cowpoke

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The valley Cal and Bunny had found was eerily similar to that of the one he used to hide out in with Tex after robbing the train in Ambarino. The purple lupines that dotted the meadow brought back the memories of him sketching the pronghorns he had seen that afternoon after the shootout in the town just on the other side of the mountain. Callahan had decided that if he were to claim this region for his gang, he'd name it after the place that started it all. Ambarino.

Now that they had decided on a place to call their own, Callahan had work to do. He had left Miss Bunny to her own devices, but kept close enough in case danger came her way. He felt oddly, protective, over the woman, though he'd never utter it out loud. Instead, he showed it in his actions. Keepin' her safe, huntin' when he could so she wouldn't have to. Hell, he even accompanied her on her hunts for herbs. But the words would never leave Cal's mouth, not while he could help it.

Callahan had busied himself with familiarizin' himself with the creatures that also called the valley home. He knew of the pronghorns that found a home in the lupine meadow and the small herd of wild horses somewhere in the forests. He could always smell the tell-tale scent of wild in the air whenever he got close enough. It reminded him of the past, when he had been as wild as the animals he encountered. And maybe all of this was fate granting him what he always wanted, freedom.

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bunny is now welcome in all of cal's posts <3 and a nice little aw for those wanting to join the cowboy gang !
misc skill ; ranger

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Wanderin' was somethin' Tobias did best, except he hadn't quite found the will to leave this valley. He had walked the ridges, casting his sights out beyond the mountain peaks to see what might lay beyond, but for now, this felt safe. It was nestled with the air of home... and it must have been someone's home at some point. He and @Boone had taken turns splitting off from each other's sides, and on one of his short trips, he stumbled upon some run-down establishment. It wasn't the bar the wrangler had grown used to occupying while the sun crested the mountain's edge, but it was a lick familiar, he'd tell you that.

To be quite honest, everything felt like he was trapped in a dream; even though he had awoken from odd memories, he still would insist they were just that. A dream. Everything had a semblance of Bronzebrook, but he didn't need a glass to know this ain't Bronzebrook. Never would be Bronzebrook. And maybe that was a good thing. Maybe he liked hanging onto those strings, an inch of comfort coming from the knowledge it would never be the same.

It wouldn't take long until he crossed his own shadow, a man half as crossed, twice as rugged, and all bulk. No surprise that more would dwell here. It was nice enough for the winter and warm enough that the river still ran wet. Unfortunately, Tobi knew all too well that not every stranger was happy to cross company. He let out a chuff to announce himself, keeping his distance as he watched from the tall grass.
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Callahan's days went by slowly, filled with scouting trips around the valley, following a certain lady around her herb hunts, and some hunts with Rhett. But now he was doin' his own little excursion in the meadow. He had been trailin' some canine paws in the mud near their camp. It wasn't Miss Bunny or Rhett's, judging from the indents but he was curious who the hell was creepin' around.

Callahan had lowered his head to inspect a print in the mud when a chuff from the tall grass called for his attention. The man swung his head back in its direction, his brows lowering over his eyes. The fur along his nape bristled at the idea that someone had intruded on his space. “Show yourself.” Cal demanded, voice leavin' no room for discussion. The outlaw stood to his full height, lip twitching with the urge to expose his teeth.

The fact someone had crept up behind him sent Cal spiraling back to the past. He remembered the time he was stabbed in the back by one of them street urchins in that fancy town he couldn't remember the name of. The little brat stole his satchel and his prized revolver, a theft he'd never forgotten, even without the scar to prove it. Even now he could feel the tightened skin on his back.

The man turned to face the grass, muscles preparing for a fight. “I ain't gonna hurt ya.” He hummed, eyes trained on the stranger's hidin' place.

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“I ain't hidin'.” Least he didn't think he was. Tobi looked down at the grass rising mid-leg and then to his pelt. Did he blend more than he thought? Not like Tobias was a small man, it was considerably harder to hide, and he didn't feel like crawlin' around in slush just to potentially stick out like a sore thumb. “That's good to hear, though. I ain't lookin' to fight. Just thought it polite to introduce myself. You from 'round here? Didn't see a sign, so pardon the intrusion if I let myself in.”
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“Sure seem like it.” Cal snorted as the figure came into view. Maybe he were in view the whole time, but Callahan weren't going to admit it. “Good to know.” Cal rose from the ground, eyes now focused entirely on the strange feller. His fur was mottled with tans and browns, just like that other feller he met in the woods. Maybe the two were related? “Say, you know, a uh, dog? Kinda short, splotchy pelt.”

“You could say that. The gang and I are hopin' to settle out here. Create a home for ourselves.” Callahan didn't hesitate to tell this man his plans of the future, though he did choose to omit the number of members they had. Weren't a real threat with just three people, that much he knew. “No problem. Haven't officially called it ours.” He chuckled as he relaxed his still tense frame. He weren't much of a threat now that Cal knew he weren't lookin' for a fight. “Name's Callahan. And you are?”

