𝓕𝓲𝓷𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓗𝓪𝓿𝓮𝓷- σ/α

[RennieD]

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Questions we've been asked so far.

█ ❜ ωнαт уєαя ιѕ ιт?:

█ ❜ - - I'm going to be real. The time line will make no sense if you apply it to the our real life time line. In the role play it is the year 20, which basically means much like BC and AD, the word decided to start over ish. People call it whatever they want since communication has been lost to other countries and states. Our group is calling it Year Zero and the role play takes place twenty years after Year Zero.

█ ❜ ωну яєѕтяι¢т тє¢нησℓσgу?:

█ ❜ - - To be honest, technology doesn't really matter. We don't want to develop it much further than it is now (hence why we are saying we want the technology to end with what we have in 2019). There are no high tech facilities floating on water, no flying cars, no ray guns, nothing like that. Could the cell phones have been updated to just an ear bud? I mean sure but what does it matter since all phone towers are down, there's no electricity, and there are no gas stations so even if there were hovering cars they would be rendered useless. Part of the hardships this poses is that a good portion of the people in real life are too dependent on technology. Our characters, if they are 30 and older, have had to adapt and learn through trial and error. This role play is meant to be tough, gritty, and all about survival.

Just remember, we can currently (in RL) grow a baby outside a body, we can clone animals, and we already are cross breeding plants. Using several types to create a super plant isn't too far off or outlandish.

█ ❜ ωнαт ∂σ уσυ мєαη ву мυтαтιση?:

█ ❜ - - Well, this is actually answered in the posts below. Basically plants and animals are affected. Not all of them but a good portion are. No, the plants aren't going to get up and start walking and talking but they can use what they already had to their advantage. Some developed new ways to lure or attack prey, some have more potent healing properties, some have higher toxins, ect. It's 'a make it up as you go' type thing since we're building this world together. If at any point you want to run it by us, go for it!

 

[RennieD]

█ ❜ нσω ιт αℓℓ вєgαη:

█ ❜ - - The humans have always been considered the most destructive species on the planet. Through the great leaps in technological advancements they created wonderful devices to help make everyday life more simple and efficient. They celebrated their achievements and competed to be the best of the best. While the humans progressed, the world began to change at a rapid pace. The first signs were shot down as conspiracy theories and brushed under the rug. Life went on with the occasional protest and yet new evidence surfaced with every passing year.

Our ice caps began to melt, revealing Earth’s history that had previously been frozen in time. While it was celebrated and eagerly studied, more people began to take notice. Animals kept turning up on shores, dead from plastic consumption, strangulation, and covered in oil. Soon enough the beaches were new landfills and becoming increasingly difficult to keep clean. As the years passed it began to be hard to deny the water levels rising as more and more of the cities began to flood without retracting. It was then that scientists gathered together at GreenLabs Corp to create a solution to the upcoming crisis they new the world would have to face.

The greatest minds worked together and came up with a viable solution to the climate change problem. A series of fungi and plants were successfully created that could live solely on garbage, sludge, oil, radiation, and some of the most toxic substances known to man. The scientists studied their prototypes religiously, crossbreeding them and creating the new ones to survive every type of environment.

Thirty years later the flora were introduced to the general public and accepted with open arms. The plants were distributed to large cities and planted in landfills, around major corporations, even cities that had been abandoned due to toxicity. They worked wonders and the evidence was plain to see as the garbage began to shrink and the air became easier to breathe. Soon enough they were sold in stores and planted in local parks, homes, and all around the cities. As the years progressed the scientists began to notice a change in the way the plants reproduced and the concern became a thought in the back of their minds.

Much like weeds, the plants were growing at a steady pace, increasing their growth each year until the yards and parks were overrun with them. Some were quite lovely but all were very useful and so the good outweighed the bad, although some did start to cut back on purchasing them. Back to the drawing board the scientists went and began to create new species that would grow at a slower pace.

Fifteen years go by after the plants had first been introduced and now people have started noticing signs of alterations in the wild life. Some of the more docile creatures became aggressive while others changed physically. The media immediately latched onto the issues and just like in most cases, the public was divided on the solution. The garbage and harmful substances were almost eradicated and the signs of climate change had slowed down significantly. A few evolved animals and overgrown plants couldn’t possible be THAT bad, could they? Pride demanded the problem be ignored and denial stomped it down.

As the years continued the plants grew at an exponential rate, easily overcoming the smaller towns and forcing their inhabitants to leave. They evolved, some becoming fire resistant, some turning carnivorous, some emitting toxic gas, others developing intelligence to recognize and attack targets. It wasn’t until The End, also called Year Zero, that people finally admitted they lost to Mother Nature. Power plants could no longer function under the weight of the massive roots that overcame the foundations, phone towers lay in waste on the ground, and water companies became overgrown with the vegetation. Every advancement made had suddenly been rendered useless and the humans found themselves lost and unable to function.

