[right][color=9f9f9f][sub]TIMESTAMP: After [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5409262]The Five Pieces of Charlie Decker[/url] 
FT: [color=fe6f5e]Poppy James[/color] & [color=BB728D]Chief Coldwind[/color]
Introducing: [color=A7BB9A]Leotie "Ryan" Coldwind[/color] & [color=7C7A39]Kerry Casey[/color] [/sub][/color][/right]
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[color=9f9f9f][indent][indent]There she went again. Another panic attack. Was this trip worth all the pain? Why did she think she’d get some clarity from visiting a place that was part of Charlie’s past? Part of who he was? All she did was cause unnecessary distress for her friends and Charlie’s sister. All she did was lose her balance, time and time again, never able to hold herself together. Keep it together. How could she support herself when she felt so unsteady all the time? How could she save Charlie’s sister when she was the one that needed saving? 

Back outside with her converse shoelaces untied and just a sundress on, Poppy wrapped her arms around her stomach, closed her eyes, and leaned forward, gasping for air. She could feel it in her throat. Everything was closing in, she couldn’t breathe, she couldn’t think, and she couldn’t stop the ache in her chest. If only she could keep herself whole so her friends could watch her thrive instead of rip at the seams but it was moments like these she was so desperate for someone to hold her. To tell her they’d never let her go. To pull her in and erase the insurmountable damage from her mind and make her feel alive again. 

[color=BB986B][i]You put the pieces together when you read his book. Like how he really just wanted to spend the day with you, Poppy.[/i][/color]

Covering her face, sobbing uncontrollably, Penelope choked into her hands, [color=fe6f5e]“Why then? Why did he let me go?”[/color] If he loved her, really loved her, he wouldn’t have left her the way he did. He wouldn’t have left her with all these unanswered questions. He wouldn’t have left her on a tightrope to walk the line by herself. How could she try? How could she keep fighting? When all she could think about is how he gave up on her, gave up on himself, gave up on all the pieces to the puzzle that made him liberated, happy and boundless; all the people he loved the most. Everything she thought she knew was turning out to be a lie and the Charlie she thought she loved, really loved, was a complete stranger. 

Stop it. 

STOP IT! 

Straightening herself, controlling her breathing to the best of her capabilities, Poppy wiped her tears. She wasn’t weak no matter how many times that voice inside her head told her she was. Still, when she thought she was out, there were always more tears to cry. Like a waterfall, the unbearable hurt kept coming, until her soul couldn’t take the pain anymore, submerging itself in the rushing current. She could feel herself drift away to only God knows where. 

[color=BB986B][i]All I can answer is that I think you all meant something different and special to him. You were all pieces of him…[/i][/color]

Sniffling and grabbing the sides of her dress, Poppy focused on the road ahead of her, the dirt and gravel, as she slowed down her breathing. Calmer than she was seconds ago, she whispered, [color=fe6f5e]“Take a walk, Penelope James.”[/color] She needed to clear her mind and let the overflowing sadness run its course so when she returned she could apologize to Mitena. A walk with fresh air, nature, and the beauty of the reservation. Just what the doctor ordered. 

Taking the first step forward, her red eyes noticed her shoelaces were untied. Swiftly, Poppy kneeled down and tied them both before she took another step and ventured onward to places unexplored (for her, at least). She liked Blue Hill. Simply taking a walk through it could remind her that she was exactly where she needed to be and why. She just needed to keep fighting. She had to keep fighting, keep going, for no one else but herself. She had no choice. This was her decision in the first place and she was sick and tired of wallowing in self pity while living in this constant unhealthy cycle of grief and insecurity. She wanted to do better. No, she needed to do better.  

Much of the Blue Hill Reservation was open space. In a tribe and a community such as theirs, everyone was welcomed everywhere. The Coldwind ranch was much smaller in comparison to some of the others that surrounded their land like the Silverheels. They simply bred and took care of a few horses at a time and then sold them off to good homes. The ranch had been in Christian’s family for generations but he knew that he was likely the last Coldwind that would run it. No other member of his kin had any interest in pursuing that kind of excellence.

