Far Cry Thread #0: The First One, Actually

 Fiat 12:33 pm

"I can't believe this!" Rheagal growled as he strode back and forth before the 1969 Jag that was now smoking. "I KNEW we shouldn't have driven this piece of junk. It breaks down all the time!" He ran his fingers through his short dark hair, as he turned to look back at his sister, Allya, who was elbows deep in the engine. "Well!"

"Don't you yell at me, Rheagal!" Allya shot back as she 'argued' with the car. "He didn't mean it baby." She spoke to the car as she got to sputter at least, before leaning back and wiping an oiled stained hand across her forehead, leaving a smear of oil along her forehead. "It's not like this is easy. You have parts that are delicate. Can't just hit it with a hammer!" She smirked over at the tall, skinny, pale man at her side who simply smirked back at her as he tried to help her.

"Well, this is ridiculous! We were supposed to be in town hours ago. Or close to it. Where are we any way!?" Rheagal bit out in frustration.

"Place called Holland Valley, by the looks of it." Armand perked up. The younger of the triplets looked nothing like his siblings. While they had dark hair and blue or green eyes, he had white blonde hair and grey eyes. "In Hope County. So we aren't that far off the mark, Rheagal. Chill." He tried the car again at Allya's word and then shook his head when it only sputtered and died. "Nothing."

"Dammit!" Allya sighed and shut the hood. "Looks like we are walking." She wiped her hands off on a towel and her forehead and threw it into the front seat of the car and walked around the back and popped the trunk and started gathering their bags and what they would need. The rest, they hoped they could come back for later.

"WALK! Do you know how far that would be?" Rheagal gripped.

"No, so stop bitching and get over here and get your stuff." Allya threw his bag at him and Rheagal caught it with a scowl but one look from Alfred shut him up quick.

"Ye have everting?" Alfred asked as he grabbed his gear and his weapons as well, cause one never knew. His accent was strange, and he couldn't pronounce a few words properly unless he was REALLY trying to sound proper. Which most times he couldn't be bothered with the effort, so he mostly used Sign around strangers.

"Yep. All good. Let's go." Armand chuckled softly as he gathered up his stuff and their rations and food supplies and locked up the car. "Don't worry Allya, the car will be fine. We can come back for it later." He knew that car was Allya's baby and she cherished it as such.

Turning, all four headed out for a long walk into the nearest town. It took almost an hour, since they had broken down on the outskirts, but when they finally got there, it was just starting to get dark. Stopping at a nearby hotel, they were told that there were no rooms, but directed to another across the way. Heading there, they were told the same and by this point they all were hungry and tired and Rheagal was getting mad at their string of luck.

"Great! Just great! Now what do we do?" He all but exploded after being turned away from the last hotel.

"Don't freak, Rheagal...I am sure we will find some place. Has to be more than two hotels in town. Let's go find something to eat first." Allya nodded to the nearest restaurant. "Maybe someone in there can help us."

 

"What do you mean they have a warrant? What have they even been able to prove?" John growled into the phone in annoyance as he slammed his lap top closed where he sat across from Joseph at a booth within the small restaurant. He was on the phone with one of his contacts in the police department and this news was far less than fortunate to hear. This was fast turning into a bigger mess than he wanted to handle especially having just gotten Jacob out of jail and now they were going straight for Joseph. God this was Jacobs fault for getting so many eyes turned on them due to that whole mess. Teeth gritting his eyes soon met Joseph's. The other hardly needed to say it with that expression. Slowly John took a breath to calm down. "Well if you can find out let me know. I'll need to figure out a way to work this. He of all people can not go to jail. Especially over this!" He replied to the other person on the phone. Hand running over his face he soon nodded and said his goodbyes before moving to hang up. Hand tightening on the phone his light blue hues remained on the empty plate of food in front of him in thought. This was so bad.

"John? Breath. Remember what I told you? He will not let them take me. This nothing but a minor hiccup. It will mean nothing in the end" Joseph spoke gently his hand reaching to gently take John's in a comforting Manor as the older male studied him with a soft expression. Slowly lifting his eyes to meet Joseph's again John slowly nodded 

"I know, I know... I just... It's scary. The thought of them taking you. What would we do?" He replied all but showing how stressed he was looking to Joseph. As much as Joseph believed God wouldn't allow it John knew there was always a what if? What if that was Gods plan instead!?

"Pray John. Only he can remove that fear. You know this" Joseph replied in a bit of a stern tone as he noted the stress on his little brothers face. John bit his inner lip a bit hard hearing Joseph's response. Yeah there was no way Joseph would fall into doubt or fear like the rest of them. He was strong, pure, in every way. Unlike himself. Moving to sit back finally he nodded slowly. 

"I will... I'm sorry Joseph" He replied a bit ashamed sounding as his eyes broke from his brothers again.

"If they come. They come. It will work out. I promise you this" Joseph added as he moved to stand finally adjusting the black jacket his wore. Then he moved to gently touch his brothers shoulder. "I will see you at service tomorrow John. Try and get some rest as well. You need it" He added and for a moment John had had looked up. About to say something in response when the nearby door to the restaurant dinged loudly announcing someone was entering. Joseph was first to look seeing as he was standing and face their direction and planning to leave.

"And would you look at that. More visitors. Our little town has become very popular hasn't it little brother" Joseph whispered with a small chuckle as he moved to saunter towards the door himself casting a rather friendly smile to the group as he passed. However he said nothing and was soon sauntering through the door and out into the street where he'd left his Harley parked just outside of the restaurant.

Back inside John sat still now, his head turning to look past the new comers and after his brother before he cast a rather unreadable look their way. "I believe they're about to close" He stayed pointedly, not seeing the waitress anywhere in sight, or the bartender and only one other sat on the other side of the restaurant. Old Joe, and as usual he sat sort of glaring from beneath his John Deere hat like even John had offended his great ancestors. Then again he was one of the oldest in the town. Unlikely to ever convert to the truth and judging everything about John from his well pressed vest to the ink that littered his arms and the sports car he drove. Once he made it to the old fool he had half a mind not to try. No! Bad John! He mentally cursed himself at the cruel thought and cast a slight smile to the strangers as he turned to pull his wallet out and stand. Pulling several twenties out he soon placed them along with his card from the church that read the service times. A subtle way to try and get the staff here to show up.

Then slowly he slid the wallet back into his back pocket and turned grabbing his jacket from the back of the booth. Sleep, no he had a lot of work to do both for legal stuff and the sermon tomorrow if Joseph didn't steal the entire hour himself. Which was entirely possible currently.

 

Walking inside the restaurant, the four took their time taking in their surroundings. It was very clear that they didn't belong there, and not just because of the gear and bags they carried. They all stood out like sore thumbs, even more so Alfred and Armand who couldn't blend in if they tried....well, Alfred could. He could flat out disappear if he needed or wanted to. Perks of being a world class assassin; but Armand, he wasn't that good at things like that. Yet.

Allya had noticed the older looking gentleman leaving and smiled politely back in turn before walking up to the bar and looking around for someone who worked there. Seeing no one really, her eyes furrowed as she sighed softly, knowing Rheagal might blow up at this, another setback.

"What? No help here? Awesome." Rheagal hissed out. "Now where are we gonna stay? What are we gonna do?" He shot Allya and Alfred a look. "This was your idea, by the way. Lets walk into town....shitty that this town has no openings in either hotels!"

"Rheagal! Shut it, I get it!" Allya hissed back through clenched teeth. "You acting like a complete ass isn't helping anything. We will find something, I am sure. Just shut up and let me figure this out." She tried to keep her voice low, but Rheagal's attitude was beginning to get on her nerves. True, he was the eldest, but at times he still acted like a five-year-old and she wanted to strangle him! Armand was basically the 'brains' of the group, out of the triplets anyway. He was the smart one, the scholar and he usually got them out of trouble whenever they got into it so by default, and because she was both smart and headstrong, Allya was the 'unofficial leader'. But Alfred was with them and though he watched their backs and protected them, he wouldn't get into their squabbles unless it actually came to blows.

"Excuse me?" She called out, looking around to see if anyone would come to the bar to help. "Can anyone tell us if this town has another hotel, and if not, is there a place we can sleep for the night, or get some help with our car? We broke down...." She bit her lip, unsure and not liking the awkward feeling of asking for help in a place she had no knowledge of or its people.

 

John may not have seemed as if he was paying attention but in reality he very much was. Any word spoken in a normal time he'd picked up on as he moved to pull his jacket back on and start for the door himself a bit slow like. In fact just to listen longer he'd pulled his keys and fumbled them a bit suddenly dropping them not far behind where the last one stood. This was when he overheard the female trying to call back to get someone's attention. Pity, no doubt the cook was gone and the main woman was cleaning in the far back. If he had to guess anyhow. Moving to stand again he paused eyeing them in thought. "You folks need help?" He suddenly spoke from behind them. A curious look to his eye as he looked first to Alfred and then to Armand, then Rheagal and finally his eyes went to the female who had last spoke. "Car troubles?" He guessed with a bit of a chuckle once she had turned to acknowledge him. What else could it be with how tired they looked and the fact they were carrying bags. They certainly didn't look homeless so that had to be it.

 

Rheagal turned hearing the male's voice and his eyes narrowed slightly. Armand, catching the action from his brother, elbowed him subtly in the ribs while Allya, turned and smiled politely. "Yes, we seemed to have broken down about an hours walk outside of town." She replied politely. "Every hotel we have come across has said they are filled and have no rooms. We would only need space for us four to sleep and do not take up much room." She chuckled and held out her hand in greeting, as she had been taught. "I am Allya, and these are my brothers, Armand and Rheagal, and our friend, Alfred." She introduced them one by one. "You are?" She asked curiously.

Alfred had perked up the moment the man had addressed him and he went still, as only he could do, watching the man without seeming to. He motioned to Armand and signed: 'This one might help, but again, might not. Be cautious.' before nodding as Allya introduced him. He didn't smile, but he didn't frown or scowl as Rheagal was doing either. Simply there, watching, and very aware of the happenings of the restaurant as well. For his eyes, and ears, missed nothing.

 

Of course he noticed Rheagal’s glare immediately but that hardly seemed to faze him as he reached out to shake the females hand with a faint smile. "John... John Seed" He introduced himself with another faint smile and a brief nod to the others seeming to study each briefly as he tried to memorize who she'd said was who. Noticing Alfred signing he sort of made note of it. Was the man deaf? However his eyes soon moved back to Allya again. "I'm actually the pastor so lucky for you I have a few strings I can pull. There's actually a place we use for lock ins in the back of the church. I won't say it's the most comfortable but for a night I can set you up and then I can get our guys to help pick up your car in the morning first thing. If you'd like of course" He told Allya hardly needing to really think about it. He knew how bad it could be to be stranded and out here? He didn't doubt the hotels were not full but that they just didn't even have half of the rooms in working order to allow anyone to stay there. Not to mention even if they had some unsavory characters liked hanging around there.

"And don't forget to attend their fuckin sermon in the morning. You folks gonna love all them god damn peggies. Real peaches they are.... Especially this one" The old man who'd been glaring suddenly popped off grumpily as he walked past glaring at John as if he wished the man would just up and combust. Then out the door he went without another word leaving John to first glare nostril twitching but then quickly he acted as if it was nothing and chuckled a bit awkwardly. 

"God bless you to Joe! Say hi to Marlene for me!" He called after the man. 

"FUCK OFF PEGGIE" the old man's voice called back before the door slammed shut.

Well that was awkward. Quickly shaking it off Johns eyes moved back to Allya, and he smiled "He must have had a bad day at the ranch. Don't mind him he's often like that" He stated with another chuckle.

 

"Pastor? Of a....church?" Rheagal finally blurted out, his eyes narrowed even more. "Oh goodie! We get to spend the night in a religious building! Hip, hip, hooray! OWW!" He yelped as Armand elbowed him again, harder this time.

"Be nice." Armand hissed at his brother. "He is at least offering to help us. Show some respect, not many would to strangers these days." He turned his attention back to John and nodded. "Our thanks, Sir. It is very much appreciated. Pay no mind to Rheagal. He hates....well...everything." He meant it in as a jest but in a way it was true. Rheagal was a very angry person who didn't believe in a God or a Deity. Only in what he could see or touch or sense; and he let the others he traveled with know it. Often.