Those with outdoor skills became the heads of small communities and their knowledge were deemed invaluable. Schools had long since closed their doors and the main focuses shifted to learning to survive the treacherous world. Crime rates soared and competed with the death tolls as environments shifted. Earthquakes toppled cities, tsunamis drowned others, and with each year that passed the population began to diminish.

Now twenty years later the lands all around the world are overran with vegetation and humans are no longer the top of the food chain. Every day is a fight for the right to live and each second is spent with watchful eyes on the surroundings. Food and water are scarce in some areas while other are abundant. While most would want to live where there were ample supplies of food, the dangers are too great for most to be willing to risk. Just as people are trying to figure out a way of life, rumors have become to spread from the passing travelers.

Word on the street is there is a safe haven for humans to live without being in constant fear. A place where Mother Nature’s reach isn’t great and the vegetation manageable. While most people think the rumor is a fantasy tale to give strangers hope, there are those that chose to believe it. A group forms with the sole purpose of finding that haven.

 

[RennieD]

█ ✿ ʙᴀsιcs :

• █ ❜ - - Follow all of BMR’s ToS. No ifs, ands or buts.
  
  █ ❜ - - I am owner of this roleplay but the plot is pieced together with help from everyone. I am open for suggestions and ideas. That being said, if your idea is rejected do not fight it.
  
  █ ❜ - - Do not go into full on smut in IC. Plain and simple, please, just don’t. When it comes to things of the sensual nature, just note the clothes coming off and take it to PMs or I can create a smut only thread. Petting, PDA, even fondling is alright but once it gets to full blown act then please take it to either of two places.
  
  █ ❜ - - No god modding/auto hitting. There is an exception if you have permission to move someone’s character in a situation. I understand keeping the flow going, but do not control every little thing. Remember, no character is perfect and in this role play there is no main character.
  
  █ ❜ - - No Mary-Sues or Gary-Stus. Put a little effort into your character and their background, make them stand out and be interesting, engaging even. Give them flaws, make them connectable. Despite it being your creation, if your character is all knowing, all powerful, all the way perfect then they will be rejected. Especially if they don’t fit in the role play.
  
  █ ❜ - - On another note, please don’t make your characters the absolute center of attention. Characters that need the spotlight on them 24/7 and are utterly, completely perfect. Even the most narcissistic and dramatic characters need down time, not to mention flaws. Make them believable. This role play, while fantasy, is set for people being normal humans. There are no super humans, no different species, no powers, nothing that we currently don’t possess in real life. Your character should have strengths and weaknesses.
• 
  
• █ ❜ - - TAKE UP ONLY AS MANY AS YOU CAN HANDLE. I don’t exactly want to put a character cap limit, so take up only as many as you can personally handle. Only you know your limit.

█ ✿ נoιɴιɴɢ :

• 
  █ ❜ - - Please stop by the OOC and propose your character. If they fit with what we have going on then fill out a profile. I have my layout available upon request otherwise it is up to you to create a profile template. Take a look at other profiles for inspiration.

█ ✿ ᴘosᴛιɴɢ :

• █ ❜ - - The number one rule for posting would be literacy. You must be able to post at least two paragraphs minimum! That means 5-7 sentences. If you know you can't keep up with that, then please reconsider joining. If you want to write a ton, that’s fine but make sure it has substance. One liners are not acceptable at all.
  
  █ ❜ - - On posting, I honestly don't expect you to post every day. In fact, I want this to be a evenly paced roleplay so that people don’t get discouraged. There is no set posting time limit except that we do want you to keep up. There does need to be at least one post per week.
  
  █ ❜ - - Grammar and spelling. Now, I know this can be make or break for a lot of people, and I understand mistakes, heck I make plenty. I’m not going to demand perfection, but avoid using text talk. Our characters do not have phones so there should be no cause for text talk.
  
  █ ❜ - - If someone is annoyed that a fellow roleplayer is taking too long to post, tell me and I will address the issue, if need be. Since this is a group role play one person can hold up the entire post. Anyone can reach out to the other players if they want to give them a nudge. If someone needs to take a break then please have your character exit the group. They can always join later.

 

[RennieD]

█ ❜ єηνιяσηмєηтѕ:

█ ❜ - - Just as things are now, each state has a different environment, native plants, and native animals. The geography itself has not changed, just the types of plants and the abundance of them. Obviously states with more humidity and rain will be almost completely overrun with plant life. The more dry areas will have less vegetation but may produce more animals.