[color=A7BB9A]“Grandpaaaaaaaa,”[/color] [url=https://creativetdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Reservation-Dogs-Jackie-Oklahoma-State-Cowboys-T-Shirt.jpg]Ryan[/url] sat on the fence of the corral, her bare legs and feet dangling inside the enclosure. She had just woken up after a hard days night and was only dressed in the big Nirvana t-shirt she wore to bed. The grunge girl took a sip from the coffee her step-grandma had so lovingly prepared for the cowboys and ranch hands that morning before pointing at something in the distance. [color=A7BB9A]“I think we done got ourselves a stray white girl in our midst.”[/color] The bottled blonde put on her best southern accent before tipped the brim of her fake Stetson.

[url=https://pdaspeakers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/longmire-cast-lou-diamond-phillips-1920x1080-1.jpg]Chris[/url] moved to the corral and leaned against the post next to his grandchild and narrowed his dark eyes. He recognised the shuffle coming towards them down the dirt road that led from Adora’s and as the sun fell back behind the trees, his suspicions of the figure being one Penelope James were confirmed. He raised his hand in welcoming as soon as the small girl was in clear view. [color=BB728D]“Poppy-like-the-flower!”[/color] He called out over the noise of the single horse currently galloping around the corral. [color=BB728D]“What brings you out this way?”[/color]

At the sound of the chief's call, the horse stopped galloping and came to a halt. The young man riding it took off his hat and wiped the sweat from his brow as he watched the outsider walk towards them. His face was dirty, and stubbled and in his eyes he carried a tiredness most definitely beyond his youthful years. Jumping off of the pale dotted horse, he patted it several times to keep the old boy calm before bowing his head in welcome.

Oh. People. Poppy didn’t expect to come across a crowd so soon. Even so, she had to be polite. Her parents raised her right. Hiding her grief behind a smile, her eyes rimmed with red, and puffy, she gave a small, shy wave back as she approached the chief, the one she felt the safest around. [color=fe6f5e]“Just taking a morning walk. Seeing the area, since I’ve never been,”[/color] she coyly replied. It wasn’t like she was lying. 

Poppy did want to see the reservation, she wanted to embrace the culture and be part of it because so far it’s only made her feel good and inspired her to want to do better but she wasn’t telling the complete truth either. This walk was more to clear her mind and convince her that she was fine. The beautiful reservation was a plus. [color=fe6f5e]“I don’t really know where I’m going, I’m just kind of following the path to wherever…”[/color] she admitted, as her green eyes looked from face to face. [color=fe6f5e]“I’m Poppy… Penelope,”[/color] she formally introduced herself to the chief’s granddaughter and the cowboy stranger.

[color=7C7A39]“Kerry,”[/color] The [url=https://asalvision.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Luke-Grimes-Yellowstone-Kayce-Dutton-Brown-Jacket.webp]cowboy[/url] nodded as he jumped back onto the horse. He soothed him again, stroking his greyish-white mane and whispering into his ear. The man obviously was very good at handling animals. [color=7C7A39]“I’ll take old Jack here back down to the pens, boss. Then I promised Winnie and Ten I’d take their Momma up the Pronghorn Trail, get some fresh air in her lungs and hopefully clear her head you know?”[/color] 

The Chief offered the ranch hand a thumbs up. [color=BB728D]“You go do your thing, Ker. Sending the twins my love.”[/color] As the horse and cowboy rode off further down the ranch, Christian reached down to the small table set up nearby and picked up a thermos. He poured in some piping hot coffee just in time for when Poppy reached him. [color=BB728D]“Here, freshly brewed. Should keep you going on your spirit walk.”[/color] He offered it to the pale young woman as he glanced up at his granddaughter swinging her legs as she sat on the fence. [color=BB728D]“You remember my granddaughter Ryan? Who is currently very hungover.”[/color]

[color=A7BB9A]“Listen.”[/color] Ryan held her hands up as if trying to prevent herself from vomiting. [color=A7BB9A]“It is not my fault that the bar you own serves minors….”[/color] Before she could continue, the Chief fired a glare at the young woman and she backtracked immediately. She likes to joke around but she would never endure to upset her grandfather, she loved him more than anything. [color=A7BB9A]“What I meant to say was, it’s not my fault that people kept slipping me drinks when you weren’t looking.”[/color]

