Going Camping, Part IV
Posted on Tue Aug 29th, 2023 @ 12:43pm by First Lieutenant Bethany Harrison & Private Mattias Tonelly & General Dyami Bentley (Tribal : Bent Leaf)
Mission:
HYDRA: Another Head Rises
Location: Shaman's Cabin
Timeline: Present Day
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“I never claimed to be holy, but I’ve got angel’s protection
Got a barb-wire halo, and devil horns I don’t mention.
Yeah, the Lord is my savior, but shit, revenge is so tempting,
I don’t expect to see heaven, if that’s the case I respect it.”
~Tom Macdonald, “No Response”
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The next morning came early, but by the time that the sun was rising, Bethany had seen to the morning chores and her personal training. She slowed in her run around the lake and went out onto the end of the small, wooden pier and sat down, her legs folded beneath her. Despite the chill in the air, she wore nothing more than a black tank top and a pair of black cargo shorts, having even done her run barefoot.
As the sun crested over the hills, its rays beginning to glint on the surface of the water, the young light-bearer spread her arms to the side and raised her head to the sky. As the sun’s first light hit her, glittering waves of color began rolling across her form. While it served the purpose of the day’s first recharge, it was so much more to her, as this was also the time that she chose to commune with her God.
She had to admit that her faith had been heavily challenged over the past few months, and she had been avoiding those conversations with the Divine Creator. She was angry, hurt, and she had no desire to get into one of those cliche screaming fits with the sky. She was mad at God, but even more so with the people that He had created. The young woman softly whispered words in Hebrew, simply offering her thanks for the dawning of a new day.
As the waves of color slowed, then faded, Bethany’s head dropped forward sadly. She longed for the days when her prayers brought her comfort and solace, but her broken heart just wasn’t ready to accept that peace yet. Vengeance was what burned in her chest now. Justice for those that had been destroyed by the most vile of mortal men.
Inside the comfortably appointed cabin Dyami prepared breakfast. Pancakes, bacon, and sausage each sat plated in the middle of the large table that filled the center of the dining area, each covered to keep them warm. Sauteed mushrooms, green peppers, and onions were placed in individual bowls near the eight burner stovetop awaiting their use in omelets that the Indian man was preparing to cook.
After placing a large tower of fry bread on the table the Shaman pulled a couple of bits of straw from his pocket and speaking to each in turn released them to fall to the ground. Each pinch turned into a small straw facsimile of an Indian man. One running down the hall to find Mattias and the other to the lakeside for Bethany.
The first Indian strawman ran at Mattias’ door without stopping, at the last possible moment it leapt into a slide passing under the door with impressive grace. Hopping back up it continued its journey, reaching the edge of Matty’s bed it climbed skillfully up the sheets that hung down messily off the edge of the mattress. Once atop the bed it navigated that fold and creases using a strange loping gait, more like one would use to quickly cover ground in a forest of fallen trees.
Arriving finally at its intended target the tiny Indian strawman looked up at the young man's seemingly enormous head. Pulling out a piece of straw that appeared to be a spear, only one with no capability to cause any harm, it poked the young boy gently in the chin. Awaiting a response.
At first, there was no reaction. Then Mattias waved a sleepy hand across his face blindly. On the third poke, he groaned and inhaled deeply. "Just five more minutes, Mama. I promise….." Then his eyes popped open and his brain took in the initially unfamiliar surroundings. Then reality came crashing in.
He turned over to his right, and started to weep.
The strawman watched as Matty’s expression changed to one of grief. Knowing all too well the look of pain from loss the tiny Indian sympathized with the young man. Gingerly climbing up on the supine boy's shirt until it reached his shoulder and taking a seat there, the homunculi allowed the boy time to cry tears that so obviously needed to be shed.
After a few moments, Mattias finally started to calm down. As he took in a few cleansing breaths, he started to feel like he was being watched. Turning his head slowly to his left, his eye caught the small straw person sitting on his shoulder. A soft grin teased up the corners of his mouth as he sniffled some and softly said, "Hello…My name is Mattias, what is yours?"
