(1943-03-07) Pig-Headed
Pig-Headed
Summary: Once again a Walker prevents Kitty Wright from doing something dumb.
Date: 1943-03-07
Related: NA
Players:
jesse..kathleen..

Clinton Trail, Higsi
Wed Mar 07, 1943


High atop Iron Mountain, the dense pine forest grows wild and tall. Clinton Trail becomes a full dirt road as it forges through the woods before opening into a football-field sized clearing of bare earth. This clearing is where the logging trucks make their careful turnaround as they leave the nearby logging camp. It's also where the occasional car is parked from hikers who are exploring one of the many trails spreading out over the mountainside.

Overhead, the trees grow tall enough to block much of the sun, and a giant fire tower where the occasional logging supervisor or wilderness ranger keeps tabs on the area looms even taller. The sound of chainsaws and the rumble of heavy machinery can be heard from the logging camp in the distance, and the ground occasionally vibrates as ancient trees are fell and moved.

Weather:
It is winter. The weather is cool and overcast.

===

Kitty Wright does not. like. boars.

She does not like the irregular reign of madness that the piggish bastards unleash upon the town, nor does she particularly enjoy the aftermath. The stampede from a couple weeks ago actually send a couple of townsfolk packing, and that's not good. Kathleen loves her town, she loves everything about it and the people, right down to the most ramshackle of buildings like that derelict old church. So when wild boars see fit to just charge on it, busting up houses and fences and shitting in the streets, Kitty takes it as a personal affront. What pushed it for her was when she was working on one nondescript house, owned by an older woman, that got flanked by the boars. She was so upset and rattled… nobody who has lived there for so long and raised their kids should have to ever feel such terror in their own yard.

So this early evening, at the tail end of late afternoon, finds Kathleen walking the Clinton trail — and some of it's veins — with her shotgun strapped to her back and eyes flitting across the foliage. She wears a thick mens' hunting jacket, it's pillowy thickness hugging her upper body, and tight faded denims, her shit-kicker boots padding along the dirt trail, carrying her deeper into the maw of the wilderness that exists beyond Higsi.

<FS3> Jesse rolls Enhanced Senses: Good Success.

Jesse has been out checking the traps that were set earlier…it's something he can do since he's not going into town too often. He does -not- have a gun with him and the sound of rustling among the bracken of the trail floor has him pausing and lifting his head. His nostrils flare as he turns around, trying to catch the scent of whatever might be there. When he does, there's actually a dark scowl as he grabs his walking stick and strides confidently towards the owner of the scent.

"Just what in hell do you think you're doin', Miss Wright?" Yes, he recognized her scent. "Do you -want- to be shot?"

Golden eyes rove across the winter-shrunken foliage, and Kathleen is content to go about her merry way til' she… wait, someone else is here? She hasn't Jesse's sensitive senses but she can hear a man's approach. Whether his footsteps, the brief prodding of the guiding stick.. or both. It is into the Walker cousin's scowling face that the carpenter finds herself peering, as he emerges upon the trail a few feet ahead of her.

"Lookin' fer pigs." She offers simply; maybe the faint scent of gunpowder from the shells that she packs are noticeable. That or the sound of her firearm clacking mildly against her coat. She's armed. "I'm armed, I ain't here without a gun. I'm right sick of this craziness, and don't ya be tellin' me to backtrack now, Jesse Walker." Frustration is strong in her tone.

"I'm gonna tell you just that," and the Walker points back down towards the town. "There ain't no boar around here right now," because he knows…somehow, "And goin' any deeper is likely gonna get you shot or otherwise hurt." Because she's going to end up in Walker territory. "Also, are you nuts goin' solo against a boar? I don't care if you got an elephant gun, that's just plain idiotic."

"I ain't gonna go head t'head with a boar, I wanna see which way they've been comin' in from. Look for signs." Kathleen explains.. she's impulsive but not stupid. OK, maybe a bit of stupidity at work here… but fear and frustration push a logical person to do certain things. "We gotta try pushin' back against these bastards. They're… we are still tryin' to fix the damage from the last horse an' pony show they brought into the town. It was enough to send some of the old town blood packing, leaving town." She admits, and sounds.. yes, pained. Kathleen does not like seeing people — rooted people — leaving.

"I'm just goin' to the trailhead then turnin' back. I know not t' go up yer mountain." She sounds angry, but not at Jesse persay, Just the circumstance. She's had to work long, constant hours to fix the damage. Maybe some of that mania, too, can be heard in her tone.