"That is very kind of you. Thank you." Allya said with a smile, having caught what Alfred had signed to Armand earlier. She knew to keep up her guard as well, but it didn't hurt to be polite. "Where can we meet then? Since we just got into town, we are a bit hungry and wanted to get a bite first....but I guess it wouldn't hurt to follow and drop our stuff off either." She shrugged with a smirk. "Either way works for us."

Only Alfred held motionless, watching the interaction. It was damned hard, to figure out what went on in that man's head at the best of times. Times like this, you never knew and that was scary in of itself.

 

John's eyes narrowed in on Rheagal for a moment. Damn it! They would be sinners of all things. Hopefully that one at least had some common decency or he might have to let one of the others deal with him. For he really didn't have the patience currently. 'God please give me it as long as I must be around this wretch' he thought and for a moment he just seemed to stare at Rheagal until Allya quickly spoke up. Looking to her he nodded slowly "I used to be that way once. My older brother still is.... No offense taken" He replied before moving to cross his arms for the moment seeming to think. "Well this is our only real restaurant. Yes I know small towns.... If you can even call it that much. But I might be able to scrounge something up for you from my house. Unfortunately the church doesn't have much. Where's your car?" He asked finally raising an eyebrow curiously. Of course he wasn't going to make them walk either that would just be rude. Plus if they got to the church before him chances were they might surprise Greg and get shot. Not a good option.

 

"About an hour outside of town. We walked...that far to here." Allya chuckled softly, hefting the bag she wore on her shoulder a bit as it was getting quite Heavy. "Though, there is no need for food, or to feed us from your own stores. We can make do, as we have brought a few supplies with us since we were traveling anyway. That or here will suffice as we aren't picky."

"Speak for yourself..." Rheagal muttered and this time, Alfred moved to slap him, HARD upside the back of his head. Giving him a glare that said so much without having to say anything. Clearly, just proving that he could hear just as well as the rest could.

"Anyway...lead on, and we shall not try to take up to much of your time, Sir. We do thank you for the hospitality though and the help." Allya smirked over at Alfred and signed: 'Thank you! I was going to deck him myself if he didn't stop.'

Alfred only chuckled and nodded ever so slightly. 'You are welcome, little one.' He replied back in kind.

 

Well, John would still send someone to drop something off. Seeing as he didn't imagine they had any real food packed inside what they could carry. However this he didn't say and simply nodded "Well as I pointed out earlier I actually think she's trying to close.... Small towns" He teased. "I'm shocked Cate hasn't came to yell at us to leave yet" He teased however before moving to twirl his keys around his finger. "Shall we...." He added gesturing for them to follow with a motion of his hand. Again he looked at Rheagal and this time sort of chuckled. Was the guy always this damn Moody?

"Where are you all headed?" He asked all to casually deciding to make chit chat as he lead the way out the front of the restaurant and into what was quickly becoming cool night air. The sun now almost completely vanished behind the distant mountain tops. Stopping to hold the door he glanced for the clouds with a bit of a frown. Hopefully not snow, but knowing their luck. At least he hoped it would steer clear of the valley. Let Jacob get snowed into his mountain he never left anyway. Well usually, he had gotten a text asking what time things started tomorrow. However this was a different story. He would be there for a reason. For if they arrested Joseph.

 

Allya, catching what John was saying, nodded and turned to head out the door. The rest followed her, silently. Only Rheagal scowled still as he rubbed his no doubt bruised ribs. Armand could pack a punch for a small guy. Hearing the question, Allya smiled again and chuckled. "We aren't really sure." She replied honestly. "Was sent to Montana and told to find a secluded town surrounded by forests and once we found that....to go deeper into the woods." She knew it sounded a bit crazy, but that was how they had lived for all of their life. Strangers were ever encroaching, closer and closer to the hidden cabin they had grew up in, and knowing they needed to find a safer place, their mother, Becca had suggested Montana and the triplets jumped on it to be allowed to go first and scope it all out. Provided Alfred went with them. "We kind of keep to ourselves. Grow our own food type thing. And yes...Rheagal is ALWAYS this moody." She laughed softly, having caught the look John had thrown her brother as they left.

"So this seems a secluded town as any. Can you tell us a bit about the people here? Are they friendly? Animals around in the mountains?" Armand asked that last question mostly for Allya's sake. It had been hard on her at first when she had heard that they would be leaving. So many 'friends' she would be leaving behind in the woods they had once called home. She was a Caller, able to 'talk' to and understand animals and it was this gift that usually helped out when they were lost in the woods sometimes. Not to mention, she always found it funny, to hear what certain animals thought of their masters. So yea, he asked for her.

 

Well to John they sounded weird as all hell. Then again if they knew a lot about him.... Undoubtedly they ever would though. Unless, they wanted to stay which the more Allya spoke the more sure that sounded. Especially when Armand started speaking and asking questions about the area. Chuckling a bit he cast Armand a slight smile. "Have I not introduced myself? Of course I can tell you. Almost anything you want to know" He teased the other male before slowing just at the door to the old red blue Challenger he'd left parked on the edge of the street. "Yes most here are friendly. I mean we have our grumps but for the most part we're a small community. Everyone knows everyone and Joe is the worst it ever gets" He added moving to step in as he unlocked the car. "And take a look around. Deer signs everywhere. Actually we even have a zoo up at the bottom of the mountain. And if fishing’s more your thing the river has plenty of them. A boat rental to" He added as he moved to lean back and popped the trunk. His door still open so he could speak to them. "You can put your stuff in the truck. And hop in" He finally added gesturing to the back. Shit nothing was back th.... Maybe some rope. Nothing to weird. Damn he was getting exhausted himself after the day he'd had and really he wasn't thinking. Light blue hues going to the mirror for a moment he double checked his shirt was buttoned up enough to hide the scaring and deep cuts then reaching he moved to fix his hair pushing it completely back from his face before placing the sunglasses back on his head.

 

The triplets wasted no time and dumped their bags and gear into the back of his car when asked and got in. Only Alfred noticed the rope and his eyes went back to John, who seemed to be fixing himself. Why? to make himself look more presentable? What for? Question after Question began to flood his mind as he got into the passenger side seat, giving Allya a look who had seemingly wanted to do so herself. This way, he could watch the man without seeming too and take note of things and aspects about him that most would not even know to look for. The rest of them climbed in and shut the doors and buckled up for the trip.

"Sounds like a fun, charming place." Allya pipped up from the back. "We hunt a lot ourselves and fishing is always a relaxing past time. Even more so when you get tired of venison." She chuckled softly, looking around her ever so slightly.

"We used to fish a lot back home. Swim too. But with people getting closer and closer, it was hard to be able to go out like we usually do. OWW! Dammit Allya! Would you guys stop that!" Rheagal growled as Allya elbowed him hard. He knew better than to tell their secret to a stranger, but didn't realize how strange his words might sound.

'Idiot!' Alfred signed, pointing back to Rheagal, which cause Allya to snort a giggle.

'Am not!' Rheagal signed sloppily back. Out of all of them, he wasn't the best at Sign yet.

'Then act like it!' Armand signed back and shook his head. "Sorry...really, don't mind our brother. He was dropped on his head when he was small." He teased which made Allya laugh again.

 

Other than to hide some of the self mutilation John really was just, outwardly obsessed with his looks. From the car, to the way he dressed down to diamonds in his ears and expensive watch. He more resembled a youth pastor then anything.

Glancing to Alfred as the man stepped in he offered another faint smile. Still not sure whether the man was deaf or mute he merely looked almost awkward when he'd smiled at him before suddenly becoming distracted by Rheagal’s comment. Well for not looking like backwoods feral psychos they talked like them. He'd know having once been in a foster home with one. Though other than the way they spoke of people as if they weren't in fact people? Well they seemed fairly normal.

About to reply to Rheagal his brow sort of furrowed at hearing Armand. "Well that's not very nice to say about your brother. We can't all be of intellect now can we?" He teased and VERY clearly was making a subtle jab at Rheagal for even as he sounded as if he were telling Armand off for his comment his own words pointed a very clear opinion at Rheagal. He didn't like the kid and could see why the others kept getting annoyed by him. He probably would have to!

Moving to switch the radio on to the local rock station he leaned back in his seat. Soon hitting the gas to start down the main street towards a large white steeple that from there was already in few just up the hill and past many old houses, a car garage, a gun store, a second church that was mostly overgrown looking and then came what damn near began to look like the run down side of the small town. Trailers with duct tape over windows, large pit bulls and hounds barking from back yard or pulling at chains and then they finally came into view of the church which was completely surrounded by a large metal and chain link fence. More small buildings around in and from there dogs could be heard barking wildly. Already not the most common look for a church. Moving to pull a pack of cigarettes from his console John placed one between his lips and lit it dropping the pack back under the radio in a small cubby as he hit the gas and moved to honk loudly. Hopefully Greg was awake and recognized the car..... Definitely he hoped the old man recognized the car.

 

"True, Rheagal has his merits, but he's the eldest. One would think that as the eldest, he would be the smarter one....alas, that job falls to me and my sister." Armand teased with a grin. Rheagal only scowled deeper at them both now and turned to look out the window, not saying a thing. He didn't like this new person AT ALL! Why did humans have to be so dumb? why couldn't they just stay in their own towns, and leave him and his family alone? Why did they have to come snooping so close so that they had to be the ones to leave, even if it was for a little while?

Allya and Alfred looked about as they drove. Taking note of each place they passed and the houses they saw. Not a very big little town. Their mother would be pleased. Rheagal let out a soft, nearly silent growl at seeing another church, and the twins just rolled their eyes at him and ignored him. However, when they pulled up to the church in question, all of them...and I mean ALL of them...went ramrod still.

Taking in the fence surrounding the church, hearing the dogs barking, and seeing the small outbuildings, Allya and Armand shared a look, knowing Alfred had gone all but statue still, as if plotting his next move.

"This....doesn't look like any church I have ever been to." Allya ventured, trying to keep the sudden shock out of her voice. She didn't really like 'cages' and this church, with its fences and dogs and security, reminded her of a really big cage.

 

"Welcome to Montana" John replied with a faint chuckle as he cast a look over to first Alfred then in the mirror as the three seemed to start acting nervous. "Oh goodness yes I know it's not the most welcoming looking place but really guys? Look we've had bad problems with vandalism. It's best to keep the place locked up for everyone's safety" He explained slightly shaking his head. Not to mention what could possibly do against all four of them? He wasn't big at all being five seven and skin and bone at this point. Now he actually worried Greg might scare them. Though really the man just looked like your average hillbilly.

Speaking of the moment he thought that Greg appeared sauntering towards the fence. His camo jacket hood up so all that could be seen was his beard as he moved for the gate to unlock it and let the chain drop. "And the dogs belong to Greg here. He likes his pits what can I say" He added with a small smile casting another look in the mirror at the others once more.

 

"Vandalism? From what? The town drunk? Joe? I didn’t see anyone near enough capable....DAMMIT! If you nudge or hit me one more time!" Rheagal growled at his siblings who had both hit and elbowed him at the same time. They all knew it was a lie, of sorts. Who guarded a church THIS well due to vandalism? But to call John out on lying at first meeting wasn't exactly kosher either.

"Shall I gag him?" Alfred actually finally spoke, meaning Rheagal as the barest of smirks crossed his face. Showing he was teasing. His thick, heavy Romanian accent gave him a deep, baritone voice as he chuckled ever so softly.

"Dogs? I would like to see them if that's alright with...what did you say his name was? Greg?" Allya smirked a bit. Eyes seemingly alight.

"Oh great...here we go." Armand teased, as Alfred rolled his eyes. "Allya loves animals....and any animal, whether wild or mean, loves her. It's...neat." He almost said odd, but that would hurt Allya's feelings, or so he thought.

 

The very fact Alfred had just spoke absolutely threw John for a loop. Even more so hearing the accent and he sort of blinked at the other almost forgetting what Rheagal had just said before being pulled from his thoughts by Allya's hint of excitement from the back. "Well, I'm, sure he won't mind" He replied with a small smile at the thought. Of course Greg wouldn't and that was IF she could get close enough to the fence to do so. Moving his foot to the gas as he sensed the tension was mostly gone save for Rheagal maybe John pulled in and past the first building soon coming to a stop in the dirt parking lot in front of the church. Letting out a sigh he reached to kill the engine and moved to step out. From there the kennels of at least twelves dogs barking could be seen just to the left where they'd entered the small lot and mostly covered in the shadow from the tall white steeple.

