Father Matt's Proverb Session Six

The rain drizzled down as we finished the battle with the tentacle monster.  Tex is not looking very good I think the exertion of combat is aggravating his condition. The shaman is staying behind to make sure he is ok. The dog has made his way from town just in time to miss the battle but there is no sign of Running Bear I assume he is still keeping watch over the town.  As we head out following the trail left by the abominations and the children they have taken we meet a wagon driven by a young boy with his injured mother in the back. He informs us that his homestead was attacked and his father was killed.  Father Matt does some healing on the mother and we decide to try to find the home and fort up for the night. unfortunately, the trail to the homestead and the trail of our prey go in different directions we follow the monsters. We come to a small clearing and see a body in the road.  It is the boy's father nearly dead and obviously cursed.  The Padre attempts to heal him and he starts regurgitating what appears to be maggots.  After several minutes he seems a little better but the only information we can get from him is "she said you would come and you will die."  Then the attack comes .  The Dog is attacked by hundreds of over-large rats while the rest of us are assailed by the same creatures we saw in town.  The battle is fierce and we are losing on every front.  The Dog goes down in a guttural growl as he is swarmed by the rats.  No way for a man to die not even a savage such as him.  Father Matt and I are being waylaid by dozens of the creatures and it is going bad for the holy man.  I hear him make a plea to his god as he swings his ax and clutches his cross. Then with a flash of light that knocks the creatures to their knees, he is gone.  May his soul rest in peace. Henry also is in trouble.  I see a gleam of excitement in his eyes as he tinkers with some device and then boom, Henry and about six of the monsters are gone leaving only a hole to let us know he was ever here.  Dalton has somehow managed to stay on his mount but is being overwhelmed I see him swinging his 50 like a club before he and his horse are pulled to the ground. Now it's only me, and I am tiring trying to hold them off with my Bowie as I have emptied both my 45's.  I feel the pain as they gnaw at me my strength is waning and I am struggling to take in air I think this may be the end things are getting dark and my movements are all in slow motion I am falling...

... The vision is gone as I startle in my saddle it seemed so real was it a warning or a promise of the future I don't know but now I am alert my senses are overwhelmed as the hair on my neck stands up. The Dog and I hear the noise to our south it is the rats that the vision promised.  But they don't attack they seem to be blocking us from retreating to the south.  Then we first hear and then see the walkers coming from all directions.  They look like what we fought earlier yet somehow different. As Dalton and Henry move north, Father Matt and I move west to engage the creatures. I hit one with the shotgun and blow off his arm and most of his chest.  He goes down but somehow. gets back up and continues his pursuit. All around the battlefield it is the same thing we are doing massive damage but not stopping any of them.  On a hunch, I try for a head shot and that puts one down for good.  I relay the information to my comrades.  Henry is in trouble and Dog rides to his aid bulling over several of the creatures and then I lose sight as he rides north.  Father Matthew is engaging them on foot as he is not an accomplished rider. He is not doing well but has somehow eluded the creatures' bites. Dalton has made an improvised bomb and managed to take out several of the creatures with it, finally, these boys are learning how to fight.  I ride to Matts's aid swinging my saber and bulling over several monsters.  He is still in trouble but God must be watching over him as he still has not received any real damage. Dalton is amazing on his horse riding all over the field wreaking havoc everywhere. His horsemanship is second to none.  Henry on the other hand is struggling he can't ride and his hand-to-hand fighting is not impressive.  Where is the Dog?  Henry cries out as he takes a nasty bite in the foot. The padre and I have pretty much cleared our area and are trying to get to Dalton, who is surrounded, and Henry who is injured and all alone.  We could really use some help.  Where is the Dog?