy looked at her companion and smiled lightly. So, he wasn't any small dickless moron after all. He had backbone and his lovely face could be brave too. She smiled wider and looked at her enemies - large pack of wolfes was running to them fast. Their loud, long howling was heard clearly in the Wasteland, informing other creatures that it was their prey... Their gray, dirty furry hides were gleaming murky on the sun. Their quiet quick motions and heavy breath could be seen even from that distance. Daisy smiled with satisfaction - finally they had worthy opponent... and what was more important - they'll get a good source of fresh meat and blood for drinking. Western Mountains were a bad place for it - a lot of radiation and mutated freaks made a hunt down there a rather risky action.
"Try to aim into the eyes, Nick... We need their's blood. Our supply of water is low." - Daisy whispered quietly and took her knife. Young guard nodded quietly and loaded the shotgun. Pistol was hanging on his belt yet, but in his right hand appeared large club.
"I liked to hunt on this blasted devils too and I know the rules. Try to defend my back. They like to attack from the back..." - Nick said and turned back. As he was waiting wolfes began to surround them, though nobody hurried to attack first. Daisy stood at the back of Nick and began to growl quietly. She didn't like to kill humans or mutants, but fight with nature creatures was her favourite game. There were no treachery or lie, there were no cowards or mercy... there was only fight for survival and she liked it because it was natural.
"Attack..." - she cried loudly, trying to provoke the nearest of the wolves to attack. May be that creatures though that it was an easy prey - that's why they attacked them during the day. They had a good party lately with dead flesh, but warm blood always made them to forget about the danger. Young wolf, who was standing closer to the Daisy than everybody else, tried to grab her leg, but got a strong punch in his head. Bones cracked and white stuff began to flow from disgusting wound. A whole pack fell back trying to decide what to do next and it gave Nick to examine their enemy.

May be it was their lucky day, but most of the wolfes down there were too young. They were inexperienced and their teeth were not so sharp. May be it was their first real hunt and now they were confused looking at their pack leader. Nick noticed to himself that wolfes were fucking smart animals. He was hunting at them during night and in the darkness they were hellspawn. They were attacking at night the weakest and disappeared in the darkness sooner, than anybody could respond. In that hunts he lost a lot of friends, but it bring him experience and new strengths. Now he was not afraid of their hungry looks or sharp teeth. Nick was used to it... or may be because he had something worser in his back. He looked at Daisy and noticed that now her wild heritage was seen quite clearly. She was grinning and growling quietly. Her sharp white fangs were sparking brightly in the sun and now she looked like her enemies more than human. Nick grinned too. Now it was not so frightening. To tell the truth it was giving him strength to know that such creature is his friend... at least for a while. He looked at more than dozen of wolfes standing before him and pointed his shotgun in one of them. By the look Nick understood that this wolf was the matron mother of this pack. Her furr was dirty gray and her hide had a lot of scars - impressive prove of many battles. There were even seen signs of laser there... May be it was little sorry to kill the mother of this wolfes, but she was a real treat for his life and he had to do it... He pull the trigger and loud gunshot pierced the nervous silence, hanging in the air...

A bloody chaos started. Smoke of the gunpowder arose in the air and gave wolfes a good advantage. Nick heard angry cries of Daisy and her wheeze, when fight started. Soon all sounds disappeared in mad rage of fight. Red blood and loud howling of the wolfes mixed in strange and terrble potion. In every side he saw sharp fangs and gray furr of the wolfs. Every second he heard heavy breath of dieing or wounded creatures and mad growling of new enemies. The mist of his gunshot was whirling madly around him and sun coloured it in red. All was alive around. in every corner he saw danger and was ready to shot. His shotgun was so hot that he had to throw him and drew the pistol. Wooden club was red and sticky from cover of the blood. Nick didn't know if it was his blood or blood of the wolfes. When another face of the wolf appeared from the mist it was greeted with bullet or strong hit with club. The earth around him was wet and stoping him. Claws of dozens of wolfes were rising it into the air ready to attack, but Nick was ready for it too. He didn't remember the time, when he was fighting so furious. Anger and hatred filled all his soul and there were no place for doubt or sorry. To kill... to kill by all costs. There is no other option. May be it was Daisy, who gave him that strengths. He felt her presence by his back. Young guard never felt such feeling as somebody was protecting your back. He didn't trust that creature but he gave his life in her hands and she was fighting for it. It was a great feeling, when people understand and trust each other. They depend from each other and only their unity will save them... Nick heard her furious growling and felt as some great fight was happening somewhere down there, but he had to defend himself and he couldn't help her... he needed help himself.

"All is over..." - young woman said quietly and put away her knife. Her whole body was covered with blood and small scars. Her hide and clothes were torn severly, but she was unhurmed mostly...
"Yes... it is..." - Nick said and lower his club. Blood was flowing from its wooded shaft. He was wounded seriously and now was disappointed that all stimpacks were over. Now he'll have to deal with pain on his own. Young guard looked at the sun and noticed grimly that fight was lasting for several minutes. Cloud of the smoke hasn't disappeared yet, but the remains of the wolf's pack was fleeing to the west. Somewhere down there they'll lay in their den to cure their wounds and revenge some other less fortunate travellers. Nick took a shotgun, lieing nearby and looked around the scene of the battle. Dozen of dead wolfes was lieing here and there. Some of them could be skinned quite nicely though the others were simply torn apart. Nick pointed at one such wolf and grinned:
"Is it your work, Daisy?"
"Fuck you, you'd better look after yourself..." - she answered angryly and began to skin the nearest wolf.
"Ok, relax... I am joking. Prepare the bodies and I'll bring wood. We need to smoke the meat." - Nick said. Young woman nodded quietly and he departed. When he was leaving the scene, he noticed some movement near one of the dead bodies. He thought that it was rat so he came closer to finish this vermin. Nick drew his club and prepared to smash this small annoyance, but suddenly stoped. From the pile of the dead wolfs pair of gray sad eyes was looking at him. He lower his weapon and came closer. Only than he noticed that one of the wolfes was alive yet. This wolf was the same, who was killed by him in first time. It was the matron mother of this pack. Her whole pack, her whole babies were killed on her eyes and she could do nothing. Nick could almost felt the confusion, sadness and hatred of this creature. If she could he would lie with torn throat already... but she was badly wounded and was dyeing slowly. All, she could do now, was to cry over the dead bodies of her dead babies and moan quietly, waiting for the death... Nick looked at club grimly and put it away. He drew his pistol and looked at this wolf again. It was the rule of this harsh world, but it wasn't becoming any more pleasant to do it. He pointed the pistol and pull the trigger.