"Well this is it. I promise it's a bit less grungy inside" He teased with a faint smile as he moved to pop the trunk again and shut his door. Moving to fish the keys from his pocket he now seemed to be watching them all from the corner of his eye but especially Rheagal and Armand. Both he now wasn't sure he trusted but to late for that. They were already here!!

 

Sliding out of the car, each triplet took their turn in looking about, making what they would of the place. Armand seemed to study the aspects of the church itself, the fences, the people, all in rapid succession as he smiled faintly to himself. This was a very well protected place. Alfred cast John an actual 'smile', which for him would consist of the barest tips of his lips moving and nodded, knowing he had taken the man by surprise by speaking. That he had found funny. Sliding out of the car, he did the same as Armand, though a lot less obvious. Rheagal simply stretched and went to the back of the car, waiting for John to pop the trunk to get their things out without saying anything or even looking anywhere. Allya, however, catching sight of the dogs, smiled brightly and wandered over to the kennels nearby.

"And...there she goes." Armand chuckled, not at all moving to stop his sister. Knowing to do so would be folly. She'd either make new friends in about 5.6 seconds, or she'd learn that not all animals responded to her. It was fun, trying to guess which way it would go, cause usually she gift always worked....except on one big Male Moose back home. That fucker had hated everything!

'Well aren't you all adorable!' She inwardly spoke, opening her mind to the dogs as she drew slowly closer to the kennels. "Twelve of you? My, my, my...you are so fine looking too. I am Allya, I think you are all gorgeous!' She giggled as she ever so slowly, held out her hands just to the edge of the fence line. Not close enough to be bitten should they try, but close enough they could smell her scent. 'Want to be friends?' She smiled faintly to herself.

 

'Of all the condescending BULLSHIT!'

'Stop Trapper really. It's just some fucking girl'

'Go away GIRL!'

