-3-

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-The Carrion Bunch have been able to loot and rob from Unrin to Botlen, this wild bunch under the leader of Terryal Hex have become more feared and infamous than any other group of outlaws. Not one of its members have ever been identified or captured, and now it was the night to bring his gang together to pull off the greatest crime.

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Terryal stepped out between the three outlaws, outlaws of different skills and attributed which had made them all successful in their own right. Terryal showed a grin of actual pleasure glad at those he'd gathered around him, as he stood before them as their leader ready to disperse his orders; seeing each one as just what he was looking for to enable him with the power and strength needed to complete his ill-gotten plans and to ultimately take down Texal.

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Each one shared quick side glances at one another, clearly eyeing each other up; as the trio not yet truly knowing what to make of each other. He wanted to keep their attention for now solely on him, so cleared his throat and barked his orders at the Carrion Bunch; addressing the mighty Sakima first. "Now then I want you to join up with Tyrell Thurlow; I need you to put your strength with his smarts;' Knowing who was clearly the brain and who was the brawn amongst the two. 'and head up through the rear of the Kerium mines. Once your in place I want you two to scare off those who work for Goldwine and Argyle's mine; this will no doubt draw out the marshal. Which will leave Vlora and myself free to enter through the northern point to complete the true crime and bring us back the mother load."

"Kerium!" sounded Vlora.

Sakima turned to Tyrell and stated with a smug look across his face. "You heard him buddy, were together damn it..."

"Oh I got it, and I'm glad you did too..."

"Yeah well just you stick with me, Tyrell and we might just pull this off." stated Sakima actually cracking his knuckles together.

The sound not resting all that well with Tyrell as it went right through him, he turned sharply to face Sakima, a hand moving for his weapon.

Terryal even though he wasn't pleased by their squabbling, kept his calm and stepped forward, knowing that he had to stop this. "You have your orders, you two, I hope for your sakes you come through!"

His firm tone silenced the pair straight away, as they both soon realised that their own success relied upon each other.

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Not wanting to see their unneeded arguing to deter him from the overall aims, Terryal went on. "Now, this is important, I only wanna to see one of you back here this evening...' Terryal pointing to where he stood. Straight away both Sakima and Tryell looked at each other, as neither one fully comprehended what was being asked of them. 'Please, rest assured you have nothing worry about... This is all apart of my plan."

"Ah, apart of his plan.' scoffed Sakima. 'Apart of your plan, indeed! I knew I shouldn't have trust this guy!" Sakima ended pointing over at Terryal, in slight jest.

Even Tyrell looked as if he didn't take kindly to this.

Terryal scowled. "Like I said damn it, you have nothing to worry about... There will come a time when I'll see you set free, as I will call into affect the second stage of my plan."

"Enough of this bull, Terryal, we're no chumps!" snapped Sakima, who wasn't having any of this and actually considering walking away from all this.

Vlora past a figure over her lips, actually glad that she hadn't been asked this favour.

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After hear what their leader had asked of them as you could imagine both Sakima and Tyrell were ticked by all this rather than worried.

"Come on it's damn simple; I'd thought the likes of you would have gotten the bigger picture... I wanna see one of you behind bars to be my eyes and ears on the inside until it's time I break you free!" added Terryal, hating the fact that he had to explain further.

Deep down neither Tyrell nor Sakima wished to be the one who took the fall, as be arrested by Enapay would tarnish their reputation. However, seeing as Terryal had gain power over them; Tyrell as he looked dead into Terryal's eyes; Tyrell found it in himself to step forward. "I'm willing to take the fall for you, Terryal.' stated the outlaw, with a flick of his hat slightly in Sakima's direction, happy in the knowledge didn't gotten one up on Sakima. 'After all I get to bee the one to see the look on the great marshal's face, and I'd hate to be the one who misses the look on the marshal's face when you bring him down!" Tyrell sounding a little mug.

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-A female travel forth into Texal; the young native had been sent out by the shaman; who had requested her to have Enapay return to the Tlenget camp. At first she had been taken aback by his request, but saw the deep urgency in his eyes and so took to her saddle.

As she entered the edges of Texal on her Equestroid; she had started to notice the growing looks from the town's people, as more and more would cast their gaze in her direction from whatever they were doing. Some even whispering to one another about her presence.

As you can imagine their view towards her seemed to trouble her somewhat. 'The mindfulness of these people... There once was a time when these lands were ours to hunt and govern... Now they close off these plains, because of their indifference… Oh Enapay how can you freely make a home here for yourself!?' But she shook these thoughts out of her head and continued through Texal heading to the jail house.