[Follower]

Happy New Year, guys. I am not catolic and I don't care about Chrismas, but Merry Chrismas to you all anyway... I wish I could write something more funny, but I don't have right mood now. All this holidays makes me damn busy.

Tired eyes of an older woman was watching after the sun rise. Bright disc of the rising sun was colouring nearby mountains in red. High snow peaks was shining grimly in its rays and cold wind was wailing somewhere down there promising nothing good. Jace grinned and turned around. She was crossing this blasted mountains for the fourth or fifth time, but she couldn't get used to this strange feeling that somebody was watching after. Walls of stone was surrounding her. Light cover of dirty snow was chilling the air but it was a small problem... Jace got used to see open places and all this mountains were making her nervous. She felt herself as wild wolf in cage... Old, weather-beaten rocks were watching at her from all sides.

Small, half-deserted path was running through the huge ancient mountains. They were hanging above the heads of our travellers as doom, ready to consume them with their merciless grip. Well, there was much more real treat - snowfalls. Snow high peaks were gleaming grimly with its icy covering. One warm day and all this mountains would become deathtrap for everybody within it... An older woman looked at her back. The endless wasteland was running to the East. Small cloud of smoke was rising from the ruins of the former town, pillaged several hours ago. It was seen quite clearly from such distance and a mountain, which they were climbing to, was giving a good viewing point. Jace looked around and continued their way. They were far too close to the raiders and they should be hurry. Every minute they could send raiders to catch them. Even now Jace felt the worry, as she was leaving the raider's town now... She closed her eyes and remembered as she was following this strange old man. He passed calmly near the raiders and they even didn't ask him his name. The raiders were running here and there, but they were busy to watch after this two suspicious persons. They were not hiding and didn't try to run away. So they were left alone... for some time. But when the gates appeared in their sight...

"Hey, Jace, hurry up. We must run away as far as possible... soon enough we will rest, but now may be you'll MOVE YOUR FUCKING ASS..." - Jace heard loud cry of this old man and smiled lightly. Nobody dared to cry at her for so long that now it sounded as first word of alive person among zombies. May be Jace should hang him by his own tongue, but he saved her ass after all and it was meaning something for her. She shoke her head and continued her way. An older woman, her savior and two dozens of people were running to the West by small undetectable path, hiding in Western mountains. The shadows of huge mountains were dancing on the small path, running up into the west. There could be seen yet small groups of dead trees here and there. They were covered with snow as some fucking snowmen, who children like to make. Jace came closer to one of this things and kicked it with hatred. In a second the snow fell... and she shuddered and fell back. A dead man with face full of terror was looking at her. She was frozen with this expression forewer in this place as sign and warning for the danger. An old guard - leader of this bunch - came to Jace and grinned:
"You say that this way is safe."
"Safer than the others..." - she muttered and turned away.

The surroundings was changing slowly. The desert and the plains began to disappear and rocky earth began to be seen all around. Snow was lieing here with thick carpet on the earth. It was white and fresh. There were seen no signs of alive creatures on it. Some of the survivors began to smile and talk about themselfes, trying to make sure themselfes that this path is really unihabittated. An old guard only grinned and said nothing. He knew that this small bleak of hope could give them extra strength and they'll need it soon enough. The snow was untouched by alive persons because it was a great way to track their preys. Our small group was leaving a load of bloody signs of thier presence. It was far more than enough to the local dwellers to attack... He looked around grimly. Who would be their first hunters - mutants, cannibals, raiders... or may be fanatics. An old man heard that there was small cult of some fucking fanatics, worshipping to the Holy Flame or something like this. He spitted to the frozen earth, covered with snow and continued. The air was cold and his limbs began to hurt a little... he was too old for such games.

Jace was coming near an old guard and was looking at him attentivly. From the time of saving her skin, he didn't say a lot. She even didn't know his name. He was so private and grim, that she began to suspect something... or maybe he was pissed off by destruction of his dear town. She wasn't sure in it. Who could understand for sure the feelings of the people? Even that blasted psyckers, she heard so much about, couldn't read thoughts... Jace looked around quickly and smiled quietly. The people around her were quiet and grim, but there were seen hope in thier eyes. They lost everything, they had nothing, but they continued to live and it was enough reward for them. She thought about if they knew what was waiting for them. Surely they think that nothing worse would happen... Oh, they were so wrong. In this mountains the death was a reward... a relieve. It's nature itself was throwing this rules of life and nothing could be done against it. This spoils were lifeless and radioactives. The animals and people all around were deadly and half-mad. There was only one way for survival. You must kill if you want to see another day. You must kill to defend yourself. You must kill to get food. You must kill to show that you are strong... you must kill. Jace looked at this people, running slowly near her. Their faces were pale and tired. They were covered with blood of their children and ashes of their own burnt homes, but they were looking forward. It was thier current life... it was wasteland and you had to get used to it or die. Jace sighed and continued her way. She knew all this stuff too good and tried to live by its rules.

The wind was blowing lightly, bringing small portion of smoke from the east. The smell of death and blood could be felt quite clearly yet, though they travelled at least dozen of miles to the west. The way, they chose, was running near the mountains for the first several days of travel and then they would have to cross the mountains by foot. The way was running there through the harsh high peaks and radioactive dead valleys. Who could think what was lurking in it's dark shadows... Jace and everybody else around her heard a lot of nasty rumours about the dwellers of the mountains, but tried not to think about it. The memory of the slaughter, happened not so long ago, was giving them strengthes.
"Forward..." - old guard cried and row of the tired people continued the way.

An older woman has stopped finally and looked around. The sun was setting to the West, but it couldn't be seen. Large mountains were blocking the way. They were in a small rocky valley near the basement of the Western mountains. This place was called the Basement of the World. Some said that somewhere downhere the world was born... this world. There was also another reason for this name. One could say that this place really was the basement of the world. It was a vital part between East and West; place, where crossing the most of the roads. It could be a center of this continent. There could be built a fine city down there among the mountains. Thier rocky walls would give a good protection, but there was one small problem - mutans. This place was dead territory - radiation was too bad in this places and it was risky to travel here without this smart thingy, counting the radiation. One could sleep peacfully and didn't wake up. The radiation was a very tricky stuff and many believed that it was spirits and curse of this place... Anyway, this place was bad for everybody except mutants and large number of bones, seen all around was proving it. They were savage and brute, but they had brains too. That's why they didn't hurry to attack invaders on their territory... yet. It was only matter of time, when they'll gather enough strengths for attack, but for now this group of people was well armed and had good leadership. Some of them had a view of experienced fighter and it was bad idea to attack on their own... But soon enough they'll atack. Jace was sure in it. When she heard stupid talks of other people, who thought that nobody knew about their progress, she was only grinning. May be her eyes were not so keen now, but even she noticed quick shadows on the slopes of the mountains or quiet whisperes in the darkness. Several times she saw the gleam of the weapons and was ready for the battle, but something was stoping their invisble enemy. Heh, she knew that it was only matter of time.