"You think we're just sittin' around, lettin' those Boar run all over and ignorin' them?" Jesse continues to frown. "We're huntin' them. We're trackin' them. And they ain't comin' from anywhere nearby so you stayin' on the trail ain't gonna get you anywhere in findin' them." He can certainly tell if Boar are nearby…he'd smell them or their scat.

"You think the boar are the ones drivin' folks out of town? Hell, if I could, I'd get out. There's so much of this world that you don't get to see bein' stuck here."

THe woman's footsteps can be heard scuffing, trudging along.. blessedly not in the direction of Iron Mountain. "I ain't accusin' you and yers of anything. I'm talkin' about any able-bodied townie who can put th' feelers out to keep an eye and ear open. It has t'be a fucking group effort." Kathleen says anxiously, the very emotion emanating from her body in waves, easily scented in her sweat. She is tired and frustrated. A quick sniff of the air, drawn in through her own nostrils, reveals that she — too — is searching for the scent of scat on the air. Big pigs take big shits. She is poised at the top of one of the lesser trails and there, on the wind…. something. Just barely. Easily caught wind of by a werewolf.

Boar shit. They've been through this lesser trail, and Kathleen's eyes squint to note a few lesser trees trampled, the bark shredded from larger ones, grass and earth kicked up. The pigs are getting brazen in their proximity to the town, though none are physically here.

"There's th' ones who leave town for somethin' more.. then the ones who are plain scared out. They're the ones I'm thinkin' of.. I ain't ever thought the likes of Josie Ellis would turn tail and leave her home for good." Kathleen grates out, upset by the news.

Is that Lillie's Josie? "She's the older woman, right? I ain't too surprised at that, to be honest…shame that some stupid pig scared her. Bur if you're huntin' this because of her?" Jesse shakes his head. He does catch a scent of the old boar scat. It's not fresh though. "Look, I appreciate that you're wantin' to protect the town and all, but you're gonna get yourself hurt. Then where would Maddie be?" Maybe she'll listen if he uses that tactic.

"We've got traps closer to town. If boar head that way again, we'll know."

"Retired teacher.. taught my Pa. Probably taught yer Daddy too." Kitty remarks, looking steadily to Jesse as she considers her tact. "Stupid pig roughed up her house… I weren't able t' see to it, there was so much messed up in that part of town. But she had a right scare when the pigs came in, said it thundered her walls. She's old and ain't got a good heart… scares ain't good for an old girl like that." Kitty explains, then pauses as a breeze cuts through, carrying the scent of dormant flora, mulchy fauna and pig shit that has aged by a few days.

"She's part of why I'm sniffin' around… Maddie was downtown with one of her little chick pals when the pigs were last sighted.. they had t'hide in one of the diners." She grates out, and there is the nugget of her unrest… egged on by what Jesse just said. Kathleen's sigh is so profound that it can perhaps be felt by the Walker. "I'm knowin' that and what I'm doin' is likely straight-up foolish… but I had to try, to look.."

Her feet can be heard grinding into the dirt as she turns back toward the trail, aiming to start off back down the mountain. She hesitates. "How many of ya are up that mountain t' be fighting giant pigs? How?"

"My Pa didn't stay in school even as long as I did," Jesse points out, but that really has nothing to do with it. "I hope she's able to be restin' where she's headed. She was a nice lady." Jesse doesn't seem to be willing to move to even potentially let Kathleen get further on the path.

"At least Maddie hid! Good on her for findin' a safe place." There's still a scowl but it begins to ease up some, "Your tryin' is appreciated. I'll let the others know you want in on the huntin' but I know for a fact Clyde would never forgive himself if someone got hurt while huntin' them." The frown returns when she asks how many there are to be hunting the boar, "There are enough of us. That's all you need to be bothered with."

"Either way, that old girl been a fixture in this town for years… before my time, before yers. Between that and preteen girls havin' to drop and roll into Sister's to avoid bein' trampled by g'damn shit-eating swine—-" Her voice is incensed.. but she catches herself. Calms. A deep breath and a sigh. No use railing at the Walker though it feels good to vent.

"Ya bet yer ass I want in on the huntin', within reason. If I sight one of those bastards I'm going to fire." And woe be to the boar (so Kitty would like to think) if they make it back into town and damage her house. Luckily she doesn't go on to press for details regarding who lives up in the hills, she's satisfied with the answer. A very ladylike grunt, and Kitty can be heard… finally.. trudging along the trail that will bring her back to her truck.

Jesse follows Kathleen a little bit, "I'll pass that on. Not sure that'll be allowed, but I'll push for it. But I think we'd all be ok with you bein' an official…boar-hunter for town. Keepin' them safe. We'll try not to let 'em get down that far, but if they do…" he shrugs. "Glad y'all are still safe though."

