— @wiintereyes | plotted starter
❝ we ain't leavin' no one behind. ain't that what y'always said, Dutch? ❞ those were the last words Arthur had said before he left camp at Horseshoe Overlook. they sure did have other problems at the moment but there's no way he could abandon someone who might be in need of their help. especially after the rumors he heard — at first, he had been sure it was nothing but gossip. Tom Davies bragging about something that never happened; Roseanna is one of the best shots he knows. she is most capable of defending herself.
even though she mostly did come and go as she pleased, almost like Trelawny does, she was one of them — is, Arthur still believes. but he has to make sure of it himself. returning to Tall Trees isn't the smartest idea after the Blackwater Massacre, Dutch does have a point there. but how to live with the guilt if she really needed help and nobody felt responsible for it?
Oklahoma's breathing is ragged and heavy as they reach the region they headed for around nightfall. the trees stand black and tall, surrounded by thick layers of fog — the eerie atmosphere is somehow enough to send a chill down Arthur's spine. there are no lawmen so far, unlike he had expected but it is a pleasant surprise nonetheless. gives him a better chance of finding her.
❝ Roseanna! ❞, he calls, his voice echoing through the night. with his horse now slowed to a walk he makes his way deeper into the forest, the air getting colder the further he rides. hopefully she isn't injured, because if that turns out to be what happened, chances of finding her alive are close to nonexistent after the weeks that have passed. giving up isn't an option but hope is nearly lost — that's when he spots a silhouette reminiscent of hers. once more, Arthur raises his voice. ❝ Roseanna? is that you? ❞