The camp fire was burning brightly and cheerful. Fresh meat of geckos and brahmins was rusting quite nicely and delicious smells began to travel by the camp. Hungry people was looking after the cooking meal with lust, but they were waiting for their turn. This question was dealt with from the very beginning. Jace got her portion one of the first, but wasn't satisfied anyway. There were too little food and she consumed it in a second. Then she looked around and sighed helplessly. Old habits were wailing in her, but now she had to keep it at bay... Jace didn't eat anything for a long time and now hunger was tearing her guts appart. It looked like that she swallow a small wolf and now it was raging somewhere downthere. She stood up and decided to walk a little to resist the hunger. Fresh cold air could bring some relief - she knew it from her troublesome youth too.

Cheerful fire was throwing funny shadows on the all surrounding. The people was eating slowly and delicious juice of the meat was seen on their lips. Meat was so tasty that some even began to smile. They satisfied their hunger and were safe... at least they thought like this and it was bringing them peace for some time. Tomorrow grim expression will appear on their faces again, but now they were fine. Jace heard quiet talks and laugh in the camp, as it was not their families, who died hours ago... Well, who could judge them. They wanted to relax a little and this constant fear was bringing madness... Jace smiled to herself. Yes, she was mad, but it was her strength. She will relax after her death, but now she was preparing for combat. An older woman knew that it will happen soon. She felt it by her back. Jace checked her old shotgun and smiled lightly with satisfaction. The darkness hid her smile though and she continued her business. An older woman was siting on the remains of the dead tree beyond ring of light. The night was rulling in this parts and there were seen only stars far in the sky. Jace began to notice the call to the beaty to herself lately and looked above her. In the darkness of the sky were seen huge shadows of the mountains hanging in the air around her. And above among the small clouds crawling slowly the sky were seen stars. Their unclear, lurking light was promising a lot. In different time many people looked at them and though about future. What were they thinking about? What was their story? Only deadmen and stars could answer this question... The stars remained so quiet and mysterious as always. What was waiting her in the future? Jace sighed and put away her gun. It began to annoy her a little. All her life she was... Suddenly her thought were interrupted by quiet noise somewhere near. It was almost unheard, but clear enough to agitate Jace. She stood up quickly and drew her knife. An older woman didn't hurry to shot into the darkness - it could be foe or friend. She should know for sure. An older woman was good enough with this small knife not to worry about her life. Only really though mutants could deal with her in close combat and most of them were waiting for them ahead. This place was home for the ghouls or madmen mostly.

Jace looked into the darkness carefully, listening for every alien sound. Noises of nearby camp and crack of fire in the frozen air was the only sounds, disturbing the silence. Night's life was quiet in this mountains. Every sound could bring death and alive creature tried to be quiet... as dead as they should be. An older woman noticed motion in a several feets near her and rushed there. Her foe was quick, but not quick enough. This shadow started, having noticed the rushing Jace and tried to fell back... it was useless. Jace had a special grip for such persons as spies and traitors. She began to think what she would do with this person. Coldness of steel was felt in her right hand. The warm feeling of combat was raging in her heart. She pointed into the heart of her victim - more than likely that it was another spy, who came too close to their camp. Jace prepared to hit him... but something went wrong. She found herself on the ground in a several feets near her foe. Somehow he was able to get free and now was rushing at her on his own. Well, she didn't wait to get good fighter in this blasted mountains, but didn't lost her mind. She got up quickly and rushed at him too...

The darkness... Silent death, as some call it. From the darkness could come help or danger. Nobody know what to wait from it and nobody liked it. In dozens of meters there was camp and people were laughing, but here the mad fight was raging. It was silent and deadly fight. Jace understood after the first several punches that her for is not a weak one. He didn't have such good education in fight, as she had, but he was quick, strong and deadly. She felt the strength of his fingers even through her armour. This guy could crush her bones easily, if he could came closer, but Jace didn't allow this to happen. She dodging and attacking, she was punching and falling back. Unclear shadow of her enemy was hanging in the air near her and the wall of darkness was seen all around. The scene of the battle was a narrow path, running to the West. It was a bad place for a fight, but it was a bad place for a shooting too. Her enemy was too close to give her a good chances. She threw away her shotgun and continued her attack... Good-aimed punch into the lungs and her foe is finally defeated. Jace smiled and came closer to him. Weak wheeze and cough was heard from that place. It was a good fight - Jace smiled with satisfaction, though the blade in her arm was gleaming not so cheerful. An older woman liked this small party, but it was a time to finish it. Her body began to hurt again from the wounds and she was tired, though the hunger wasn't felt any more. There was only one thing left to deal with. She wanted to see the face of her foe. It was an honour she didn't show to everybody... Jace took the handmade watches and burnt one. In a weak light of the shaking fire she found to her surprise the raged face of her savior...

