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John doesn’t know why they’re here, meeting in the damn forest of all places when they could have very well easily met at his ranch or at Joseph’s compound. Seriously, the woods? It was dirty and there were wild animals in here that could easily kill them. Of course, when he’d brought that point up, Jacob had simply rolled his eyes, told him to stop being dramatic, and that it was a short meeting just to talk quickly about what to do about a certain Deputy that’s been a pain in their ass recently. At least until they had time to have a proper meeting and work out a good strategy.
They’re deep in conversation when a pig suddenly comes barrelling out of the undergrowth, squealing and sending all four Seeds and their accompanying guards into tense states with most of their Chosen with hands on their weapons out of reflex and Jacob’s hand flying to the hilt of the knife strapped to his thigh. For a moment, John is pretty sure he sees a collar around the animal’s neck but he isn’t quite sure as it runs past them quickly, no doubt trying to get away from them too as well as whatever’s chasing it.
The pig runs through the small gap between the group, past Jacob and into the bushes, the squealing growing quieter in the distance and slowly they all begin to relax and resume their conversation.
Only for them all to tense up again when something much bigger crashes through the undergrowth. They can tell from the sound it’s much bigger, certainly not graceful, and they don’t know what it is but it’s heading in their direction. John really hopes it’s not a cougar like he’d thought would attack them the whole time. At least he gets to say ‘I told you so’ if it is one.
Instead, the Deputy comes barrelling out of the bushes, determination hard on his face and a hand on top of the Stetson he’s wearing to keep it from falling off (John wants to burn it, it’s hideous) before he pauses when he realises just who it is he’s accidentally come across in the middle of the forest. Or rather, a number of who’s.
He pauses, eyes flicking between each of John’s siblings as well as the number of Chosen who have grabbed their guns and are now pointedly aiming them at the Deputy before John watches him awkwardly straighten up and clear his throat.
“Afternoon all. Don’t suppose you’ve seen a pig around here? About yay high,” He gestures at the high of his knee with his hand, palm flat “And wearing a collar? Answers to the name Princess? Though… I don’t know if she even knows that’s her name.”
Everyone is silent as they process his words. Really? The man has all four Seeds staring him down and all he could think of was to ask about a pig? And who the hell names a pig Princess anyway?
Jacob is the first to speak, the barest hint of amusement in his tone as he gestures with his head, arms crossed over his chest “Went that way, better be quick before it gets caught and eaten by the wolves.” A warning. Not just for the pig but the Deputy too. For him to get out of here before Jacob decides otherwise.
John isn’t quite sure why they aren’t attacking the Deputy, but he trusts Joseph and Jacob with this and neither has made the move to signal to attack. Their soldiers look between their Heralds and each other, unsure of what to do but they also refrain from attacking.
John’s blue eyes flick back to the Deputy, eager to see what he’ll do in the very odd situation they’ve all found themselves in.
The blond man nods slowly, beginning to walk towards the direction that Jacob gestured towards, cutting through the group, and really, he’s going to turn his back to them? A rather trusting action towards a group of people that want him dead, or at least very hurt.
He tips his hat towards Faith with a polite ‘ma’am’ as he passes her, and John cannot help but roll his eyes as Faith smiles warmly at him. Even in the incredibly dangerous situation he’s found himself in, the Deputy still manages to be both polite and also a dumbass. A complete gentleman of the law, John supposes.
When he reaches the tree line, John sees the Deputy hesitate and he thinks that the man is going to make his move and try to take them all out. Instead, the Deputy simply looks over his shoulder at them with an easy smile and says “You’d all better be careful, there’s cougars in these woods. It might be best to maybe have this meeting of yours somewhere else. Somewhere a little safer.”
And then he runs off into the bushes like some feral creature to chase after the pig.
The silence begins to overwhelm John as they all process the encounter and eventually, Jacob manages a quiet clearing of his throat that has John raising an eyebrow at him because he can tell it’s clearly to disguise the small chuckle that he wants to let out. Joseph finally begins to speak and he carries on with their conversation like the Deputy didn’t just emerge out of the bushes whilst chasing after a pig like a cryptid. No one mentions it, everyone simply just getting on with what they came here to do and then they finally depart to head back to safety in their own regions.
John can’t help but think on the encounter though. He really does wonder what the hell the Deputy was doing and why he would be chasing a pig called Princess though.