[color=fe6f5e]“It’s nice to actually get a chance to talk to you, Ryan,”[/color] Penelope gave a tiny smile as she watched the cowboy walk away. Kerry was his name and he seemed to be in his element. One with the horses. After a moment or two of staring, she graciously accepted the offer of coffee from Christian, holding it close to her face and feeling the warmth radiate from the cup. After taking a leisure sip, she complimented, [color=fe6f5e]“You were awesome last night. The whole band, I mean. Red Wolf Road. It was really nice to watch you all pure your hearts out on stage.”[/color] Her tired eyes scanned Ryan’s face, falling on the other girl’s drunk grin, before looking up at the Chief who was watching her silently. 

[color=A7BB9A]“Yeah we fucking rock!”[/color] Ryan threw up the Devil’s horns with her free hand and stuck her tongue out in her most bodacious Gene Simmon’s impression yet. Mid scream, she  ended up covering her mouth like she was going to throw up. All the booze was finally catching up to the tiny native woman as she could feel it sloshing around in her stomach and rising up into her chest and throat with a very unpleasant burn. The young girl jumped down off of the fence and sprinted with her bare feet towards the house, creating a dust trail like she was the Road Runner behind her speedy frame.

The chief laughed as he placed his hands on his hips and watched his granddaughter disappear behind the old oak door. [color=BB728D]“My apologies for Leotie…sorry Ryan.”[/color] He corrected himself. Chris remembered that she hated using her first name. It reminded her too much of her parents. [color=BB728D]“She’s in a weird phase of her life. You know actually, she’ll be going to Edenridge High this coming semester. We’re giving her a change of scenery. Maybe you’ll run into her from time to time?”[/color] 

[color=fe6f5e]“I’m sure we will,”[/color] Poppy took another sip of the strong coffee, like this bitterness was punching her in the face, kind of strong coffee, and deeply sighed, [color=fe6f5e]“It’s really nice here.”[/color] Taking in the gentle breeze and the beaming sunlight, the pale James girl breathed in and breathed out, basking in the great outdoors. [color=fe6f5e]“This is the longest I’ve been outside in a good while. I don’t go out much, not anymore at least. I lost a lot of myself… over the years, so I’m learning how to walk again,”[/color] she genuinely admitted, feeling the warmth and comfort of the man standing beside her. He reminded her so much of Mr. Beau. It made it easy to talk to him honestly and with an open mind and heart. [color=fe6f5e]“I’ll try my best to help Ryan navigate the ups and downs of Edenridge but I can’t promise I’ll be able to protect her. My hometown is… well, it’s a mess.”[/color]

Christian smiled as he adoringly looked at the small stranger. She was very sweet and kind; she reminded him a lot of Ko. [color=BB728D]“Well I suppose Miss Poppy-like-the-flower you better keep on going if your walk is to help you heal.”[/color] His dark eyes fell upon the vast open plains he called home and he sighed with contentment. There was something magical that drifted through Blue Hill, something that made the world just a little brighter. [color=BB728D]“You take that path there.”[/color] He pointed to a dusty trail leading into some trees. [color=BB728D]“That’ll take you straight into town, about ten minutes easy.”[/color] Sucking on his bottom lip, the leader of the tribe lost himself in thought for a moment before picking up a pen and paper from his morning picnic table and scribbling down his number. He handed it to Poppy with a smile. [color=BB728D]“If ever you need a stranger, me or my wife or any of the tribe will be here to listen.”[/color]

Surprised, Poppy placed the thermo lid on the table and grabbed the paper from Chief. She stared at his handwriting and smiled, [color=fe6f5e]“Thank you…”[/color] He was so kind. If only Edenrdige welcomed people with open arms like this. She could feel a little water building in her eyes which was her cue to walk. [color=fe6f5e]“Thank you,”[/color] she repeated, smiling widely. The saddest people usually have the biggest, brightest smiles. [color=fe6f5e]“I’ll see you later, Chief. Oh and the coffee was good!”[/color] Waving goodbye, Poppy followed his instruction and went down the dirt path that led into town. [/indent][/indent][/color]