"YOU?!" - she couldn't express her surprise and laugh. May be her face was a funny thing to look at, but an old guard was not so happy.
"J... Jace..." - he wheezed, trying to catch an air. The blood was flowing strongly from his mouth and nose. An older woman put away her knife, gathered her equipment and came closer to him with caution:
"What does it mean, pal?"
"It's me... <cough> who must ask it. Give me your fucking hand..." - an old man stood up with help of Jace and she noticed that this old guard was much stronger than he looked like. Normal man would die in a minutes after such strong punch, but this one survived and even was ready for another battle, though he was coughing a little.
"Damn, Jace... what the hell you doing? I am your friend... the one, who saved you or may be you don't remember it. May be spent so much time in your fucking ranger's travels to forget about it..." - warning sounded in his voice, but Jace only smiled coldly.
"Some fucking bastard was watching after me in the darkness. Were you waiting anything else..?"
An old guard grinned and said nothing. In a few minutes he answered though:
"Ok... it's my mistake. I should now that your - western rangers are nervous. My eastern kin is more relaxed."
"That's why I didn't hear a lot about eastern rangers. They are killed too quick..." - she muttered grimly and became silent. The darkness was hanging all around and they couldn't see the faces of each other. Sometimes Jace thought that this old man was smiling, but may be it was her suspicious nature.
"What's your name, pal?" - she asked suddenly and noticed that her savior started.
"What's your business with it?" - he answered cautionsly and Jace smiled. This one had his own ghoust, but she didn't want to mess with it. It was his business.
"I simply think that I should know who saved my life and who I almost kill." - she asked and laughed.
"Yeah, right..." - she heard his answer and smile was heard in it. - "To tell the truth it was a good fight. You are a good ranger... My name is Jess."
"It's good to hear it. You are a good fighter too, Jess. It's good to have such person on our side... Soon enough we'll get a lot of fight." - she nodded to him and looked into the shadows, lurking ahead. An old guard looked at people, laughing somewhere near, and sighed:
"They are near... I feel them by my back. I hear their cries in the night... they are gathering for a grand fight. Several tribes or more... I was scouting around and found their tracks..."
Jace looked at him grimly and answered:
"You knew from the very begining that half of the people must die. We don't have enough supplies to survive for so long. Food is running out. Water is low. To melt the snow is too dangerous - radiation, poison and all this stuff. Small mountain's rivers... we are not so luck to find one."
Jess was quiet for some time and than said:
"People want to have hope. They don't care what it will be but they want to get future. This people - he pointed to the camp - could die in the town, but they fought. They spilled their blood and guts to came here. They lost everything and don't want to lose the last thing they have - their hope. Yes, most of them will die, but they'll support the rest with life to continue the fight..."
"You mean cannibalism" - she asked calmly. It was not so terrible for her, but guard shuddered.
"Yes... we must it the dead to live. If you want to live you must eat... this is the rule."
Jace was thinking for some time about his words and than smiled lightly:
"You know, this reminds me about one story, which happened here long ago. Do you know who is called this path? The path of the deadmen..." - she stoped for a while looking around and than continued:
"Long ago, even before the time when our ancestors woke up the raging fire and darkness consumed our world, this place was harsh and unwelcome. When the first of our ancestors tried to cross this mountains, they felt terrible suffering. One day a large group of settlers was crossing the mountains by the same way, we choose. All was well from the very begining, but this treacheous place is grim. Snowfall blocked them and they were left to the grip of terrible death from the starvation. Food ended soon enough and people began to die... And do you know what they have done?" - Jace looked at old man and noticed in the darkness his blue grim eyes:
"Cannibalism... I heard this story and it is more real than all this shit."
"Yes, they spent a whole winter in this fucking mountains eating each other. Waiting with anticiptation when the next one will die to eat him too... There were thousand of people from the very begining and to end there were only dozens left. They survived and reached Western coast, but... how do you think, will we be so lucky? Will we survive?"
Jess said nothing. There were seen nobody around her. She smiled grimly and became silent. Quiet stars were looking at her from the sky...

[Follower]

Heh, I thought that I was stronger... Just recently I saw dead body and I must say that it was a grim experience. When I write all this shit this is one stuff, but when I see it on you own this is very different. I can't even describe this feeling when I saw that man... Dead, cold, lifeless... Damn, I am sure that I'll get quite good dreams today. Anyway, it was a good experience... I think it will help me to describe things more... clearly. Sorry, but right now I am rather drained to write something. Of corse, nobody care it, but it makes me easy to say that I'll start again... let's say in a several days. Now I need time to think about some stuff.

[Follower]

Young woman was looking at the snow and was cursing it. That blasted thing began to fall in most inconvinient time - it was promising a load of shitty problems and only one bonus. She sighed deeply and spited on the frozen land. The rocky mountains was a bad places. Southern way, which they were passing by, was twice bad and this snow made it triple more shitty. Snowfall could happen every minute. They couldn't see their own nose in that fucking snow and it was bringing chill air, darkness, danger... and death. Mutants liked to lurk in this blasted stuff... but there was at least one good side - more than likely that raiders wouldn't go after them. It was a slight chance that they'll decide to chase them, though Daisy couldn't imagine what they could want from them, but now she was sure that that blasted carrion eaters will remain on their food-grounds. They had enough booty and it was too dangerous to go in this places...

Nick looked at the falling snow and grinned. It was the first snow in this year. Winter was cold and harsh, but there were no snow. Chill wind, deadly radioactive clouds, bunch of problems - winter always was happy to share it with that people, but snow. It was rare sigh in that place. Water cyrcle didn't work so nice now and it was good enough, because snow didn't bring anything except death and new suffering:
"Just in time... and I thought what would happen to sweet our life little more?" - he said and looked evily at the sky. It was clear mostly and it was promising that snow will end soon, but one couldn't be sure in something in that blasted mountains. The weather was uncertain as young woman there. Nick looked grimly at Daisy, but said nothing. They were travelling to the south near the great mountains. She said that passage will appear soon enough, but for now Nick saw only gray rocks and blocked passages of snow and stone.

The heavy bag was hanging on his back. Leathers, full of blood was hitting his legs, but he didn't complain. Daisy was coming near him and had twice more pacage on her own. She even didn't sweet and was coming easily. Nick could only be jealous to her strength and endurance... He stoped for a while and wiped away a sweet from his forehead. Snow was mixing with it and was distracting his attention. May be he should take less food, but he didn't believe that even that food will be enough to cross the mountains. As he understood it the pass was running for ten days or more to the south-west and was turning directly to the north. In that place was dwelling the most of the mutants and it was the most dangerous place of their travel. Their first days should be rather calm, because southern reaches were deserted and deadly. There were no caves or ruined pre-war buildings. All, who wanted to live there, were wolfes and radscorpions. More advanced creatures, as deathclaw or mutants, prefer to dwell near the northern reaches. The mountains were high and rich there. The caves were large and safe. Raiders and other tasty meat was crawling almost on every turn... When Daisy said it, Nick looked at her attentivly and understood that she was bluffing. May be she was killing machine, but blood... at least human's blood was new for her.

So, they were coming like this, blabing quietly about the mountains and their dark shadows was seen before them. Lonely wailing of wind was traveling in it's reaches and small grey snow, as ashes or tear of the dead town was falling on the ground.

