Ranch Hands

[Pippi]

“So you mean you’d kill in self-defence?”

Martha’s words were pretty much exactly what Amelia had said, except much more succinct and to the point. They also made Amelia realise just how she really felt about this whole game; that it was a heap of shit, and killing people, killing her friends, even here, was the very last resort. Amelia shook her head.

“Well, not even then really. Only if it was really the only option. Like, say, if the person attacking me was really strong and really angry, and there was no way to calm them down or talk to them. But, yeah... only then...”

Amelia hoped Martha and Trevor would realise just how much she hated the whole idea of the game. Although, that still depends on whether Trevor’s gonna come with us... heh. “Whether Trevor.” True poetry, Amelia.

As if she could read Amelia’s mind, Martha gave Trevor the offer of joining them. Amelia hoped he would. Not only because of the whole safety in numbers thing, and his weapon, but... well. Amelia had only really just thought of it, and was trying to block it from her mind. But she knew that in a place like this, where who knows what could happen, tempers could and would flare. She was good friends with Martha, but what if-god forbid-they found one of their friends, dead? Or something else terrible happened? They could argue, they could split up, and they’d both be half as able to survive as before. With a third person, that was less likely to happen; they could calm each other down more easily, and, if worst came to the worst, remain an ally if the group split.

Thankfully, after a moment’s pause, Trevor nodded, confirming he was joining the group. He also suggested they kept their weapons with them at all times. Amelia looked sideways at Martha. “Yeah, Martha?” she said. “You sure you’re okay with carrying that pickaxe around the whole time? I mean, it’s pretty heavy, and I think I can carry it for the moment, until we get to the next rest point, or something.”

Speaking of which...

At Trevor’s words, Amelia started to open her bag, an idea striking her. “I think we should move out, try find some more allies. There might be a map in here” she explained, as she searched through it. “That’d help find a good place to aim for.”

Sure enough, there was a slightly dog-eared scrap of yellowing paper near the bottom of her bag. Amelia unfolded it, and quickly scanned the map with her eyes.

“Those two buildings seem the closest” Amelia said, whilst pointing towards the Train Station and Trading Post. “I think we’d have a better chance of finding people in buildings than by the river or in the mines. Do you guys have any ideas?”

[Deamon]

"I'm fine carrying it but you can take it until we get to the next stop, if you want." Martha said opening her bag and taking out the pickaxe. She walked over to Amelia and rested it on the fence. As she did so Amelia started to look through her bag. She explained that she was checking to see if there was a map. Martha had forgotten that they had maps, which was quite an important thing to forget. It was good Trevor had decided to come with them though it was safer.

As Amelia pulled the map out of her bag Martha looked over her shoulder it wasn't the best map ever but it was easy enough to make things out. There was a town in the area but luckily it was quite far away if the map was anything to go by, which was good because most of their classmates would probably gather there and it could turn into a bloodbath.

It won't be safe to go the town until after...after people have been killed.

Amelia pointed to the Train Station and Trading Post.

"Those two buildings seem the closest"

Looking at the way the buildings were spread out Martha could see that it would be quicker to get to the Trading Post and then move on to the Train Station. Plus if the walk turned out to be longer and harder than they thought they could always rest at the Trading Post. She was right about one thing though, it would be easier to find people in the buildings than in the mines or by the river, whether does people would be friendly or not was a different issue. As Martha saw it a group of three was workable, it wouldn't be the perfect group, it was their weapons that let them down. Maybe one or two more people wouldn't be a bad idea though. It would depend on who that one or two were though.

"Do you guys have any ideas?"

Martha thought about the details of her plan for a moment, they go to the Trading Post see who's there, maybe recruit someone then they had out to the Train Station. Once they get there they could either hole up in it, or go to the mountains or the mines.

"I think we should go to the Trading Post first and then see who's there. We could see if they want to join us, if not their loss. Then we head to the Train Station. I'm fine resting at the Trading Post if you two want to. From the Train Station we can head to the mines, up the mountain or move into the forest, depends on what you want to do."

Of course that could all go to shit.

