The Bostaurus Settlement; Pit Stop!

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Buck would lead the newcomers on into the heart of the Bostaurus Settlement, past many cowpokes of many types. Many of them looked onto the newcomers with warm, welcoming eyes, though some of them found the two of them rather strange looking; possibly because they were the ones that hadn't ever seen their kind before, wherein many of the older ones probably had, since they dealt with the trade more often than the younger ones.

"This way!" he said, reaching a nice little log cabin house with a field beside it. This was the Wilde House.

(Yeah I had sent you a PM and responded to your email, but don't worry about it now.)

El got up when they were alerted that they could eat and went to make a plate for himself.

Even as Tzita placed the Ankh in her cleavage, the energy that radiated from it had already hit the old man from simply his gazing upon it. Within, the Spirit of the Taurus would start to swell... And though there were no immediate effects with the old man nor in the area, something, somewhere had been awakened by his very spirit in tune with that of the Stars. El's Ankh would glow as well for a moment or two, then both of them would return to being silent. As for the elderly Bostaurus... He should have been feeling the effects only slightly within himself, like a hazy, fond memory. There would be nothing more for now.

The family each tended to their own plate, still a little tense about what happened, but for the most part pretty satisfied with how it was brought down. They all seemed like they wanted to speak, but were a little nervous now after what occurred, so they just stuck to eating and waited for someone or something to break the ice. Only Gramps remained unfazed by the change in the atmosphere.

Even so, there was a flash of the items that were given to the two travelers, catching the attention of everyone at the table. Most specifically, in Grandpa Tank, it gave him more clear, yet still rather hazy memories of the past... Some of which didn't seem to be his own, yet felt like a herd of cattle grazing the open field freely as in days of his youth. It gave him a strange feeling of peace, yet also of unrest at the same time. Like he needed to get outside and run.

Joe: What in tarnation...?!

Gramps: Hmmrmrm... *huff* Hrrphhrphrphruh!

He snorted and shook his head, grunting a bit after being captivated by the bright light. He couldn't help but embrace this feeling, but it made him feel exceedingly uneasy with where he was.

Buck: Y'all alright there, Gramps?

Joe could see where the light was coming from; those strange doohickeys that were given to the two travelers. It was similar to how it happened before with him, but for some reason, seemed to be happening to his father, now. Perhaps that was why he was acting so standoffish before... And having been exposed to it, he could understand why and made peace with it. Still, he was very concerned about what those strange items were doing to his family.

Bessie: Oh my! What on earth...?!

Before too much of a ruckus was stirred, though, the lights would fade and everything seemed normal again. Gramps was still shaking it off, but he seemed to be in a daze of sorts. Joe could tell from the look in his eyes. "Milly," he said rather swiftly and sternly, "Y'all take Gramps to bed, then. Look ta me like he ain't feeling quite up to this much excitement." He nodded his head and closed his eyes.

Milly, still a little dazed: Y... Yessir! *gets up and walks over to Gramps* Come on, Grampa! Let Milly fix you up right proper!

Tank remind silent, but coherent. He was in a daze, but he was cognizant of what was going on. He wasn't sure what this new type of feeling was, but something had definitely come over him that he'd not felt before... And if so, it had been a long, long time. He willingly stood up, holding his head a bit, then let his granddaughter escort him to his room.

Naturally, something like that wouldn't have gone without a response by someone, and it just so happened to be the perky Buck. "What was THAT all about?!" Joe and Bessie looked to each other with a bit of concern, but didn't say anything.

El was still fumbling around with making his plate when the commotion started. He saw the glow of the Ankh in his pocket and assumed that Tzita's Ankh was the start of the commotion. She sounded distressed, enough for El to stop what he was doing and come to her side and place a hand on her shoulder. If she was freaking out, then he figured he could cool the situation and try to explain anything that needed it.

"These Ankh have a mind of their own sometimes. We only received them with very little instruction on what they were for besides leading us our respective destination. Neither I, nor Lady L'sia, can explain it specifically. Right?" He asked, looking down at her.

Joe turned to El once he started talking and huffed a bit, trying to wrap his mind around it all, himself. He knew they were good folk just from being around them for the little time that they were, so it was alright for him to trust them... Especially since it seemed like they genuinely and sincerely didn't know what was going on. They were just two kids out on their own, in Joe's old fashion eyes. "... Hurh. Well, it ain't really hurt no one none," he'd finally say, shrugging his shoulders a might bit passively on account of the circumstances, "... 'Sides, Paw over there was gettin' too rowdy anyway. Was probably tired, himself, bein' so fussy. Besides, it' only 'til mornin' that yer stayin. They couldn't cause that much ruckus from now 'till then, huh?" That's the way he figured it, and so it was settled, as long as everyone agreed.