Nick looked at their track and noticed:
"If this continue we will become someone's supper..." - he looked at the sun, which began to set and continued - "We'd better hit our signs or..."
"Relax, Nick... there is no reasons to worry." - Daisy yawned and smiled - "By the way, I didn't thank you for this time, that you allow me to sleep so long. Oh, it was so great... I didn't sleep so good for ages."
Nick looked at her gleaming eyes and grinned:
"Sure. When such a good guard on the post there is no worry needed... why did you say that I shouldn't worry. The track is quite clear."
"Oh, com'on. Who will hunt us here. I told you already. The main problems on the north. This path is realm of animals... to the north we'll find raiders and all other filth. I could lead you there from the very beginning, but I know safer route to walk into the mountains to the west as far as possible, until... Yeah, soon enough will meat our lovely bags of shit - there is no way to the west, but through their lovely hands, but believe me that I save you a lot of nerves... and about snow. Tracks will be hidden by snow or wind. There is nothing for us afraid of. This land is territory of that wold pack, whose bodies will feed us for a long time..." - she looked at her pacage and smiled - "so, I don't think that we'll hear them soon."
"I doubt it. Wolfes have revengeful spirit... No matter." - Nick sighed tiredly and looked to the West. Daisy looked at him grimly, but said nothing. They had a long journey ahead and he had to travel far. He will get no help in that place and he should know it. Young guard looked into her eyes and suddenly started and turned away. He knew it, he knew every thought, that was crawling in her mind. The journey was too long. There were not enough food even with all their supplies. If they willn't get some extra food on their way, than somebody will have to... Nick grined and continued his way. His shotgun was hanging on his back and his knife, whose blade was travelling swieftly by skin of his foes and friends alike, was reflecting his feelings. He was ready for that time. Daisy smiled too. Her former companion was a temporal additional help, but it could be changed into the good piece of meat in every minute. Her wild side was licking her lips in her mind, but something was afraid of this. This strange feeling, which she began to feel, when she found herself in company with this male... She followed Nick, looking at his back darkly.

Snow didn't stop even when darkness began to crawl near the foot of the mountains. The sun was high yet, but it was clear that it would disappear soon enough. Our company was coming to the south all the time, looking around cautionly. Sometimes they heard the howling of the wolfes... or may be it was hawling of the wind. Sometimes they saw the darkshadows, following them, but they disappeared quicker, than they could notice anything for sure. May be it was their tiredness, but to the end of that day even Daisy began to feel herself tired and very pissed off. There is no need to tell what was happening with Nick. Every limb of his body was hurting, his head was like a dumb piece of wood. Even that club, with which he was crushing heads of the wolfes, was like as soft silk for him. It looked like that he could crush stones with his head. At least he thought that it was true. He looked heavily on the Daisy, marching ahead and muttered something unpleasant. Her small tail was hanging tiredly over her back and her body was shaking lightly with every step, but she continued to walk fast and steady. His own body didn't follow him so good and in every motion of this blasted creature he began to see an insult to him. The time was running very slowly and every new step was coming more and more difficult. The blood began to rush in his head. The ears were ringing madly. Lungs were ready to tear apart... And what was the worst, he could swear, that the same bodies, he helped to smoke, were looking at him grimly. They had no heads, but he felt the look of their evil, bloodthirsty eyes on his back... Tiredness is making strange jokes with people.
"It's time to stop, Daisy... May be you can to march a whole damn day, but I am not so... stubborn. Give me some time to rest."
Daisy stoped for a while and looked at him seriously:
"We don't have enough time. The pass is near, we must reach it before the darkness fall." - her voice was serious and her look... He couldn't catch her look. She was hiding her eyes from him. What was happening with her. Young guard looked around and suddenly felt the same stuff. The sense... the sense of prominent hurry. They must hurry. They must go... run... leave this blasted place something bad was going to happen soon. Nich started, but stoped anyway. He trusted his feelings sometimes, but it was not the same business. He was tired, he was angry and he wanted to get rest. Daisy stoped and looked at him in hurry:
"What's your problem? We are in deep ass and if you willn't hurry we'll sink in it completly soon enough."
"I don't know who are you running from, but I am tired. I prefer to die, fighting, than die, running. Several more hours like this and I'll die for sure."
"Fucking moron. Do you even realise what are you talking? This mountains... this place... the blood, which we are holding... I spent enough time here to understand that..." - she looked in his tired evil eyes and sighed deeply. There were no point to talk with him. In this time it was meaningless - "Nevermind. We will not run away from them anyway. I wanted to save your sorry ass, Nick, but it looked like that you prefer to die."
Young guard gazed at her and said harshly:
"Leave me to save my ass. I can deal with many problems... as one, I see now... " - he stoped for a while and suddenly realised that he said something dangerous. Young woman started and her look became cold... cold as death.
"You said ssssomething?" - she hissed quietly and stoped. Her package left her back and now she was standing before him, waiting for his response. Her eyes searching him grimly. Nick put his package to the ground and sighed deeply with reliefe. He tried to look calm, but he could feel the gaze of this creature on his skin and it was unpleasant feeling:
"I said that you spent too much time in this mountains. Relax a little. We all need rest..."
"You need rest. I can give you rest... eternal rest, if you'll try something like this again." - she showed him her teeth and turned away. Uneasy silence hanged over the scene for some time. It was dangerous silence and it must be broken as quick as possible. Nick grined and came closer to Daisy. He felt as all her muscle became aware, but he didn't show it:
"Ok, no offense... Daisy. I know that you are as tired as I am. This fucking place is draining our strengths. There is enough dangers outthere, waiting for us. We needn't waste our strengthes on each other..."
He touched her shoulder and felt that she started. Young woman didn't want to look at him for some time, but than she rose her eyes... and he noticed that smile... Once again he saw that beatiful gentel smile, which was hidden under the cover of this beast. It was so wonderful... Though there was cold in this mountains, he felt himself warm and comfortable:
"Th... thanks..." - he heard her only words and a wave of warmth rushed through all his body, bringing life and strength. Only several moments ago he was tired, angry and drained, but now he was anew and refreshed.
"You are welcome... Ok, if you wish, than let's go. I rested a little."
Smile disappeared from the face of Daisy, but some inner light remained there:
"No, you are right. We travelled enough this day... We need a rest or we'll kill each other... There must be a small river on the southern board near that mountains" - she pointed somewhere to the south-east - "go there and I'll prepare the fire. Take the blood and mix it with water or it will dry soon."
Nick nodded:
"Of corse... even I know it. One of the rules of the survivalment" - he grinned and took two leather bags full of blood. They were heavy, but not so heavy now. He caught her light smile again and turned away. He went there on his own and even didn't look at her again...

Daisy looked at him with sorry and sighed deeply:
"I hope I'll see you again, pal... I can only hope." - she put away one of the skinned bodies of the wolfes and began to make a meal.

