Rika Bennet stirred from her sleep in her usual room above the Dead End Saloon in the hidden town of Shinbone.
The sounds of the saloon's piano being played drifted up to her room. Revy was already up, she supposed.
She sat up and stretched before turning to sit on the edge of her bed.
The sun shined in through the window behind her, casting her shadow across the floor.
She watched as it began to ripple and darken as four whispy, white eyes appeared in from the darkness.
“Mornin’ Rondo,” she said groggily, wiping the sleep from her eyes
A shadowy mass began to rise from her shadow, quickly taking on its usual, vaguely lupine form.
It was Rondo, her closest companion.
Rondo was an Umbral Hound, or at least that’s what he believed. They met when Rika was a young girl.
He had little memory of where he was from, only that he was an Umbral Hound and, perhaps, used to have a pack.
Regardless, he was more than happy being with Rika. They were a pack of two, and could even speak in their minds.
She reached out and pet his head, feeling the smooth semblance of fur that covered him.
“Good morning, Rika,” he replied, “you slept quite heavily. It is already past noon.”
“Yeah, that figures. We got back pretty late” she said as she got up and started to get dressed.
“What will we be doing today, then?” he asked, leaning down and stretching.
“We’ll see. Maybe Remmy’s heard something.”
Slipping on her gunbelt and grabbing her grandpa’s hat, she headed out the door, Rondo right behind her.
She headed for the stairs, the sounds of the saloon getting louder as she went.
Sure enough, there was Revy plinking away at the keys of the Dead End’s piano.
She was good, though Rika only recognized a few of the songs she played.
Light haired and with a slightly slender build, she played effortlessly.
Each and every movement looked natural, like it was second nature.
Revy was one of the West’s many mysteries. She could pull instruments out of thin air.
Her songs could be energizing or soothing, and at times Rika swore she could hear other instruments playing along with her.
She only ever said she was from “somewhere else” and played coy with any details about herself.
An odd one to be sure, but good people all the same.
Noticing Rika, Revy smiled and called out.
“Well howdy cowgirl!” she said with a highly exaggerated drawl
“Afternoon,” Rika replied with an eyeroll and the smallest smile. “Let me grab breakfast real quick.”
"You got it, most important meal, they say.
Rika stepped up to the salloon bar and rang the service bell that sat on it.
A moment later the door behind the bar swung open and out stepped a skeleton dressed up as a bartender.
All the shops and facilities in Shinbone were like the salloon. You ring the bell, and a skeleton pops up to help you
"Hey there missy, what can I getcha?" he asked, straightening his bow tie
"Just looking for some breakfast."
"It'd probably be easier to find at breakfast time."
She stared at him for several moments before sighing.
"Can I get a late breakfast, please?
"Sure thing missy, gimme a few moments and I'll get you your usual."
The barkeep headed back and disappeared through the door behind the bar.
Rika headed back over to Revy and leaned against the piano.
"So, you know if anything is going on? Anyone around?" Rika asked
“Hmmmmm, let me think” Revy said, tilting her head back and forth as she continued to play.
“You looking for someone in particular? There's not a big selection ya know.”
Shinbone was something of a ghost town, one could say. Its only residents were Rika and a few others.
She learned about it from her grandpa years ago, and eventually it became her home in the west.
As far as Rika could tell, you don't find it unless you're supposed to. She couldn't explain it, it's just the feeling she'd get.
Just another one of those mysteries, she supposed. But that suited her just fine. She was never one for crowds.
"No, no one in particular, I s'pose." Rika said with a slight shrug
“Well, I think Remmy is in town again. I imagine he’s who you might be looking for.
I don’t think Duncan ever leaves without someone with him. Can’t say I blame him.
Haven’t seen that cousin of yours in a bit. What’s his name?”
"Hawk. But he's a ranger, so he's always moving around. Doesn't really have a reason to head out here."
“Right right, unless he needs your help with something.
Well we don’t exactly get many visitors here, so that’s who you got.
Besides yours truly, of course.”
"Of course."
“It is an interesting song you’re playing, Miss Revy” Rondo chimed in, “There is something familiar about it, yet I do not believe I have heard it before.”
