Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

[Rule 34]

Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

"You'd be right about that," Fletch answers Izzy. "He can take his mood swings and stuff 'em where the sun don't shine." He heads over to their car after making sure the entrance is hidden.

 

[Sinfulwolf]

Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

After climbing into the front passenger seat Claire glanced over at Ronny for a brief moment, then looked at the side mirror, watching for the others and tucking her shotgun between door and seat to hide it.

"Here they come," Claire muttered to the driver as the others emerged from below.

 

[dmronny]

Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

Ronny waits for River to jump in the back seat and to make sure the others are following before he takes off for the farmhouse as River directs from the back seat. With the exception of asking which way to turn at a few intersections he doesn't say anything to his companions. ((unless they ask anything that is))

 

[Copper]

Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

Fletch's comment gets a snicker out of Izzy. She'll shuffle seating around, as it's likely easier putting Raven and Eve in the back seat and letting Fletch take shotgun than trying to get him into the back and give him enough leg room. Once they're all situated, she'll start up the car, flicking on the lights to let Ronny know they're ready to go. After that, it's a matter of following after him, keeping enough distance between them that it's easy enough for him to signal which way they're going without her having to make any sudden sharp stops or turns.

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

River calls out directions as the small caravan heads out of the city eastward. they drive for a little more than ten minutes in what was starting to feel like a circle before she tells Ronny to pull over into the entrance to a farmer's field.

"This is it here, get as far into those trees on the side as you dare, I'll see if my friend is as good as his word." She says as she hops out. she directs Izzy to follow Ronny and park as close behind him as possible, then heads for the other side of the lane and digs around in the brush for a minute, eventually coming out with a hockey bag.

Inside is a large camouflage tarp, the kind you see the military make hidden tents with, and she drapes it over the cars once everyone has gotten out. "Alright, the farmhouse is just over the first ridge in that field there," She says, pointing almost straight away from the road to a rolling hill. It looks like it was a corn field at some point, but this time of year there's not much but some ankle-high stalks standing, the rest laid back down as compost for next year. "Get to just below the top and wait for me to come back, I'm going to take care of their sentry. Any last questions?"

 

[Copper]

Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

Given River's directions, the front bumper of Izzy's car is damn near touching Ronny's rear one. She picks her way as quietly as she's able, which, admittedly, is decent, but far from perfect. She eyes the location in the distance, nodding.

"Not to, y'know, jinx us or anything, but do we have a 'We're fucked, let's get out of here' signal?" She arches a brow. There's enough mirth in her voice to keep a question like that light, but at the same time, yeah, she's serious.

 

[dmronny]

Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

After parking the car and helping River cover them with a tarp, Ronny just moves off with the others and looks where River points before shaking his head at her last question. He does perk up at Izzy's question and listens for the answer.

 

[Chibichibi]

Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

Eve is holding onto her gun, gripping and relaxing nervously.

 

[Rule 34]

Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

"I think yelling 'We're fucked, let's get out of here' should be our signal," Fletch grumbles, fixating the hill. His big hands curl into fists and release, curl and release. Okay, I can do this. This is nothing like Iraq. There's no sand and no glaring sun, and there's probably no Iraqi with... He curses under his breath and reaches up to scratch his beard. Focus now.

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

"That generally works." River says with a chuckle. "Figure it out on the way, I'll see you all there in a minute."

With that, she turns and starts booking it for the hill herself. About halfway there, anyone who's looking at her feels something change. their eyes want to slide off her and forget she's there, but if they focus, they can keep track of her. She hits a crouch once she nears the top and stops for a second, then turns a bit and heads down the other side and fully out of view.

**********************************************************

Alright, down this fucker and keep things Running...

The sentry is a larger male, probably 240 pounds, biker-looking, slowly swinging a chain down at the stubs of cornstalks as he walks in a large circle around the buildings. She makes a beeline straight for his side, supernaturally silent and invisible, with talon-like claws growing at the ends of her fingers. At exactly ten feet away, the man's chain stops making sounds when it swings. that perks him right up, and he spins the chain in a wide arc around him. River catches it with a hand, revealing herself at the same time as she takes a swipe with the other hand. He ducks back, but not enough, losing most of the side of his face in the process. He roars in pain, but once again no sound comes out. Instead, he wraps her up in a bearhug, pinning her arms at her side, and begins to squeeze.

River responds by activating her supernatural speed, biting the man on the shoulder repeatedly and tearing at his midsection with her claws. He crushed a couple ribs in the time he had, but she literally tore him apart. She spat out a chunk of flesh, pushed her ribs back into place so they'd heal straight, then grabbed the guy's chain and set off back to the hill where the rest of the coterie was...

 

[dmronny]

Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

Ronny tries to keep an eye on River as she books it up the hill, but it seems like he blinks and she's gone when he looks back. He gives her a minute before he slowly and quietly starts heading to meet up with her below the ridge with the shotgun in hand.

 

[Copper]

Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

Fletch has Izzy laughing at that, though she muffles it quickly enough. "Sounds fair enough to me." She tries to keep tabs on River, making note of what she can see her do, and trying to keep an ear out to make sure things go fine with her task. Once she can be seen back on the ridge, she'll start creeping forward to join her and get a look at the layout of the farm as best she can.

 

[Rule 34]

Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

Fletch casts Izzy a look and a short grin before starting off towards the hill as well, crouching lower as he gets closer to the top. His battlefield behavior may be rusty, but its not gone.

 

[Copper]

Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

As they get closer, Izzy starts getting a thoughtful look on her face. "Hey, Eve," She's keeping her voice low but making sure she's heard. "How's your range with that rifle? If they're on the second floor and we wind up looking down on the house, think you could snipe the windows?" She's not entirely sure of the other girl's skill, but it's something. And she can't imagine a gun like that being good in close quarters anyway. "Or if we manage to lure 'em out of the house?"

 

[Chibichibi]

Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

Eve flashes a quick grin. "Sure. Never thought shooting squirrels would come in handy, though. You lure them out, I'll ping 'em."

(((Ah, who thought this would lure out Eve's redneck roots. Welcome to the hills of Tennessee folks.)))

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

The group arrives at the hill probably fifteen seconds before River, who shows up about ten paces away with a quick 'calm down' motion, in case anyone points a gun at her in surprise. She's now sporting a fair amount of gore, as well as a section of chain wrapped over her shoulder like a bandoleer. "Alright, watch is dealt with, you all ready?"

 

[Copper]

Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

Izzy nods, not entirely sure how they're going to lure out the other vampires, but it's worth giving it a try, anyway. "Good luck aiming," she remarks quietly.

River's appearance makes her arch a brow but she doesn't say anything about it. "No. But since when has that really stopped us before?"

 

[Rule 34]

Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

"Well great, now they're leaving me alone," Fletch grumbles quietly, and his head jerks up as he realizes he has spoken out loud. "Um, sure. Let's do this."

 

[Chibichibi]

Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

"As ready as we'll ever be." Eve replies.

 

[dmronny]

Re: Chapter 2 - The Calm Before the Storm

Ronny almost brings up his gun to shoot when River appears out of nowhere, but he lowers the gun as soon as he realizes it's her. "Yeah sure just do me a favor and don't pop out of nowhere when the fighting starts. So same plan as before I assume except that now we try to lure the ones in the house out into the open, while River and Claire take the barn."

As he says this he peaks over the ridge to get a look at the farmhouse which has obviously seen better days. Most of the second floor windows are unboarded, but the first floor windows seem to be blocked up tight from what he can see.