Chapter Text
The heat was unrelenting this summer, the grass crisp and brown from lack of water. You were feeling the effects as you trudged into town, your hair clinging to the back of your neck and your long sleeve blouse becoming damp. After a while the winding dirt road lead you to the towns edge, to a bulletin board advertising various products, occasionally an event, but mostly the board was covered in wanted posters. Yellowed pages with a drawn image, listing a price for the crime and big scrawling letters dictating whether these villains be brought to the sherif dead or alive. One poster in particular caught your eye causing your dusty boots to pause on the path. The image was strange, a pair rather than a solo shot. Both had unnatural faces with a crescent shape overlaid. The price on their heads also struck you as incredibly high. The whole poster seemed so out of place it might’ve been some sort of strange joke. You shrugged continuing on your way to deposit your meager earnings for the month into the bank.
Your feet hardly hit the first step of the bank before gunshots rang out inside. You froze rooted to the wooden step of the building. The bullets continued firing and you heard shouting and screams of pain. ‘I should run, I need to move’ the internal words did nothing to free your body from the invisible confines of your fear. The door of the bank burst open the hinges groaning painfully, a shower of paper bills rained through the threshold. An impossibly large figure stepped out, having to duck slightly as to not hit the frame.
The figure was incredibly tall and narrow, but their face was what shocked you the most. The wanted posters sprang to mind as you took in the crescent shape. Clearly it wasn’t human. Your face should’ve twisted in fear. You should’ve recoiled at the sight of it, run or screamed maybe. But instead your mouth popped open in a silent gasp of awe. Frightening as it was this creature was beautiful, made of silver gleaming in the sun, glowing eyes like rubies. It’s movements so smooth and calculated. What you wouldn’t give to exude that aura of power, people would likely bow down and give you anything you wanted.
Your mouth seems to fill with dry cotton as you meet it’s gaze, you expect such a dangerous looking thing to lunge, or growl maybe. But instead it takes you in and gives you a small self assured chuckle and a sly wink. Your eyes widen as far as they can as the figure slides past you readying it’s steed. You hardly noticed that the gunshots inside the bank had stopped until another figure steps through the door, the jingle of spurs making you tear your attention away from the silver figure.
Another steps out. Golden and sparkling, as if the sun paid special attention to make a display. Sharp points coming from its head gave the impression of a halo to you. As it ducked out of the doorway and replaced it’s worn cowboy hat on its head, it’s rays making room for the garment.
“Thanks for ditching me in the-“ the golden one cuts off, noticing you staring like a doe caught in a gun sight. You feel your stomach turn as you see the pistol in its hand still smoking.
“Seems we have an audience Sunny.” The silver rider speaks, amusement in his tone. As he loads the horse with their spoils, a large sack that he had been carrying on his back. You wish you could stop staring into the golden man’s eyes, clear sky blue. As his smile twisted upwards deviously.
“Seems we do, what’dya think Moonie? Should we leave a witness?” You take a moment to process the meaning of that, before realizing the silver ones response may very well dictate your death. Now fear creeps across your chest in an icy grip.
The silver rider hums in thought. “I think… we should take another prize with us” his sharp smile curls. He finishes unhitching his horse and moves to stand behind you, a cool hand settling it’s weight on your shoulder, if you were frozen before you’re a statue now. Your heart beats against your chest like it’s trying to run away without you.
The golden one, Sunny, chuckles lightheartedly. “What d’ya say treasure? Feel like going for a ride?” He extends an inviting hand to you, his face and tone soft, as if he trying not to frighten you. Every rational part of you is telling you this has ‘bad idea’ written all over it. But the part of you dying to leave this shit hole town whispers ‘take it’.
Surprising everyone, even yourself, you find your hand resting on warm metal. A satisfied little noise coming from the owner of the hand you accepted. You barely have time to register before you’re whisked onto Suns saddle, a decision that seems to touch Moons nerves. He hops up easily behind you, his warm chest grazing your back as he pulls his steed to turn. Sun leans in to whisper in your ear “you’re gonna want to hold on.” He kicks his spurs and snaps the reins causing the horse to bolt. You fumble to grab the saddles horn as you take off. You hear the sound of Moon following close behind.