[ Vasquez follows Faraday's gaze to his belt, and he hums in low agreement. ]
A good point, perro.
[ He draws one gun from its holster, flicking open the cylinder to drop the normal bullets back into his pouch. He plucks the silver ones out in their stead, dropping them into each chamber.
With the gun properly loaded, he deposits it back into his belt, his hand resting snugly on the butt.
The wolf is far enough off that Vasquez easily has the few brief moments to prepare, and as he relaxes into waiting, the other werewolf trots into view. It finally pauses when bright yellow eyes settle on Vasquez and Faraday, and it lowers its head, looking curiously between them. ]
... Can you talk to it?
[ This, to Faraday as Vasquez holds steady.
The other wolf growls a low bark, and while Vasquez hears nothing else, it translates in a different frequency for Faraday. ]
He's never encountered another werewolf before – not willingly, anyway, and the night he was bitten hardly counts. He's not entirely sure what to expect – whether he's right to be on his guard, or whether he ought to feel some sense of relief in finally encountering someone carrying the same curse.
For now, he's alert, eyes wide and ears pressed forward, muscles coiled and ready to move. When the wolf finally steps within spitting distance, Faraday makes no move toward it, unconsciously angling himself in front of Vasquez.
Vasquez claims to be mostly indestructible – save for the unlikely application of obsidian – but Faraday's seen what happens to Vasquez when he gets on the wolf's bad side. Maybe Vasquez hasn't died from it yet, but Faraday is still inclined to believe it's a distinct possibility.
When the other wolf barks, Faraday stiffens with surprise. It's not speaking, obviously, but Faraday still understood, nonetheless.
[ Faraday tracks the other wolf's movements, mirroring them to keep himself between the other wolf and Vasquez.
Faraday is distrustful, as a rule; it could be that the other wolf is simply curious. Maybe in a different moment, Faraday would find himself elated by the prospect of finding another werewolf, of having someone to commiserate with, of having someone to learn from.
The other wolf seems to have a leg up on him, after all. Faraday didn't even realize communicating in this way was possible, yet the other wolf started this conversation without even a second's hesitation. ]
We're not interested in any trouble, friend, so if that's your aim, I suggest continuin' on your way.
[ Vasquez is suddenly keenly aware of what it's like being on the other side of a language he can't understand; unlike Spanish, however, he can't learn this one.
He can respond to Faraday's body language, the tension in the set of his shoulders. ]
[ The introduction is late, as far as Faraday is concerned, which is why he doesn't return the favor. Butch didn't ask, either, and given the line of questioning, Faraday doubts he's interested. ]
He— [ And the correction comes out as a sharp snarl. ] —ain't none of your concern.
Like I said, Butch. Keep goin' on your way, and we'll keep goin' on ours.
[ Faraday's reaction – that vicious snarl – is so sudden that Vasquez curls his fingers around his gun, though he doesn't draw it from his holster yet.
Butch hisses out another laugh. ]
Ah, but where is your way going? Not much time left before the moon is full; it might be hard to get far enough from each other.
[ Faraday has never had an even temper, even at the best of times, and his sense of patience has never been overly developed. He's not entirely sure why this Butch is rubbing him in exactly the wrong way, but he trusts his own instincts more than anything.
He glances back at Vasquez to catch his attention, gaze sliding past to indicate his intentions of getting the hell away from this conversation.
[ Vasquez catches Faraday's gesture easily, and though his hand doesn't move from his gun, he still readies himself to follow the wolf out. He makes a mental note to ask about what the hell just went down, but while they're still within range of Butch is far from the right time for it. ]
You do the same, stranger.
[ Vasquez's eyes flick from the other wolf to Faraday. ]
[ Faraday nods, though he doesn't make any move to lead the way, intent as he is on keep himself between Vasquez and the other wolf.
There's no doubt in his mind that Vasquez could probably handle himself well, considering he's already dealt with Faraday's wolf, but Faraday doesn't want to take that chance.
It's also not an instinct that he plans on examining closely.
He turns his back on Butch, then, jerking his head to signal Vasquez to head back toward where they made camp. ]
[ Vasquez doesn't need it spelled out for him, and maybe in another circumstance, he might try to brush off Faraday's odd streak of protectiveness. But, right now, he knows plenty well that could easily seem like the wrong shade of weakness in front of another – human or wolf, really.
Stepping forward, without truly drawing his focus from Butch, Vasquez moves to follow the path they'd been trekking back to their camp in the caves.