Martha lent back on the fence and waited for the others to reply, knowing that one way or another she was going to survive. That was the one part of her plan that wouldn't change.

[widespreadinman*]

As soon as Martha mentioned the Trading Post, Trevor cleared his throat. "Uh, yeah, about the post..." he said. "I'm not entirely sure anyone will be there. I mean, I was there before and saw no one." He thought about what he said, taking time into account. "Then again, there's probably a person or two there now..." Trevor's focus looked back towards where he came from. Sure, it seemed a bit of an annoyance to backtrack, but no one can complain. Especially when they're put into a death game. Ah well, might as well hole up for safety. "Well, I'm fine with the plan."

[Pippi]

Amelia waited for her allies to think about her question for a moment. She wasn’t entirely sure whether her plan was a good one. She needed confirmation from her friends right now, because hell, in a situation like this, charging blindly into a situation was most likely gonna end in tears. After a while, Martha spoke up, suggesting they headed to the trading post first. Amelia didn’t really mind which building they went to first; she was just glad that Martha at least seemed to agree with her. Trevor was still being his apparently silent self.

Whilst Amelia had made the base structure of a plan, Martha was now significantly expanding on it. Amelia found herself nodding as Martha suggested moving to the train station after the trading post, then the mines or forest or somewhere afterwards. It all sounded like a good plan to her. However, Trevor seemed to have other ideas. Although he said he was fine with the plan, he also seemed concerned that there’d be no-one there. Amelia shook her head at this.

“Look, Trev, it’s like you said. Even if there was no-one there before, there’s a good chance there’ll be people there now. And if there aren’t, well, we can just head on up to the train station, right? Who knows, that train that took us here might still be there!” Heh... doubt it, but hey... it’s a long shot but not impossible.

Amelia stood where she was for a moment, before placing the map on the ground, and striding over to the fence Martha was currently leaning on to collect her pickaxe. It took two attempts to actually lift the thing off of the ground; on the first try, Amelia underestimated its weight, and it fell out of her hands. On the second try, however, she managed to heave it up onto her right shoulder, grinning as she pictured herself in full miner gear.

“All right then, guys.” Amelia said, looking at both Martha and Trevor. “Looks like we have a plan. Let’s get going then, shall we?”

And with that, Amelia picked up her map, and started to walk off in the direction the trading post appeared to be on the map, walking slightly awkwardly to adjust for the pickaxe.

Right. Allies, weapon, plan. Sorted. What could possibly go wrong?

((Amelia Lennon continued in It's not like its for real or anything, right?))

[Deamon]

Martha grinned as Amelia tried to lift the pickaxe. She'd be lucky to make it to the trading post with the thing, if her struggles with it were anything to go by. The idea that the train would be at the station was a hopeful one. The sheriff seemed to have gone to a lot of effort to make them play his game and it was doubtful that he'd make a simple mistake like leaving the train at the station.

Doesn't matter I have my plan.

Martha had one goal. Survival. That would mean that she would have to do some disgusting, but she was hoping that it didn't come to that. The way the game was set up however meant that eventually she would have to. She hated the game in that respect and didn't want to take part, but at the same time she had no choice and she wanted to survive.

Right now however she was happy. She was good friends with Amelia and Trevor seemed friendly enough, her team was looking good so far. Sure a gun would have been nice but it didn't matter too much. Plus they were all students, none of them could shoot a gun properly. Still grinning Martha picked up her bag and swinging the spade over her shoulder started to follow Amelia.

"To the trading post it is." She looked at Trevor. "Don't worry I'm sure there'll be people there, and if they aren't friendly they won't try anything against the three of us. It's a win-win." She turned and saw Amelia steadily moving into the distance. "Hey Amelia wait up!" She called before jogging after her.

Let the games begin.

((Martha Stock continued in It's not like its for real or anything, right?.))

[widespreadinman*]

"Yeah... sure..." Trevor replied. At this point, he didn't have much else to say. All he could do was pick up his items and follow the girls. Despite the possibility of being attacked on the way over there, he tried to at least remain a bit positive about it... even if his life was on the line here.
((Trevor Altahen continued elsewhere...))