Intro post [open]

[best_companion]

Lucy Saxon had never been more glad to see the merest hints of civilization. She was tired of riding and her horse was getting tired of being ridden. Under normal circumstances she rather enjoyed riding bareback. She hadn't won prizes during her school years for nothing

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[itllhurtifido]

The town, unfortunately, has seen better days, what with that horrible storm that's recently passed through. Of course, that might be difficult to notice, since the storm's departure has left behind a thick, persistent fog everywhere.

The town also... well, seems deserted, at least, because just about everyone's been holed up in the VFW hall waiting for the storm to die down. The fog's put something of a crimp in the plan, though, and those people who were capable and willing have gotten rounded up by the Sheriff and sent to scout around and make sure it's safe enough for people to go home

[terra_afirma]

"...can't see your hand in front of your face," Nathan is grousing off in the distance somewhere, voice muffled by the ever present fog. It's damp and low-hanging, enough that even though Nathan is wearing a Very Sensible parka, he's chilly and cold. (Ex-military yes, and so does not complain, but he's still spent a lot of time in very posh New York quarters and is more than a little out of the habit of doing this kind of thing.)

He trains his Mag-Lite toward the animal sound, a sort of scritching, feral falsetto yowl. But lo, the beam catches the smallish blonde woman that is Lucy (although obviously Nathan doesn't know that yet), dividing his attention a little. Smith gets a wary sort of glance - it's not that they hang newcomers around here or anything, it's just that every fifth person or so tends to be some kind of evil deranged monster thing.

"You all right, miss?" ...well, at least he didn't tip his hat.

[best_companion]

"Yes, yes I'm fine thank you." British stiff upper lip and all that, although she stayed close to her horse (it was funny how quickly she'd thought of it as her horse) in case she needed to be off in a hurry. Not all people she'd met had been...pleased to see a stranger was a nice way of putting it.

Lucy squints in the direction of the light attempting to discern who the shape in the fog was. At the moment she can barely make out the man's shape. Tall, athletic and obviously from his voice, of good breeding. Everything else was a bit of a blur.

"I'm Lucy, Lucy Saxon. I think..." her voice wavered slightly, "I think I'm a little bit lost."

[itllhurtifido]

"Yeah, this fog'll do that." Another shape makes its way into sight, slightly taller and a little burlier, wearing a fedora and trenchcoat that both look like they might have a few small holes and tears in them. "Not that we get fog often, but this stuff's pretty thick."

Unlike Nathan, John does have a hat, and he does tip it. "I'm Smith. This is Nathan. We should probably get you and, uh, your horse into the VFW hall with the rest of the townsfolk, 'til the patrols have finished making sure it's safe enough to be out."

Yes, that'd be a very good idea, given how much closer that yowling's gotten. Smith's hand reaches back to the gun slung behind him, ready to bring it to bear if needed but not wanting to spook Lucy by pulling a gun just after talking about taking her somewhere.

[best_companion]

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr Smith, and your friend. It's rare for me to encounter such hospitality since I found myself stranded here." Lucy's brow furrowed, safe enough to be out? Surely he simply meant that he didn't want people to be lost in the fog?

"How far away is this hall?" Nervous? No, not in the slightest. Oh alright, maybe a little bit.

She almost jumped when the animal noise sounded almost as if it was behind her but schooled her features into a mask of calm.

[itllhurtifido]

"Well, we're a pretty friendly town. Been taking in refugees from all over. More than a few Brits, even, so you'll have some company for tea." He smiles a little, then looks over at Nathan. "Head on back and report to the Sheriff. We'll be along shortly."

Once Nathan's taken off, John turns back to Lucy. "It's about a ten minute walk." He points in the direction Nathan jogged off. "We had a nasty storm, the last week or so. Happens sometimes, so the VFW's set up to act as a shelter. Come on."

And that's about when the giant rat leaps out of the fog and latches onto one of the horse's legs.

[best_companion]

Lucy politely returned John's smile, "thank you for your offer of hospitality but I really must contact my Harry. I'm sure he's worried sick over what's happened to me. I don't wish to impose on you too much."

Yet despite her words, she left the side of her horse and begun to move closer to John. Luck was on her side as she'd barely moved out of the way when the rat approached.

