Fifty Years Ago

One Hundred miles west of Las Vegas, Nevada

"Damn, this is the third freaking raider group this week" Gerry said, standing up and shooting a Desert Raider in the head.

"Seriously? What the hell do they want?!" I snapped. I hopped up, sprinting at the rock a few feet to the left of us. I jumped, pushing off the rock to give myself momentum as I launched a knife at another attacker. The knife embedded itself four inches into his neck. As I landed behind our cover boulder, I heard his gurgling breathing slowly sputter out.

"I don't know. And stop getting shot damnit!" Gerry yelled in response.

I looked down and saw the blood stains on my shirt and three shed bullets on the ground by my feet. My body pushed them out when healing, conveniently. Thank goodness for the adrenaline that kept me from hurting.

"Please, it doesnt kill me. It didn't even hurt"

"Yeah well when I'm mid firefight, I forget that! Where is Brock?!"

I scanned the area for his blond hair, only to not find it. As soon as bullets stopped returning, I hopped up and climbed the next highest boulder. On the otherside of the massive rock was Brittock fighting two men with knives. He, of course, was weaponles, fighting them with only his fists. I jumped down onto the next highest rock, then to the ground, quickly making my way to his side.

"Stay back" he snapped, his tone sharp and quick.

"But I can-"

"BACK!" he yelled, turning his eyes on me for a split second. His usually icy eyes had a fire behind them that could only be brought out by combat. Both men attacked him simultaneously. Brittock kicked backward, flinging the man behind him away. The first man made a lunging attack at his gut, which Brittock blocked with his left hand, grabbing the man's wrist. Locking the man's arm straight, Brittock threw his body into the arm on the outside of the elbow, snapping the arm in half at the joint. The second man recovered from Brittock's kick and pulled a gun from a dead comrade, aiming at Brittock. Flinging the body of the wounded assailant in front of him, Brittock shielded himself from the spray of bullets. I felt a stray bullet hit my leg. I flinched, but continued observing in the ready stance in case Brittock needed me. Realizing he had killed his ally, the man made a split second decision to sprint at me. He wrapped his arm around my neck from behind and held the gun to my head.

"Get away or I'll shoot her in the damn head!" he yelled.

I knew I could break this idiots hold, but I didn't want to risk him shooting Brittock after I got lose, so I stayed still, staring Brittock straight in the eyes. He scanned the situation then said, "Do it".

I nodded slowly and clenched my eyes shut, preparing myself for a massive headache.

"I'm not fucking kidding!" he warned, becoming more fearful and desperate.

"I know" was Brittock's only response, and then the gun went off.

___________________

"Ow" I mumbled, sitting up groggily.

"About time, you were making me nervous!" Gerry chastised, handing me a bag of water.

"Can we not yell?" I whispered. "My brains just got a little scrambled. They need time to reset"

"You should have stayed on top of the boulder" Brittock said from across the camp fire. It was pitch black around us, tents set up on the outskirts of the fire. Normally, people would be in their tents relaxing, but instead the twenty or so men in our group were sitting around the flame watching us.

"You should have let me help you, then we could have killed them instantly" I snapped back. He sent me a piercing look.

"You should know your place... Little Dove" he said, not breaking eye contact.

Well crap....

After a few seconds, he then addressed the entire crowd.

"Someone here is giving Raiders information about our campsites. Somebody here is targeting me, trying to scare me into submission. I do not appreciate that. And I do not scare. I will find out who is doing this, and I will punish them" probably the longest speech I had heard him give, Brittock eyed every single individual around the fire while he spoke. He then turned to leave, but Scar grabbed his arm, obviously asking for attention. The men talked for a second, then Brittock led Scar away from the fire for privacy. They spoke fervently for a few minutes, then turned to look at me. I quickly looked away, not wanting them to know I was watching. When I glanced back, both men were gone.

I slowly stood up, asking Gerry where my tent had been set up. He pointed to one on the end, at which I found all my items. Gathering up fresh clothing and bath items, I left my tent and headed to the river we had camped next to a couple hundred yards away. Taking off my clothing, I quickly hopped into the water. If there was one thing I had learned traveling with a bunch of warriors, it was that long baths were not tolerated, especially if I wanted privacy. Putting on shorts and a large, baggy shirt, I sat on the riverbank drying my hair with a towel.

"You should not go off alone".

I jumped slightly at the sound of Brittock's voice from behind me.

"Can you ever have a conversation with me without chastising me like a child?" I asked, watching the moon's reflection ripple on the river's surface.

"Can you go five minutes without acting childish?"

"No" I sneered. Stupid, cocky jerk. "Shouldn't you be snuffing out the snitch?" I snapped, critiquing his work for once.

"I am" was his curt reply.

"Alright" I mumbled slightly confused. I set my towel down and brought my knees to my chest, resting my chin on the tops.

Silence greeted me for a few minutes and then I heard footsteps... approaching me. Why couldn't he just go away?

To my surprise, Brittock walked to my side then sat next to me. I heard a noise come from his left side as he sat something down but I couldn't see what it was.

"I commandeered something" he said.

"And what is that?"

He pulled the mystery item up to his lap slowly, revealing a compound bow with an arrow holding attachments.

"What?!" I gasped, mouth wide open. He stared at my face, then gently offered it to me. I took the weapon from his hands and ran my fingers along the smooth metal.

"A Raider had it in his possession. He no longer needed it, so I removed it" he explained. Surprise gone and quickly replaced with excitement, I hopped up and drew an arrow. Placing the shaft against the string, I pulled it back. The sound of the bow string growing taught with tension was like music to my ears. I turned to a nearby tree and loosed the arrow. With a whoosh, the arrow left the bow and struck the tree dead center.

"Oh that feels so good" I sighed with elation.

"So you want it?" After a short hesitation, he added "Like it?". He then stood up, placing himself right behind me.

"Of course! I 've wanted one for decades!"

"Then it is yours" he said with a nod.

"Thank you!" I yelled, turning around and wrapping my arms around his waist. I immediately felt his body go rigid, his arms held stiffly in the air at his side, attempting not to touch me. My elation was quickly destroyed by the horror of the expressive contact I was exhibiting. I quickly took a step back, feeling myself blush in morbid embarrassment.

"Umm, sorry" I mumbled, looking down at the ground. Brittock didn't say a word and I squeezed my eyes shut, wishing I could have died at that exact moment, just to get away.

I flinched when I felt fingers gently cup my jaw, bringing my chin up.

"Open your eyes" Brittock's voice was gruff and low, deeper than normal.

I slowly opened one eye at a time, scared of the pair that would meet my own.

"Did you know that even at night, your eyes glow with fire and vibrance?"

"I-..N-..Uh-" I had no clue what I was saying. Brittock's right hand came up and gripped my neck, the rough and colloused surface of it sending shivers down my sensitive skin. He slowly began to lean in while using his hand to bring me closer and turn my chin. I felt my heart pounding against my rib cage as I realized what was happening. I slowly shut my eyes right before our lips touched.

"Hey you guys, I- .... need to take a bath..." Gerry's voice appeared suddenly from the hilltop.

A deep rumbled, which I could only assume was a growl of frustration, reverberated through Brittock's chest. It wasn't until that moment that I realized how close we were, my body aligned evenly to his, my hands splayed on his muscular sides. He leaned back slightly, staring me in the eyes for a few seconds more before seperating from me and turning away, leaving me standing there, my new bow cast aside, practically forgotten. My heart raced and my mind began to clear from the fuzziness out closeness had incited.

"I..." Gerry started, thoroughly confused. For once in his life he was speechless.

"Forget it" I said, not in anger, but in shock and confusion.