Eventually Milly came back and the family and their guests had their dinners in peace (or so we hope.)

-----

Meanwhile, in the room, Gramps was having his own type of experience. Still trapped in a daze, he sat in the midst of his room thinking about those things that flashed before his eyes, staying quiet no matter what he saw. He could see a beautiful forest of sorts and great green pastures with a river. The images were vague, but vivid, making them stick. Eventually, he fell off into a deep slumber and started to see more of his vision, far more clearly than before.

El took his seat and partook in his meal with the family as well. He gave his compliments to the chef every now and again, being that this food reminded him a lot of his home as a young boy before he was the strapping knight that sat the table currently. Every now and then he would pay Tzita some attention, pass a glance her way, but he didn't attempt to bring her into any conversation that may have or may not have occurred. She seemed content with being out of the spotlight for once.

When all was said and done, each of them finished their food and retired for the night, letting the events that happened at the dinner table blow over. Buck and Milly went to their rooms, ready for bed, and whatever idle banter that went on between they, their family and the guests during that time would be had. Joe and Bessie, after bidding the house goodnight, would check on Gramps one last time before heading to bed, themselves. He seemed to have finally nodded off and was sleeping peacefully. This gave the two house heads a bit more assurance in themselves that things had finally calmed down, and they would retire to their room.

From that point whatever went on between Tzita and El was between the two of them.

El was glad that everything with dinner went smoothly after the whole glowing Anhk fiasco. He wished he knew more about the thing, but he was from a different world entirely and had no idea who to ask about. Granted they had the perfect opportunity to ask Tzita's father, but it slipped both of their minds in the excitement to go adventuring. El wouldn't dwell on it.

"Hm? What is it?" He asked as he stopped in his tracks and the beckoning of Tzita. "Are you still bothered by what happened at dinner?" He asked with a concerned tone.

El didn't say anything for a few moments, just cupped his mouth and hummed in thought. He was processing what she had just told him and taking from it what he needed to understand the situation. It didn't take him very long, El may have seemed the brawn over brains type but he was more well rounded than that.

He lowered his hand, revealing his smile. "What are you sorry for, this is great news Lady L'sia. That means, between the two of us, we have a better idea of where we should be heading." It didn't matter to him that she had withheld the information. Sure they were acting partners for this, but she was allowed to her secrets for as long as she wished to keep them. If it helped them get their mission done in a more timely matter, then El was fine. Make no mistake though, he was happy that she had shared this with him.

He put his hand on her shoulder. "Thank you for telling me, Lady L'sia, now go get some rest. You aren't looking your usual self."

El gave a wave and nod of his head before she disappeared into Milly's room for the night, and he stood there scratching at the back of his head for a moment of so. There was really nothing that he was hung up about, or thinking on, but he took the few couple seconds of silence within the house, save for the various sounds of soothing sleeping coming from each room, to collect himself. He didn't feel tired, at least not how he normally would, and quietly snuck out of the house to enjoy the night air and landscape against the glow of the moonlight.

"Hmm... what was that power that I had back in Valparaiso, and earlier today? I've never done anything like that before." He whispered quietly to the sword on his hip. He would end up staying out here for the night, all the way until morning.

The house, save for El, slept peacefully until the next morning, no one having noticed that he hadn't gone to sleep until their wake. Buck, naturally, was the first to notice, but figured that he'd just gotten up much earlier, which was surprising considering how the farm boy's day usually started at the crack of dawn. He yawned, rising from his bed and going out to search for El.

Eventually, the others would rise as well, all on their own time, minding their own as they would whilst Bucky went outside to find El. "Woah, you sure are up early, ain'tcha El?" he said with a smile, still sorta groggy, yet somehow filled with energy. "Yer up earlier'n even Pa."

Whilst Joe and Bessie woke relatively around the same time, Milly slept in a little while longer, as did Grandpa Tank. Of course, Bessie went to start on breakfast whilst Joe went out back to start on the day's work.

El seemed positively radiant as he stood and basked in the light of the rising sun, allowing it to shine from behind the outline of his silhouette. He had his hands on his hips and was starting at the sky for a time, had been all night, thinking about what this new powers he had were and how to use them responsibly. He wasn't entirely sure what else had changed about him and... it scared him a bit.