'Girl! Girl! Girl! Girl! It's a girl! It's a girl!!'

~~~~~~

Watching from where he stood as the dogs only seemed to bark more and more John glanced off towards Greg. Unshockingly the man couldn't be bothered and had gone stomping back into the trailer at the front of the lot slamming the door. "She.... Isn't planning on sticking her hand in there is she?" John suddenly asked almost looking nervous now as he looked from Armand to Alfred and then back across the lot to Allya. God be damned if she did and one bit her. Not because he was in the least worried. They could sue him and he'd win. He himself was a lawyer so they'd be playing a risky game in doing so but more so he really didn't want to deal with having to call in the town doctor over some stranger getting her hand bit off over stupidity.

Taking a drag of his cigarette he slowly moved to walk around the front of the car finally coming to a stop as he watched the girl for a moment and then finally, he moved to flip through his large key ring fumbling for a moment tiredly trying to find the right one. There it was? Perfect!

 

'Oh! I am sorry, I didn't realize you would talk back so elegantly.' Allya apologized to the one who said her words were condescending. 'I haven't gotten the chance to talk to many dogs lately. Just horses and deer and the like. But none talk as well as you do.' She chuckled and knelt down next to the fence, looking at each one in turn. She had to giggle, cause of all the minds she heard in there one sounded overly excited. Whether it was cause she was paying them attention or what, she didn't know. She just found it cute. 'What are your names? Do they treat you good here? We are new so it's all a little shocking at first.'

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"I wouldn't be at all surprised if she tried." Armand smirked. "Don't worry, she isn't that dumb. If they don't respond the way they should she won't do so. She....well....talks to animals, I guess you could say. It sounds weird but trust me, it's true." Armand grabbed some of their gear as Rheagal scowled at him, anything to keep Rheagal silent.

"Come on Allya! Stop playing with them damned dogs and lets go!" Rheagal shouted, making Allya ignore him which just furthered angered him.

'I'm REALLY sorry about him.' Allya chuckled softly. 'My brother is an ass. If you get a chance, bite him for me?' She teased, giggling softly.

 

'Well there's always food' One replied with a rather wicked snicker. 

'Hi hi hi I'm Roper! How can I hear you this is weird. Oh my goodness FLEAS!!' Another added still just as excited as he began to itch profusely.

As the others called to her again Roper bounced up on the fence rather suddenly. 'Hey we ain't just damned dogs! We're THE damn dogs mother..' he started before yelping as Trapper suddenly moved to bite at him snarling. 

'Shut your bitch ass up!' the larger male snarled in annoyance. Again the female voice came letting out a rather exasperated sigh.

'Better go little human. You're males need attention' she remarked rather smartly. At this point the others who had spoke were a mess of loud threats and insults as they had been almost the entire time. Mostly at Rheagal, Armand and Alfred if she'd paid attention. A few though could be heard calling someone a weak pussy which was far more personal.

Meanwhile John was already growing agitated at the sound of the dogs. A bit even showing on his face as he simply nodded to Armand's comment slowly. "Well um, if she wishes to stay out there all night I suppose it's her choice" he finally stated before turning to start towards the front of the church and soon stopping at the front door he moved to unlock the front door jostling the key within the key hole. Damn thing always getting stuck! Though finally with a pop it opened and he moved to open the door. Only then dropping the cigarette he'd been smoking and stomping it out beneath his foot.

 

Hearing the one called Roper talk to her, Allya laughed softly. 'Nice to meet you Roper. You can hear me cause I have a gift. I can talk to you for the same reason.' She giggled at his fleas comment. 'They are rather itchy huh? Nothing a good scratch and a bath couldn't fix.' Though she did have to sigh, knowing she did have to rejoin her family. Standing, she smirked at the insults hurled their way and nearly laughed again. 'See you all later. I might bring treats next time.' She waved and turned to head back towards the group, following John.

"They seem nice. Roper even more so. He seemed to like the attention. Trapper though...I'm not sure of yet but we'll see." She smirked to herself as she took a few bags from Rheagal to shut him up.

Walking into the church once John got the door open, they all kind of looked around, taking in everything. It was spacious as a church often is with high ceilings. "Why do you keep it locked?" Armand asked curious.

 

"For the same reason we have a gate Armand" John replied looking a bit confused why he was even answering that question at all. What had they expected? Sort of shaking his head he moved inside after them and started through the middle of the pews then turned taking a left for a door off the main area of the church.

Honestly it was dark, and may have been hard to see had one window above not been letting in enough light to really see. If any of them were smart at all that's when they may have began to notice, strange symbols spray painted on the wall, and the smell. It honestly smelt awful like someone had buried bodies beneath the hard wood floor and left them to rot.

John hardly even seemed fazed for the most part and really only stopped to grab a bible someone had left on the floor, tossing it to the bench before finally making it to the next door. Which had a large sign that said 'THE POWER OF YES' on it. Opening it he again held it open to what was a secondary larger room off the main part of the church. The place almost looked like a living area though with so many sofas and such.

 

Armand took that into consideration, but as they walked further through, they noticed the writing on the walls, and the symbols and Rheagal became even more agitated the further in they went. He began muttering to himself under his breath. Hoping no one really heard him. He disliked religious places, he liked cults still less and this place, with it's guards, dogs, fences and now spray painted words on the church walls, reeked of it. Cult of some kind.

Armand and Allya and Alfred followed silently, but seemingly taking everything in as they went. Though they were smart enough not to voice their opinions. John had been kind to them so far, hadn't threatened them in any way, but that didn't mean they let down their guard. Walking into the second room, they all went to dump their stuff on the nearby sofas or chairs.

"Thank again, for giving us a place to sleep for the night. It is much appreciated." Allya said with a small grin.

"Yes, thank you. I don't know what we would have done." Armand tried to be polite as he scowled slightly over at Rheagal, who was still muttering to himself.

"Slept outside more like. Not like we haven't before." The boy muttered to himself as he took a backwall sofa and dumped his stuff on it and sat down. He looked like a caged animal, wide eyed and pale,

"He'll be ok." Allya said. "He has reason not to like religious places, but that's for another time. Thank you, again. It really means a lot."

 

John's eyes followed Rheagal, the guy reeked of tension and it was practically seeping into the air around him. Of all of them all John could think of this one was he was the most lost. The one even their own people would pick out immediately as a Sinner. Studying him for a long moment he shook his head. Well he'd cross that bridge if he got to it. If it were up to him alone he'd try to get them gone as soon as possible. That much couldn't be said for Joseph however. Or many others in the congregation. Josephs entire motto was to save as many people as he could before the Collapse and many of them were the same way. John however was more realistic in that he knew most thought them insane. Even he questioned Joseph at times but anything the voices had told him would come true ALWAYS did. Such as the fact he'd shown up there days before any of them knew about the warrant. He'd pulled John aside and told him they would come for him. Try to take him and ruin everything they'd worked so hard to achieve.

Letting out a sigh John slowly nodded finally breaking his gaze from Rheagal that at this point almost came off as actual concern. "Alot of us do.... But in the end we choose what to be afraid of" John replied all to casually. Reaching into his wallet he pulled out a card. This one unlike the one at the restaurant read 'Duncan & Ried Law Firm' had two names one consisting of John Duncan as opposed to the last name he'd given them and below a few numbers to call. "Very bottom number. Call if you need anything before morning it goes straight to my cell. And in the morning I'll have someone go pick up that car" He told Allya before casting one last friendly smile at Armand and an almost nervous glance towards Alfred who honestly made him the most nervous.

Did he always stare like he did? And why the sign language? Turning back for the door he only stopped once he was almost out and poked his head back in. "Oh before I forget. Straight that way through the other door. Kind of a library, game room office area and then the restrooms. I wouldn't go wandering around to much outside you might actually scare Greg half to death. He's .. " he paused thinking of how to put it. "Not all there" He added before sort of chuckling. "Good night" He finally added soon turning to head back through the main part of the church.

 

"Goodnight!" Allya and Armand called out together. Waiting to hear the door close before they both all but turned on Rheagal.

"You are such an ass! You could have been nicer!" Allya jumped in first.

"Right? Let's all trust a guy who dresses like that and says he's a pastor!" Rheagal shot back and motioned with his hands to their surroundings. "Look at this place! Does this look like a 'church' to you!?"

"We get it Rheagal. We know why you don't like places like this but he didn't and you were very rude. Ok so this isn't exactly what I would call a church...but at least it's dry and comfortable." Armand put in.

"Ye make do wit wat ye have, young lingerie. We have diz, so stop griping." Even Alfred said to the boy.

"Fine! And when you are all murdered in your sleep don't say I didn't warn you!" Rheagal snarled and went to unpack, curling up around his gear on the sofa farthest from them all. The rest soon followed suit. Hunger forgotten as sleep pulled them under one by one

 

Morning was close, but not close enough. Not close enough to be doing what he was doing and yet here he was parked outside and climbing out of the truck. Granted he was also a shade drunk so driving BACK up the mountain in this state wasn't exactly a great thought. He'd been swerving pretty bad after he'd left the farm. Playing with his newest toy and burying a body had quickly turned into downing an unhealthy amount of Jack while hanging out with Charles.

He honestly probably should have slept there to but he had a BAD habit of avoiding anything that opened him up to another person and after going places with Charles he probably shouldn't have he had to make sure nothing got taken out of context. He really didn't need that shit right now.

Fast forward and it had finally started snowing as he'd head back through the valley and then add getting pulled over by the local dumb ass. He was lucky they basically had the cops in their pocket by this point but that didn't mean the guy had let him off to keep driving without telling him to go to the church or John's place or straight back to where he'd been. Not as far as the mountains. So here he was stumbling across the lot in silence unshockingly ignored by the large dogs. Snow still fell and had just began to lightly stick to the frozen morning ground. What time was it? Fishing his phone from his back pocket he rolled his eyes seeing it was nearly five A.M damn it! Keys, and the bigger set shit! Feeling his belt his brow furrowed, light blue eyes blinking in confusion. Hadn't he had the..... No he remembered even as he turned to head for the truck. He'd left them on the dresser in the bedroom back at the ranch. "Son of a bitch .. " he slurred under his breath before giving a nearby rock a hard kick.

Nostrils flaring by this point he moved to stumble around back for the window he could open from the outside. However the issue was it was a good ways off the damn ground and he usually had to balance on a wheel barrow to get that high and then pull himself up and in. Great idea when drunk right? Not...

A good ten minutes later he'd tried, stepped wrong on the wheel barrow and tipped it sending himself crashing down onto the ground. Cursing and slurring up a storm he'd then proceeded to stumble up, spotting the window into the small activity room and library he made another rather drunk decision. Very drunk as it wasn't until his fist had connected the second time and the glass shattered that he even though about using something other than his fist. Shaking his hand a bit he moved to lick a bit of blood from his knuckles for a moment. Then reaching to grab the top he lifted himself to sit lightly on the frame. Again ouch! However he hardly made a sound and instead moved fast to drop into the room. Boots landing on the shattered glass below causing a crunching sound. Joseph was gonna be proud when he got there, and John. The look he imagined John was going to have had him snickering uncontrollably and a bit dumbly to himself and even more oblivious to anything lingering just past one of the book shelves as he moved to stagger past.

It probably didn't help he smelt like a brewery, and probably homeless, looked an absolute mess including the camo shout and slightly torn white T-shirt. If anything the people he was unknowingly dropping in on would probably think he was just that. A homeless person breaking in to escape the freezing cold weather outside. Well not entirely untrue but untrue nonetheless..

 

Hearing the commotion outside, Alfred's eyes shot wide open from a dead sleep. Sitting up slowly, he tilted his head and tried to pinpoint the noise and where it was coming from. Church-side, but wait...it was moving. Footsteps. Cursing, someone who wasn't John, was out there! And growing closer by the minuet. He tracked them by their clumsy footsteps and the soft, unintelligible words he heard coming through the thin slats of the church.

Sliding out of the place he had made his bed as if he were water, he Slipped into shadows of the bookcases and waited. His unusual eyes gave him a gift that not many normal humans had, for while he was an albino and was sensitive to sunlight, he could see quite well in the dark. His pale-purple irises refracted the light better than most cats.

Watching as a man slipped in through the window he had just broken, Alfred noted his apparent dress and the way he smelled. So, he had been drinking. His own nose wrinkled in distaste as he waited till the man had passed him somewhat before he made his move.

Slipping silently from the shadows like the ghost he was, he came up swiftly behind the stranger, while at the same time pulling the small dagger he carried on him at ALL times. Reaching out to grab the man's right wrist at the same time as he swiped the man's left knee out from under him with a good, hard kick, he twisted the man's arm up into a very uncomfortable position and pressed it against his own back, so if the man did try to struggle at all, he would in a sense, snap his own arm in a way that would be hard to piece back together properly. Dagger moving to shove up into the soft skin of the man's neck where one slice could sever his artery, he held the man all but immobile, as his softer than silk voice addressed him. "You stay still now." He hissed, using his proper way of speaking, which in fact was a little scarier than the normal way he talked. "What do you think you are doing? Breaking into a church? State your business, before I acquaint you with my Beauty." Here he dug that dagger deeper into the man's neck, smirking at the sounds he made. "Last chance....SPEAK!"

By this point, all three of the triplets had heard the breaking glass and then heard Alfred commanding someone and heard the other noises coming from the library. One by one, they slipped out of the bed and went to turn on the lights, leaving only Alfred and the stranger, outlined in shadow.

"Alfred? What's going on? Whose that?" Armand asked stupidly, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

Allya, taking in the broken glass and the way Alfred had responded, clicked. "He broke in...who are you?" She asked in a very authoritative way.

"Who cares who he is, he broke in. Obviously someone sent out hunting. Gut the bastard." Rheagal, of course, would be the hasty, idiot.

Allya gave him a murderous glare and growled. "We can't do that. I don't think John would like it if we spilled blood on the floors of hiss church, and I wouldn't either." She turned back to the intruder. "Again, who are you? My friend will not wait long for your answer."

 

