Rattlesnake

"Hmmmm, doesn't seem like I'd get much from this, the stone's too small!" Barnabas said studyingthe diamond ring I gave him, "Don't you mean us? Junior found it, so it's his spoil, besides...." Pedro voiced, looking nervously at the corspe, "Ironclaw won't take too kindly to us robbing one of their own" he continued. "Bugger their feelings and Bugger the Rattlesnake! if he didn't want his precious ring to be stolen he shouldn't have come here alone!" Barnabas barked, is that true? why would anyone come here by themselves? "Wouldn't you need a team to watch your back?" I asked, "I knew I liked you Cas Jnr! You've got a good head on your shoulder not like the muscle heads at Ironclaw" Barnabas jeered.

"Hmmm, the leader of Ironclaw is.... strange to say the least, they're insistent on all members being strong enough to brave site 2 on their own at least 5 times, between a 2 week interval, that way they're not a burden once they officially serve in the military." Pedro explained. "But Bradley is different?" I questioned, "What do you mean?" They asked in unison, "Emmm isn't Bradley our leader?" They looked at me funny, "Bradley is our captain, yes.... but the leader of Giant's tooth is on Garland, they're a general in the Camen Coalition Army" Pedro said calmly, "what? is it like that for Giant's tooth?" "It's like that for all 22 Familias on site 3, seriously how do you NOT Know this!?" Barnabas yelled.

I guess I really need to think carefully about the type of questions I ask in the future, "What happens when you brave it 5 times?" I asked changing the subject, "Well once all current members do that, they try facing the Tainted Prince at least once on site 1, not that they actually succeed in taking him out or anything, they always fail, but hey it's commendable how hard they try" Pedro said, "Yeah, commendably stupid, seriously if they actually wanted a chance against him they should just ask other Familias for help!" Barnabas roared, "Would you help them?" "No, but they should still ask!" I looked at the two of them in awe, how could they be so calm in a situation like this?

"Cas Jnr!" Barnabas shouted so suddenly, "YES SIR!" I yelped, "It's Barney, not SIR or Barnabas or any abbreviations like that, just Barney" he said, he studied me with his one eye for a moment, the dark brown Cyclops eye looked at me intently, I tried my hardest not to break eye contact, "Look.... relax" "what?" " RE-lax! you're too nervous! it's seriously ruining the mood! I want to punch your face so bad, so you'll have something to ACTUALLY get nervous about!" Barnabas roared! "B-But sir-" I started to speak, "It's Barney..." He interrupted, "B-Barney... this place is dangerous" "Yeah so?"

I looked at him perplexed, what was he saying? isn't he scared? isn't this whole thing scary? we've almost died multiple times just today! what is he saying! I start getting angry, I look at Pedro for help but.... he looks at me like I'm the weird one, his ruby red eyes added with the pale white skin really made his blank expression more.... condescending, if that makes sense? "Look.... kid, you're doing OK, better than Vince and Georgie on their first hunt, Vince damn near wet himself when he faced his Black Biter and Georgie froze when he met a Drecore, those things are small fry!" Bar- Barney said, "Wasn't that you?" Pedro voiced, "Doesn't matter!" he shot back.

He placed a hand on my Shoulder and leaned close, " We'll watch you back, so relax a little bit, tell you what, WHEN we get outta here, I'll take you to the Party Pete's Paradise! you'll love it!" Barney said. I take a moment to register his words.... I-I think I can do that, they've been dependable so far... I think, I nod my head and he gives me a reassuring smile, maybe I can rely on them, "Good, Good..... now forget everything I said for a moment" he said, "What!?" I yelped, "I said for the moment! Geez, look... according to my double, the others have lead the bio beast to the back, we'll need to move now!" Barney said while clacking his hooves. I nodded , he scacked my back and tapped my belt buckle three times.

A light enveloped me and in the next moment I was covered in a transparent mucus like substance, it stuck to my body but didn't feel uncomfortable, "what is this?" I asked, "Survivour mode! it's so we'll move faster! There's a safehouse by the river bank north of here, we didn't wanna ask the folks there for help but guess we got no choice!" Barney bellowed. He and Pedro did the same for their belts and lead the way outside. I put my hand in my pocket.... the red pebble was back.... I decide to keep it's existence for myself.... for now.

The halls were clear, surprisingly no monsters, we got to the front fast enough, we met a greenish silhouette there, Barney's double, he had the ability to make clones of himself, though they're no way as sturdy as the original thing. He reabsorbed it into himself and we went on our way. "Here, we go this way, there are less powerful beasts this way" Pedro announced and so we went. "Rattlesnake, that guy- dog person, how many times had he come here alone?" I asked, jumping over a thorny bush, "This was supposed to be his last trial.... poor guy looks like his luck ran out! and only 2 more days to go too!" Barney said. Whilst walking through the swampy fields, I decide to ask about the Rooster woman from day before yesterday, their response.... "Don't EVER associate with that vile woman!" They shouted in unison, Pedro looked especially pissed off at the mention of her name, "Look Cas jnr, if you're looking for a woman, I know some babes at the blue button that are just your type! But NEVER EVER deal with the Wormeater, only thing her 'Friends' had to say about her is the bright bloody smile she gave them after their partnership... Georgie's brother.... look just don't associate with her is all!" Barney said and with that silence.

We didn't utter a word after that until we reached the safe house, the green mist made it hard to see but I could make out some parts of the building, it looked like the walls were made of some sort of metal alloy, I step closer to get A look, "WAIT!" Pedro yelled, but before I could react, a spear came flying right at me, Right at my head! Luckily Barney tackled me in time, "T-Thanks" I stuttered, "No problem, just... be careful, a lot of crazies in this place, hey Sammie!" he said. "Fatewalker..... what do you want?" Said a mysterious woman, with bright green hair and gross purple skin. She and several other figures surrounded us each with a spear in hand pointed straight at us.