“Aw, thanks pooch.” Revy smiled, giving him a friendly pat on the head. “Just a little tune I brought with me. Always nice to have my music appreciated."
“Where’d you bring it from again?” Rika asked
“Oh, it’s not important. Looks like your food's here.”
Rika turned to see the barkeep placing her plate on a nearby table. She headed over and took a seat.
Scrambled eggs, bacon, and hash browns. Reliable and tasty. She grabbed her fork and paused as the barkeep placed a cup of berries and melon next to the plate.
"Fruit isn't part of the usual." she said
"I know." he said, "But it should be. It's good for you.
He headed back to the room behind the bar. She shruged and began to eat. Even the fruit, though she preferred apples.
She finished up, stretched and moseyed out of the saloon and into the sunny, dusty street of Shinbone, with Rondo opting to reenter Rika’s shadow.
She looked up and down the street and found what she was searching for by the town entrance. The familiar black wagon owned by one Remington Blackstone.
Most folks might call him a charlatan, or a gambler, or a rogue, or any manner of negative adjectives. And he’d probably smile and agree.
Remmy said he was from “The South”, and she figured he sounded like it, anyway.
He had a way of hearing things from all over. Always having a lead or some info on just about anything.
He claims it’s from his travels. Rika wasn’t so sure. For a man who claimed to travel he sure showed up a lot
As she got closer she saw he was sitting in his wagon, side window open, leaning over the counter and talking to another Shinbone resident, Duncan Clearwater.
Duncan had heard the tales of the mysterious west and wanted to see for himself, or maybe he felt the strange call others felt.
Either way, he was also woefully unprepared. He certainly wouldn’t have survived if Rika hadn’t found him on that rock, besieged by the undead.
Nothing her grandpa’s six-shooters couldn’t handle, of course. All in all, Rika thought he was an alright sort. Even if he was a bit of a push over.
“Okay, but what's in it?” Rika heard Duncan say.
“It’s all natural.” she heard Remmy reply in that familiar drawl of his.
“That’s what people say about snake oil.”
“Snake’s are natural too, friend.”
“That’s not what I mean- oh! Hi Rika!”
Remington leaned out of his wagon as Rika approached.
“Well well well, howdy there Miss Rika. Young Duncan here was just questioning the veracity of my fine curatives and tonics.” he said with a smooth grin.
As always, Remington Blackstone was dressed sharply in his suit, his dark hair swept back.
Rika figured he was pretty handsome looking. Real personable, he seemed too have a way with people.
But when she looked closer, she could notice small signs of damage on his clothes. A fray here, a self repair there.
There was something about his eyes, too. Always real sharp, regardless of how friendly he was. He just had an air about him.
It wasn’t any of her business, of course. He was a useful friend to have, that’s what mattered.
Then there was Duncan Clearwater. He was hardly the most imposing figure. A bit on the meek side, glasses that seemed just a little ill fitting.
He was from Stonegate, the last piece of real civilization before the prairie towns and the sprawl of the western land.
The west had a way of rejecting attempts to expand into it in any meaningful way, and that fascinated him.
He was an educated fellow, liked to learn and read and all that. He wanted to know if all the tall tales were true.
For a smart guy, he didn’t really think it through. It certainly didn’t stop him from wanting to see more. He was nice enough, but Rika just wished he’d stop asking to tag along so much.
“Well I s’pose that’s between you two. You got any info for me, Remmy?” Rika asked
“Always looking for somewhere to go, hmm? Well let’s see.” Remmy said, resting his elbows on the counter of his wagon and putting his hands together in an obvious show of thought.
“Do you recall me telling you that a mineshaft was discovered in a mountain recently?”
“Yeah, reckon I do, I guess.” Rika replied
“Wait, what do you mean discovered? Like it was just there? Or like it just showed up?” Duncan cut in.
“It’s unclear,” Remmy replied, “all I heard is that some prospectors just found it on a survey of sorts.
You know how it is, groups to head out is search of fortune, resources, and the like. Then come back shaken and full of stories.