'Lucky son of a bitch!' Nearly hitting the floor as the other grabbed him Jacobs breathing for moment picked up and he froze where he was slowly tilting his head to the side away from the blade though he wasn't shocked the other kept it firmly in place. He eyed the man from the corner of his eye with an almost mocking expression. Not saying a single word but mainly because he was now calculating the situation as best he could. New recruits? How mad would John and Joseph be if he spilt their guts out onto the carpet. Taking a slow breath as he heard the female his eyes moved to the others studying them in the faint light from the broken window.

"John? Hmmm.... He taking in strays again is he? Yeah... We're old friends him and I. Now how about we all just calm down with the whole knife play. Would you really hurt a defenseless stranger?" He slurred the last part mocking a whine as his eyes went back to Alfred.

 

Allya's eyes furrowed at the mention of John's name coming from the male and hearing they were old friends. Something about that sentence didn't ring as true to her. He was acting to 'easy-going' about this whole thing. "No, we aren't strays. Our car broke down just outside of town and John offered a place to spend the night before helping us tomorrow with the car." She explained.

"ALLYA!" Armand actually hissed at his sister. Surprised that she would tell say so much to a complete stranger. "What are you doing? We don't know him."

Allya turned and gave both her brother's a look. "Listen, he says he knows John." She paused. "You know what....Alfred, don't hurt him. Yet. We are going to clear this whole mess up, right now." She took out the card John had given her before he left and went rummaging in Alfred's pack for the cell phone she knew he kept with him too. Dialing the number John had told her too, she waited as it rung.

At the sound of an answer, she didn't even wait for a hello and instead went straight in. "John? Hey! Allya. Sorry to be calling so late but...someone broke into the church, says they know you? Spooked Alfred and now the man is immobile with a knife to his throat. yea....could you, come down or better yet..." She walked back into the room and put the phone on speaker, holding it out to the stranger. "Say hello." She ordered.

 

Jacobs eyes nearly rolled into the back of his head as the female moved away and he saw what she was doing. "Hey now you ain't gotta be a damn tattle tail" He slurred after her before sort of huffing and casting a glare again at Alfred from the corner of his eyes. Taking a slow breath he closed his eyes for a moment in thought but also he was listening. So they did know John? Judging by the way the female was speaking and all. However being as she hadn't waited a moment to hear who'd answered it shouldn't have been a surprise was a VERY soft sigh came across the other end of the phone. Wait, where the fuck was John at?! His own brow furrowed but he could only assumed his little brother had ended up having an equally interesting night.

"He left his phone down on the living room table. Sorry. Jacob that better not be you" A female voice finally came over the phone. Almost immediately Jacob looked like he wanted to be annoyed. "Faith.... " He sneered rolling his eyes. It was blatantly obvious whoever this woman was he wasn't a fan of her. "What are you doing at Johnny's house?" He then shot almost annoyed sounding. 

"Well YOU weren't answering your phone. Neither was Joseph. He called me which I'll explain later sense I don't know these people. Now where's the girl who called us? Put her back on the line" Faith nearly demand.

Jacob merely sat there looking more annoyed now and a little concerned. John had a tendency to have, well far more interesting nights than he had. Then again John was far more stuck between whether to believe their brothers insanity or not and that inner turmoil was slowly killing him.

 

Hearing the female's voice and that it was obvious that she knew...Jacob, was that his name, Allya nodded at Alfred who then withdrew his dagger from Jacob's neck, let go of his arm and shoved him away from himself, taking a few steps back in case the man tried anything.

Putting the phone back to her ear after turning it off speaker, Allya sighed. "Sorry about that. This guy spooked our friend and he doesn't do well when spooked. But thanks for clearing that up for us. Faith,? Right? I'm Allya." She tried to be polite, now that tensions weren't running so high.

Armand had taken up a seat nearby, a curious expression on his face. Rheagal had merely snorted and turned to go back to bed. "Should have gutted him..." He muttered under his breath as he left.

 

"Allya hello. Nice to meet you Hun. I'm sorry about that. My brother is a pain sometimes I swear" She sort of giggled over the other end of the line a bit giddy sounding in her very high pitched bubbly voice.

Meanwhile Jacob had waited until Alfred let him go and staggering a bit his nostrils flared. Like a damn Pitt that had just been released from it's leash he suddenly turned towards Alfred. Anger written across his face plain as daylight. Suddenly moving for Alfred it was like he didn't even notice the knife and reaching out he snatched the man by his shirt shoving him backwards hard. "Fuckin touch me like that again bitch and stomp your damn brains through the floorboards!" He snarled threateningly.

 

Seeing the way the other man looked at him as he released him, he knew Jacob was going to try something stupid....and he did. Though, all Alfred did was let his body go limp seemingly while he dropped the dagger from one hand to the other and while Jacob pressed him against the wall of the church and railed at him, Alfred simply looked into the other male's eyes and a hint of a smile ghosted across his lips. He didn't so much as move or fight back, but once shoved against that wall, and he met Jacob's eyes, all he did was slowly look downwards, and then back up to meet the man's eyes again, and another twitch of a hint of a smile crossed his lips.

In having dropped the dagger as he had been moving to his other hand, he had taken the focus off of it, not that the man had probably remembered in the first place, and angled it in such a way, that it sat, neatly in the space just between cock and balls, even through the man's pants. Pressing just enough so the man would feel the steel through the pants he wore and where it was positioned. Alfred was an assassin and knew where to aim, and he never, ever missed. One little flick of his wrist and he'd castrate him!

Allya, seeing this went still and her eyes went wide. She knew what it meant when Alfred nearly smiled. "One second please, Faith." She pulled the phone away and sighed. "Listen, Jacob. I know you're angry and a little confused but if you don't want to be a eunuch, I suggest you move away, slowly."

 

Feeling the blade almost immediately Jacob gritted his teeth, sucking air in a bit as if he expected the other to do it anyway though his eyes remained locked right on Alfred's. For a moment he stayed that way, his grip even tightening on the others clothing but finally he let out a slow breath. "This isn't fucking over bitch" He whispered lowly, just quiet enough for his words to reach Alfred. Very slowly he released the other and even slower he stepped back still maintaining that eye contact the entire time. As if he couldn't break it for fear of seeming like the lesser alpha male in the room.

Meanwhile Faith had let out a sigh and moved to stand. "What's he doing!!? Look I'm going to come down there. Might as well things need cleaned up and such. Allya?! Is everything alright!! Please tell me he's not being stupid I'm on my way right now!" Faith spoke after a few moments of hearing what little she could.

 

Alfred simply watched Jacob, unmoving and even unblinking as the other man leaned forward to whisper his threat. "Indeed." Was all he said as he pushed the knife a little harder against Jacob's crotch before the man slowly began to move away. He never let go of his gaze either, didn't even move, knife still poised in the air as if in warning as Jacob backed off.

Seeing this, Allya rolled her eyes. "Would you two just stop it!" She chastised mostly Alfred, but she understood why HE was acting that way. She didn't know Jacob from a hill of beans. "Alfred, Put. That. Away. Now!" Each word clipped so as to get the man's attention, for when he became hyper focused, he sometimes went back into that place in his mind where he used to go when killing people for a living. 'White Noise' he had once described it as. Seeing the man blink, finally, and nod at her as he put the dagger away, Allya rolled her eyes at him. "Both of you, go sit down! You're making me jumpy. Staring at each other like that."

Turning back to the phone, she heard Faith's voice and sighed. "Faith? It's ok. Everything is fine. Jacob just tried to threaten Alfred and Alfred....well...he didn't exactly respond but his threat was very obvious." Allya actually giggled softly to herself. In all reality, Alfred COULD have done a lot worse.

 

Again it sounded as if Faith had sighed rather exasperated like on the other end. "Goodness ok. Well I'm on my way. Have you guys eaten? Would you like some breakfast?" She asked rather sweetly in response despite what sounded like she was fumbling around trying to find something.

Jacob in the meantime had sniggered a bit smartly after Allya had yelled and Alfred had finally listened. "Someone got your balls in her pocket?" He mocked the other smartly slowly turning to stagger over and flop down onto one of the sofa's closest to the door. Sniggering a bit drunkenly to himself at how quick Alfred had stopped over that tiny bitch complaining. What a wuss....

 

"Breakfast would be awesome, thank you. We aren't picky and no rush. Really. Things are under control...for now." She chuckled softly and told Faith goodbye and hung up. "Well, that was nicely handled." She gave Alfred a look and he shrugged. "I know, new place, new people, and I know what it must have looked like when he broke in, but did you have to!" She watched as Alfred signed his response.

'Yes! I am tasked with protecting you three. He is an unknown.' 

Allya sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. "I get it, Alfred, I do but really? We protect each other, I know, but we can't just jump every single....you know what...why am I even arguing with you?"

She turned, hearing Jacob's words and though she KNEW better than to argue with a drunk, she did so anyway. "You honestly have NO IDEA how lucky you are, Jacob. There would have been nothing left of you to find had I not stepped in." Was all she said as she went back to where her gear was and flopped back onto the sofa. Men were so stupid...!!

 

Hearing her Jacob merely snickered as if he simply found the entire thing funny. Which he very much did. Alfred listened to her!? What a little yapper! However it wasn't long before he'd began to fade out where he lay on the sofa one hand blocking out the bit of light now coming through the windows that lined the top of the room and his other hand resting on his chest holding a Glock tight in his grasp he'd pulled from its holster in his hip, solely out of habit. Especially being around people he didn't know and definitely didn't trust.

He actually remained rather still, drifting in between sleep and somewhat alert at even the smallest of noises until the sound of the front church doors opening drew him from slumber for probably the ninth time within that hour. Slowly moving to push from where he was laying gun still in hand he slowly moved for the door and cracked it open to peak before giving it a push wide open when he spotted the small female figure nearing. 

"Well, well Jacob, fancy seeing you here. Hungry?" Faith asked in a playful tone as she all but skipped over to the door holding what looked like an old fashioned picnic basket covered in a blue checkered cloth. 

"What is it.....?" Jacob replied in a dull tone as he turned back from the door and went to sink down in the sofa again. Conveniently he'd chosen the one closest to the door even when he'd been asleep. Again simple paranoia in his mind.

"Sweet bread and pigs in the blanket. Homemade" Faith somewhat whispered unsure of if any of the others were awake. Instead she just gently moves to give Jacobs arm a squeeze and all but ignored his glaring as she walked over to set the basket on a small coffee table.

 

Alfred, of course, didn't go back to sleep after that escapade and only pretended to. He didn't trust Jacob as far as he could throw him and there was no way he would go back to sleep when he knew the triplets were so tired. He took his job as protector very seriously. So when he heard the door to the church unlock, his eyes slowly opened and he lifted his head to watch the interaction, before leaning over and whacking Rheagal in the head and gently shaking the other two. Rheagal was hard to wake up most mornings and was grumpy to boot, so a good whack in the head did the trick and he knew better than to argue with Alfred.

Allya, slowly waking from where she had dozed off, sat up and smiled faintly. "Hello. You must be Faith?" She said in a dozy but courteous voice. "Sorry had to call you and John so early. Thank you for breakfast thought, that all smells great!"

Armand unwound himself from the nest he had made of his gear and blankets and sniffed the air. He was starving. "Hello. I'm Armand. Nice to meet you." He greeted Faith politely and nodded over to Rheagal. "That's Rheagal, don't mind him. He's kind of a grump." He chuckled when Rheagal scowled at him. "See? And that's Alfred." He pointed to the albino who nodded politely.

 

Hearing the female behind her Faith smiled brightly and turned. "Allya! Wow it's so nice to meet you in person!" She greeted a bit overly excited sounding as she moved to straight hug the other female as if they were long time best friends. "And don't worry I was awake anyway. John will probably be here a bit late I nearly didn't get him off the floor last night" She added moving back and smiling as she held Allya by the shoulders briefly then turned back for the basket. "Now it's still pretty warm. Picked them up fresh from food Mart" She added as she began to unwrap the top of the basket, pulling some paper plates and napkins out as well as a small baggy of condiments for the pigs in a blanket.

Finally stopping she moved to fix a plate and turned walking over to Jacob. "Eat, and I'll be back with the water bottles. You need to be somewhat sober to defend the Father of course!" She sounded as if she were chiding him but almost in such a happy way it was sickening. Well to Jacob anyway who merely continued to glare at her even as she went to go skipping back for the door to head back to her car again.

 

Allya was a little taken aback by the woman's eager greeting, but she simply hugged Faith back, giggling a little. Maybe it was a 'girl' thing? Not a lot of women here she had seen, so maybe seeing another was good? She didn't know. She wasn't very good at being social herself. "Nice to meet you too." She said as she pulled back, grinning up at the woman who still had a hold on her. That was...awkward. "John's alright, isn't he?" She asked, hearing how he ended up. "He was nice enough to offer us your church to sleep in for the night, and to help get our car fixed sometime today."

Seeing the food, her eyes lit up. Actual FOOD! Not something that they had to hunt for or carry frozen or dried but actual food! real, warm, yummy smelling food! "Oh thank you, so much. This all looks delicious!" Allya beamed up at Faith as she took the plates and handed them to her brothers and Alfred, who had at this point, gathered around the basket to grab a portion before flocking off to eat on their own.

"Damn! This is so good. Thank you." Rheagal actually smiled up at Faith, before she left to get them water.

Armand nearly choked on his food. Rheagal, was being nice? Was he suddenly sick!? Allya, catching Armand's look, laughed and shook her head.

 

From his seat on the sofa Jacob seemed to be watching them, like a fly on the wall. Albeit a very large fly, or maybe more like a giant dog. He hadn't touched anything yet and had simply continued sitting there as if in thought until Faith finally came drifting back in. Handing him a water bottle with her usual friendly smile. Fucking Hippy! Heaving a sigh he moved to unscrew the top and went to start chugging it a bit fast. Nearly having it gone in seconds before he simply tossed it on the nearby couch and moved to start picking at his food.

"Waters anyone? There is coffee in the activity room as well it just needs made" Faith added as she moved to hand each person a bottle of water. "So yes, John is fine. He told me you broke down is that right? What happened?" She asked curiously casting a look to Allya then slowly to the other as she stopped long enough to straighten out her sun dress and then moved to lightly twirl her hair around her fingers.

 

"Thank you, again. This is so very good. We haven't had actual food in a while. Traveling, you see." Allya said with a grin as she took the water and opened it, taking a sip.

"We are looking for a new place to call home." Armand shot out, giving Allya a look. She was smart, but at times could be to overly friendly and these people were still strangers. "Mother had mentioned land open in Montana so here we are. Though our car broke down just on the outskirts of your town." He chuckled. "Hours walk actually. Still, we were lucky to come across John when we did. He seemed nice enough."