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Enapay looked up from his desk as the female native stood before him in the jail house. "Tehya, is that that you?" Enapay remembering Tehya as a much younger look person, but it had clearly been sometime since he had seen her.

Tehya looked Enapay up and down, she herself had only been a child when he'd left the camp, but despite the ageing she could look through the differences and see that it was Bray's son there before her. "Yes marshal; it as truly been a long time."

The marshal stood up from his chair and stepped from behind his desk; he came forward to greet her, a wide warm smile now across his face. Tehya held his hands and looked into his eyes. "Well that it has.' Enapay then all of a sudden drew cold and stepped away, now standing tall with his back straight he addressed her presence. "So then Tehya, tell me why are you here? You are after all truly the last person I'd expect to see here in Texal!"

She looked around the jail; the sights and smells were all different to her; the 19 year old after all had never left the borders of her camp; the outside world slightly different for her. "I come here Enapay, to ask you back to your home!' a smile came to her face, there was a pause of silence as she hoped Enapay would say something. 'Shaman asked for you, and know this deep down I was pleased to do so Enapay."

"What is this all about Tehya?" asked Enapay sounding rather confused, a hand now scratching the side of his head.

"I'm afraid I don't know all the details, all I can tell you is that there is truly something troubling his great and wise mind right now and the answer Enapay lies with you."

"Then there is no time to waste; time for me to return home it seems!' he truly sounded very sombre in tone; the notion a heavy one. 'Maybe now is a better time than ever." 'I wonder why Honaw had sent Tehya here!' was the though on Enapay's mind, as he and Tehya left the jail house.

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Allow Lange leaned back in his chair, he glanced over that the crowed cell, then put his hands behind his head. 'Enapay never seemed to discusshis past!' were the thought of his deputy.

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Enapay came to his Equestroid's side and gently patted him; "Another ride old friend, a ride I didn't think I'd take again... Thrine your take home.' as Tehya had leaped onto her Equestroid's back. Enapay leaned in and whispered. 'Thrine let's show your fellow Equestroid whose got the best speed."

The horse seemed to node, moving his head up and down in turn. "That's a gooden; I knew I could count on you there boy." And with that Enapay placed his foot in the stirrups, took hold of the saddle and pulled himself up mounting his Equestroid.

Thrine rode off when he felt the pat from Enapay; they followed on after Tehya.

Tehya looked back over her right shoulder at Enapay, a welcoming smile on her face when the camp of the Tlenget's slowly came into view. For anyone else a trip home would have truly been a warming and heartfelt sight to be seen; however the past had forced Enapay not to feel so happy as the sight of home lay before him.

'A place I don't know if I call home again... A place where I don't even know if I'm welcomed despite Honaw's calling me back.' It was a cold thought, but Enapay didn't stop Thrine as he matched Tehya's Equestroid.

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-Shaman Honaw came out to meet Enapay, he nodded to Tehya as she and Enapay entered the compound of the native settlement, and even though the tents may have changed in the last few months, the faces were the same. only the odd one or two welcomed him as he walked by, whereas other's within the tribe stepped back to the safety of their tents. "I am pleased that you came on such short notice Enapay."

"It's good to see you too old friend, even if other's aren't...' he stated in sharp reply, Enapay looked over at Tehya and then around at the camp. 'And in truth Honaw I almost didn't come..."

The shaman breathed in heavily at Enpay's words. "I thought I had a higher place in your heart then just friends, dear boy."

The marshal laughed.

"Come now please, Enapay, we have much to talk about...' He turned slightly, a arm now stretched out pointing to his tent. 'Please this way!"

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A hand guided the marshal to his tent, a tent Enapay had once known all too well; even though the skins that cover it were new. Enapay noted the shadow the tribes totem cast over the encampment, before his attention was drawn to the sight of the chieftain, who was standing tall with a native male by his side. 'Bayley... Still showing his hand over the Tlenget despite his age... Then you Nootau, no doubt still leading the hunt and having those of youth looking up to you... One say this handed to you.'

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Enapay saw glare in his once long time friend's eyes, the pair had once been inseparable. -/The two boys would often be partnered to go off in hunting parties, and enjoy the thrill of the hunt. But this would all change, it was on a hunt that was to prove head of the next hunt.

The party had been on the trail of a herd of cattle, "Okay listen, I need all of you on stand by… We've been heading form this point all our life's; I can't afford any false moved! Nothing, and I repeat, nothing happens without my direct say-so, got it!?"

He received nods from the males around him. "Good work, all of you." but mainly addressed this to his friend Enapay, who had made the original sighting.

