"Excuse me?"

"Ya heard me, clear off now or te next tin ya know, will be this arrow here sticking outta your girlfriend's face."

"What? Repeat that one more time and i'll.."said Renne, stepping forwards but was blocked by an arm thrust out by Josh.

"I've heard that the Maless gang just took over this area. Is it true?" He asked of the stranger.

"Yes."

"Then would you recognise this?" asked Josh, fishing out a coin from within his pockets.

The stranger peered closer then, to Renne's surprise he spluttered and nearly knocked himself out by giving a hasty salute.

"I.. I didn't know. Sorry for the interruption. I.. really must be going to.. er.. check up on other places." The man practically stumbled over his speech and disappeared back into the forest.

"Wow. What was that about?" Renne looked at Josh, who grinned back.

"Oh, you know, some favours here and there.." Josh replied as he pocketed the coin. "You might want to travel around more."

Renne's face fell and she sat back down onto the riverbed. "You know my father has never allowed me to. Never did. Never will."

Josh bit his lip and slapped himself on the forehead. How could he have forgotten? "I'm sorry Renne."

"You don't have to be. Can i see that coin?"

"Ah ah. No." He wagged a finger at her outstretched hand and slapped it down. "That is something i would keep to myself." He finished, then turned back to the river and the setting sun in the distance. All of it casting a red, fiery glow onto the trees.

-Captain Mook