Eighteen months ago, before she'd met her Harry right now Lucy would be screaming her lungs out. Instead, her eyes never left the creature as she hastily moved to John's side. "What is that?" A hint of unsuppressed fear in her voice.

[itllhurtifido]

Wow. Look at that thing go. Yeah, that horse isn't getting up after the chomping and clawing the giant rat's giving it.

"Looks like a rat, but even in Jersey, they don't grow 'em that big." John steps in front of Lucy, putting his Mag-Lite into a pocket of his trenchcoat and bringing his Tommy gun to bear on the rat, a smaller flashlight taped to the barrel to light what he's shooting at. The chattering of the gun firing is... not quite so satisfyingly loud as usual -- must be the fog, John figures -- but the bullets themselves do their job, though it takes a couple of sustained bursts.

"Well. So much for that." Are those more animal noises coming their way? Uh-oh. "Or maybe not. Come on, we gotta move." He holds out a hand -- either for her to take hold of, or just to signal for her to move ahead while he covers them, he doesn't care which -- while the other re-slings the Tommy in favor of the more maneuverable .45 pistol he pulls out of his coat. Running time, kids!

[best_companion]

Lucy shuts her eyes as John shoots the giant rat and only re-opens them when she's certain the creature is dead. The sight of the poor dead horse, mangled and half eaten finally causes a small and slightly terrified noise to escape from Lucy.

Her hand grips tightly to John's own as she runs after him. Her mind reeling she tries to gather her thoughts. Strangely enough the first question out of her mouth is: "do giant rats terrorise your town often?"

Oh if only Harry were here, he could make it all better.

[itllhurtifido]

"No, as strange things in town go, giant rats are new." The flashlight in his coat pocket's still on, providing a small pool of light around them as they run. John's sense of where he's going is sure, and he occasionally looks behind him both to make sure Lucy's okay and to snap a shot off in the direction of any animal sounds that may be following behind them. "Although I doubt we're lucky enough for this to be the last the town sees of 'em."

It was already going to be a short walk to the VFW. Now, having been running, they're almost there. Just around the corner and about half a block more, and they'll be as safe as they can get.

[best_companion]

"Ahh." Lucy wasn't exactly sure if that was a comforting thought or not. She decided it was definitely uncomforting when John stated that it might not be the last of them. What had she stumbled into?

Instead of voicing her thoughts, she placed her focus in running and keeping up with John. Being dragged along behind him wasn't something that she had in mind to do.

"How far away was this hall you were talking about?"

[itllhurtifido]

They round the corner and enter the final stretch. "Ten minute's walk, so we should be about... here!"

They stop, and there it is, a large, solid-looking brick building with sturdy metal doors. The slide of John's pistol locks back on an empty chamber, and he uses the butt of it to bang on the door for a moment before beginning the process of swapping out the magazine for a fresh one.

"It's Smith!" he shouts at the door. "Open up, quick, we got trouble coming behind us!" The slide racks forward just as the door opens... and two rats run into view from the fog.

John holsters the pistol in favor of the Tommy, taking one step forward to put himself between the rats and Lucy. Looking back at her for a moment, he says, "Get inside. I'll be following right behind." There's no more time for words after that, as he starts firing, spitting lead at one rat, then the other, as each of them tried to approach.

[best_companion]

It doesn't take a second thought for Lucy to duck inside. Eyes wide as she looks around trying to catch her breath and the only reason she wasn't leaning against the door was that John was still out there.

"JOHN!" Lucy cried out in alarm when the shots began and edged away from the door ever so slightly, fear for the other man on her face as she heard shot after shot.

(OOC: I apologise for the delay, life snuck up on me from behind.)

[itllhurtifido]

The gunfire continues for about fifteen seconds. As it stops, the door opens again, just enough to allow Smith to squeeze through and close it behind him, stepping back so the lookout can get it locked up and otherwise secured. A faint wisp of smoke wafts up from the Tommy gun's muzzle. He turns to face Lucy, his gaze momentarily grim and distant, but then he blinks, and his expression melts into a grin, wryly touched by her apparent concern for him.

"Relax, doll. I said I'd be in right behind you." He takes a moment to swap out the Tommy's magazine for one taken from inside his trenchcoat, then nods his head toward the inner hall. "Come on. We're safe enough for now, so we should see about finding you a cot."

((S'fine. No problem.))