█ ❜ - -
States surrounded by water are half submerged under water due to the melting ice caps. Florida is completely gone and the lower half of Texas is as well. Our journey begins in Texas and our goal is to get to Arizona where the rumors lead people to believe Haven is located.

█ ❜ - -
The photos for each post are inspiration for what we are dealing with. Some of the major cities will be underwater and our characters may have to use a boat in order to cross. One thing each state has in common are that the buildings are mostly crumbled and covered in plant life. Cars are crushed under thick vines and massive roots, streets broken with large sinkholes and massive cracks make them almost impossible to drive on, clear signs of age and mildew on every structure. There is no one to work on any buildings, no one to fix the roads, pick up trash, or clean up the neighborhoods. Broken windows are repaired with wood pieces, dirt and debris are everywhere, and graffiti is pretty much the norm inside and out.

There are no immaculate homes or buildings, there are no pristine clothing, nothing is kept in pristine condition. It has been twenty years since the ‘end of the world’ and things have only gone downhill.



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█ ✿ Dαηgεr :

█ ❜ - - Starvation. There is a plethora of vegetation covering the earth but not all of it is edible. Common fruits that were bought at stores are hard to find and some have mutated until they became toxic. Many animals have also mutated and were gifted with ways to avoid being caught by humans. The ones that have not evolved are accepted as the weaker species and often consumed by animals and humans alike. Although there are markets set up in some of the more established towns, most people have resorted back to the hunter/gatherer way of life.

█ ❜ - -
Dehydration. There are no longer pure water sources easily available and indoor plumbing is almost completely extinct. Houses that had long since prepared for living off the grid may have composting toilets but rely on well water to drink, cook, and bathe with. Everything has to be boiled before consuming. When traveling, our characters need to conserve their water as much as possible since they do not know when they will encounter the next supply.

█ ❜ - -
Plants. There are many types of plants that mutated. Some will be beneficial for burns, clotting, and helping with pain. Many, however, adapted to survive and thus were equipped for defense. The list and types of plants can always be added but we know, for sure, there are vines that constrict a person until the human dies a slow and painful death. Fungi that emit a toxic gas that is poison to a human. Carnivorous flowers, similar to the Venus Fly Trap, that will capture a human and dissolve the body slowly in their acidic mouths. Always be on the lookout.

█ ❜ - -
Zombie type humans. When encountering a specific fungi, it will latch onto any animal or human and invade their bodies. This parasitic plant with use the human as a host, slowly consuming until their organs shut down and ultimately cease to exist. Once infected, the host will experience an odd sulfuric smell covering their olfactory senses. An hour or two later they will experience a small headache that will eventually turn into a migraine. Sores emerge all over the body and ooze a thick yellow puss. When the parasitic fungi manages to make it to the brain it starts to latch onto various parts resulting in memory loss, irrational anger, unquenchable thirst, and indescribable hunger. Within 42 hours the host becomes a mindless feral animal that attacks anything and everything near it. They do seem to recognize other infected hosts and will travel in packs.

█ ❜ - -
Crime. Even an apocalypse can’t stop crime. Without a police force to keep the ‘bad guys’ in check, crime in running rampant. Fear turns even those with the highest morals into someone who would not hesitate to harm anyone in order to get their next meal. There are drugs, weapons, human trafficking, cannibals, everything dark and scary within the human mind. Our characters will have to avoid them at all costs.

 

[RennieD]

..................................................𝕊𝕠𝕗𝕚𝕒 𝕃𝕠𝕣𝕖𝕟𝕫𝕖𝕟 .......𝔻𝕖𝕩 𝕄𝕒𝕘𝕟𝕦𝕤𝕤𝕠𝕟.......𝕃𝕦𝕔𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕖 𝕎𝕚𝕝𝕕𝕖𝕣..........𝕃𝕠𝕣𝕖𝕟𝕫𝕠 𝕆𝕣𝕗𝕖𝕠

 

[RennieD]

█ ❜ ¢ιту:

█ ❜ - - Somewhere just north of Houston, Texas.


█ ❜ єηνιяσηмєηт:

█ ❜ - - A mix of submerged areas, new rivers and streams, and vast forest. Most people live in the what used to be a flourishing suburb that now was run down and musty. What once were streets are now disheveled slabs of concrete and free flowing water. While mildew and mold should be running rampant, the fungi eats it up creating a semi decent place to live. The walls are cracked with age, paint faded, and plants cling to most surfaces. It’s tough to navigate for wanderers but the natives get around just fine. Food is easier to find since the forest have a good water supply to grow on and while this is usually good it makes the environment that much more deadly.

