[Fall – Blue City]

After a few days passing through a couple shanty settlements along the way, Penny, Poni and Jennings had all arrived in Blue City. Known for its stunning location under the mountains that comprise Dew Fall City. The region mixed the vibrant greens of nature and the bright glinter of the winter snow to create amazing visuals. Thousands of families and wanderers alike visit annually, leading to their growth as a city economically. Nearby, Sonny's Pond and the southern portion of the Dew Fall Forest further embrace the thriving community activities or sports. So with some many people present in Blue City streets daily, Penny thought aloud.

“JJ- why are we here... isn't this bad?”

“No, I'm leavin' you here.” exclaimed Jennings.

He was hushed on the subject. Reserved movements only led Penny to become more agreeable. Jennings rambled about her safety and his glee about the colder temperatures. The outlaw used it as an excuse to raise his bandana to the bridge of his nose.

“Wait, where am I-” Penny retorted. “You're not leaving me anywhere mister-,”

She muttered while resisting the small nudge that Jennings was applying. He accomplished his petty goal and knocked Penny off of Poni's back. She was sent tumbling to the ground beneath.

“Hey!”

Out went the exclamation with a bothered, yet relatable tone. She was so taken aback, she forgot about the pain.

Jennings looked ahead from on top of Poni and spoke to Penny below his side.

“I want you to enjoy yourself today. Be worry free as I'm going to do something dangerous. Something where I don't even want ya' in the possible earshot. So if you were' to happen to see me about today...I don't exist. You understand what I'm telling ya' Miss May?”

“Yeah, I guess.” responded Penny.

“Right, so remember this spot and what I just said and we all gonna' have a dandy day. I'll be back by moonfall.”

Jennings concluded his rant and straightaway kicked at Poni's side. He got the horse to stand on his planted hind-hooves and gallop in the exact opposite direction after a swivel. Penny peered on as the silhouette of the outlaw on his trusted horse faded before they succumbed to the horizon. She remained fixed in the direction where Jennings rode off for a brief moment before walking to her right and starting her now empty day.

Meanwhile after riding a comfortable distance away from where Penny was dropped off, Jennings stationed Poni outside of a crowded tavern with men and women stationed outside the establishment due to the overcrowding. After successfully tying up his partner, he began to pace toward the entrance before being hindered by Poni's words.

“You really wanna' do this buddy?” asked the horse.

“No...” replied Jennings, “I have to do this, you know that’s why I’m still standing today. These damn impulse decisions”

Jennings started making his way to the swaying saloon style door without looking back. While lowering his hat to obscure first glances, a trait which came with experience, he pushed it to enter. He attempted to blend in with the other patrons and seated himself in the furthermost stool at the back of the bar.

“One whiskey straight.” he told the bartender, when they walked within hearing range.

“Sure thing, sir.” confirmed the worker.

As Jennings spun around in his seat with his new drink in hand to observe his surroundings, he met eyes with an adjacent man, shocking Jennings momentarily. It wasn't just the apprehension of having his peripheral vision violated that scared Jennings, it was the fact that he recognized this particular set. He knew precisely that those harbor blue eyes belonged to a childhood friend from the Sharks, Ollie 'O' Osbourne.

Taken but not lost for a fool, Jennings waited for words of wisdom. Instead Ollie initiated the conversation under his breath by telling Jennings discreetly.

“Hiya' old pal, let's have a quick chat right somewhere private and close.”

The man leaning into Jennings wasn’t taller, just more pronounced. Nothing about his appearance rang of something to loathe, yet he tapped quite the spin on most that crossed his determined path. Jennings abandoned his drink on the counter as he led the way to the side exit, interested in exchanging information at the very least.

As the two men weaved between the crowd, a much larger, muscular gentleman stood up from a booth he was seated at. He followed them and their unique pathing.

As they now stand outside, Ollie tossed Jennings with his right-arm that he had a firm grip of. After establishing a comfortable distance from Jennings, Ollie continued the delayed conversation.

“I want a damn explanation right now J.J.! Why is Leeroy dead- and why are they saying it’s you?”

Confirming Jennings' assumption that the Sharks would seek out an answer, he was still disturbed that a former colleague he felt close to, so recently would accuse him of such a deed.

“It's not how it looks O...I swear.” responded Jennings in a suppressed manner.

Ollie paused and watched the floor.

“The news has been barking J.J. If it wasn’t you, then, talk!”

Ollie remained agitated and Jennings feared the emotion could grow worse and possibly send the questioning into a spiral.

Wishing he could find a simpler alternative, Jennings decided to heed Ollie's warning and attempt to explain himself.

“I would never hurt anyone from the Sharks, you guys are like family to me. Especially Leeroy! I didn't kill him, you gotta' believe me Ollie, you seen’t me with him. You also seen my hand shaken right this word.”

The stillness of a vein atop the start of his nose, served as further evidence that he was speaking the truth with vigor. After explaining most of the details leading up to their current circumstances, Jennings ended.

“It's Isiah, he's the one responsible. He's the one trying to bring damnation upon me. He fucking hates my guts and you know what?...The feeling is mutual. I never intended for Leeroy to get hurt, but now that he has. I've realized, I must end this before anymore people meet their maker. The burden ain’t too comfy Ollie.” The raw energy emitted from Jennings' words even made Ollie feel uneasy. “I will-!”

Ollie reached out with rapport.

“I believe you.”

Jennings remained in awe from the understanding nature of Ollie. Silence wasn't an ambiance that Ollie favored and to dispatch it he states, “JJ, you're one of the most genuine fellas' I ever seen with my round blues. If you say you're in trouble, that's fine but I can't let you see this through alone.”

Attempting to interject with a counter argument, Ollie refused to hear it and instead proceeded to tell Jennings what was going to happen henceforth.

Ollie controlled what little emotions he had exposed, lowering the volume and slowing the tone of the conversation.

“We're not just like family JJ...we are family.”

It had been a long duration of time before Jennings had seen Ollie's ardent, youthful smile. So long that he'd forgotten how persuasive those wearing a smile could be. Ollie persisted.

“You shouldn't have to take on the western world like this, and you damn sure shouldn't have to do it alone mate. Shit, but if you gotta' do what you gotta do, then we're gonna’ do what we gotta do.”

Although Jennings still felt the looming uneasiness, he didn't quite have the heart to outright refuse his friend's proposition. It scared him tremendously to be impuissant.

“So then, it's gonna' take me a few Suns to get back to Sureal and inform everyone I got with me there, get some guys together. What you need to do is get the fuck outta' here J.J. It's too dangerous with this many people, if I could find you then they sure as hell can.” cautioned Ollie.

“I- I think you're right...I'll head out after I finish my drink. You always good at spotting me when I’m outta line.”

Jennings lied to Ollie. He had figured that there would be no scenario where Ollie would be content with Jennings' sticking around in Blue City. It wasn't that Jennings' didn't appreciate the offer of assistance, he refused to experience the loss of yet another companion so soon.

As the two parted ways with cheerful repartee and grins on their fulgent faces, they failed to notice the attendance of the same larger man that followed them out of the bar. He was quite simple to miss due to his standard, tired-looking cowboy attire. The unidentified man pondered about something, taking a swig and tossing the mug. Downward at his abnormally large shadow and said to himself.

“I was right...that was him.”