Butch waits until Vasquez turns, too, waits for both him and Faraday to take those first strides wherever they'd been headed. He still paces, lazily back and forth, for all of another heartbeat before his hind legs coil tight, and in one powerful leap, he propels himself towards Faraday. It's so sudden, so quick, Vasquez doesn't even have time to draw and catch Butch mid-jump; by the time he can react, he's too concerned about hitting Faraday with a stray bullet. ]
[ See, that's exactly the kind of underhanded shit Faraday had been expecting.
Expecting, however, doesn't always translate to preventing.
Butch barrels into Faraday, and for a second, Faraday thinks he might've just been hit by a train. Faraday's bad leg buckles a little in his effort to stay upright, but he manages it. Faraday snarls, whirling around to snap at the other wolf, teeth catching on dense fur as he tries to shove him off. ]
[ It's jarring how suddenly Vasquez feels the flash of concern for Faraday and his bad leg. That strange sense of protectiveness flashes through him, and though he doesn't fire, his gun is in his hand in a heartbeat. ]
Faraday!
[ Butch meets Faraday's vicious snarl with his own, knocked aside by the way Faraday thrashes, those teeth buried in fur. He rears back, trying to wrench away from Faraday as his jaws try to twist and latch onto the leg he saw buckle.
Vasquez curses under his breath, lifting his gun as he tries to find a clear shot between the masses of wrestling fur. ]
[ Faraday lashes out, teeth snapping and spittle flying as he gnashes at the other wolf, vicious and focused all at once.
Still, a handful of months out from Rose Creek means the effects of his injuries are still lingering. He doesn't move as quickly as he wants, and he miscalculates his reach a couple of times, held back by his old wounds.
It's a series of small mistakes, but more than enough for Butch to take advantage of. When his teeth finally clamp down on Faraday's bad leg, Faraday howls as Butch knocks him to the ground. ]
[ The risk of hitting Faraday is more than enough to stay Vasquez's hand. He's a hell of a shot, but he knows the kind of long-lasting effects a silver bullet could have on his traveling companion.
He's not about to roll those dice when he has other options.
Growling, fury building, Vasquez stuffs his gun back into its holster and quickly closes the distance between him and the raging, flying fur. Just as Butch latches onto Faraday's leg, as that howl pierces the night air, Vasquez grabs a fistful of Butch's scruff. His claws elongate instantly, piercing through layers of fur and flesh.
A startled yelp makes Butch release Faraday, and he immediately rounds on Vasquez with a wild flail. Sharp teeth graze Vasquez's thigh without finding purchase, and Vasquez bodily hauls Butch away from Faraday. Butch skids across the dusty sand, scrambling to get his paws back under him – but instead of leaping back at Vasquez or Faraday, he starts retreating, ears pinned to his skull, teeth bared and hackles raised without taking his eyes off of them. ]
[ Faraday pants heavily as Butch's weight is dragged off him, trying to roll back up onto his feet. His bad leg refuses to hold his weight, though, and he's sent right back to the sand.
It's just as well, though, considering Butch doesn't seem inclined to go on the offensive again – not with Vasquez standing between the two of them, his long, impossibly sharp claws still covered in Butch's blood. Faraday pushes himself up onto his two front paws, head hanging low as he tries to catch his breath.
Still, he catches Butch's gaze, his gold eyes flashing in threat and mischief. He lets out hissing sort of breath, something that might almost be a laugh. ]
[ Butch snarls with a vicious tinge of rage, but Vasquez's eyes bleed over black, his lips pulling away from the fine points of his fangs. The wolf doesn't cower, but he continues growling as he puts more distance between them, then finally turns tail and bolts across the dusty plain.
Vasquez is tempted to follow him, to run him down, but from the faint edge of his awareness, he can tell Faraday isn't getting right back up.
Going after a useless animal isn't worth the effort.
Vasquez waits until Butch disappears in the distance, then turns to Faraday, stepping closer and kneeling down beside him. ]
[ Faraday has rolled onto his good hip in the meantime, keeping his weight off his bad leg. He looks like a mess – with burrs still in his coat, and patches of his fur standing at odd angles from wrestling with the other wolf.
There's a relatively clean bite mark on his thigh, and though blood soaks into his fur, the wound seems superficial. The effort and exertion from the tussle are probably the main factors in his leg refusing to cooperate.
He licks at the wound on instinct, trying to clear up some of the blood. ]
[ Instinctively, Faraday rocks up into that little gesture of comfort. It's familiar enough by now that he hardly thinks about it – though whether he doesn't think about it is by choice or by ignorance is anyone's guess.