Well, since these prospectors stocked up and set out they, haven’t been seen or heard from since they set out to explore this mystery mine a week or two ago.”
“Sounds good to me, thanks for the tip.” Rika said as she turned to leave
“Always a pleasure.” Remmy said, leaning back into his wagon
“I don’t suppose I can tag along this time?” Duncan asked.
“Nope, not this time.” Rika said as she headed out of town.
She walked through the canyon for a few minutes before stopping.
“You there Nightingale?” she asked
As if in response, she heard a soft grunt behind her. She turned to see a black horse standing there.
Nightingale. A horse that seemed to come and go as she pleased, and yet was always around when needed.
Rika knew better than to question it. Nightingale was a good horse, that’s what mattered. She saddled up and headed off.
“Rika,” Rondo’s voice echoed in her head “what do you think has happened with the miners?”
“Hard to say,” she replied, “we just need to be ready for anything I guess. As always.”
Indeed, the west was a strange place. For reasons unclear the land was just off. Home to odd phenomena and happenings.
People and objects from who knows where appearing and disappearing. Like the Deadstorm Duncan got caught in. Or meeting Revy strumming a guitar out in the wilderness.
And yet there was an allure to the place. Rika had felt it since she was a little girl. Occasionally getting to head out with her grandfather, Clayton.
True, her parents weren’t always too keen on it, but Clayton Bennet was a true legend. He reveled being in the west. Some might even say too much. She missed him all the same.
They traveled uneventfully for a time. Time and distance could seem vague in the west at times. That was one of the dangers, one had to go with their instincts much of the time.
It was one of the reasons she was so hesitant to bring Duncan most of the time. There had been attempts in the past to try and settle or industrialize or what have you, of course.
But they never worked. The more people tried the more the land seemed to reject them. However there were smaller pockets of folks here and there. But most stayed back in the prairie.
Of course, Shinbone was the only one populated by skeletons. Nice and hidden too, just how Rika preferred it.
The sun was going down when they reached the mountain and it’s mine entrance. Sure enough there were supply boxes and tools placed around outside.
Rika dropped down from Nightingale and looked around. Rondo emerged from her shadow once more and began to sniff the air and ground.
She learned to trust his judgment when it came to strangeness. It was as if he could smell it. Or sense it at the very least. After a minute or so he stopped sniffing and turned to her.
“There is something here. We should be on guard.”
She nodded and they made their way into mine. It was dimly lit and oddly spacious.
They pressed on, until they soon came across a minecart filled with ore. Rika grabbed a hanging lantern to get a closer look at it.
She thought it might be gold, but instead it was red.
She slowly began to reach out only for Rondo to let out a shout in her mind.
“Don’t touch it!” his voice rang out in her head, “This ore is wrong. You must not touch it.”
“Right, sorry. Thanks for that.” she said sheepishly.
They left the cart behind as they headed further in. Soon enough they could hear the distant, rhythmic clanging of tools.
Rika wanted to think that was a good sign, but her gut felt otherwise. It wasn’t too much longer before they came across the source of the noise.
There in the dim light of the lantern, a miner robotically pounded at a red vein of ore glinting in the wall. He was disheveled, slightly emaciated.
She rested her hand on one of her guns as she stepped forward.
The miner turned slightly and stopped mid swing. He slowly turned and stared at her for several long seconds.
“Take it easy there partner. I’m just here to see what y’all are gettin’ up to down here.”
The miner stared for a few more moments before slowly putting down his pickaxe and picked up one of the chunks that fell from the wall.
“We found it down here. After the mine appeared. The red gold. A’int never seen anything like it. Shines real nice.” the miner started raspily
“Couldn’t get enough of it. Mountains rich with it, ya see. It’s a blessing. It’s not gold. It’s blood. The blood of the mountain!”
The miner stepped forward and Rika quickly drew her pistol.
“You can stop right there and take it real easy, mister.” she warned, pulling back the hammer on her gun
The miner grabbed his tattered shirt and ripped it off. Rika’s eyes widened. The man’s body was covered in metallic red patches. Like veins of ore running across him.