"Yea, for a soul searing, fire blazing Christian." Rheagal muttered from where he sat with obvious disdain, now that the thrill of real food wore off as he ate.

"Would you stop it?" Allya hissed at him, knowing WHY he acted this way, but no one else did. Yet. Turning back to Faith, she smiled again. "Sorry about him. He really isn't this grumpy all the time."

"Don't you speak for me." Rheagal shot out.

"Then stop being an utter ass and speak for yourself." Allya shot back with an eyeroll.

 

Suddenly Faith looked a shade upset, her features somewhat falling as she heard the rather sudden hateful speech from the male. "Oh you poor thing" She whispered under her breath softly as she stared at him for a moment. However just as fast she suddenly snapped out of it and smiled "Oh! Oh I think I know which land you mean! It's close to me! Across the river!" She added giggling as she moved to sit nearby again smoothing her skirt as she sat. Letting her bare feet sort of toe at the carpet as she sat there. "So then you might stay!? Oh but if you don't there is so much to see! So you should absolutely stay around awhile even so!" She added in her usual giddy tone.

Which by this point Jacob had already grown tired of and soon he moved to stand. Shoving the gun into its holster he headed for the door back into the library area deciding he should probably A) wash off his torn up hand and B.) make sure he didn't look like full on trash when everyone started showing up. Not that he could help much and he really didn't care but to a small extent.

 

"Oh we planned on it. Staying a while at least." Allya beamed in delight at Faith, who seemed eager for them to stay as well. "And the land is close to you? Look at that. Neighbors!" She actually squealed in excitement. "That sounds like fun though, we should take in the sights, just because." A soft chuckle escaped her as she realized she too, was getting excited at the idea of staying and maybe even making a new friend.

Rheagal had frozen when he heard mention of a lake they would have to cross. "Lake? As in...deep water?" He gulped, eyes a little wide.

Armand noticed and reached out to pat his back. "Don't worry, I am sure there is a bridge, and if not, we won't let you drown." He chuckled and looked back to Faith. "He can't swim....and last time mother tried to teach him didn't end well." His lips twisted into a hint of a smile as he tried not to giggle.

"Yea...Rheagal has an aversion to almost everything." Allya teased, not caring if she laughed.

"Not everything! Just...most things." Rheagal actually cracked a grin. Was he joking now!? Had Hell frozen over! Since when did Rheagal joke, with strangers around no less? !

 

"Well yes, and there's the river. The Henbane river! It's very beautiful but if you're that afraid of water Darling there are plenty of bridges and such" She replied with a small smile. However hearing Rheagal she giggled a bit faintly before moving to stand. "Well it has been fun but I have a few things to get ready before seven. Make sure this place looks nice sense we might have even more guests!" She added giggling yet again as she turned to scamper off for the door again nearly skipping as she went.

Once out in the main area she went about making sure the bibles were laid out, the piano was dusted and everything was set up nicely. Another thirty minutes past and she was joined by a few others both men and women and the sounds of them talking drifted in from the main area. God, was her voice inescapable? By this point Jacob had returned if only to flip back tiredly on the sofa sort of staring at the ceiling. At least, until he heard the rumbling of a loud familiar car outside. Thank fuck! Moving from the couch rather quickly he hardly cast a gaze at the four strangers before heading out into the main part of the church taking long strides for the front door before pushing it open and stepping out into the sunlight. Even now John's engine was still purring loudly and he sat in the driver's seat smoking and cigarette with Joseph in the passenger seat. Damn, he'd been wanting a word alone. Maybe he could pull him to the side here later before anything happened.

Nearing the window John had down with his arm draped out Jacob soon moved to lean on the door looking in at his two younger brothers with a dull look. "So I had a fuckin interesting morning. Care to hear about it?" He snarked mainly looking to John now with an annoyed expression. John slowly and rather tiredly nodded as he looked up to Jacob from behind his dark shades. That currently were hiding his exhaustion and bad hangover. "Those stupid fuc.... Those people who got stranded." Jacob started in mainly at John.

 

Alfred had finished up his meal first and after a brief moment of looking around, he had found a broom and dust pan, some cardboard and duct tape and came back out and began to sweep up the broken glass and patch the window where Jacob had broken it in his quest to get inside.

The triplets, nodding their thanks at Faith's help, soon set to rights the back room as well. Moving and packing up their stuff so as not to make the place look completely messy. Setting their things in a small pile near the back of the room as they, one by one, came out into the massive church to see what was going on.

Allya seemed interested to learn more about the surrounding areas and the people that seemed to be arriving at the church. Always the more outgoing one, she went to introduce herself to a few of the others in a cheerful, friendly way.

Armand was a bit more reserved, but he stuck to Allya's side, grinning when needed and nodding politely as he too, introduced himself or blushing when his sister introduced him for him. He was a bit more on the shy side, and it could be rather enduring at times.

Rheagal, however, flat out refused to come out of the back room! Had no interest in meeting with anyone and most definitely did NOT want to hear any type of sermon or preaching going on, so when it looked like things would head that way, he merely got up, and walked completely out of the church to begin with.

 

By this point Joseph had gone in, so had John leaving.... You guessed it. Outside the there was an actual HORDE of gunman and woman. So man it nearly looked like they were preparing for something and in a lot of ways they were, unbeknownst to their guests of course. Of course most of them were actually John's guys. Simple casual clothes, military combat boots and shirts whether it be t-shirts, long sleeve or V-neck all bearing the same strange symbol upon them.

Most of them weren't their toughest members but as suspected this was Holland Valley. John's people consisted of farmers, business owners, younger kids just learning the ropes. Those who were or had been rich and wealthy depending on if their lands had been signed over into Joseph's name or not. No sense in bringing in Joseph's more... Special group unless something happened. Which he had them on standby for.

Spotting Rheagal he sort of cracked a smirk from where he stood leaning against the wall of the church. "Not a fan of big gatherings or churches?" He asked blue eyes raising from where he'd just asked a cigarette to look at the other male with a bit of a half cocked head.

--------------

Back inside was a bustle, Joseph sat silently reading on a pew near the side of the small stage and podium, two men with guns on either side of it and John was nearby his arms crossed just watching the crowd. As well as seeing Rheagal heading outside and all but pushing his way past many people. Staring for a long moment however he suddenly heard what sounded like Allya's voice and perked up eyes searching the crowd he spotted her beside Armand not far away. He'd been so one track minded talking to Joseph and then Faith, checking in with Jacob. Shit the car! He mentally wanted to smack himself for forgetting and suddenly moved to pull his phone out brow furrowing as he went down his contacts. Who'd actually be home and NOT here that he spoke to. Fuckin Spencer he thought glaring at the phone for a moment. Taking a breath he moved to hit dial and was soon leaning against the piano waiting for the guy to pick up.

 

OUTSIDE

Hearing the voice, Rheagal’s eyes shot up and landed on Jacob where he shrugged lightly and smirked. "No. No I am not." He replied with a bit of a bite to his voice. "Churches even more so...or anyplace really that worships a False God or Goddess." He narrowed his eyes slightly as if in thought before turning to look at the man. "Ever been strung up on a cross?" He held out both hands, palms forward. Clearly showing the outline of the scars he had. "Well I have...and you will excuse me if I say that I have spent to much time in the company of Death since then. I have no need for their praises or what have you. It didn't work for me."

He tucked his hands back into his pockets and sighed softly. "What about you? Why aren't you in there? They are your brothers, are they not?"

INSIDE

Allya and Armand had mingled as much as their own nerves would let them. Both going to find a seat well near the back on instinct and looking for Rheagal, whom Alfred had said he had gone outside.

"This is very odd." Armand leaned over and whispered for his sister's ear alone. "What type of a church hides behind gates and dogs and men with guns?" He faintly nodded to the two at Joseph's side.

"I know, Armand. I know. This doesn't feel right. But John did help us. Things will be alright." Allya whispered back. Her unfailing optimism never wavering for even an instant.

"I hope you're right. Alfred's been on edge since this morning and gotten more so with the arrival of the weapons. You know how he is."

 

OUTSIDE

Jacob watched the others reaction with almost very little expression. Slowly moving to take a drag of his cigarette he sort of chuckled dryly. "Fair enough ... We all have our reasons to believe in what we will. This is America after all" He remarked before moving to take a drag of the cigarette again. Had to have been some sort of cult to do that right? Then again he'd heard what had been done to John when they'd been separated so maybe not. But in the end they all had their scars, Jacobs far different from his brothers being a mixture of burn scars that almost looked chemical and spots on his arm that looked like he'd picked open... Sixty times. If anyone in a ten mile radius looked like a Vet it was him down to the fact his shirt still had some of the patches sewn into the thin material.

Eyes lifting from the dirt again he smiled faintly "And that means I what? Agree with everything they say and do? The only reason I'm here is to make sure nothing happens to my little brothers. Period. End of story. The rest I could mostly take or leave" He stated all to bluntly.

INSIDE

Finally hanging up John turned, slowly making his way over to the two he smiled and leaned on the pew in front of them. "Almost missed seeing you before we got started. How was last night? Heard you met Jacob" He commented with a bit of a chuckle as he slid his phone into his pocket. Looking around he did notice he didn't see Rheagal and Alfred was also not in here. Though he did remember being told a strange man was asking about tools at one point. Had to have been him.

 

OUTSIDE

"Aye. I hear you. Its the only reason I haven't taken off either. Got a younger brother and sister to look out for." Rheagal smirked slightly. "Allya's so forgiving and though she may act naive, she is really quite brilliant but her caring is to deep. You know? She let's that rule her to much sometimes and Armand...that boy is a genius but he isn't good with social things. So that leaves me...the one everyone hates because I don't give two shits what people think of me. I stay for them. End of story." He snickered softly and noted Alfred had peeked his head out and spotting him, signed at him not to wander off before disappearing back inside. "And Alfred...you don't want to know." He actually laughed softly. "Just be glad he didn't actually smile at you last night." He only half teased.

 

INSIDE

"Oh we sure did." Allya chuckled softly, smiling up at John. "Scared the shit out of Alfred. You are lucky you still have a brother cause he could be a sister right about now with what he pulled." She tried not to giggle, but that was just to funny.

 

OUTSIDE

"Mmm yeah Alfred. You really do talk that guy up like he's some sort of scary bad ass. And like I actually care whether he'd gutted me last night. We all die eventually" Jacob remarked making it known he found the constant pointing out that Alfred was oh so scary pathetic first off and secondly even if he was he couldn't have actually care less. However he did understand despite the boys constant yap, yap, yap that was vaguely irritating. Mother fucker just had way to much on his two shoulders and as tough as he acted inside he was nothing more than a weak scared pup. "You smoke?" He suddenly asked changing the topic as he fished his pack back out but this time pulled a much different looking rolled joint from the pack. Holding it up for the other to see. Honestly he wanted a few hits himself before this shit kicked off... Damn near medical reasons and Rheagal? Looked like he needed even more than that.

INSIDE 

Hearing Allya John snickered immediately getting the reference. "Wouldn't have been THAT much of a difference. I'd have forgiven you as long as he lived" He whispered just as teasingly. "I just got a guy to go pick up your car. Take it to the local shop. Hopefully it won't take long to get it running for you" He added with a faint smile.

 

OUTSIDE

Rheagal actually blinked at hearing Jacob's words. The man had no fear of death? Or was it just a front? That was actually a little sad, if that first thought was true. Had he no one, besides his brothers for which to live? Then again, did Rheagal, with his siblings? He had thought so at one time, but that had turned to dust long ago. His thoughts returned to the present by the question asked and he shook his head. "No thanks. I tried it once, along with weed and it made....well....it didn't sit well with me." It would do well to tell this complete stranger that it had sent him on some type of trip because of his wolf within and that he didn't remember half of it but what he did remember, he hoped never to remember again. Waking up covered in blood and hoping that it wasn't human. It wouldn't do, to 'lose control' in front of a bunch of strangers and try to maul someone, now would it?

INSIDE

Allya smirked and chuckled again despite herself. "Oh he would have lived...just not happily, I am sure." She teased back, though she seemed to perk up a bit hearing he had found someone to help with their car. "Thanks John. Really. That means a lot, and we were planning to check out the surrounding land later, if that's ok. Faith said there was some open up near where she lives."

Armand watched John as he spoke with Allya without seeming to. Seemingly interested in the comings and goings of the patrons of the church, but he watched ever move John made, including his facial features. For they and the eyes, told more than people realized.

 

OUTSIDE

"Fair enough" Jacob replied with a bit of a shrug as he moved to place the joint between his lips. Sparking it up and taking a hit. Then came a sudden static over the radio of a guy not to far away. 

"Jacob, we have incoming. From the north. Should be about twenty minutes out" The voice stated. Pushing from the wall where he stood Jacob sauntered over to where the gunman stood and took the radio as it was handed to him merely moving to take another hit. 

"How many?" He asked in an all to serious tone slowly moving to slightly pace a few steps before stopping again. 

"One, Chopper, can't be more than a few" The voice replied almost bored sounding. 

"Fuckin dumbasses" Jacob sort of snorted in response shaking his head. His eyes briefly going to the now bright morning cloud filled sky in thought for a moment. "Hold off on signaling the Jury. Let's see how this plays" He then added holding down the button again for a brief moment. 

"Can do boss" The voice replied. A slightly more serious look was now on Jacobs face and he moved to hand the radio back to the other taking another hit as he seemed to momentarily go into deep thought.

INSIDE

Well if Armand was trying to get anything other than a decent amount of stress and a forced smile he'd be sorely disappointed for John was a snake. Most emotions he bottled far to well ..... Until he snapped. Which was usually the case and this morning despite being a bit hungover he mostly felt nervous and tired. Not stuff he really cared to hide much. Eyes occasionally going to the door as if waiting in something he simply smiled at Allya's response before nodding. "Well.... We try to help who we can. No need to thank us it's our pleasure" he replied though as he did he was cut off by a whistle over near the stage. Glancing back to see Faith now standing there talking to John he moved to stand "I'll catch you guys here soon" he added before moving to retreat over to where the other two stood.

 

OUTSIDE