█ ❜ ѕєαѕση:

█ ❜ - - Months are no longer applicable and time is harder to tell since watches did not survive. The season we are starting will be summer since this gives us time to reach Haven without worrying about cold.

█ ❜ ωεα†hεr:

█ ❜ - - Unbearably hot and humid. Bugs are out in abundance and predators are coming out in droves. Now is not a time to let your guard down.

█ ❜ †ιmε:

█ ❜ - - Morning. Sometime just after sunrise. All characters need to be at the meeting place and time around midday.​

 

[RennieD]

 

[RennieD]

“Improvements to massively parallel sequencing have allowed the routine recovery of natural and induced sequence variants. A broad range of biological disciplines have benefited from this, ranging from plant breeding to cancer research. The need for high sequence coverage to accurately recover single nucleotide variants and small insertions and deletions limits the applicability of whole genome approaches.”
​

Sofia’s brow furrowed and the pressure inside her head pounded dully against her skull. She had read the journal so many times over the past twenty years and it still made little sense. It was true that her intelligence was greater than most around her yet it did absolutely nothing for her when it came to understanding her father’s manifesto. Her parents were scientists that helped perfect the plants in charge for changing the world. While it did help removed the trash and toxicity, they had evolved into something much more dangerous throughout the years.

Sofia lay the book on her lap and stretched her arms high above her head. The tension from their trek weighed against the upper part of her back thanks in part to the research she refused to part from. Her backpack consisted of her water bottle, one change of clothing, four prized pencils, a knife, some dehydrated meat, a brush, three USB sticks, and several of her parent's journals. Clothing wasn't something she owned in abundance, not like she did when she was younger. Her green shifted shirt hugged her slender figure before coming to rest at her hips. Her black shorts offered little protection to the elements but helped to keep her body cool during the summer. On her feet were a pair of worn hiking boots and simple black socks hidden from view.

Her spine lengthened to its fullest, spreading the muscles taunt until a soft pop sounded in the otherwise quiet highway. Relief was instant and she sighed in contentment, craning her neck from side to side in order to relax her muscles further. Tension on her long braid stilled her movements and glanced back down to the weathered pages she had practically memorized. Memory did little to help understand it though she had a small idea of what they meant it didn't help clear the picture.

“Why do I have to be so stupid?” She asked quietly though it was clear the question was rhetoric. Rhythmic pulling of her thick strands resumed and she knew something was bothering her companion. They had grown up together and were practically inseparable which led to the fidgeting behind her. She shifted on the toppled lamp post she had been using as a seat, her feet dangling above the debris littered road, in order to turn back slightly and view the man she had known her entire life. She could see the tension in the way he held himself, his muscular body posed to strike in case of a sudden attack, yet he merely fiddled with the ends of her jet black hair.

It had been her idea to go on this journey. She knew it was a giant risk to leave the ‘home’ they had claimed for themselves. They had familiarity in their town, residents that they could call predictable, and hunting grounds that Dex knew like the back of his hand. Their parents were lay to rest, side by side in this town along with all the research facilities. Sure it was a death trap now given the toxic plants that thrived in the place they were created but if they could manage to figure out a way to get past the fumes, there was a chance at valuable information...information no one understood. She sighed and closed the journal, her short fingernails tapping against the leather cover.

“It’ll be alright.” She finally said, offering him a small smile. “If there is a chance at a better way of life, we should take it. Especially if there is someone there who can actually understand this stuff.” Her fingers stilled, hand splayed across the time worn book. “It’s a chance we have to take.” She sighed knowing her truth did little to calm his nerves, her own were even worse. Her stomach had been in knots all morning and she knew the exact reason why. Leaving all that is familiar, venturing into dangerous unknown areas, facing death at a greater scale, and possibly traveling with crime lords or human traffickers… it was massive risk.

The smell of rancid swamp drifted to her nose at the change of direction from the gentle breeze. Her nose wrinkled in distaste despite the cooling relief from the heated sun rolling down on their exposed skin. Sweat had begun to gather and her brow and she used the back of her hand to wipe it away. They had found the meeting place relatively easy and had been waiting for quite some time upon Dex’s decision. If they were going to group up with strangers then they needed to be the first to arrive. She pushed away the doubt that clawed at the back of her mind and stomped down the fear that welled up in a tightly coiled rage.

“Do you think we’ll make it?” She whispered turning her head to gaze towards the west. The highway was in decent shape. A few cracks here, roots they could easily hope over scattered around the edge, and a few potholes that could do some damage if they weren’t paying attention. The sun’s rays heated the asphalt causing the rise in temperature to be almost unbearable and the distance to seem almost blurry with movement. Somehow she had a feeling that this stretch of the journey would the easiest by far.