“Take a look girl, the blessing of the blood of the mountain. We’ll mine it out, and spread the blessing back to Stonegate, then on to the rest of civilization. They won’t be able to get enough of the red gold. They’ll handle it and spread it all over. They’ll covet it, and receive its gift! Blood of the Mountain!”
“‘fraid I can’t let that happen" she said
She glanced at Rondo, his stance was wide and his fur standing on end, ready to charge if he had too.
The miner snarled and started towards her. She didn’t hesitate.
The gunshot rang throughout the mine and the miner went reeling back with a growl. But he didn’t stay down for long and stumbled to his feet.
She fired again, and again he fell back. He glared up at her and rose up once more.
“That ain’t supposed to hurt! I’m blessed, damn it!” he snapped at her
“Sorry mister, but this here’s a Dead Man’s Gun.”
“A Dead Man’s..." he trailed off, "No, damn it! Blood of the Mountai-”
His words were cut off by a gunshot and a bullet through the skull. He fell to the ground for the last time.
A Dead Man’s Gun was special. The idea was that when someone goes down fighting, sometimes that last spark of spirit stick to the weapon.
Or something like that. Either way, it makes them effective against the strange and unusual.
“Rika,” Rondo called to her, “It is likely that the others heard that. What would you like to do?”
“Well, we can’t just leave. We gotta do something. Even if it means bringing down the whole damn mountain.”
“That may be an option. It is possible there are explosives back outside, or deeper in the mine. But is likely there would also be more of the miners as well.”
“It’s the risk we gotta take. Deeper it is.”
They hurried deeper into the mine. They encountered a couple more miners, they seemed even further turned than the first.
More flesh turned metal. Raving about the blood of the mountain. She hoped she put them out of their misery.
They continued on before having to stop again. There were no more lanterns lit. Did they snuff them out?
“They are there, in the darkness. I can sense them.” Rondo said, staring intently ahead.
“Guess we’ll have to work together then, you up for it?” she asked, placing her hand on his head
“Of course. I am ready when you are.”
Rondo walked behind her as she dropped to one knee. He faced her back and began to flatten down like a normal shadow.
He then slid forward and began to slide up her back and formed a cowl over her head and eyes. His four white eyes appeared over hers, and she was granted his sight.
With this she not only could see in the dark, but could see the normally unseen as well. With newfound confidence they entered the darkness.
Sure enough, she saw more miners, lurking in the darkness and waiting for them. They had no idea she could see them.
Not wasting the element of surprise, she worked quickly. One by one she dropped the miners as she headed deeper into the mine.
Soon enough they found what they were looking for. A crate of dynamite, a spool of fuse, the works. They looked around and noticed a great deal of rubble strewn about.
They didn’t need to head much further in before they found a blasted out entrance to a large chamber. Inside it was absolutely covered in red gold.
At the center were the remaining miners. They all seemed to be completely changed and immoble.
All they could do was mutter “Heart of the Mountain. Blood of the Mountain.”. She shook her head and got to work.
Slowly but steadily she began setting and fusing the dynamite and working backward through the mine. Being as careful as she could. You learn a few tricks out west.
“It is a shame, is it not, Rika?” Rondo asked
"I s'pose, maybe." she mumbled, unsure of how to feel
"Do you think they would have been able to spread the red gold like they wanted?”
"Hard to say,but I don't feel like taking any chances.
Sunrise was close as Rika finally made it out of the mine. With just enough fuse left to boot.
She knelt down again and Rondo slid back to the ground. She pulled out a match. She struck it, lit the fuse and stepped back.
They waited and watched as the fuse burned its way into the cursed mine and out of sight.
Not long after, they heard the first of several thunderous booms resonating within the mountain, each getting quieter as they went deeper and the mine collapsed.
Rika thought she could maybe hear a faint, rumbling roar from the mountain itself before the sounds ceased.
“It is over, then?” Rondo asked
“We can only hope. Come on. Let’s go home.” she answered wearily
With that Rondo returned to her shadow. She heard a whinny and smiled as Nightingale stepped out from around the mountain.
She climbed up onto the saddle, gave the horse a nice pat, and they set off for home.
The Blood of the Mountain would no longer flow.