Hearing the voice over the radio, Rheagal’s' eyes furrowed as his instincts suddenly came into clear focus. "Incoming? What does he mean?" He asked softly, knowing almost exactly what that meant and trying hard not to give into panic. He had been 'triggered' since he got here and he didn't honestly know how he would respond if something happened. he was a hell of a good fighter, but when triggered and then something bad happening, like a loud explosion or gunfire, could set him right back to that time when he was small and about to be sacrificed and he'd probably shift and run! Gods, he hoped not! But it wasn't a far off possibility.

INSIDE

Nodding, Allya shot Armand a look, who just shrugged. Alfred came back in and sat beside them, signing: 'Something is up. People jumpy. Can you not smell it? Tension in the air?'

Allya nodded and sighed. She too had felt the slight shift in the air surrounding the area and looked up before signing: 'Where is Rheagal?!' If something were to happen he could freak out and that wouldn't be a pretty sight.

'Outside. Why? Ohhhhh...Shit!' Alfred realized before standing back up and nodding at them to stay there, before going back to stand near the door where he could see both the twins and Rheagal perfectly. At least this way, he was doing his job, and keeping an eye on them.

 

OUTSIDE

"Cops... " Jacob replied simply, not bothering to give much of an explanation before he turned to start for the door. About the time that Alfred had taken up post there. Eyes going to the other as he neared he slowed and cast a very purposeful glare at the other male. This time a far more serious one and without much for words before he pushed on into the church and started around the outside of the pews. However he was too late and Joseph had already started in, finishing his greeting and beginning to start in talking about something well, to anyone who didn't know it probably sounded strange. To everyone else it was Josephs voices and visions from God. Well not to Jacob, he didn't know whether to think it true or his brother ill still. Too much inner denial maybe?

Slowing to the side he tried to act rather nonchalant and simply coughed loud enough that it got a look from Joseph long enough for him to nod yes and then nod back for the door as they shared a look. Momentarily John's face fell, as if he'd been hoping this WOULDN'T happen. Still he'd known it would. They'd want it public to try and discourage the rest of them.

"But we must STAND STRONG! We can not give into fear, for fear is a weakness! Fear is not of God and fear will not help us in our walk into the future! ...... Something IS coming." Joseph stopped his rather strong speech come to a pause suddenly. He went from both excited looking with passion in his eyes to a bit of a sad stare off towards the door. "I can feel it growing closer." He added his voice dropping to a soft worried sound as his hand gripped the podium.

In this moment it was likely clear to the new people they weren't the only ones clueless as worried expressions past across the crowd and whispers could be heard here and there. All knew something was wrong.... Really wrong if Joseph wasn't maintaining even real eye contact with them or proceeding to look unwaveringly confident. Though it was clear none had much of a guess yet.

 

Rheagal instantly went on the alert. Cops? What were cops coming here for? Why? His inner mind almost went haywire at being in a church in the first place, locked up inside it for the night, now having to stand here, listening to that other male preaching from the pulpit and then hearing cops were coming on top of it! GREAT! He looked over his shoulder as Jacob walked back into the church and saw the look he shared with Alfred, but none of that was clicking at this moment! Nothing danger and the need to get away! Torn between wanting to flee and wanting to protect his siblings! it was building...inside him and he didn't know which way it would go!

Listening to the sermon, Armand sighed softly, before leaning over and whispering to Allya, and for her alone. "Can feel it growing closer? Yea, so can I and I am not 'touched' by God." He muttered sarcastically under his breath. "Something is coming, you can tell. Who brings guns into a church of all places. Gods...what are we involved in here, Allya?"

"I don't know...but we can't outright leave yet." She hissed back, casting her eyes to Alfred who seemed even more alert than before and looking between them and Rheagal as if unsure who to go to first if shit hit the fan. "Alfred's nervous. That's never good. What do you think?"

"I say if shit hits the fan, duck, cover and run. If someone tries to stop you. Fight." Armand said seriously, he too growing nervous the more he watched Alfred and John.

"What will happen to the people here? John? Jacob? Faith? We can't just leave. they helped us...."

"There are plenty of other of places to stay Allya." Armand cut her off. "Places that are safe, which is what mother wanted."

"I know what mother wanted, you don't have to remind me." She growled at him. "But...you do what you think is best. I will do what I think is right."

"Dammit Allya!!" Armand knew that tone, and knew there was no talking her out of it either.

 

"We are creeping toward the edge… and there will be a reckoning. That is why we started The Project. Because we know what happens next. They will come. They will try to take from us. Take our guns, take our freedom. Take our faith. We will not let them. We will not let their greed, or their immorality, or their depravity hurt us anymore! There will be no more suffering!" Joseph had started again and this time with far more vigor than before. As if he wanted to make sure his point came across and at this point it nearly sounded far more a cry for war than a sermon. Everyone knew and the whispering continued. Outside a humming could be heard low and nearing. Taking a breath Joseph moved to step closer to the edge of the stage. Moving to hand his bible to Faith before continuing down. "They're here. We all know what this means.... " A slight smile graced his face as he slowly shifted where he stood. Even as he spoke and knew what he'd been told he couldn't deny he was nervous himself and the chill that ran down his spine? Was it his own suffocated fear or the cool breeze drifting across his bear skin from the doorway. His eyes lifted back to the people before him and slowly he took in their faces "You will hear them say terrible things of me. Untrue things. Falsely perceived things that these sinners wish to twist into your minds. To convince you I'm evil. Do not listen! Do not let them destroy what we have built based on their attempts to destroy that for which they do not understand!" He continued moving to step from the stage his eyes moving towards the three strangers and for a moment he studied them almost curiously. "I know some of you will doubt me. But do not let that doubt rule your judgement for where would we be if we let doubt in before.... Do not do so now. They will take me! Of that I'm sure. But I will not leave you! I made a promise to save all I can before the collapse and THAT! Is exactly what I will do" He continued and as he did the crowd seemed to grow excited almost crazily so to the point some began to chant Joseph's name and John had to step forward with Faith helping to shush and quiet them.

 

Armand didn't like the way this 'sermon' was going and was beginning to feel a bit worried about the whole thing. Something didn't make sense. Not to his way of thinking. Seeing the man, Joseph, talking the way he was, passionately about evil and destroying their work, and doubt, caused it to creep slowly into his being. He turned and looked to Allya, whose eyes had furrowed as she looked up at Joseph too. "We have to leave." He barely whisper to her, which pulled her attention and eyes from Joseph back to Armand.

"What do you mean? We can't leave. Even if we could, there is a huge fence to get through, and with all these guns, it won't be smart, Armand. They would pick us off the moment we tried." Allya said back, barely moving her lips.

"We will be picked off for sure if we stay!" He hissed back, now hearing the sound of the chopper growing closer. "Think about it sis! Chopper, cops, fences, dogs, guns....these people are into some serious shit that we want NO PART of, believe me! We have got to get Rheagal and Alfred and go." He nodded over to where Alfred was now on full alert, and that was never a good thing for anyone around them. Because if the wrong person so much as jostled him, well, they wouldn't be permitted to make that mistake again. Not when he had to protect the triplets.

"Again, how are we to just get up and leave? They are closing things up, we would be lucky to sneak out the back and out that broken window and then even more so not to be shot as we ran." Allya growled out. "You do what you want...it's safer here, with these people and their guns. For now. The moment it presents itself, we will run, if things go bad. But till then, we stay and we help if we can." She saw the look Armand threw her and growled louder. "John helped us Armand! He didn't have to! I am staying."

There was no arguing with her when she got that way and Armand knew it.

Outside, however was a completely different story. Seeing the chopper as it grew closer, noting the guns on its side and hearing the radio chatter and already been triggered to his limit, Rheagal was internally freaking out! The only sign he was doing so was his hands would twitch every so often, as he stood as if frozen, watching the chopper get closer, and hearing Joseph's voice raising from inside sent him back to that time he nearly died as a priest screamed at HIM to repent! He no longer heard Joseph's voice, but that Priest's all over again, and he regressed back to that time. "No...!" He said softly at first, fists balling slowly. "No...!" Louder and with more of a growl. They would NOT get him this time nor hurt his siblings! "NO!!!" He shouted as he snarled, he could feel the wolf within him aching to burst free.

Alfred, watching everything turned to look at Armand and Allya and motioned in sign: 'Rheagal is starting to panic! He is going back...We need to get out of here!' He had gone calm, and his first job was to protect the triplets and he couldn't let Rheagal shift. Not here!

 

The minute's seemed to pass slow and Jacob was growing a bit tense himself where he stood leaning closer to the stage then the door occasionally biting at his own knuckles as he tried not to pay attention to the tenseness in the room. He was prepared for this, he'd always been. Something he had to internally remind himself as he maintained a rather cold expression and eventually moved to saunter over a bit closer to where John was standing. About to whisper something to him he however noticed the other man's gaze. It was currently right at their guests. 

"They're a risk Jacob" he whispered ever so softly to the red head before allowing his gaze to go to the increasing sound of dogs barking just beyond the door. 

"We can't worry about that right now. We'll deal with it when the time comes" Jacob whispered back lowly.

Meanwhile outside the chopper had landed. A dark haired young man, a Latina woman, an older sheriff, a younger black male and an older black male had stepped from the helicopter and out just beyond the large gate that currently sat wide open. All sporting badges and really only the older black male in the FBI vest seemed calm as he neared flashing his badge. The rest either looked nervous or annoyed.

Staci was no exception and as he followed along towards the back his deep hazel eyes went from face to face as they past each gunman on the way in. This felt wrong, dangerous and far to reckless for his liking and even more so as they past the dogs who were barking and in a frenzy. In fact he nearly jumped and stumbled as one flew to hit a fence he'd gotten a bit to close to his eyes tripling in size. Shit! It wouldn't even take guns all they'd have to do it open that cage!

"Pratt! Hurry it up!!! Stay close you idiot!!" The older Sheriff called from up near the FBI Agent. As he did the female officer reached and put her arm over his shoulder for a moment to urge him along. 

"Hey is he o..." Staci whispered softly to her spotting a male seemingly pacing about and saying 'No' over and over. 

"Focus... We help them by getting this son of a bitch out of here and in custody Staci. Hey Dep breath" She whispered to the younger black male in front of them who also had slowed eyeing Rheagal. 

"I'm fine" He whispered back coldly before they continued for the door of the church.

Joey as she was called finally pulled from Staci's side moving up and placing her hand on her gun as she joined the others. Staci's job? Stick to the door while they tried to pull this off and run if things got nasty. Well more so call back up but one of them needed to get out of their in one piece so there he stopped fighting to look calm as Joseph's words drifted through the air app to calmly from the stage area. His followers now looking straight at them.

"There they are… the Locusts in our garden… You see they’ve come for me." Joseph now sounded eerily calm as he moved slowly closer to the walk way between the pews. Still even as he spoke at least five men suddenly moved guns in hand to step between him and the cops glaring in warning. "They’ve come to take me away from you. They’ve come to destroy all that we’ve built! We knew this moment would come. We have prepared for it." Joseph continued his eyes now locked with that of the one who seemed to be leading them. A slight smirk on his face. 

"Joseph Seed we have a Warrant for your arrest for the murder of Colton Harris as well as kidnapping, child endangerment, assault and.... You know what fuck it you get the point stand your men DOWN!" The Agent warned rather loudly. He looked a bit pissed but by the expression on Joseph's face he merely found that amusing.

Reaching out a hand he lightly touched one of his men's shoulders. "Go.... Go, God will not let them take me" He whispered his eyes going back to the agent especially. "The first seal has been opened, and all hell will follow" He started again and honestly at this point he was probably just taunting the cops. Purposely making them nervous as he moved to nearly get in the females face.

"Joseph Seed! On your knees! Hands where we can see them!!" The agent shouted.

Jacob and John along with Faith had moved slowly behind Joseph but just far enough away they couldn't be accused of doing anything. Jacob looked a bit amused by his brothers antics. A slight twisted grin threatening to pull at the corner of his lips especially as his brother just kept on talking. Cooperated but he was going to make sure they had to listen to EVERY SINGLE WORD.

Beside him John looked VERY stressed and a shade angry. His hand on his belt buckle was clenching into a fist and his breaths came forced. Then beside him Faith was, giggling softly hand over her mouth as she watched the scene unfolding. In itself it was all a bit eerie.

 

Rheagal watched as the newcomers strode into the church and visibly shuddered. He wouldn't be able to hold on for much longer. Alfred, seeing such, went to his side and lightly laid a hand on his shoulder. "Breathe Rheagal. It be alright. Ye be safe. Yer siblings be safe too, for now. Don't think about de past. Breathe."

They were all in very real trouble if this boy shifted in front of strangers, and Alfred's attention, for the moment was distracted. Rheagal was the bigger 'threat' right now, as he knew Allya and Armand could handle themselves.

--------------

"Do you hear what they just said?" Armand whispered vehemently to Allya as the newcomers strode into the church and they watched the scene play out. "Kidnapping, Child endangerment, Assault...Murder...." He growled under his voice, grabbing Allya's shoulder and making her look at him. "We have to go, and we have to go NOW! While they are distracted."

"How do we know these people speak the truth?" Allya hissed back and it made Armand look at her like she was crazy.

"Allya! These people are cops! Police! They have a warrant! Even you know what that means!" He yelped softly.

Allya's eyes furrowed as she looked back, hearing Joseph rage at the cops and she tilted her head, when she saw Faith laughing. What was funny? That, confused her even more. "No Armand.....we stay. I don't like being confused and until it makes sense. We stay."

 

Well it wasn't long before Joseph had simply, let himself get cuffed up. The Junior deputy leading him after the rest for the door of the church as he seemed to fall rather silent almost leaving all to calmly like none of this fazed him at all. Of course what most didn't know was the impending danger just outside the door or the fact that even if they made it to the chopper with or without Joseph they wouldn't get very far.

