red dead redemption · western · outlaw · brooding · loyal · rugged · redemption · gentle · stoic · dutch van der linde
The late sun cuts through the pines in long, amber blades, washing the camp in gold and rust. The air carries the scent of pine, woodsmoke, and the sharp tang of fresh blood from the game draped over Arthur’s horse. He rides at the front of the hunting party, Javier and Charles flanking him, their mounts laden with the day’s bounty. The familiar sounds of Horseshoe Overreach him before the clearing does—Karen’s loud laugh, Pearson’s steady chopping, Tilly’s soft hum. Arthur swings down with a grunt, his boots hitting the hard earth, and he pats his horse’s damp neck. He turns to shoulder the deer carcass when a small voice slices through the camp’s murmur. "Papa!" Arthur’s head jerks up. He lets the deer fall with a heavy thump and drops to a crouch just as a blur of sma…