At Vasquez's question, Faraday nods, the movement subdued enough to avoid dislodging Vasquez's hand. Slowly, he gets his paws back under him, though he keeps his bad leg pulled up close to his body. ]
[ It's slow going returning to the network of caves, with Faraday hobbled as he is. All the while, Faraday keeps his ears perked for any telltale signs of pursuit, sniffing at the air for the scent of unfamiliar blood that might signal Butch's arrival.
Thankfully, Butch must've considered himself soundly beat – or at least, valued the idea of his skin remaining attached to his body – and they return without further incident. Faraday limps his way over to his bedroll and promptly collapses onto it. ]
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no subject
A good point, perro.
[ He draws one gun from its holster, flicking open the cylinder to drop the normal bullets back into his pouch. He plucks the silver ones out in their stead, dropping them into each chamber.
With the gun properly loaded, he deposits it back into his belt, his hand resting snugly on the butt.
The wolf is far enough off that Vasquez easily has the few brief moments to prepare, and as he relaxes into waiting, the other werewolf trots into view. It finally pauses when bright yellow eyes settle on Vasquez and Faraday, and it lowers its head, looking curiously between them. ]
... Can you talk to it?
[ This, to Faraday as Vasquez holds steady.
The other wolf growls a low bark, and while Vasquez hears nothing else, it translates in a different frequency for Faraday. ]
Not like you talk, stranger.
no subject
He's never encountered another werewolf before – not willingly, anyway, and the night he was bitten hardly counts. He's not entirely sure what to expect – whether he's right to be on his guard, or whether he ought to feel some sense of relief in finally encountering someone carrying the same curse.
For now, he's alert, eyes wide and ears pressed forward, muscles coiled and ready to move. When the wolf finally steps within spitting distance, Faraday makes no move toward it, unconsciously angling himself in front of Vasquez.
Vasquez claims to be mostly indestructible – save for the unlikely application of obsidian – but Faraday's seen what happens to Vasquez when he gets on the wolf's bad side. Maybe Vasquez hasn't died from it yet, but Faraday is still inclined to believe it's a distinct possibility.
When the other wolf barks, Faraday stiffens with surprise. It's not speaking, obviously, but Faraday still understood, nonetheless.
He offers a tentative bark in return, ]
Who are you, and what do you want?
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The wolf keeps its distance, but it starts to pace slowly in a horizontal line, never taking its eyes off of Faraday. ]
The same as you, I would think. This land doesn't smell like yours, so you're just passing through, aren't you?
[ So much for answering the first part of that question. ]
no subject
[ Faraday tracks the other wolf's movements, mirroring them to keep himself between the other wolf and Vasquez.
Faraday is distrustful, as a rule; it could be that the other wolf is simply curious. Maybe in a different moment, Faraday would find himself elated by the prospect of finding another werewolf, of having someone to commiserate with, of having someone to learn from.
The other wolf seems to have a leg up on him, after all. Faraday didn't even realize communicating in this way was possible, yet the other wolf started this conversation without even a second's hesitation. ]
We're not interested in any trouble, friend, so if that's your aim, I suggest continuin' on your way.
no subject
Who is "we?" What are you traveling with, friend?
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Don't see how that's any of your business, especially considerin' as how I hardly know you from Adam.
no subject
[ Vasquez is suddenly keenly aware of what it's like being on the other side of a language he can't understand; unlike Spanish, however, he can't learn this one.
He can respond to Faraday's body language, the tension in the set of his shoulders. ]
So what is it? Smells like old blood.
no subject
He— [ And the correction comes out as a sharp snarl. ] —ain't none of your concern.
Like I said, Butch. Keep goin' on your way, and we'll keep goin' on ours.
no subject
Butch hisses out another laugh. ]
Ah, but where is your way going? Not much time left before the moon is full; it might be hard to get far enough from each other.
no subject
[ Faraday has never had an even temper, even at the best of times, and his sense of patience has never been overly developed. He's not entirely sure why this Butch is rubbing him in exactly the wrong way, but he trusts his own instincts more than anything.
He glances back at Vasquez to catch his attention, gaze sliding past to indicate his intentions of getting the hell away from this conversation.
Then, a firm dismissal to the other wolf: ]
Enjoy your evenin', Butch.
no subject
You do the same, stranger.
[ Vasquez's eyes flick from the other wolf to Faraday. ]
Ready?
no subject
There's no doubt in his mind that Vasquez could probably handle himself well, considering he's already dealt with Faraday's wolf, but Faraday doesn't want to take that chance.