[Follower]

Dark shadows was running by the slopes of the mountains. Quiet wind was singing his unclear song to the stone. Hissing of the nearby river was mixing with it, bringing strange feeling of someone's presence. Nick checked his gun once again and looked around nervously. The sun set long ago. The sky was dark and gray. The snow didn't stop and gray clouds were crawling by it. Sometimes it was difficult to say when mountains ended and cloudes began. They were dark, formless, cold... Young guard started from the blow of chill wind and continued his business. The small mountain's river was running it's waters down the one of the southern slops to the basement of it. Small lake was seen there. It looked like that water was leaving it through the underground means... Nick grined and took one of the leather bags, he was draging with himself. His job was not the most pleasant one, but he liked it anyway. At least, they'll have enough safe stuff to drink. He checked the water and found out that it was poison. There were a large amount of radiation in it. In large portions it could be quite deadly, but in this case... He began to mix the blood with water. Red stuff already had dark-brown colour and bad odour. It promised nothing good, but it was the only source of water in this place.

The snow was falling slowly, whirling in the strong wind of the mountains. Loud echo was travelling among it's high peaks. Sometimes he heard someones talks or gunshots, but who could say for sure? May be it was the wailing of the wind or echo... or something else. One time he thought that he heard sounds of battle somewhere far to the north, but sounds disappeared so soon, that he decided that it was nothing. The other reason for such decsion was that he didn't want to mess with it - he had enough of his own problems and he didn't want to find something new... Once again he felt this strange look. Nick shuddered and looked attentivly into the darkness, surrounding him. He could swear that there was somebody near him. He heard it's quiet breath, he felt it's presence... Young guard wanted to make fire, but it could attract a lot of native dwellers of this place and he didn't want to get another bunch of bloodthirsty monsters on his back. Nick had enough of them already. He grinned and continued his work in the darkness. Whatever it was, it didn't hurry to attack him and it was the only thing that worried him.

Darkness was not so thick. Nick could see dark shadows of the high mountains seen before him. He could see lonely star sometimes, appeared from the cover of the clouds. Snow was gleaming lighly in the darkness, reflecting rays of the unseen moon. Young guard yawned lightly. He wanted to sleep. This day was harsh for him, but it looked like that it wasn't going on to stop. With with hand Nick checked the knife, hanging on his belt. Dark shadows were crawling in the blackest pits all around. He noticed or felt their quick motions. Young guard could swear that he saw gleaming eyes of dozen of creature or may be more... wolfes. Young guard wasn't surprised to see them. He knew that they'll track them down. He couldn't understand why they were trying to hide and what were they waiting for... Nick washed his hands from the tried blood and stood up - his business was over. This nasty stuff of blood and poison water was ready. Surely, it was not the best stuff to drink, but you willn't die at least from thirst. He looked at the murky stuff of the leather bag and grinned. More than likely that the smell of blood will attract enough of problems to this place soon enough. At least now its smell wasn't felt so clearly. Before now this bags were like a lighthouse for every monster in dozens of miles...