They stayed low following their movement through the desert plains until the right moment, each one knew that this great moment could soon be over in 20 minutes, so they want to make this moment count. Nootau saw the bull first sight of the herds and so gave the signal to move on in. "This is it… Let's take down the kill."

On his orders arrows were fired and the massive bull dropped to the grown.

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The fallen cattle were bound and tired and once the party had returned to the encampment Nootau saw that it had been Enapay who got the biggest kill. Nootau's look changed as the realisation swept over him and so he stepped forward stating that it was him who had draw the arrow that had killed the herd's bull, something he knew was. a claim no one could never disprove and with a pointing figure the male actually had the front and accused Enapay of taking his kill.

As it wasn't true the pair became at odds with one another; Enapay doing the right thing and quickly denied this and the pair began to fight in front of the chieftain, but it was the tribe's shaman who was there on hand and run forward to pull the two apart and had both boys brought before their chieftain. He was shocked what he had heard, but because he held Nootau's family greater sided with Nootau's claims.

Shaman Honaw was not happy and then had the two stand before the fire of his tent, where he had them recite the creed of the tribe. "Honour in all your deeds, respect for all life and be the protector of the weak and old." they both said out loud, neither one taking their eyes off each other, and neither one had spoken closely ever since./-

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Tehya noticed Nootau turn away and whispered something into Chieftain Bayley's ear, and then saw the look Enapay gave this. She placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You've got to understanding Enapay,' he turned to face her. 'now more than ever not only does your new life in Texal need you, but there's more going on around here than we know."

"What hasn't the shaman told you?" The question seemed to hang in the air for a second.

"Whatever is happening here Enapay I believe that your old life will soon need you as well!' Even though he didn't want to believe this Enapay knew that what Tehya said was true, and nodded in agreement. 'You have got to understand that the great chieftain took it hard the day you chose to leave."

"I had my reasons, Tehya... there was those around me I just couldn't trust any longer and the love I felt had gone, when the request to leave was given I took it."

"Ever since the day your father passed away you wanted to leave the camp..."

Tehya caught sight as Enapay stopped; the marshal with a sombre look across his face stared at the spot where is families tent once stood. "You spent all the time you could talking up your role as marshal, how you would fight all the major outlaws and see them rightly behind bars.' Enapay at hearing this turned quickly back to face the young tribal female, Tehya went on defending her harsh words. 'Yes your life in Texal should not be over looked, after all you are in fact the youngest marshal to follow in your families history, but now things are changing... Honaw as brought you back in hopes of bring an end to the threat he too his secretly scared of!"

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Even though it sounded very cold of Tehya, Enapay could see her side of the coin. "I had to fight the shadows Tehya, you can understand that, can't you!?" he stated in hopes of making her see a greater meaning in his actions, following a dark sad event of his father's passing.

"You soon stopped coming back though Enapay, how long as it been now 3 to 4 years. Bayley didn't take kindly too this and stated that this was no longer your home!" stated Tehya, who didn't see it that why.

"I won't lie to you when the option to leave and take the mantle of marshal the shock of losing my father did tip the scale when it came to me leaving... But I never wished to leave any kind of pain behind me; I just needed to find myself amongst the shadows that my father had left!"

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The trio had come to notice that the chieftain's stare had never dropped, Enapay smiled warmly in the direction of the chieftain; after all Bayley had been the chieftain for sometime and he still valued hiss judgement. As Enapay knew that there would come a time in this new future where he would have to stand in front of Bayley and ask for a show of understanding as the new world moves closer to the tribes camp.

However, Bayley didn't like this show and viewed it as a pure front of power and so came before the shaman and Enapay; his voice loud and tough. "What is the meaning of this!? I stated he was never allowed to return here!" snapped the chieftain pointing to the ground of which his tribe called home.

"I invited him here Bayley." stated the shaman.

Tehya kept silent, stepping away from Enapay and stood firm by Honaw's side.

Bayley glared at the shaman. "Don't disobey me Honaw."

"I do not wish to go behind your orders, but now more than ever we need him here.' stated Honaw, pointing up at the totem. 'If we are to have a place to call home."

"Mmmm, is that so.' stated Nootau, a hand on the chieftain's shoulder, the hunter looking squarely at the returning Enapay.

"I came here, because I was asked..."

"Yeah, because we all know your life is your own and you can do whatever you want." Interrupted Nootau, in a harsh tone.

Enapay didn't raise to Nootau's gloating.

Nootau turned back to his chief, looking for his fair backing. "We have been hear before with his lies, Bayley..."

Honaw at hearing this placed his staff into the earth.

