"There she is again, that witch lady from the mountains."
"I wonder why she's here, probably to get more stuff for her witch-craft."
"I don't know why the law hadn't hunger her yet from practicing her demon work."
"She may have already placed them under a spell or even a curse already."
This and more was all the town folks was talking about as a small Native American woman calmly walked down the street covered in her usual furs and traditional Indian headdress that sat proudly on top of her head, each feather looking more beautiful then the last. Next to her was a massive beast of a horse, [a dark brown Shire that stood proud and intimidating] that was wearing a saddle that was covered in pouches that was clearly stuffed with all kinds of things, and there behind the stuffed saddle was a variety of skinned animal furs.
As the woman made her way down the muddy road another thing people noticed is the weapons that decorated her person. All either in mint condition or extremely intimidating when you let your mind wonder to how they were used.
"Come Tankie," the woman called to the horse now named Tankie as she continued on not bothered with the attention she was gaining, for all that mattered to her was getting to the town's butcher to sell the furs she didn't need before making a quick stop at the local general store to get some more equipment for her camp and cabin.
"We have to make this quick, for its getting dark out and the moon goddess as said that there will be trouble for those who stays out to late tonight," she continued which earned her a small sound of agreement from her Shire.
The woman's name was Oceans Auray. She was born to a Native American father and a African mother, the to having feel in love after her father saved her mother from a bunch of racist men who didn't like the fact her mother had such a huge standing in their community. Being originally farther up North Oceans can honestly say that she would sometimes find herself missing the warm embrace of her ever loving parents, but the need to see the world and prove herself is what keep her from running home. A need to make a name no matter how small drove her from her home and to where she is now. Sure it was hard but by now it was something that Oceans can handle with ease.
"Ahh, Miss Auray! Always a pleasure to see you. What do you have for me today?" The kind butcher both asked with a warm smile on his face, which Oceans returned.
"Only the best for you," she said softly while beginning to show him her latest cargo. The butcher named Josh Willington was a kind-hearted Italian man who's life was once saved by Oceans one evening after a hunting trip went wrong which unfortunately left him missing one of his legs. Sure he was one leg short but that didn't stop him from being forever grateful since she could have easily left him to die.
"I see you've taken up with hunting down the legendary animals around huh?" He teased in question once he spotted the white bison pelt that rested on the back of her horse after he finished admiring the perfect pelts she handed over to him.
"It was more of an accident then intentional," Oceans mumbled with a small blush as she recalled nearly having a heart-attack when she nearly crashed into the pitch white bison when she was traveling around the end of west Grizzlies near Lake Isabella. Luckily Tankie noticed the bison and managed to stop just before it happened....Now Oceans will near admit to the fact that she lost her temper when this happened and took the bison down with a well aimed arrow in a moment of pettiness but she can say she doesn't have any regrets in doing it.
"Anyway these pelts are free of charge, as thinks for still being so kind despite what others think," she continued with a smile and nearly laughed out at the shocked look on the older man's face.
"I...I....I mean..." he tried to speak but couldn't get the words out, so he simply sighed and shock his head, knowing that arguing would get him no where.
"Fine, fine but this is the last time ya do this ya hear," he stated before reaching over and giving her a small pat on the head which caused her to pout.
After a few more moments of exchanged words, the two parted from the butcher to head towards their final destination, the general store. Sadly the owner of said store wasn't as kind but luckily his fear for the 'Witch' made him more willing to at lease sell his goods to Oceans.
Without a word Oceans continued to walk around the store while occasionally grabbing something from the shelves while the shopkeeper kept his eyes trained soully on her the whole time.
'Simple minded fool,' Oceans thought while when she noticed that a customer was openly stealing right next to the shopkeeper but since his focus was so stuck on her he didn't even notice.
Continuing her stroll around the small shop while checking off the things she would need in her mind, she was only brought back when she heard the sound of people yelling outside.
"Hmm?" She hummed in question as she shifted a little to peck out the window and was disappointed to see that whatever was going on it was just out of sight from the view that the window provided.
"Must be at the salon," Oceans said before heading towards the shopkeeper and quickly paying for her things before quickly heading out to see what all the commotion was about.
The frirst thing she noticed was the large crowd of people standing around what Oceans can see two big and intimidating mean circling one another.
'A fight? Then again it is the salon after all,' Oceans thought with a small huff before moving so that she could get a better view as the fight between the two really started to kick in.
Looking closer she already identified one of the large men to be Tommy, the town's idiot trouble maker which to be honest wasn't that much of a surprise to her since as far as she know he was always in the center of these fights.
The other equally large but clearly in much better shaped man was one she's never seen before which normally wouldn't be that strange but to Oceans he was clearly out of place.
From his outlaw choice of clothing to his noticably handsome face, Oceans is positive that if she had seen him before she would have remembered.
As the fight continued with it quickly turning into the unknown man's favor Oceans couldn't help but start to feel attracted to the handsome man.
'Of course I'll find a man such as him attractive,' Oceans thought while silently scolding herself.
As she did this a man by the name of Thomas Downes came to put a stop to the fight by pleading with the unknown man to stop.
'He should be careful since he's so sick,' Oceans thought as she recalled his wife pleading with her in make some type of cure or anything that could help him live longer. Feeling bad for the woman who looks to be at the end of her rope she agreed to look into something that would help, which is one of the reason she was currently collecting things.
At this point the crowd had parted and Mr. Downes was now tending to the knocked out Tommy as the man stumbled over towards what could only be his horse. Deciding to take a chance Oceans quickly made her way towards the man while silently hoping he wasn't just another racist man that seems to plague most of the area.
"Excuse me sir," Oceans called out sofly which caused the man to pause before turning to see who called him. It was clear he wasn't expecting to see someone like Oceans....then again no one really expects to see someone like her.
"Ma'am?" He questioned in a southern drawl that was the norm but to Oceans sounded unique.
'Man I just meet him and I already have it bad.'
"Please take this," Oceans simply said while handing him a cinnamon bark based salve that was part for healing.
"For your wounds." She added once she saw the man's hesitation.
"Uh....thank you Miss," he thanked while taking the small jar filled salve while still looking unsure which is understandable since its extremely odd for some random stranger to walk up to another and hand them something in kind.
"No problem handsome," Oceans replied with a flirty smile which cutely caused the man's ears to turn pink. "The names Oceans by the way." She said with a wink before turning to leave while silently cheering for herself at her confidence.
"Arthur," the man said behind her after a moment's pause causing Oceans to turn around with a charming smile.
"I'll keep that in mind, see ya' around," she replied before getting on her horse Tankie and began her trip back to her home, all the while feeling the man's eyes on her the whole time.
'Man, I hope I get to see him again.'
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Hope you like it! This is my first time writing a RDR story which is shocking since I just adore the whole series! Also I play the online version all the time....even though the money system is trash lol!