 

[ImaginationGoneWild]

"Just use de trashcan!" Lorenzo Orfeo shouted at the brunette who was starting to regret being his assistant for this job because at the moment there was a large, bushy bearded man laying down on a wobbly kitchen table, twisting in pain and puking his guts out.

The young lady looked around the decrepit kitchen. The furniture was devoured by nature; wood and paint splintered and peeled, some were broken as if there once occurred a struggle here. The room, the entire house in fact, smelled dusty and earthy, and the floor was covered in dried mud and small trampled weeds. But she spotted the trashcan hidden in a corner.

She let go of the injured man and rushed to grab the can, taking off the lid and emptying out its contents before rushing back to the table. She helped the doctor roll the man over on his side and cradled his head while she held the trashcan in front of him as he began to hurl again. She had to turn her gaze away as the sour smell hit her again.

“Is he going to be okay?” the man who brought the injured man asked with furrowed brows, clearly concerned for his friend’s life, having never seen such a violent reaction before.

The middle-aged doctor briefly glanced up at the younger gentleman, seeing how he was fidgeting with his hat. As Lorenzo grabbed the tweezers and lifted the patient’s shirt up to expose three 2 inch long, red quills sticking out of his side he said, “Slithervines are nasty little tings. But dey are only lethal to children and de elderly. De weak in general.” Lorenzo clamped down the tweezers onto one of those quills and almost immediately the injured man began to jerk at the sudden pain, “Ahhhrg!"

“Hold him down, I have to get tese out!” Lorenzo struggled as he wiped his sweaty brow. Sighing heavily at the blistering heat that Texas offered today...or every day.

The younger gentleman quickly went around the table to help the nurse restrain the man.

Lorenzo bit down his bottom lip as he pulled out the first quill, inspecting it before dropping it in a jar.

Slithervines. They were a dark-green bush with coiled up leafy vines that stretch and slither around the ground cover in search of prey. When they find one, their bulbous heads reveal a beautiful and fragrant white flower with red stems. Stems that turn out to be ejectable quills laced with a toxin that incapacitates the prey so the vines can curl themselves around it and drag it to the bush for strangulation and consumption.

Lorenzo furrowed his dark brows. Usually these plants only went after prey the size of a rat or a rabbit...Well, the ones he encountered at least. According to a local here she said the ones in the wild get bigger and meaner. He looked back at his patient, Quante volte devo dire loro di evitare queste cose!

As the doctor reached to retrieve the second quill he noticed that he gained an audience. Almost the entire settlement had gathered around his house; peeking through the cracks of the boarded up windows or simply stepping through the door to see what happened up close.

With a frustrated sigh he turns to the crowd, “Can someone go look for de slithervine and burn it before a child gets hurt? It’s somewhere at de farm.” He then turned back to the quills and continued to pull them out until he looked up again and noticed that the crowd still didn’t move an inch. Lorenzo dropped the tweezers onto the table with a clang and grabbed a towel to wipe down the man’s side as he raised his voice to the people in anger, “Go! Find it and burn it! Cosa c'è di sbagliato in te gente?!”

He then motioned for his assistant to get rid of the people so they could do their job. When everyone left he walked over to the kitchen counter and rummaged through the many jars of herbs, pastes, and powders he had. When he found a brown oily paste he opened the jar and smelled, his head reeling back from the strong cheesy odor. “That’s de one…” He then found the dried version of the paste but frowned at its contents.

“Sarah?” he asked his assistant.

“Yes?” she said with a sigh, now what? He may be one of the better looking people of this settlement but he’s not worth cleaning up barf for…

“Did you hand out any of de -dried- valerian root?”

“Dried? No, why?”

Lorenzo shook his head, “Just wondering.” Unaccountable missing medicine...He had a pretty good idea where to look for them.

***

The settlement was located just north of Houston, nestled between a very small river and the city. It was a simple one consisting of varying ages, even children. The people didn’t really seem like hardened survivors, like the ones you’d see out on the road. They were simple folk making the best of things.

They managed to secure a single dead-end street in a suburban area, converted a few houses into facilities for farming, the hospital, and a warehouse where they place their valuables like food and weapons...Lorenzo never thought that was a good idea. Hoarding it all in one spot, they almost lost it all during a raid.

The rest of the buildings were occupied with several families. People didn’t like sleeping alone anymore in this world. All sorts of things could sneak up on you; slithervines for one.

