[b]“We don't know your name, friend. I'm VV, and this is A.”[/b]

"Val, or Valentino if you're feeling fancy," Val said as he began to set up the camp, laying out what precious few supplies he had available and what had been taken from the fallen soldiers. His rifle lay propped against a nearby cement column, but his AR pistol and knife were still within easy reach. After all, they were allies of circumstance and weather as far as he knew, and both could change in an instant when life and death were involved.

[b]“We, uhm, we're actually on a mission. We've been tasked with killing the Wild King.”[/b]

Val laughed loudly and gave a look at the red eyed woman like she had just told the funniest joke in the world. Kill the Wild Kin? Dust, they'd barely survived the bears and that was with a Wild actively on their side. The image of that molten beast charging into the fray reminded Val to cast a look in the Wild's direction, remembering the strange words the creature had spoken in the heat of blood and battle.

[b]“I know this might be a lot to ask, but we know nothing of this world. It would… Well, it would be a mighty help if you guided us to where the King resides. We can take it from there.”[/b]

"Oh. You're serious... or at least you think you are," Val said, reaching into a pack and pulling out some hard jerky and taking a rather large bite. He felt hungry... downright ravenous actually. The feeling was strange considering he hardly ever missed a meal unless he had to stake out a spot for a few weeks, but something within him felt different. 

[i]"You will feed me. In exchange, you will have my strength. So you can feed me more."[/i], the words came unbidden, but with perfect recall to Val's mind. The words of a monster. Of a Titan. Of a Wild.

He listened to VV talk to A about their situation, though the idea of their hearts being modified somehow escaped his thoughts. He kept glancing over at Mercy as though trying to figure out if the Wild had somehow infected him with something. It was a disturbing thought, but he just didn't know enough about the creatures beyond that their hearts sold well and their powers were... strange. There might be something to what VV thought about their hearts being altered, but it seemed impossible to Val to survive something like that. After all, to a duster like him heart surgery alone sounded like a myth, but the possibility of infusing Wild Hearts?

[b]“We need fire power. You fought those men so easily… Would you do it again for us? There would be more bodies to eat, I'm sure.”[/b]

Val chewed his jerky as though it could help him think. From the sounds of it, these two definitely needed help. Taking on the Wild King was suicidal, after all, if even the Bears, Ghosts and Umbra couldn't do it... how were two women who fell from the sky supposed to succeed where they had failed. Dust, Vinny had nearly killed all of them!

He should leave when the storm broke. Take his gear, thank the lovely ladies for sharing his little hideaway space, wish them luck and hit the road in the exact opposite direction. He had never been much of a team player, too many people to split the shares with. Too many people to mourn when they caught a bullet or the dust caught them...

"Dust me...," he muttered, getting to his feet and brushing off the bit of the storm that had managed to worm its way inside. He walked up towards where VV was speaking with Mercy, his eyes on the massive Wild, but stopping to stand next to VV herself.

"Of course he'll help," he said, locking his gaze onto Mercy's eye, "won't you big guy? You'll have to... if I go with them and take you up on your offer. Strength for Food. Power for Death."

He held out his hand as though he were going to somehow shake the creature's massive paw, which would likely result in him being reduced to the red smear he had mentioned before the storm came in, but it was an amusing gesture.

"I've killed a lot of men and women in my time here in the Dust. You want the leftovers, you're welcome to them if it means you'll show me why I would be wise to ally with someone like you," he said.

After Mercy's response and whatever events might unfold because of the bargain, he would turn towards VV and offer a sly smile. 

"I don't know much about the foresty areas, but I can get you close enough that tracking down the King should be possible. Only thing you might want to keep in mind is I always call my markers in due time, and this is a big marker. For now, maybe you can tell me a bit more about what the Dust is going on with you two," he said lightly, "oh, and if I die on this little trip. Your asses are haunted. Just a disclosure."