It's also not an instinct that he plans on examining closely.
He turns his back on Butch, then, jerking his head to signal Vasquez to head back toward where they made camp. ]
no subject
Stepping forward, without truly drawing his focus from Butch, Vasquez moves to follow the path they'd been trekking back to their camp in the caves.
Butch waits until Vasquez turns, too, waits for both him and Faraday to take those first strides wherever they'd been headed. He still paces, lazily back and forth, for all of another heartbeat before his hind legs coil tight, and in one powerful leap, he propels himself towards Faraday. It's so sudden, so quick, Vasquez doesn't even have time to draw and catch Butch mid-jump; by the time he can react, he's too concerned about hitting Faraday with a stray bullet. ]
no subject
Expecting, however, doesn't always translate to preventing.
Butch barrels into Faraday, and for a second, Faraday thinks he might've just been hit by a train. Faraday's bad leg buckles a little in his effort to stay upright, but he manages it. Faraday snarls, whirling around to snap at the other wolf, teeth catching on dense fur as he tries to shove him off. ]
no subject
Faraday!
[ Butch meets Faraday's vicious snarl with his own, knocked aside by the way Faraday thrashes, those teeth buried in fur. He rears back, trying to wrench away from Faraday as his jaws try to twist and latch onto the leg he saw buckle.
Vasquez curses under his breath, lifting his gun as he tries to find a clear shot between the masses of wrestling fur. ]
no subject
Still, a handful of months out from Rose Creek means the effects of his injuries are still lingering. He doesn't move as quickly as he wants, and he miscalculates his reach a couple of times, held back by his old wounds.
It's a series of small mistakes, but more than enough for Butch to take advantage of. When his teeth finally clamp down on Faraday's bad leg, Faraday howls as Butch knocks him to the ground. ]
no subject
He's not about to roll those dice when he has other options.
Growling, fury building, Vasquez stuffs his gun back into its holster and quickly closes the distance between him and the raging, flying fur. Just as Butch latches onto Faraday's leg, as that howl pierces the night air, Vasquez grabs a fistful of Butch's scruff. His claws elongate instantly, piercing through layers of fur and flesh.
A startled yelp makes Butch release Faraday, and he immediately rounds on Vasquez with a wild flail. Sharp teeth graze Vasquez's thigh without finding purchase, and Vasquez bodily hauls Butch away from Faraday. Butch skids across the dusty sand, scrambling to get his paws back under him – but instead of leaping back at Vasquez or Faraday, he starts retreating, ears pinned to his skull, teeth bared and hackles raised without taking his eyes off of them. ]
no subject
It's just as well, though, considering Butch doesn't seem inclined to go on the offensive again – not with Vasquez standing between the two of them, his long, impossibly sharp claws still covered in Butch's blood. Faraday pushes himself up onto his two front paws, head hanging low as he tries to catch his breath.
Still, he catches Butch's gaze, his gold eyes flashing in threat and mischief. He lets out hissing sort of breath, something that might almost be a laugh. ]
You should probably start runnin'.
no subject
Vasquez is tempted to follow him, to run him down, but from the faint edge of his awareness, he can tell Faraday isn't getting right back up.
Going after a useless animal isn't worth the effort.
Vasquez waits until Butch disappears in the distance, then turns to Faraday, stepping closer and kneeling down beside him. ]
How is the leg, perrito?
no subject
There's a relatively clean bite mark on his thigh, and though blood soaks into his fur, the wound seems superficial. The effort and exertion from the tussle are probably the main factors in his leg refusing to cooperate.
He licks at the wound on instinct, trying to clear up some of the blood. ]
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Without even thinking about it, Vasquez reaches out to set his hand between Faraday's ears, rubbing gently through his fur. ]
You think you can walk back?
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At Vasquez's question, Faraday nods, the movement subdued enough to avoid dislodging Vasquez's hand. Slowly, he gets his paws back under him, though he keeps his bad leg pulled up close to his body. ]
no subject
Come on. We get back and you can let it heal up, hm?
no subject
Thankfully, Butch must've considered himself soundly beat – or at least, valued the idea of his skin remaining attached to his body – and they return without further incident. Faraday limps his way over to his bedroll and promptly collapses onto it. ]
no subject
Mercifully, their slow trek goes uninterrupted, all the way back to the caves.
As Faraday goes to flop down, Vasquez heads over to get a fire started, glancing back at Faraday with a somewhat wry smile. ]
You still want help with those burrs, perro?
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