Now, the only person who didn’t occupy a house was a woman named Lucille Wilder.

Lorenzo wiped his hands on his khaki trousers before knocking on the rusty door of the van parked at the end of the street. When no one answered he decided to grab the handle and slide the door open.

Inside was a blonde protesting with a loud groan at the sudden burst of light that entered her ‘home’.

“-The fuck ya doin’?!” she said as she raised her arm to block out the morning sun.

Lorenzo ignored her and glanced around the van, almost climbing over her as he spotted a tin can with dried herbs in it.

“Whatever the fuck ya think I’ve done, I didn’t-” she stopped talking the moment she saw the tin can being taken away. Shit…

“Valerian Root is not for recreational use, Lucille.” he said to her as he grimaced at her condition. Laying down in nothing but underwear and a shirt on her makeshift bed. Surrounded with bottles and potted plants, and whatever debris she scavenged. His skin itched just by the sight of it…

One of the potted plants however made him reach out and yank the bundle of mushrooms out of the dirt before Lucille's hungover brain had time to register what he just did. He tossed them on the ground and stomped his heel on them.

"No!" she yelled out and tried to recover the remains. She was now sitting up straight in the van, mouth agape at what he had done to her mushrooms. "I spend 5 months searchin' for them in that goddamned city!" her southern accent strong and her dual-colored eyes lit up with fire.

"You won't need dem where we're going," Lorenzo replied as he backed away to create some distance. He experienced her right hook before...

"...What? The fuck ya talkin' 'bout?"

" Dey voted last night, you and I are chosen for de trip."

"What trip?"

"West. Dat sanctuary dey've been talking about. We're to meet de others around noon, across de suburbs."

Well this was news to her. But then again not really surprised that they voted her out. These rumors about Haven had made them rethink her usefulness. Personally Lucille didn't believe in it. There's always some place that claims to be 'it', the sanctuary, paradise, Haven. They're just other settlements who got a lucky start but sooner or later they all fall.

Lorenzo stayed silent for a bit, watching her attitude change. "We'll find a new place."

She looked up at him, her soft expression turning hard again as she climbed back inside the van to put on some clothes. "Why did they vote ya out? Ya'd think they'd keep ya around?"

"I volunteered actually..." he said before clearing his throat and leaning against the van, his gaze turned to the buildings to give her privacy.

She slowed down putting on her dirty white wifebeater when she heard him. She was thinking for a moment and then poked her head out of the van, "Cause yer bored? Or cause ya tryin' to escape Sarah?"

Lorenzo stiffened at the name, clenching his jaws and pressing his chapped lips together.

Lucille had a devious smirk, "uhhuh..." she said before retrieving her torn jeans and brown boots.

"Dey're expecting us all to be at de rendez-vous by noon...Try and stay sober for once." With that Lorenzo walked away to prepare for his departure.

 

[Gambit]

Dex listened in silence much like he always did. She had the habit of reading those journals aloud, ever since she had discovered them all those years ago. While they both could read and write, Dex preferred to relax under the soothing tone her words often took. She carefully explored the larger words with practiced ease and he felt his lips quirk into a small smile despite their vulnerable position. Silence overcame her and he could practically feel the frustration rolling off her small body in waves. Her question brought a snort from the otherwise silent giant, knowing full well his companion was not stupid.

He tuned out her musings in favor of surveying their location, not liking being out in the open for so long. It was dangerous, being so exposed, like sitting ducks in a pond full of predators. Humans, plants, and animals all were threats to them and they just so happened to be in prime real estate for being taken off guard. The smell of algae was overwhelming but there was little they could do since the other side of the highway was open water. Not the sea, he didn't think, but definitely a large lake of some sort. What predators lay beneath the murky depths was anyone's guess.

Still, he turned his back to the possible danger, relying on Fia to spot anything from her higher perch he had placed her on. He himself leaned against the pole, her soft hair twirling around his finger while his eyes searched every inch of the the street before him. Broken windows, long since raided stores, run down cars already covered in thick vines. While the forest he hunted was closer to home, this area was still well known to him and just as deadly.

Movement from his peripheral caught his attention and he cocked his head to the side, his blue eyes taking in her delicate features as she spoke reassuring words to him. It was laughable, cute even, that she would try to play her own insecurities off by trying to comfort him. She wasn't wrong, even if he didn't like it. This trek would be dangerous and while he knew he would die before harm came to her, the unknown left him on edge. His fingers tugged lightly on her hair in response.

