Long lost soul ((open))

Mark felt West warm up to her almost immediately. Usually people are at first claiming illness and exhaustion, and disappear for a couple hours, if not days. Mark crossed his arms and stood there, watching west.

West glanced at Mark and back to Ella. "Well, first we'd like to introduce ourselves and get to know you. We have to find out your skills and talents before we do anything." West said. Mark decided that West was doing a good job, so he resigned to watching from a distance.

A twelve year old boy snuck up to Mark, trying to take him by surprise. "Berty at 6:00!" Mark grinned without turning around. Immediately the boy groaned and came up beside Mark. Mark smiled lovingly at the boy. "When will you learn, I'm not going to overlook someone sneaking up on me Berty."
"How do you do it?". Berty disheartenedly inquired.
"I practiced Berty. Much like you." was the kind answer.
The little boy beamed up at Mark and turned his attention to the newcomers. "Who are they?"
"Ella and Toby. I found them wandering in the forest back towards twelve."
"West is handling himself well.". The boy observed.
"Yes, yes he is.". Mark didn't tell his young admirer that Mark was only temporarily stationed here. He wouldn't always be at this outpost. Not yet. He wouldn't tell him until it's necessary. Perhaps that was selfish, but Mark couldn't bear Bertys reaction yet.

Mark watched as Ella smiled at Berty, and he smiled back. Such an exceptional kid. So willing to accept to accept people. Mark watched on as Ella spoke, seemingly asking Mark what was wrong with West.

Wests clear laugh echoes off of the bystanders as he hears this inquiry. "Yes Mark, what is wrong with me?"

Mark smirked at west. He did have a good sense of humor. "we have experts attempting to unravel that mystery as we speak.". Mark joked, then turned to Ella in answer. "but since I assume you were wondering why Berty said what he said, I can answer you straight forwardly. West is my right hand man here and he is in training as a leader.". Mark paused. "that is what you meant right?"

Ella nodded blankly. Mark let it drop. She will get it eventually. West paused for a bit, then shook himself and bid them come. "we have three different positions. Lookout, hunter, farmer. Then all of us are fighters. Or," he glanced at some older people, "most of us are. At least we know how to handle ourselves. Maybe not well, but--"
"too much information right now West.". Mark cut in. West nodded, stabbing a questioning look at him. Mark remained emotionless.

The harsh fact was there was still a possibility that these people could be spies. Very slim chance, but Mark knew it to be slimmer then West did, and that was the important bit.
(OOC, it's fine. Idk exactly where this is going...maybe they could get attacked by peacekeepers or mutts?)

The girl smiled at them, but the boy was still frozen in suspicion. He was suspicious of them?! West raised his eyebrows and appraised them both, his arms crossed. He paused on Toby. Tobys suspicion was mirrored in West. Mark cleared his throat. West nodded and sweepingly gestured to both Ella and Toby. "Not very similar are you?". He didn't allow room for reply, instead he moved on. "come on newbies. I'll show you the joint." with that he turned his back to them, and gave Mark a wink as he started towards the middle of the shabby village. "This is our home. It's not fit for our illustrious president snow obviously, but really, no one cares. We are free here and assist the rebels in their work to put our spoiled president 6 feet under (or however deep we desire). But enough about that.". West reached a building that was built into the side of a hill. "this is our mess hall. We eat here consistently at 0530 hours for breakfast, 1200 hours for lunch and 1500 hours for dinner. No being late because the cooks have other stuff to do besides wait for you." With that he swung around and pointed out a similar building. "community male barracks," he pointed to a separate building, "community female barracks.". If there is a married couple, they build their own shelter. That's the rule. If they want to be alone, they alone will build it.". He points to a ramshackle contraption in a nearby tree, that looked dangerously ready to retire. "that's the food. We keep it up out of the reach of animals, and will need to fix it sooner rather then later.". He swings around to Ella and Toby again. "that's the basic summation of our home. Weapons are in the barracks. Any questions?". West was still staring at Toby suspisiosly. Mark stepped in patting West on the shoulder. "Pretty good, but I will have to talk to u about fixing a few things later." Mark said, clearly dismissing him.

