Rachel: Wasteland Barbarian Queen #2

Well Met In The Wastes

The morning saw Rachel depart Silver, leaving her spent and sleeping with the name Rachel and the dew of the last night's passion on her lips. She made ready to ask the Talisman on her wrist where the town of Megaton was, but was surprised by a pleasant greeting from behind her.

The merchant Crow had chanced upon Rachel in the streets of the ruined town. He spoke with her at length, trading her unneeded spoils for coin and shaman's medicines.

The day passed as she walked alongside the merchant. She learned what was valuable, what was not, and crossed paths with Crow's compatriot Crazy Wolfgang. Rachel thought to ask where Megaton was. Both men laughed. “About a day's travel back the way we came.”

Rachel explained her mission. Wolfgang seemed more than happy to complete it for her. They agreed, and Rachel insisted on returning some coin to the man for his trouble, as well as purchasing more healing elixirs.

That night, the men sat and talked by the fire for the first watch. Rachel and the two guards, one raven haired and olive skinned, the other fair and sharply featured, repaired to the tent where the women compared and explored each others' scars and physiques.

Second watch Rachel took alone, as she had sent the guards into a peaceful exhausted slumber. The full moon brought beasts to the fray. Starved and crazed dogs who were swiftly dispatched. Dawnrise sent misshapen horrors to her. They fell as swiftly. Wolfgang joked that they were called “Rous”, causing Crow to chuckle and the sleepy eyed guards to roll their eyes.

“Rodents of unusual size?” she kicked the ashes of the fire to cover the bodies. “I do not believe they exist.” A strange stare from the others lead her to shrug with mirth. “In the Vault Kingdom of 101, we knew such fables as well as civilized folk.”

The merchants parted company. Rachel traveled with Crow. She wished to see this “Canterbury Commons” from whence they came.