He had been going over their journey since she first announced she had volunteered for the trek, giving him the option to follow her or stay home. He hadn't hesitated, nothing would take her from his side. And with that thought in mind he promptly signed himself up too. The countless nights they discussed their strategies should danger occur, leaving everyone behind and saving their own lives....that was what helped keep his feet firmly in place. He sighed, finding the words to appease her and assure her of the decision they had both made.

"It is our only option. We can't afford not to take the risk at this point." Dex responded to her question, reflecting on all of the arguments for and against their decision to leave their home. He knew that it was ultimately the only decision that they could make given their current situation, but he still didn't like the risk of everything that went along with it. He trusted Fia's plan and despite knowing the risks involved if anything were to go wrong, he would be there to protect her with no second thought.

'Do you think we'll make it" Her fear laced her whispered words and that emotion tugged at his heart. Dex tugged firmly on her hair, forcing her body off balance so she fell into his waiting arm. His blue eyes met her dark brown and his lips thinned, trying to offer her his strength. "We will make it, I promise." His voice confident, leaving no room for doubt even if he felt it. "You have to remember your promise. If something happens...if things get bad, we leave. It doesn't matter who travels with us, they aren't important. Do you understand?" He was dead serious. Neither had looked at the names on the list, preferring to spend their last night together wrapped in each other's embrace. Hopefully those picked were at least somewhat beneficial to the group.

 

[RennieD]

Sofia nodded in understanding. Of course it was their only option, even if it wasn’t an easy one to follow through. Her brow furrowed at the knowledge that if something were to happen to either of them, it would be her fault. Could she survive without Dex? Could he survive without her? The thought of being without him for the first time in her life squeezed her heart painfully. Her eyes glistened and the anguish was overwhelming. In a world where getting attached was dangerous, they had forgone all warnings.

A sharp tug to her scalp forced her from such a dark trail and thrust her, literally, into Dex’s embrace. Her nose wrinkled at the action though she couldn’t complain too much. It was her fault she kept her hair long enough for others to snag but she couldn’t bring herself to cut it. Even if she could, she doubted Dex would allow her to take away his stress reliever. Her large eyes stared into his from beneath sooty lashes and her breath hitched in her throat. His conviction was clearly heard from his stern tone and his features took on a look he rarely used with her. He was serious. Gravely so. She relaxed in his hold, trusting him to support his weight while they came to an understanding.

Her small hand cupped his cheek, enjoying the way the coarse hair grazed her palm. Yes, she remembered their promise though she couldn’t honestly agree with it. What if children had joined their parents, could she honestly say she would allow a child to be thrashed to death by nature? Devoured alive by some animal? Sold into slavery by some worthless dirt bag? Could she? It was moments like this that she seriously questioned where life had taken them. From a carefree child to someone who could possible watch a child be torn from the world in order for her to save her own hide. She mentally shook her head, ridding herself of a situation she may never be put into. Plus she doubted children would join considering how few there were. Not many people were willing to bring a child into the world.

Children were their future but they were also another mouth to feed in an already starving world. They were a huge liability to keep safe, to keep alive...Her lips pursed and she quickly shifted her mind back to the topic at hand. She didn’t want to remember her promise to him but she did have to honor it. Her dark eyes hardened and she leaned up to place a chaste kiss on his lips, enjoying the few remaining solo moments they had left together.

“I remember and I understand.” She replied dutifully, offering him a grin in reassurance. “Now help me back up. It’s dangerous to be like this.” She scolded him, regaining her balance with his help and focusing on the water in front of her. It was smart to travel along a water source but it could also be a hindrance. A shiver traveled along her body at the thought of what lay in wait below the surface. Getting water would be risky, especially if something lunged at them to pull them under. And if they were attacked on their right side, they could run straight with all their might but if a trap were set in place they would have to take to the water. She could swim, her parents made sure of it before their untimely demise, but water scared the hell out of her.

“When we get there I want to take a nice bath and eat some peach pie.” She changed the subject to something a little lighter. True her parents were always involved in their research but one thing their families did together was share pie that Mrs. Claudia made. A little break in favor of her. “Your mamma made the best pies.” Sofia said thoughtfully. So much time had passed that the sadness had turned into a fond memory. She rocked on her spot, bumping his shoulder with own and grinning mischievously at him.

“If I make some, you’ll eat it right?” She teased knowing full well she couldn’t bake and the chances of her pie being edible were slim to known. Her grin faded as she noticed movement from beside one of the cars abandoned not too far from where they were sitting. Was it the sun’s heat bouncing off the pavement? She body froze and she focused completely on the area, gasping at the movement once more. “Dex…” She whispered, not wanting to alarm the thing to their knowledge of it. Slowly, it inched its way into view and she relaxed only slightly to see a medium size coyote with his teeth bared, eyes locked on their position. One coyote they could handle, a whole group would be a problem. She duly noticed the ribs protruding from beneath the matted fur caked in dirt. No signs of spores or seeping wounds, just a regular hungry coyote.