"Okay, It's time to return. What time is it now, I wonder?" - he asked himself quite loudly. He didn't wait to get an answer because he wanted to interrupt this heavy silence. Nick wanted to hear the sound of his voice and to be sure that he is alive yet and not some part of this fucking dark kingdom. To his surprise his voice sounded so loud and alien in this place. It looked like that it was a voice of another man. He started and began to collect his stuff quickly. This place really began to annoy him. Suddenly he heard quiet, hissing sound and almost jumped to the sky. He didn't wait to get the response, young guard didn't know and didn't want to meet some intelligent being in this place because it promised nothing good except problems, but he heard the sounds of the voice and it was a fact:
"It's time of your death, human... Full moon and blood of my friends command me."
Nick quickly drew his shotgun and pointed it in direction of this voice. It was coming from one of the holls in the slope of the nearby mountain and this voice was almost unheard in wailing of the snow. In murky shadow of the night it was hard to see even the mountains - to see the owner of this voice was almost impossible. Wind changed it greatly and it was hard even to determine if it was man's or woman's voice. Young guard grinned and shouted loudly:
"What's your problem..? I need no problems. Sit in this hole and everybody will be happy."
In response he heard quiet, but very evil laugh:
"You think that I treat it?! If I wanted you would lie with broken neck long ago and my friends were festering on your bones... but this is not my will... and not his will..."
"What a hell are you talking about..? No matter, Listen, I don't have time to blab with madmen. Good bye. It was a pleasure to blab with you and all that stuff." - he draged his package on his back and tried to leave this place, but he was caution and looked around attentivly. Nick remembred quite good that danger could come from any side... He waited to see bunch of madmen, pack of wolfes or other monsters. May be he will die, but his life... He looked around, but saw nothing. Nick didn't heard this voice any more, so he decided that this mysterious madman left already. Young guard rose his eye and prepared to make the first step to leave the lake... and stoped. Huge shadow was standing before him and was looking at him grimly. Small red furr, horns, huge claws, which could tear almost everything apart... two small red eyes, looking after him. Deathclaw... Nick wanted to smile or joke, but words stucked in his throat. He was already in the dead list. This creature was far more than he could deal with... he thought that Daisy was a powerful fighter, but when he looked at muscels of this guy, he shuddered. Even fucking holy armour of that blasted BOS was nothing against this... How could such creatures appeared on the Earth? Creature looked in his eyes and laughed. The smell of rotting flesh and fresh blood overhelmed him:
"Don't worry, little man. I mean no harm to you... As I said already I had enough chances for this... but this is not your destiny. Know this, human, that you are standing near the holy lake of the neverending source. As it's keeper and caretaker, I must look after all ceremonies and challanges of the surrounding."
Surely it was quite a talkative creature. Nick couldn't believe but this Deathclaw was smart... and strong. He was very old and his skin became pale. Furr on his back was gray and torn in several places, but he was healthy enough. How old was he? It was hard to say this by his feathers, but Nick thought that he was at least five dozens years old. While the deathclaw continued his talk, Nick was looking at him attentivly. The sense of power and dominating will was coming from his dark eyes. His voice was quiet, but strong and it made everybody to listen to him. His words meant nothing to Nick, but he listened this creature as if he was hypnozed. Whomever he was, he was a power in this place and young guard shouldn't piss him off.
"Who... who are you?" - he asked quietly finally and looked at his shotgun with doubt. His first shot from this babe will be his final one against such creature - it was not his battleground. Old deathclaw stoped for a while, looking into the eyes of this human and than answered slowly. His voice was quiet and calm, as water in the nearby lake. His eyes were gleaming with wisdom and intelligence of many years. This creature sighed deeply and answered:
"My answer on your question is that I am Xarn. The last warrior of long dead pack. I was unable to defend my brethern and was cursed by spirits of the nature... Only by serving in this holy place I can find some rest."
"Intelligent deathclaw..? How wierd... It looks like it's my destiny to meet them all around, though nobody else even heard about such stuff."
"You are damn lucky, that you saw another unfortunate soul like me. We were created by mistake, we were slain by bad luck... only cursed ones left to tell thier stories to the humans. Who was he? Goris? Somebody else... No matter. The tides of darkness will welcome us all soon enough... Anyway, I am performing the role of judje in this mountains. You was challanged in the time of full moon and only one will leave this holy grounds. The blood of the dead will mix with water and ground of this place to clear the soul and bring life in it... It is the will of the Nature." - the creature rose his hands like a priest, praising to his gods and it looked quite humourous. It's a pity that Nick's ass was in a big troble. He had no mood to laugh.
"Who challanged me? Another deathclaw... some mad mutant..? May be I'll simply leave and..."
Loud roar interrupted his words. The deathclaw was old and quite mad, but he was strong enough and rage was firing in his veins even now. Some say that only dead deathclaw is not raging. May be they are right.
"NO, human... the challange was thrown and my duty is to fullfil it ot your blood as blood of your challanger will greet each other on the bottom of the lake. Your destiny will be judged today at the face of full moon and dead spirits of the earth. Great sacrilige was taken place today and only sacrifice can clean your soul... or forsaken your body. The brother in blood and soul, the one who was killed today will return to fight with you again - the will of the nature will be seen there..."
"Er, what?!" - Nick understood that soon enough he will have to fight. May be than he will be free from this madmen, but for now...
"The friends... many of my friends were killed today by your hands, human. By your hands and hands of the cursed one, whose name is dark and alien. Gray furr, hatred in vision... long fangs - you killed them and now the spirit of the mountains will return to challange you. If you'll survive the challange, you will meet the sunrise and the reborn of your spirit. I'll learn you the ways of the nature and your destiny will be changed. Or you will die... in any way you will return to your fiendish friend in a new form."
Nick looked at this beast with caution. This deathclaw was... wierd to say at least. He thought that he was a servant of nature or something, protecting small radioactive lake. Surely, it was Nick's good luck to meet this one. All this shit about spirits was making him sick, but he had to listen. This fella could tear him apart.
"Do you know the half-deathclaw? The one, who I am travelling with... cursed one?" - he asked finally and looked at this creature. He couldn't kill him, so he had to play in his game. He put his package on the ground and was waiting for something patiently.
"Yes, I know her dark spirit. The poison of human's nature and rage of deathclaw's heritage are firing in her blood. Her mind is not the one and soon enough she'll have to make a decision."
"What decision?" - Nick didn't understand a word from the blabing of this mad freak, but it became to fun him to listen this old guy. May be he should stay here for some time to listen for him.
"Her destiny... Your destiny lies in my hands, but her's is lieing in her hands... and your's too. Strange. She doesn't want to accept the wild essence of her parents and she doesn't want to get the nature of human's life. It looks like that cursed one likes to stand on the border between wild and human's... She tries not to lost one or another thing, but this is not possible. She'll had to sacrifice something to gain her essence and destiny. Spirits are talking so..."
Nick grinned and looked around. There were no signs of would-be foes. All was quiet and calm. Snow was whirling in the air and was falling slowly into the motionless waters of the lake.
"So, when shall we start? And what's next - as I understood I'll have to cut some wolf to satisfy your sadistic intentions and than I'll have to listen all this stuff till the morning. After that I'll be free, am I right?"
In an answer large creature nodded his head and laughed:
"You don't listen me, but my words will find the sense in your head in time. Your destiny lies before you, don't lose it." - he said quietly and became silent. It was clear that he didn't want to say anything else now. He fell into the darkness and disappeared there. Nick didn't see it and even couldn't feel it's presence, but he knew that this beast was near. Darkness was like a second home for them and they could be quite stealthy there. Nick sighed and looked at his gun. What was waiting for him now? Another mindless slaughter, death... or destiny, whatever it was. It looked like that this creature really had something to say to him, but what was that. Young guard looked at the sky. It was covered with clouds as always and gray. Even stars disappeared there. Nick suddenly felt himself terribly tired and lonely. He wanted to talk with somebody. Nick wanted to see Daisy again. To see her large, smiling eyes... He wanted even to hear the laugh of this blasted deathclaw. All surroudning silence was overhelming him. He wanted to sleep terribly, but he couldn't. He knew that soon the fight will happen. So Nick should be ready... Well, may be he'll lay a little. He didn't want to rest, but... his legs was hurting, so why not to give them rest. And hands... and eyes. Let's close them a little and... He closed his eyes... All fell into the silence of the dream. Darkness was all around. Stones were warm and soft, as flesh. The water was gigling as her voice... What was that? Nick began to see this blasted half-breed in his dreams?! Was he in love with her? May be... may be he could think about it, but he was too tired to think about something. He only wanted to get rest... Young guard couldn't see two large yellow eyes, appeared near him. He didn't hear quiet breath and clash of fangs near his throat. He was sleeping...
"I hope I'll see you again..." - muttered the darkness echo of the unspoken words.

[Follower]

Snow was falling slowly. The wind was blowing lightly in the face of the tired men. Chill air was biting and barking all around... Small group of people was standing on the small mountains path, running to the west and was waiting nervously. Endless black night was hanging over their heads as the shadow of their future. Dark figures of the mountains looked like huge giantes, ready to consume them. Quiet whispers and heavy breath were the only sounds in the dark night. All other sounds disappeared under the cover of the snow.
"Are you sure..?" - one of the people asked his friend, holding his gun nervously - "Are you sure that they are..." - his voice disappeared in loud howling somewhere near. This howling... this sound had no natural origines. It had human's nature. It was a howling of the man.

Jace looked around and smiled grimly. They attacked sooner than she anticipated. Well, that's better. Tomorrow she will have a good breakfast. Few will remain to share the food with her. An older woman looked at the people, surrounding her, and saw fear in their eyes. They didn't see cannibals in their whole life, but the rumours about their savagy and dark rituals were roaming the wasteland quite good. Jace could imagine what was happening with most of them. They were afraid of this guys... Damn, Jace even could feel their fear, but they didn't run. They didn't scream. Their faces were pale, but they were holding their weapons strongly. They all knew that it was their only chance to survive. Panic was bringing death. An old guard came to one of the guards, standing in first ranks, and looked into the darkness:
"What do you think, son? How many of them are there?"
Guard looked nervously at Jess and smiled lightly:
"Less, than we can handle, sir. Don't worry, all this shit willn't pass with us. We are not frightened merchants and we..." - he couldn't finish. Black wooden arrow pierced his body and stucked in his chest. Jess looked at the falling body of a young man and cursed blasted darkness. Cannibals could see good in the darkness somehow and it was bad news.
"Do you have any brilliant ideas, Jace? We are good targets here on the open grounds. They will shoot use as brahmins..." - he dodged anothe arrow and fell back. The arrows and spears began to fall at them from all sides. People tried to dodge it, but several of them were lieing dead already. Darkness began to fill with wailing of the people and weapons. Cries of the wounded and dead were heard everywhere. An older woman looked at Jace and muttered quietly:
"Hold them for a while. I need some time." - her shadow disappeared as quickly, as there were nobody at all. An old guard thought that this bitch ran away, but he had no time to chase after her. His people was dieing and he had to do something. Trying to recry the sounds of the battle he shot two times into the air. Some of the people looked at him, though other were busy saving their lifes.
"Fall back to the southern slopes - stand in cyrcle and fire randomly. We need ammo, don't waste it uselessly." - he lower his voice and said tiredly - "this filth is only the beginning. Soon we'll have much worser..."