Mark waited for any questions, but none were forthcoming. They seemed to have relaxed a degree though, that was good. He cocked his mouth, about to say something, but the words never left his mind. A ghoulish howl-like whinny echoed, leaping off the trees around them chilling the villagers to the bone. Screams filled in after, and people flooded towards the barracks, and began to hand out weapons in a loosly organized fashion. Mark shrugged and both of his arm cannons he stole from capitol slid over his tensed arms.

Gunfire was heard, but the monster remained to be seen. Mark took the oppurtunity to address the newbies. "Grab a weapon if you know what's good for you!" Secretly Mark doubted Ella knew how to weild a gun, but she'd better learn quickly. If Mark wasn't mistaken...

The monster made it's appearance. Another howl shattered the forest air. Yellowish, steaming drool dripped down in ropes through it's bluish fangs. It was bigger then the barracks, towering above the village, grinning and drooling as if the bullets were mere rain. Its head was meaty, and covered by a black exoskeleton flecked with sunny yellow. A redwood cedar like tail left a trail of crippled trees in it's wake. The feet were the sizes of medium boulders, and sported serrated claws the length of Mark's torso, and Mark, at 6' 2", those claws were more to be feared.

Land Kracken.

Mark rushed forward, leaving the newbies to gather their own weapons. He wasn't their papa, they could show enough initiative to arm themselves. The land Kracken was stupid, large, and mainly made a show when in mating season, or just plain hungry. By the look of the spots on the thing, it was mating season, and the size of the spots indicated it to be male, and young.

Three things, mateing season was murder, because they tended to be more mean, the testasterone made the animal even more aggressive, and it was young, which meant it was even more stupid but had more energy.

The villagers were backing up and pelting the thing with bullets. Not that that could do anything against the hard armor, but maybe distract the thing. Mark had to hurry, it wouldn't take long for the Kracken to kill off the tiny army of shabby rebels. Years of training took hold of him, and Mark sprung behind the mess hall, and slowly crawled around so that he was positioned behind the monster.

He did not look forward to his next move. It being mating season and all, the thing excreets pheramone all over itself, and that stuff is mildly acidic, and stinks to high heaven. But what must be done, must be done. He really hoped that Ella and Toby were defending themselves. He would have included Toby in on his plan, but he had no idea of the level of skill the boy possessed, and wouldn't have him dying the first day of joining the rebel base.

Mark was taking short breaths getting ready to go, then the monster turned it's large head. Mark followed it. Ella. His mouth fell open slightly. What is she thinking? Well, better get on with it Mark thought. She has no clue what she's doing, but she's got spunk, no more than spunk. Blind bravery. An it will cost her her life in a few minutes.

His feet sprung lightly, quickly towards the monster. He stood underneath it easily, a couple feet cushion space between him and the stinking belly of the horrific beast. As he ran, he carved up the underbelly of it with fifty cal automatic fire. No he had to get out of there before he was buried under the monster. It screamed and blood gushed from it's wounds, insides hung in ribbons from the thing and Mark wanted to gag from the smell. Instead, he booked it, streaming away, out from under the beast.

It collapsed in a bloody heap, and Mark gasped in the fresh air. Thank GOD! He didnt think he'd ever be so glad for air before.

He gathered himself and took a head count. Surprisingly they hadn't lost one person. These rebels were getting better at this. Of course, Ella probably had a bug hand in that. Speaking of Ella...

Mark walked over to her, and clasped her on the shoulder. "That was a brave thing you did. Selfless. You will fit in well here.". He smiled warmly at her.

He got a look at his hand. Clasping her shoulder probably wasn't the beat idea. He was covered in gore. He wrinkled his nose and removed his bloody hand.

Meanwhile, the villagers were sharpening knives, and beginning to butcher the monster.