Tinfoot and the Wanderer

While going through some older files, I came across a micro-story I did a couple years ago. It was for a site called Writing Battle in which they randomly assign you an object, character type, and genre. It’s a fun way to branch out into territory you wouldn’t otherwise! My assignments were sci-fi/western, a landlord, and a fossil. Just thought it’d be fun to share! Till next time!

Sincerely,

Me

Tinfoot and the Wanderer

The Wanderer trudges through the desert, sand sticking itself into any crevice it can find. Old Tinfoot is slumping along, smoke pouring from his nose. There’ve been too many days with the sun beating down against their backsides. At sundown, he slinks off Tinfoot's back and sets up camp. He tosses a silver pod down, and it embeds itself with small spikes before ejecting a fully-built tent and fire pit. Tinfoot folds in on himself, a great storm of rattling and clanking until he's nothing more than a rock of metal.

As he sits down, a shrill screech pierces the Wanderer's left ear. He winces and presses an index finger to his temple. A hologram emits from his eye, The Landlord hovering where a fire should be. The hologram offers an artificial glow under the growing starlight.

"I'm sendin' you coordinates for your next target, Wanderer," he says around the fat cigar in between his teeth. "Have 'im neutralized before midday tomorrow."

"Yessir," Wanderer replies. The landlord hums and reaches into his pocket.

"If completed," he says, "your reward will be... substantial." He offers out half a skull, a horn sitting atop it and jagged edges across the face of it. "An Ackla skull." The Wanderer licks his lips. The fossil will be worth more than five years' bounty to the right buyer. "Failure will result in immediate termination."

"Understood," Wanderer answers. The transmission ends, and he glances around before packing up.

Another reward, another meal, another day to live.