The younger Walker says the right thing. Kathleen's annoyed gait can be heard slowing again, stopping. The inclusion is important to the woman and to at least be seen as a sort of homefront line of defense? One can just hear the boiling water in her head simmering down! Whew! A sigh then.. but not an exasperate one.. it's resignation. She turns on a heel, watching Jesse. "M'sorry Jesse, I ain't tryin' to lash out or take it all out on ya. I knew yer just tryin' to help keep the peace and safety and I appreciate it. I just ain't likin' the feelings of being powerless. I start gettin' a bit out of sorts and out of my mind. Then I come out here and do things like this."

Least she owns her behavior.. however irritated. "I love this town, too much.. more than I should some days. When it's hit hard or in danger, I take it personally."

Jesse can pretty much sense the tension dissipating from Kathleen, "I know you ain't really mad at me. I get it. But I think that knowin' you've got the town covered, that'll help us up here." Or maybe Clyde will pretend like it's ok? Or blame it all on Jesse. "You ain't powerless. It's hard when you're goin' against wild animals. They ain't predictable."

"Not just any wild animals.. super-sized. Ain't seen boars that huge in my lifetime, ever." Kathleen says softly.. "Unpredictable, hungry, horny and mad. They're out of their minds." She remarks, rubbing the back of her lithe stalk of neck, feeling the slightest scrim of sweat. "Ya got my word then, I'll stay away from these parts. I ain't wanting to be seemin' like I'm putting no stock in yer huntin' abilities.. God willing the bastards just steer clear. But I'll be vigilant." She says, meaning it.

"Mind the trails and don't be gettin' hurt yerself. Maddie ain't needin' more cause to be upset." Kathleen says firmly, brow furrowed. She's furrowing her brow so much lately… damnit, she'll get wrinkles.

"Yeah, they're pretty big. Maybe they're sick too, but I don't think so. It's somethin' we're lookin' into also," because the Hills belong to the Walkers. "I also hope they steer clear of the town. Hopefully we can keep 'em up here and catch 'em before they cause more trouble." Jesse's own scowl fades and he shakes his head, "Hope Maddie is able to calm down and I don't plan on gettin' hurt. Although not sure why she'd be upset over that."

"Wouldn't put sickness past 'em… ya heard of mad cow disease? Turns the brains of livestock into sink sponge? Wonderin' if there's something equivalent for pigs." Kitty thinks to herself out loud as the grade of the trail can be felt changing, becoming finer, the steep hill evening out into something more level. Closer to the road. She turns to glance at Jesse as her truck comes into view: a hulking, resting shadow parked at the base of the trail. "Course she'd be upset. She considers ya her friend, really likes ya just fine. Just like Clif. She also likes yer cousin Dot on account of how she laid down the law with me. I wouldn't put it past the kid to treat yer grumpy Clyde kindly either. She ain't lookin' at Walkers with a cruel eye so I'm doin' somethin' right."

She unlocks and wrenches open the door to the truck. "Ya goin' back up the mountain or do ya need a ride anywhere?"

"Or rabies. Although I think they'd be ragin' a bit more and easier to find if they had that. Unless it killed 'em all." But as of three days ago, that doesn't seem to be true. Jesse tilts his head some at the mention of Maddie's kindness to Walkers, "That's appreciated, but I wouldn't want her to get in trouble for bein' so kind." There's another pause before he shakes his head, "Thanks, I'm good. Stayin' up here a bit longer, I think. No real need to be town for a bit. Thanks though. One day," his mouth twitches in an almost-smile, "I should ask you to teach me to drive."

"Ain't heard much from the town vet on the matter… I think it's confoundin' a lot of people." Kathleen admits, "I ain't no authority on wild beast behaviour… all I know is that if one of 'em comes up into my yard or anywhere close, I'm filling the G'damned thing full of buckshot and havin' chops for days." Big talk… but given Kitty's stubborn nature, who would put it past her? Jesse may not see the wry, but kind, glow in her golden gaze.. but it's settled briefly upon the young man as he politely declines her offer for a ride anywhere. The breath of well-cared-for truck exhales into the space between them. "Maddie's gonna be just fine. I'm teachin' her to be a considerate young womanchild without floss between her ears…." A pause, ".. and mayhaps how t' stand up for herself. Thank ya for yer concern all th' same." She blinks, considers the Walker's lattermost statement.

"Where there's a will there's a way. Ya ask me that question closer to th' spring and I'll find a way." Because Kitty would surely be stubborn and persistent enough to try teaching a blind man how to drive. There's plenty of open fields…. and the truck can take punishment.

"More work comin' up soon, too. I'll look ya up." Said through the window after she closes the door behind herself.

Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License