Lucas and Rose rode into town a few hours later, passing through the gates and their lace veil of wards around the town. Funneled along with the regular townfolk, through the outer quarter into the town center. Most folk silently staring as the pair of Hunter’s passed. Almost made Lucas wanna laugh, if he could have. Seeing mothers grabbing their children and ushering them off, wives turning their husband’s away from lingering gazes in Rose’ direction, and even men gave Lucas the long eye, caressing their sidearms. Most people in town weren’t outright hostile, but their presence was definitely not tolerated. Rose brought her mare to a halt and leaned back in the saddle. “Hey, hubby, we oughta stick together.” Lucas shrugged, “Fine by me, I need more salt and mineral oil for the forge anyway, so I might as well follow you to the heneral store.” They turned towards the shop, but just as they did a drunken hiccup made Lucas turn owards the source. A man wearing a deputies badge rode close, heading past them the other way. “Hey there,” Lucas called to him, “Could you please let the sheriff know that a shambler’s been sighted at the crossroads towards our place.” The man sniffed and spat into the street, “Why didn’t you take care of it witch, isn’t that why we let you come through here?” The man stroked the long holster on his pommel, an old school tactical shotgun butt poking up. Lucas hadn’t seen one of those in a long time, this guy had connections. Lucas just shook his head, “Sorry, we didn’t have the gear with us to do it, but if you keep~” “Why don’t you just do the deed witch,” he tossed an iron bullet to bounce off Lucas’ chest. The man smirked, “Oh, right, you impure people can’t touch sacred metals, I for~” Lucas’ familiar burst from its amulet on his holster and fluttered down to the ground in a spray of sparks. As the flaming poultry did so, the fires making the man’s horse jump. His bird scooped up the iron round and flapped back up onto Lucas’ shoulder depositing the round into his bare hand. “Iron only hurts monsters and wraiths. Down payment received, I’ll be back for twenty rounds tomorrow.” They were used to this kind of treatment, most common folk had a healthy fear as well as a respect for them, but the few with power and influence saw witches as dirt beneath their boots, like this guy. The deputy didn’t frighten them, he was just a smug bastard, not worth their time that was better spent helping others. He walked off after that, and left them alone, so, Rose hitched her mare to the post outside the shop and went in ahead of Lucas. They needed supplies like everyone else, and this was the best place in town, the owner actually didnt gouge them just because they were witchfolk. They weren’t in long though before he looked through the window to see the deputy coming back, checking out their horses. “Hey hon, it’s not looking friendly in town today,” he whispered to her, “Think I may have crossed the line with the law…” #vss365