"Bayley please, we haven't got time for this now... Yes he as come home, but like I said he is here under my welcome... I fear a darkness as come, hear me when I say we will soon face a great danger one I fear I'm not strong enough to hold back."

"I value your guidance, so on my order you do what you must for now Honaw... but heed my warning Honaw he must be gone by nightfall." stated Bayley, loud enough for all to hear, the chieftain wanted to claim some leadership over these events.

Searching for calm Honaw led the way to his tent, he leaned down and then held back the entrance with a warming look, a hand guiding Enapay inside.

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Once inside Honaw restocked the fire, which illuminated the shaman's tent; there were cloths and rugs laying on the floor of the tent. Tied from cross wooden posts were the shaman's many roots, vines and herbs for his work, with each one with their own distinctive smell or aroma. In the spare spaces hung woven tapestries of multiple patterns.

The shaman sat first, in respect Enapay waited to be asked. Once the pair sat Enapay waited for Honaw's explanation. The fire burned between them the smoke raising out of the smoke hole within the roof of the tent. Honaw closed his eyes and breathed in heavily taking in the smells around him. His eyes opens again and nods. "A great mist clouds my visions Enapay; all I know is that he will come."

Enapay scratched the side of his chin, the words ''he'' seemed to have troubled him, and the marshal needed to know what this meant and therefore asked. "Sorry, but he, great Honaw who are you talking about? Who will come?"

"Oh yes, a darkness like no other… You were young when it happened before Enapay… A man came to take over these plains, ready to case his dark mist. Your father was brave and stood before it willing to fight."

"I can't recall much of my father's departure Honaw."

"All you need to know then boy that he faced the greatest of threats, to fight for our freedom...' Honaw looked into Enapay's eyes. 'Boy, do you remember much about your father's time as warrior for these plains and how sadly he met his end!?"

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Enapay lowered his head to the floor, sadly Enapay had only been about 10 at the time of his father's passing; his most fondest memory of his time with his father was the day that Enapay was taken by him to the plains of the Equestroids.

-/The day was warm and the sun was high he recalled in his thoughts, young Enapay rode on his father's Equestroid his smile grew as he could now hear the sound of hooves as they came to the herd of the great Equestroids out on the Equus plains. A few of them came running towards them.

Enapay was helped down from the saddle, his father looked down on him; Enapay could recall the proud look across his father's face and at the time Enapay held so tightly to his father's hand as a ray of emotions filled the young boys mind; after all this was his first stage from childhood to adulthood in the eyes of his tribe. He stood on these plains to pick his own Equestroid, like many before him.

His father then held out his hand pointing out towards the many great horses. "Which one will be yours my son!?"

"Father, I hope I pick the best…"

His father smiled back at Enapay. "You maybe here today to pick your Equestroid, but the creature will also be picking you, my son... which truly makes the friendship you share even greater."

Enapay at that time also remembered the lessons taught by the shaman. ''When it comes to choosing your beast, young ones, keep an open mind... There is never a wrong choice, after all you are picking the right one for you not for any other. But heed my advice there are many qualities to each animal. You must look at the animal's stance, stride and posture, these are the key qualities of a great animal! And most of all the best quality is that of the unwritten bond between man and Equestroid, find that link and you'll know which to pick.''

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His father pulled free his hand and as his son looked up at him he nods. Enapay took a few tentative steps forward towards the herd; his mouth was dry, his palms wet and his heart pounding. He looked back over his shoulder at his father, but then turned to face the herd again once his father signalled for him to move further on in.

At first a few Equestroid's stood out, two large proud males one of brown in colour with black points, mane and tail, the other with a white patterned coat, that was combined with black, and a lovely standing female Equestroid of black in colour with black mane and tail.

However, then his eyes were drawn to one Equestroid in particular with an extremely pale coat, mane and tail with blue eyes. 'He must be it… He must be the one fore me.' he thought, as he looked into the animal's eyes. The Equestroid walked out towards him.

"Go on my boy, go out to him… Your course is set, destiny awaits you my son.' His father knew all to well what Enapay would have been going through; the build up of emotions, after all he too had once took part in this same event. 'I can do nothing more to help you."

Enapay was calm and quiet, with an open palm before him he stepped ever closer, matching the Equestroid's steps. "Great and noble creature I come in peace… I come here with the desire to create a bond with you." stated Enapay.

The Equestroid finished the sacred link as he touched Enapay's palm with his muzzle. There and then somehow each other saw inside one another knowing who they were and how they saw the world around them, their bond sealed forever. Equally seeing their need for this, seeing their need of each others bravery and companionship.