"Oh, is it time for everyone to wake up already? Guess I'm just use to being an early bird." El replied to Buck with a small laugh before he stretched his arms towards the sky. He felt even less tired than he had before and seemed to be brimming with energy.

"If there's anything I can help with, don't hesitate to ask."

"Weeeell, I'm glad we got'rselves a volunteer!" a gruff, but hearty voice said from the distance, drawing closer with each passing word, "I thought I thought it was just gonna be me an' ole Bucky here." He slapped his hand upon the shoulder of his son, jostling him about lovingly before patting him on his other shoulder with a friendly chuckle. Buck looked at him with a sort of kiddish, yet slightly embarrassed look. "Aw, Pa!!"

"Weeell, I'm just funnin', y'all. Iff'n our guest doesn't wanna work, he ain't got to." He kept on chuckling a bit, leading into a mannerable offer, "But it is up ta our guest, ya know... Wanna be as hospitable as possible." Joe, despite being stubborn, was taught very well and was very polite and homely to his visitors. "'Supposedta treat the guest ta what they're lookin' for, even if we don't quite unnerstand it, Bucky." That was just being a good host, and in his eyes, head of a household.

"By all means, put me to work. I've missed the simple life of working the land ever since I became a knight." El admitted. He didn't have much time to farm with being one of the greatest knights of his kingdom and all. His aunt didn't mind much, but it always upset El that he couldn't help her as much as he wanted too. Swinging a sword was all well and good, but pulling a plow was what really built up El's bulky physique.

"Weeeell, there ya go, son." He pat his shoulder and released him. "Learn sum'n new 'bout people ev'ry day, I reckon." It was clear that with Joe opening up so easily that El was alright in his eyes. Didn't make him feel at all uneasy.

Buck: ... I guess that's it then. Heheh!

Secretly (or not so secretly from the goofy grin on his face), Buck was happy that he got to spend time with his new friend while they still had some left. They were leaving today, probably near the afternoon once they got their supplies, so it was just good to spend some quality time. That's how he thought about it, at least. Joe's mannerisms seemed to be rubbing off on his son, which he was happy that he could see.

Joe: Mmm... Much obliged. *closes eyes* ... Well, come on you two. *turns, walks toward the back* We got work ta do. Heh heh.

He would start off toward the back, picking up the shovel and a hoe and taking them with him into the back, Buck following along. Hopefully it wouldn't take too long for breakfast and for the others to wake up. Buck also did want to show El around town and stuff. Whether or not Milly came was of no concern to him, but he also wanted Tzita to be there, definitely. She was very pretty...

El followed behind Buck and Joe, never straying too far away so that he could hear anything important that was being side. As they walked past the house and towards the back, El stopped. "Oh, I should probably take this off." He said as he unhooked Durandal from his hip and placed the heavy sword against the side of the house. He wasn't sure, as he set it down, if it was his imagination, or if Durandal felt heavier than it ever had before, but he chalked it up to his imagination.

"I'll be back, give Lady L'sia some company when she finally wakes up." El loved to joked around with the sword like it was a living thing, but it wasn't as far as he knew. It hummed occasionally of its on accord, but El never paid that any mind. Once he was done, he rejoined Buck and Joe, ready to begin showing them that he was more than just his fancy words.

Once the two of the young ones following behind the old bull reached the back along with him, he would take the shovel in his hand and stick it lightly in the ground, waiting until they were both there beside him to explain what they were gonna do.

Joe: T'day's project is simple... Gonna be plantin' ourselves some new crops. *hands El the shovel* Bucky, go get th'other shovel.

Buck quickly scurries to get the other one.

Joe: All ya gotta do is dig a few lines in that there plot I've sectioned off there... *points to the bare land* Dig us some holes in a straight line...

Buck came back with the extra shovel, in which his father would place a hand on his shoulder again, "Bucky here'll show ya the ropes. While y'all are diggin', I'll be tilin' with this here hoe. Work fast, we can be done 'fore breakfast." Buck chuckled nervously, then looked to El.

Buck: Well, El... Ya heard tha man! Heheh...

Joe would smile and walk toward another open land, full of weeds, and begin to clear them. Meanwhile, Buck would walk to the already cleared field, signaling for El to follow him. "Come on, El! Let's get a lot done!" It would be nice to have someone to talk to for a change other than his father whilst he worked. Luckily this time it was just digging holes. He would stand in the best starting spot and stick his shovel in the ground, already getting to work.