Buster whined and Punkie growled low in his throat as Marion lay on her belly on a small hill staring down the scope of her rifle as she examined the town up ahead. "I know boys..we don't care too much about company, especially strange company but we could use for a good nights sleep in a room and some more water..." the dogs voiced their opinions about the situation again but Marion choose to ignore them as she made her decision and rose. Shouldering her rifle she snapped her fingers and the dogs rose from their positions to follow dutifully beside their Mistress; one on each side.<br/><br/>The situation at the gate was similar to the one she witnessed through her scope when another walker had gained entrance, though this time there was the matter of her dogs which two of the guards were eying like fresh meat. Punkie began to growl at the sensed threat and Buster came close to Marion seeking comfort from her presence as well as wanting to protect her.<br/><br/>"So you selling those dogs or something?" one of the lackeys asked before she could respond to the head guard who rolled his eyes and shook his head.<br/><br/>"No. You looking to sell that throat of yours as food for them? Cause if not you need to quit staring at them like you want to eat them least my boys make a meal of you first" she snapped staring at the man who seemed to take into consideration the rippling muscle that could easily be seen on Punkie who had taken a half step closer to him.<br/><br/>"Well you are welcome to stay here as long as there is no trouble..." the head guard spoke up again to break the tension that was developing. "What did you say your name was again?" he asked her keeping his own eye on the dog that had stopped growling but was still intently staring at the guard who had spoken up.<br/><br/>"Marion and I don't plan on living here but we just needed some more water and a nights rest in a room with a bed for a change" Marion said as she snapped her fingers and Punkie relaxed instantly and sat at her side panting heavily.<br/><br/>"Alright well the hotel is the third building on the right. They have booze, food and water there but it aint cheap so you best have something good to give 'em. I have men all over this town so you behave yourself and I won't have to kill ya, sound like a deal?" the guard spoke and Marion nodded patting her legs and both dogs moving to follow her into the small shanty town. As usual people stared at her as she passed by, probably wondering what a woman was doing traveling alone? and if she planned on selling those rather tasty looking dogs? Nothing out of the ordinary there.<br/><br/>Entering the hotel she saw that there had been some kind of a scuffle and there was a man being dragged away with some blood pooling on the blood where he had been laying or so she presumed that was the case. Those having caught her entrance just stared as she calmly walked to the bar removing her glasses as she eyes the bartender.<br/><br/>"What will it be?" he asked still seeming a bit shaken up.<br/><br/>"How much for a room for the night and water enough to fill up my canteen and a 2 liter bladder?" she asked absentmindedly petting Buster who was crowding close to her for comfort.<br/><br/>"Going to be a bit..." the man said looking over at Punkie who decided to put his front paws up on the counter so that he could look the bartender in the eyes as well.<br/><br/>Marion fished around in her back pack for a bit before slapping down a pack of unopened  four D batteries and two wetnaps. "This cover it?" she asked him while moving to pet Punkie who was still intently eying the bartender.<br/><br/>"Yeah. That will cover it..." he spoke a bit nervous afraid to say anything else least the dog decide to eat him. Marion set her canteen down then the bladder from her backpack letting the man take them to be filled as she stood there waiting looking about the bar at the patrons that were still giving her the stink eye. When he returned she took her items back and the wooden plank that marked her room, "Fourth one on the left top of the stairs hang this on the door to keep anyone from disturbing you" he said to her which she nodded and gave him a small smile of thanks.<br/><br/>Leaving the bar she waited till she was up a couple of steps before snapping her fingers, Punkie instantly dropped from the counter and trotted after her and Buster. With her water in hand and a room for the night Marion was looking forward to some good sleep in a place where she could almost feel safe, almost being the very key word there.