Darkness was whirling around people madly. They couldn't say where was south or north. The pass was running treachously from one to other side. Arrows and spears were singing their deadly song. Dark shadows and angry cries of their foes were heard here and there. The attacks sometimes stoped for a while, but than they attacked again more furious than before. An old guard was leading his people to the southern slopes, firing seldomly into the darkness. He didn't hope to kill at least anybody, but he tried to push them back. If cannibals felt that the opponent was strong enough, than they tried to flee... It looked like that they were sure in their strengths now. Five of his men were lieing dead now, left somewhere downthere. Several more of them had bad bleeding wounds. Arrows were stucked there and they had no time to put them away. Jess noticed another shadow came too close to him and shot. The bullet flew through someone's chest and disappeared in the darkness. Another cry of the dead hanged in the night...

Coldness... Jess felt as chill is running by his skin... He felt as cold steel of a spear is piercing his body. An old guard was experienced enough to understand that it was not a deadly wound. He was nailed to the ground and blood was running from his large wound on the leg. The vein was hurt and dark, warm blood was flowing quickly on the frozen land. Snow was falling on the dirt of the ground, raised by foots of dozens of men and enriched by their blood. He knew what was waiting for him. An old guard became weak. He became a problem for the rest and he will be left alone. They all were busy and they couldn't recover him anyway. People had another leader - young guard with the same determination on his face. Yes, Jess always liked this one. He was a good guard... and he will be a good leader. He closed his eyes and tried to fall into unconsciousness. The pain was terrible. The blood was flowing on his forehead two. He didn't remember when he got this wound. May be he was cut lighly by one of the flying arrows... It had no meaning now anyway. Now he would be a food for the cannibals. They valued alive persons as food most of all. That's why they prefered not to use poison. Jess opened his eyes and looked into the darkness. Was it darkness of the death or the darkness of the night. He couldn't say for sure. An old guard felt himself weaker with every minute. His body felt no warmth within anymore. Blood was flowing slowly now and his breath became quiet... he began to wheeze lightly. Snow began to fall in his mouth, when he tried to grab mouth with his air. Hands were shaking lightly, trying to grab wet earth. The agony of death welcomed him...

He felt to the ground and sighed lighly. Lungs didn't hurry to collapse now. The blood left it and returned to veins... Gunshots and cry of the people disappeared long ago... disappeared in his cries and wheeze. Dead silence was hanging around him. Darkness consumed him as dark blanket. He didn't see or hear anything. An old guard didn't feel coldness anymore. His only feeling now was tiredness... He was so tired that he wanted to close his eyes and fall asleep... but he couldn't. Pain was returning him to consciousness any time. He lost in counting what time the agony was happening with him. The mouth was spluttering madly, he couldn't feel his tongue from numerous bites, when he tried to put away the pain. The agony of death was bringing no calmness for him...

"Oh, it's you... I see that you are alive yet. Heh, quite impressive for a person of your age." - quiet voice was coming from the depth of his mind. He couldn't understand what was that or who was talking with him. His mind was shut down and now only feeling could hear it. An old guard heard it... and he heard the pain. Than he was alive after all... Jess tried to open his eyes, but he couldn't. He had no strength even to move. His breath was quiet and light. Air was running in almost unwillingly.
"Hey, relax, pal. I know what do you feel now. My left lung is pierced too. Don't move and it willn't be so painful."
Jess, tried to understand where he was lieing, but he felt nothing. His whole body was like, made from wood. He felt nothing, nothing at all, except pain and tiredness. Jess opened his mouth lightly and tried to say something, but he heard only his wheeze and light moan. His unseen friend laughed lighly, but wheezed two. In a several minutes he said hardly:
"Don't try to say something... You are too weak now. You'll be okey in a few days - all this herbs, that that bastars collected works fine. I'll explain everything soon enough, but now you must sleep... and me too. Enough to say that we were betrayed. Others left us... and your fucking guide... <cough>... I wish I could cut my name on her face... Sleep, we'll need all our strengths soon enough..." - quiet voice disappeared in the darkness of his consciousness and Jess fell asleep...

[avenger69ie]

follower, in your first post you mentioned your bad grammar and why you dont want to fix it etc...

you also seem to under the impression that people can understand what you are talking about in your stories.

if you made some minor adjustments to your grammar, everyone (english speaking) would enjoy your stories more.

i am absolutely serious about your grammar, to get more people to read it, you need to get the spelling right (a crime i have often, and still commit) and the grammar itself needs to be put to an acceptable level.

on the plus side, i enjoyed the story, while finding it hard to read.

**also, 170 something people have seen this post to date.**

anyway, my advice is try reading the other fan fictions, and check the grammar etc.. you english is very good, but it needs work for the rest of us to understand what it is that you are trying to explain to us.

[Follower]

Ok, I understood your idea. If you are serious than let's talk serious. I really try to write without mistakes, but it is too much for me. Sometimes I simply push the wrong button, sometimes I put Present instead of the Past, sometimes I use the wrong word. All this minor problems in major gives a bad results. It is difficult even for me to understand my story sometimes... Grim results, but I don't wait something better. Experience is the best teacher, I say - I learn, I write, I am becoming better. I wish I could put away all this mistakes, but I am sure that you know what does it mean to check the grammar. It really piss off any men and my mood is not the best one in human's history.

170 visits, you say. I really don't want to ruin your optimistic view, but three quaters of this visits are mein or moderator's ones. The other persons are like you or me, who visit this story, look at it for several minutes (or seconds) and than leave it. I judge by myself, so I don't want to argue about it. You have your point of view, I have mein... Well, thanks for attention anyway. It is always pleasant to talk about my or your creation, don't you think so? <Sigh> Oh, I feel myself much better now. Holidays are over and I don't have such big headache. Ok, I'll really try to look after my grammar, but you shouldn't wait a lot from it... Have a nice day.