'A great and magical way to start a friendship.' he thought to himself. 'We've truly had some great times, Thrine and I!' Enapay thought, drawing back to the present day./-

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Enapay with his eyes closed tried his up most to remember, however, the more he tried to recall the last few memories of his father the less he could actually remember of the outlaw or even his name that ended it all. "I can only recall some of my father's words Honaw of the last time we talked...' he shook his head. 'Things are a little sketchy, but I just can't recall every detail." Enapay sounding rather saddened by this.

Honaw saw that Enapay was beating himself up about this and placed a comforting hand on his knee. "The hands of time have driven on it appears, a new form has come to threaten us... You Enapay could be facing your greatest of threats too here... And even though Tavarius thought that he was stronger alone; yours I fear feels that he's much stronger with other's around him..."

"Tavarius...' 'Oh, father what great evil did you have to go up against.' he thought sombrely, as he sat there looking longingly into the flames of the fire. 'My father prevented him from scorching Texal; it even costed him his life; who could be greater then him Honaw!?" he stated, Enapay casting some doubt on the situation. Enapay respected the old ways of his tribe, but he had also seen the newness of the world and had some doubts in what Honaw was talking about. 'Could there truly be someone out there greater than the threat that faced my father. Andif so will I be as strong to prevent it?'

"Don't look past this Enapay, please you must trust in me… What I say here is the truth.' stated Honaw placing a hand on his chest; symbolising the sincerity of his words. 'And yes Tavarius was the greatest evil of all... but like I said, a figure is coming to try and once again take over Texal... A person who matches the likes of Tavarius... And Enapay I truly wish I knew; then I can guide you, as I don't want you travelling down the same road as your father took."

"My father did what he had too, and know this shaman if the time comes I'll do the same."

The shaman shook his head. "That is what I'm afraid of my dear boy..."

The shaman went on speaking in an understanding tone."I know you're a strong man Enapay. They are here due to their own underlining wants... They come Enapay here driven by the mists of greed!"

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A drop of what had happened the day his father passed came to Enapay, when the shaman touched his hands around his. It was foggy a bit hazy, but the thoughts got clearer the more their hands touched, his father's words coming to the forefront of his mind now.

-/The face of is father smiled back at him; their eyes met each others and the young face of Enapay smiled back, sadly not picking upon the sorrow in his father's eyes. "Enapay I need you to stay with the tribe; until you come of age.' his voice trying its hardest to break through the emotions. 'I have to know that someone will stay with Honaw and put an end to this great struggle, listen to his guidance... The shaman is a wise man and knows more then I will ever know."

He simply nodded back at his father, Enapay too adolescent yet to fully understand the true extent of his father's words. Enapay could sadly only remembered the words and not how they were said nor the tone in which they were meant; he only remembered that his father tapped his star badge, stood back up straight and then handed Enapay's young hands to those of the shaman. "You my son will always remember how much I love you!' Enapay's father then placed around his neck a part of an amulet and then gives the other piece to the shaman, who stood a little younger by Enapay's side. 'Every time you need me look within yourself and see the power you have inside, know that's how I feel now my boy."

Again no tone nor pitch of his father's voice could be remembered by the then young Enapay. "I only wished that you were ready to ride out with me, ah father and son what a sight to be hold, maybe we could have been the best lawman in the west... Together we could have been the one's strong enough to stop this and keep our life's."

Enapay didn't even remember the many times his father looked back over his shoulder at him as he walked away with his Equestroid's reins in hand./-

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As Enapay placed a hand on his half of the amulet, which depicted the head of a hawk; a startling vision then came flooding the mind of the marshal it was that of the evil skull figure shrouded by a thick grey mist. As the mist settled Enapay then saw the true face of his enemy, the notorious outlaw Terryal Hex.

Honaw suddenly saw Enapay let go of the amulet, sweat now forming on his brow. "Enapay, hat is it... what did you see!? Please focus what did you see?" The shaman's eyes picking upon the marshal's facial expression.

"A man!' Enapay sounded doubtful. 'Honaw how can this be... I saw a face of a man, I felt his thoughts... He's ready to strike and as you said Honaw as gathered other's who are ready and willing to follow him, a dark time awaits."

Honaw picked up on the voice of alarm in Enapay's tone. "Do now fear what you see Enapay, we are now aware of his actions... You have learnt that he is now stands ready with his delinquents at his side for his attack on this fair land. I can only warn you Enapay do not be fooled by any quick victories! Now more than ever we all must be brave from this day forth."

"I would do all in my power to protect Texal, my father was a great marshal and like him before me I would end my own life if it means ending the threat posed by these outlaws." snapped Enapay, his voice strong and true; as he now saw the truth before him.

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