Back inside Jacob was the first to finally moved from where he'd been standing. A few long strides for a small side door out to the back of the church he pulled his cell phone. He hadn't known for sure but now he could tell what Joseph was planning and though it seemed reckless he still had to react. Waiting until he heard the line pick up on the other end he came to stop leaning against the wall just outside. "Send the air support but don't fire on them until I radio in.... " He told them mentally arguing over making this call. Joseph knew he had it in place for this what was he doing!? Was he so willing to just die today which very well could happen if Jacobs men brought down the helicopter. Taking a breath he moved to hang up. John was going to be pissed.... He'd worked so hard to make sure he could get his brother out of jail if this happened but Jacob and Joseph knew it couldn't get that far. If it did no amount of legal defense would ever get him out in time. That and if Jacob tried to stop it right now well? None of these men would listen to him over John. Remove Joseph from the picture and they were all very much divided.

Sure enough as he heard the door bang open he looked up just in time to see a very pissed off looking John. 

"I can't believe they were willing to do this NOW! What are they scared to go to the compound!?" He hissed looking six levels of stressed. Maybe even more so when he spotted the cell phone. "What are you doing?" He asked giving Jacob a suspicious look.

"Calling in backup... Whether you two fucking wants it or not" Jacob admitted moving to slide the phone into his pocket. 

"Whether I want..... Jacob if we attack cops and all this goes to shit we'd all be fried alive! You know that! Joseph knows that! Wait.... Backup?" He stopped thinking about it. Did he have his own guys waiting outside the damn fence!!!?

 

So locked in his mind and panic that when Rheagal felt the touch of Alfred upon his shoulder, he thought it was a priest, come to take him away from his home again. To be tortured, in pain...to burn...again! He reacted, violently, tossing Alfred aside as if he was nothing more than a rag doll as he then hunched over himself and with a feral scream of rage, he exploded into his massive black wolf form that would put even the tallest draft horse to shame! His scream, turned into a bass sounding, deep throated howl, as he turned his eyes on those nearby and exiting the church. Snarling savagely, he wasn't himself and was terribly afraid and didn't know where he was, He leapt!

Alfred, regaining his composure, for he was used to Rheagal's outbursts, saw the young man shift and then leap at those coming out of the church! With a curse in Romanian, he was up and moving. Swinging his fist towards the huge wolf's face, he all but knocked Rheagal clear of the cops and...sadly....INTO the church. "Rahat!" (Shit!) He stood and called out in a clear voice, looking for Allya and Armand. "EVERYONE OUT!"

Hearing the scream, both twins turned towards the door, eyes furrowed. "Was that--?" Allya asked, looking over at Armand.

"Sounds like it." He said as he slowly stood. Only to catch the vague outline of a massive black wolf leaping towards the cops and then Alfred power-diving him away from the people but into the door of the church itself. "SHIT! We got to go, Allya! And we got to go now!" Armand grabbed her arm, knowing it was useless to argue or even commune with Rheagal like this!

"But it's Rheagal! He won't hurt anyone!" She shouted above the slowly growing den when people were starting to realize something was wrong

"You want to tell THEM that! Come ON!" Armand shouted as he pointed to those men who still had guns and was realizing that a huge wolf was now wrecking havoc inside their church!

-----------

Snorting, shaking his head at the pain from the blow, Rheagal looked around and realized...he was in a box! Not just any 'box' but a church! He could see the people in the pews, staring at him. Felt the carpet under his paws. HELL NO! They would NOT take him again.

Roaring in rage, he leapt at the first thing he could get his jaws on, which happened to be a pew nearest the window. Howling and tearing at the pew and the wall, Snarling as he sought to get out, he tore up an entire section, bristling with hate and malice at anyone who tried to approach. And when he saw guns...he really flipped his shit!

Looking around, he saw a high up window and knocking over more pews in his attempt to escape, he leapt for it!! Glass shattered, as he dove through, slicing his underbelly in the process and he hit the ground running! Snarling, he saw a way out through the fence and he went to take it...resolved to kill any in his way!

 

"What the SHIT!!?" Jacob cursed hearing the loud roaring noise. It didn't sound exactly like any animal he knew of not even the judges so turning he was first to take off down the side of the building, John rather close behind him. Screaming, shouting, yelling, and gun fire was quickly erupting and as they made it to the corner they were just in time to see the large black wolfish thing charge INTO the church. John grabbed ahold of Jacob actually looking pale.

 "Jacob what was...." He started fully looking like he was about to freeze up. Damn it John!! Why was he such a....!?? Quickly Jacob turned and grabbed him 

"Get your fucking head in the game John it's just a wild fucking.... Something. You know what" He paused his eyes shooting towards where he spotted green and tan and could still hear the chopper. "Never mind just stay fucking put!!!" He growled shoving John into the church wall growing frustrated suddenly.

Turning he ran snatching a gun from one of his men. Briefly noting the cops were running and all but dragging Joseph with them he had to now choose his battles and for now he knew he had that covered.... Mostly. So he whirled to dart into the church just in time to have to dive sideways and hit the ground hard as a body came flying and the thing roared. Moving to stand fast he aimed and fired just managing to clip it with bullets in the leg before it went smashing through the window. "GOD DAMN IT!!!!!" He nearly shouted as he moved to stand and then walking over to a body snatched a radio that was staticing from the man's hip. "I need air support on the ground as well head east. Big black shape. FUCKING SHOOT IT!!" He nearly shouted into the radio before squeezing it hard as if he almost wanted to crush it. And he just might have if he hadn't taken a breath and moved to put it on his hip. Then turning he headed straight back for the door. Bigger concerns right now, bigger concerns and he was quickly running back out just in time to see the chopper lifting off into the sky. "FUCK!!!" He nearly shouted.

By now John was jogging back up. Somewhere he'd pulled a decent sized shot gun and was mid loading it. "We need to follow the chopper! Whatever that thing is can wait.... " John started in a serious tone. At least he'd gotten his panties out of a bunch again right.

 "I KNOW THAT!!" Jacob shouted back tensely already pulling his keys from his pocket to head for where the truck was parked.

 

All around was pandemonium! Fear wafted through the air and it made Armand shudder, as his eyes closed. Allya, noticing, grabbed him roughly by his shoulders and slapped him, hard across the face! "NO! Armand! Don't you dare! FOCUS DAMMIT!" She couldn't have both of them shifting, but she knew what the scent of fear did to her brothers. It triggered the thrill of the hunt, the chase. Not here, not now.

Though, when she heard gunshots and then heard Jacob order his men to shoot the wolf, she rushed out to follow him. "Jacob! Call that airstrike off! It's RHEAGAL! He was just scared...don't hurt him!" Though she knew it was futile as she saw Rheagal had all but scattered the people at the gates and take off. "DAMMIT! ARMAND! ALFRED!" She turned and ran back for them both and pointed out where Rheagal had gone. "We have to go after him! He didn't mean it! He's scared and hurt and confused...." She trailed off when she noticed that even Alfred looked like he wasn't going to move. It confused her.

Signing, he answered her unspoken questions. 'Safer here. Rheagal big now. They chase, no find. Him smart. We stay, answer questions, help. We find him soon.'

Allya looked at Alfred like he had grown a third head. He was just...going to do nothing?!

 

More shouting had Jacob so distracted he hardly registered what Allya was saying as he neared the side of the truck looked up. Was that screaming up in the helicopter!? By now it had made it maybe thirty feet off the ground maybe fifty but.... Then he saw it. Fuck!! Some of their own men had finally snapped. One was hanging off the side of the chopper and from the looks of it their was a struggle inside and whoever was flying was losing control. Well having not heard Allya and not that he would have cared either way he moved quickly opening the back of his truck and pulled out a large sniper rifle from the back seat. Then took aim, and focusing on his breathing he zoomed in. Trying not to get distracted by the fact a good portion of their guys and even woman had thrown themselves like wild animals at the cops last minute and were now falling. Shit! He couldn't get a good aim but. There! Her arm! He fired, his gun echoing loudly and next thing not only had the copilot lost control but the pilot could be heard screaming as the helicopter spun and went straight down with a crash so loud it probably only helped further chase off that thing from earlier.

Slowly lowering the gun Jacob moved around the truck and then stopped. Eyes landing on John who stood there looking a bit confused? "John! Seriously? Hey snap out of it. The fucks the matter with you???!" Jacob asked moving to snap his hand in front of his little brothers face.

It was then he even remembered. Fuck! Had Allya been trying to get his attention? The radio John had was going off currently with one of their planes shouting they thought they hit it. Then another shouting they now had eyes on it. Shit! The creation.... 

"Pretty sure that was .. A werewol..." John started but Jacob, who had been right there as well when Allya had tried to tell them hadn't heard. If anything it had gone on one ear and out the other so immediately he snorted cutting his brother off 

"Bullshit! Ok maybe it was something weird but this ain't little red riding hood fairy tale land! Werewolves don't exist or we'd know it by now!" He scoffed giving his brother an annoyed glance before shushing him again and taking the radio from his hand to hear better. One was now asking if anyone else had eyes on the target. Had they lost it? "Just our luck" He grumbled eyes going up in time to water Faith who was well, a bit covered in blood and dirt from whatever had happened in the church go running by for where the chopper had gone down. 

"We better um..." John muttered still processing everything by the look on his face. Well by the look on his face John was definitely in shock officially.

"Yeah .. I'll go. You stay um, check on whoever's still inside" Jacob told him with a furrowed brow. He didn't need to see anymore with how out of it he already looked. Studying him for a moment however he decided the other was probably just well? Not used to this level of action. Sure they'd all talked, claimed they were ready but this was the first real fight they'd had with the government or anyone other than tiny disputes with the locals. Nothing near this size and, that wasn't including the thing from moments earlier. He would but fine though and after a brief moments thought Jacob was jogging off. Intent to catch up to Faith and hopefully Joseph wasn't TO injured.

Slowly stepping back John turned to head back for the church. The gun he'd grabbed just in case hanging down by his side as he slowly stepped through the front door. His eyes going to the carnage spread across the pews and inside of the church. It was a mess and he mainly was just irritated at that. Walking over to where one girl had fallen he knelt moving away the torn fabric to eye the blood-soaked claw mark. Well, more than that and he was soon brushing his fingers over it, in it and finally he lifted his hand watching as the blood dropped off his fingers and he seemed to zone in thought. Well if Jacob was right or he was the point was he'd heard what Allya had said, remembered it unlike it seemed Jacob had and was now VERY pissed off.

Hearing nearby footsteps he slowly moved to stand finally and turned his light blue hues casting a dull look at his 'Guests not far away'.

"You were fucking saying.... " He suddenly shot directly at Allya. His jaw slightly tightening. It was probably a good thing Jacob had taken the radio. He'd have loved to make them sit and listen to it ALL right about now. That is if there was really truth to it. He knew a bit deep down it had to be though for Rheagal was absolutely nowhere in sight and he hadn't been outside either.

 

 

All had gone calm the instant Rheagal had fled and the others had turned their attentions to other things, but not for long. Allya and Armand's eyes turned towards John, hearing his words. Allya stepped forward since she was the more outgoing one, and took protecting her siblings seriously next to Rheagal.

"He didn't mean it." She said as she shook her head. "Rheagal has never hurt anyone before. He was just triggered, scared. He said earlier that he didn't like being in churches, and for darn good reason. When he was little, he was taken while out for a walk, by a bunch of religious zealots. He was tortured, and he was literally hung up on a cross and was about to be burned when our mother found him. Yea, she decimated that particular group, but he was never the same sense." She sighed and rubbed her eyes and looked back at John. "Think about it. He is IN a church...slept IN a church, and then people came and caused a scene. Alfred touched him, while he was in a panic mode and that set him off, when he realized he was trapped, he tried to get out, hence jumping out of the window and running. He didn't mean it."

She calmed some and hoped that cleared up a little of the misunderstandings. "And we aren't werewolves. We are elf-shifters. There is a difference." She paused a bit and looked around at the mess and sighed again. "And we have to find him, so what are we all standing around here for!"

--------------

Rheagal wasn't sure where he was going, but he just ran! Ran because he was in pain, ran cause he was sure those zealots would find him again! Ran, bounding over trees, leaping over small rivers and deeper and deeper into the woods. Just ran.

Inside his head, he could hear them! Hear the chanting, hear the sermons, hear the preaching and the yelling. He could feel the fire against his skin. Could feel the pain in his hands again, hear his own screams. So terrified that he just ran and ran and ran!! He had to get away!

 

John's face hardly changed, in fact he almost looked stone cold hearing all of this, like a six foot wall of ice with absolutely zero understanding or empathy existed. Which it did, especially in this situation as he himself had VERY similar history to that which they claimed Rheagal had. Still, he stood here completely shutting it out and not letting it bleed onto others. Ok maybe that was partially a lie and he more so let it bleed onto himself. Still he refused to see any of that as an excuse to lose one's cool and act in a way that made even Joseph look sane.

"Then go find him.... No one's stopping you" He replied simply moving slowly to stand. Letting out a slow breath he moved to pull one of the smaller bodies from the ground slinging her over his shoulder as he turned and walked back for the door. Better now to just burn the bodies, say a few words and be done with it. After this it didn't matter what they chose to do they were all wanted criminals with guns who had better hope Joseph figured out a plan before to much happened. Pushing the doors open he could hearing shouting from somewhere off where to Helicopter had crashed. Chanting the word 'Reap' over and over again and he swore he could also faintly hear his older brothers voice among them. Good, he was alive enough to keep it up at least.

 

Armand had been standing nearby, watching and listening to the whole exchange. Watching John pick up a body and carry it outside, his eyes furrowed a bit and giving Allya and Alfred a look, he went to help. Where the others weren't exactly religious, Armand wasn't per se but he did believe in another life after this one, and thought those who died on a 'good' side, deserved a type of 'service'. Picking up a body, and carried it out to where John was laying them out and stood over the one he had laid down and motioned in the way of the elves, the passing of one plane to another. It was simple hand movements, but it looked beautiful, and no purer way of asking for the Valar to look after those passed.

Allya, however, was standing looking around, not very sure what to do. She wanted to go help look for Rheagal, but knew that would be kind of a moot point at this point. He was to fast, and by the time they had started out for him, he would already be over hell's half acre by now. So she sighed, and turned to follow Alfred, who had begun trying to clean up again. Grabbing another broom, she went to sweep up, while Alfred tried to right the pews and fix things back to the way they were. No one said anything....

------

Rheagal ran till he couldn't run anymore and thought that his heart would burst. He sniffed around and found a hidden cave nearby and after checking to make sure no one resided in it, he curled up near the back and turned to lick his wounds. He had been shot, and so he carefully tried to pull out the buckshots and such that had lodged into his back hip. Before he licked the wounds clean and settled down to sleep.