Dododex

ARK: Survival Evolved & Ascended Companion

Night-Mare

Chapter 8

Steven tapped his foot anxiously as he waited outside Quinn's hut. He could hear hers and Roman's voice whispering back and forth with Zoe occasionally chiming in.

"We found Elliott," said Roman. "He was killed by the Mare."

"Then it's as we feared?" asked Quinn.

There was a short pause. "The horseman had it when he found us," Roman sighed.

"He must have had the Mare follow Elliott's trail," came Zoe's voice.

"Or follow the lantern," Roman added.

Quinn spoke up again. "And Leo? Is he…"

"Gone. Taken by the horseman. We can assume the worst," said Roman.

Quinn sighed, "Well that's unfortunate. It'll hard to replace some one of his … stature."

Steven couldn't hold his anticipation, or his anger any longer. He threw Quinn's door open. "Unfortunate? Unfortunate?!"

Roman looked like he was going to rip Steven's head of, Zoe looked purely shocked, and Quinn had a quaint smile on her face. Did she find this all amusing?

"Leo," Steven shouted, "was a man! A good man, not some tool for you to have when it's convienent!"

Roman stepped forward, fury blazing in his eyes. "You don't know anything about this. Turn around and go home."

Steven didn't back down. For once, he wasn't intimidated by Roman. "I know that people shouldn't be treated like rats. When they die, they should be mourned, not easily replaced! Or can you just not get that through your thick skull."

Without missing a beat, Roman cocked his arm and threw it into the side of Steven's face. Steven could hear the crack of Roman's fist against his jaw, the thud as he hit the ground, the ringing that followed, and the hazy voices yelling at eachother. He staggered to his feet and wiped blood from his mouth.

"Don't stand up," Roman yelled at him, "Or I'll make the next one hurt!"

Against his better judgment, Steven stood again. Leo deserved to be defended, even if he wasn't here to see it. Roman launched at him, but Zoe held him back.

"Enough," shouted Quinn. She turned to Steven. "I expect better out of you Steven. You need to learn your place, and learn it quickly. Angering your tribemates will get you no where. And neither will barging into my house in the middle of a private conversation."

Roman crossed his arms and gave a smug, satisfied look. "That being said," Quinn said, turning to Roman, "Attacking our tribemates isn't the answer either." Her tone went from irritated to soft instantly. "We can't expect him to know the rules. If he's going to stay here with us, he needs to know the whole situation."

Steven crossed his arms and gave a nod, "So tell me."

~CL1