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“Well I apologize ‘bout that. Certainly keep it in mind for next time.” Tobias tilted his head running the description through his mind. “Hmm…Don’t mean Boone, do ya?” he wasn’t sure if he’d consider him a dog per se, but then again who was he to judge? Not like Tobias was quite right either.

“Yeah, I know him. Sweet fella, wouldn’t hurt a fly. Reckon it’s all part of the Reverend package. Why? He step on some toes? Think he gets a lil dazed sometimes, but he don’t mean nothin’ by it.” Sure, dazed. Not at all flustered. Not that he could gather why. “Don’t help that we’re a bit discombobulated right now, but we still got our heads, can promise that.”

Tobi let himself fall to his haunches, a drawn out whistle on his lips as he looked out over the valley. “Well I can see why. She sure is a beaut. Figured someone has to be settled out here ‘n if not it was only a matter of time. Kinda remind me of a place called Bronzebrook.” The wrangler cast a side glance to his company, looking for a semblance of familiarity across his face with the name. Would do no good to drop a name if it put him on edge. “It ain’t her, I know. Too big a river cuttin’ through ‘n no saloon. Least not one I found.”

“Take it you’ve never heard of us, have you?” It was a safe assumption unless he was sneakier than Tobi assessed. Two canines with mottled pelts didn’t exactly blend into a crowd, ‘specially not with Rev’s coyote features and Tobi’s size.
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callahan hummed at the man’s words before nodding. “i think that’s what he might’ve said.” but as the man continued to describe him, the pieces connected in his head. “just curious. i met ‘im out in the woods and weren’t sure what to make of him.” cal had omitted the fact that he invited the two to his camp, but he were sure the reverend would inform his companion.

the outlaw let his gaze turn out to the valley with a smile growing on his face. the backdrop of the mountains looked just like the valley back home, even the soft bubbling of the river reminded him of his time out there. “’minds me of home. it’s why we decided to stay and settle the place, even got an old ranch down by the bank. though i am sorry to say i’ve never heard of the place. closest to my camp back home was a small town called blackwater. never heard of a bronzebrook back then.” the memories of his time in blackwater were good, many of him teachin’ reed to shoot his repeater and goin’ huntin’ on the great plains just outside of the town. they’d been able to get down to the dakota river and catch some perch before headin’ home with their catch.

“i may be forward, but have ya’ll found a place to stay out here? or are ya’ll not sure on stickin’ around?” while it sounded as if cal were worried for them, he was more so gauging whether they were plannin’ to stay in the valley. the duo may have been pleasant folk, but he weren’t trustin’ just anyone while he had someone to protect.

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“Ah, good, good.” It wouldn’t do no good to cross wolves now. Not when they just got here and were still sortin’ stuff straight. Fortunately, Callahan didn’t bat an eye to his question, not that he answered it neither, but it seemed his reputation hadn’t followed to this place. “You know, I think he did mention crossin’ ya, but ‘m not sure we realized you folks were setting’ up beyond makin’ camp.” A half truth. Truth was they had no where to go and Tobias hadn’t been in a hurry when he hadn’t smelled nothin.

“Naw, not beyond refuge from the winter winds. Don’t gotta worry ‘bout us none, we know not to intrude on other folks home if we ain’t welcome. Reckon we’ll head out soon as we got a direction that ain’t lead us to our necks in snow.” there were a lot of mountains nearby. Traveling the valley he had seen what laid beyond the ridges in wait for them, and he weren’t too happy to see mountain after mountain with spanning tundra to the north and south.

“Say, if you need an extra pair of paws ‘m sure the Rev ‘n I could help ya out. Ya know, if it makes ya feel better knowin’ ya got an eye were you can see us. Don’t gotta stay once the hard work is done, but it would sure be of great help if we knew we have shelter for winter.”

Speakin' of the Rev, he should probably call 'im if he's volunteerin' his paws. @Boone shouldn't be too far off, so Tobi looked over his shoulder and gave a sharp whistle. “Sorry, not to crowd ya, but figured it might be good to include 'im in the conversation. Less back 'n forth, I think you'd agree.”
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“i might've been careful with my words, i apologize. i had someone to protect then, and weren't sure ya'll were good people. i hope you can understand.” cal had been careful to not mention miss bunny, but he was growing comfortable with the two's presence in his area. they didn't strike him as dangerous fellers or crooks, but he knew deep down they were just like him, outlaws in a new world.

“if that ain't the truth. lotta mountains out here, but it keeps the valley safe. even if the snow makes it hard to get out if we needed to.” he let his eyes trail to the mountain that he often visited when he wanted to spend a moment alone.

cal mulled over the man's offer to stick around, mind tryna find a reason as to why it wouldn't be a good idea and found none. the reverend, as he called him, seemed too kind to pose as a threat to miss bunny and he could take on this one if he needed to. the man also knew snow would keep them here and it were better to have them as allies than enemies in the winter months.

“we'd be happy to have ya'll with us. ya'll can stick around for as long as you'd like, long as you pull your weight. lot of work to get done 'round here.” he smiled and motioned to where the camp was situated. “I s'pose now's good a time to introduce myself. name's callahan.”

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misc skill ; recruiter

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