The tiny Indians' mannerisms picked up and a small smile appeared on his face. Hopping up smoothly, for a being made of tied bits of straw, he bowed to Mattias and touched his mouth before removing it and shaking his head.
He pantomimed eating from his other hand and pointed at the door, patting his belly and making a wide gesture. He slid down to the bed skillfully and motioned Mattias to follow.
Suddenly smelling the breakfast being made downstairs, Mattias's stomach grumbled loudly. "Something smells good. Is that what you're trying to tell me?"
Nodding vigorously the tiny man pointed to the door and waved for Mattias to follow.
Mattias rolled back over to his left. Then, after moving the sheet and blanket away, he sat up. After moving his legs over the side of the bed, he reached over and gripped the arms of his wheelchair. In one fluid, practiced, motion, he had moved from the bed and into his chair.
Once he was settled in his chair, he looked over at the tiny strawman. "You want a ride?"
The strawman followed over to the side of the bed, and when Matty slid easily into the chair he hopped across to Mattias’s leg and after steadying his feet, motioned like he was driving a horse drawn carriage.
Mattias grinned and actually chuckled slightly, despite how he had been feeling a few moments prior. Looking down at the little straw person, he said, “How about I call you Twiggy? Would that be okay?"
The little Indian man looked back and nodded to Mattias, miming taking a hat off and bowing with a flourish.
Dyami heard the young man coming down the hall and called out. “The food is still hot and there is plenty of it.” As the boy rounded the corner he motioned to the bowls of ingredients on the counter, “What would you like in your omelet?”
As he entered the kitchen, Mattias was careful not to get in the way with his wheelchair. Moving to an empty spot by the table, he replied. "Ham, mushrooms and cheddar cheese, please? Also, is there anything I can do to help get things ready, Sir?"
The Shaman laughed before answering. “No Mattias, today is your getting settled-in day. Tomorrow you will be given a list of objectives to complete each day. Beth or I will answer any questions you have. But for now, relax. Beth has taken care of all the chores this morning while you slept.”
Dyami motioned to the plated food on the table, “So with the omelet do you want pancakes, sausage or bacon? What about frybread? I made plenty, please eat your fill.”
At the mention of more food options, Mattias's stomach grumbled again, even louder than earlier. "Would it be okay to have some of everything, Sir?"
Dyami stared at the young man with a bemused smile on his face, “I couldn't have said it better myself. Eat as much as you want, you will need the energy in the coming days.”
The blue eyed Indian pushed a plate of fry bread to the young man, “Here try this with butter. It is amazing.”
The second Strawman had a longer trip to make in finding the lightbearer. As it ran through the living room of the cabin, it parkoured its way higher and higher, climbing and jumping across furniture until it reached a large window that was opened to allow the fresh morning air into the well lit cabin.
The diminutive homunculi did not slow its forward dash as it leaped spryly from the window ledge, quickly producing a straw bow from its back and firing an arrow attached to a threaded rope at one of the wooden pillars that supported the overhanging wrap around porch.
The needle-like arrow sunk only a fraction of an inch into the hardened wood but even this was enough to allow the tiny straw indian to swing deftly on the thread far further than his leap would have carried him. Arcing high into the air, almost five feet, the tiny Indian released its grip on the thread, and sailed effortlessly through the air carried by the gentle morning breeze. Covering a surprising distance in this manner it repeated this action several times using trees to serve as anchor points.
Reaching a clearing the tiny indian warrior rolled as it came to earth on the path to the lake, almost to its destination. It could see its target sitting on the dock and hurried to complete its task.
Arriving next to the young woman it gazed up at her gigantic form, the spirit of the long dead Indian, proud to have made it so quickly and, invigorated by the adventure of its short journey, reached up and tugged at the fabric of the young woman's cargo shorts.
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TBC
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Bethany Harrison
Fractal
Mutant Underground
Mattias Tonelly
(Recruit)
Mutant Underground
General Dyami Bentley
Talon
Mutant Underground