 

[ImaginationGoneWild]

It was almost noon when the pair had gathered their things for the journey to Haven. They were running late in fact because Lorenzo insisted to give the settlers some final pointers about which herbs to look for locally. He’d even given them a notebook with drawings of the plants and instructions on how to prep them for its various uses. It was the least he could do for leaving them without a medic.

So while he finished up, Lucille was on the other end of the street by the van she had called home for the past year and a half. Traveling cross-state was something she’d done before, afterall she was a nomad for as long as she could remember.

With her rucksack on the hood she double checked her inventory; 2 bottles of water, a change of clothes and her leather vest. She had shredded the other shirts she had into strips of cloth and rolled them up and stuffed them into her bag. She also had a small plastic baggie with steel scissors and a nail filer, some matches, needle and thread, and about a dozen of what looks like homemade cigarettes.

She quickly hid the baggie into her sack and then turned her attention back inside the van. After looking around to make sure she didn’t leave anything useful behind she grabbed the two leg straps full of throwing knives and attaches them around her jean covered thighs. Now armed to the teeth with sharp objects she braided her long blonde hair as she turned to look in the distance for Lorenzo, wondering why he was taking so long.

Lorenzo was shaking hands for the last time, receiving warm hugs from the people he had gotten close to. Then as he put on his black truckers cap he turned around and walked away to join Lucille. For his journey he wore a black t-shirt with some khaki pants and simple white sneakers. Not the best footwear but one can’t be too picky as decent footwear was hard to come by, let alone finding one in your size.

He too had an extra change of clothes, several actually as he didn’t own much except his books about herbs and their home remedies, and a novel he picked up along the way. Oh, and his jars of medicine.

He stopped by the van with a small smile but it faded quickly when he saw her dual-colored eyes on him...with judgement. “Che cosa? What?” he translated.

Lucille licked her lips slowly as she put on her cracked sunglasses, “Ya don’t have any weapons or anythin’? Knives? Clubs?....A stick?”

“Huh…” He knew he forgot something, “I used to have a rifle but I haven’t been able to find any ammo for it in a long while so I abandoned it…” He realized how stupid it must’ve sounded to someone like Lucille who practically went to bed armed, bathed armed, and heck he was pretty sure you couldn’t sneak up on her if she was pooping.

He eyed her for a moment, noting the various blades she had on her. Throwing knives around her thighs, hunting knives around her belt, he was certain the bulge in her pocket was a pocket knife. And another knife was sticking out of her boot. Was she preparing for someting else? Sure, travel was never easy but buon dio, ragazza!

She blinked slowly, astonished, but nevertheless she unhooked her machete from her belt and handed it over to Lorenzo, “Don’t fuckin’ lose it.”

The tall Italian man took the blade with a nod and studied it, noting the various nicks and scratches it had. The machete had a brown handle with a black blade. “Dis ting has seen some action.”

That brought out a little chuckle from Lucille as she briefly looked down at the machete, watching Lorenzo slide the blade behind his belt. Ya don’t know the half of it...She turns to grab her rucksack, “Ya ready to go?”

To be honest, Lucille was worried that the good doctor might hold her back on their journey. When scavenging or traveling in general she was used to be on her own or with her former crew. When they were together they worked like a well oiled machine. Everyone knew their place, their task. They never got in the way and nobody wasted time. Just in and out.

Those were the days...It was an odd thought but...she missed them sometimes.

***

The Texan sun was beating down mercilessly as the pair made their way across the suburbs. Following the streams that flooded the streets and into the part of the city that formed a large lake. It appeared to be swampy looking; dark murky waters, decaying vehicles poking out of the water, tainted with algae, moss, and grasses. But the birds didn’t seem to mind as the tilted form of a bus held several occupied nests in the nooks and crannies.

Lorenzo was excited. No longer was he cooped up tending to farming accidents or the scraped knees of children. No, now he was out and about on an adventure!

Lucille had been walking a few feet ahead, keeping her eyes on not only the water but also the dense bushes and tightly packed trees they were passing by. Making sure nothing would catch them by surprise.

She glanced over her shoulder, noticing how Dr. Orfeo had an extra pep in his steps. Her brow arched and she smirked, “Sarah must’ve nagged and nagged for ya to enjoy the idea of dying out here.”

Lorenzo’s attention is drawn to Lucille when she spoke to him. He rolled his eyes, “She’s not dat bad...she just…”

“Wanna have yer babies~~” the blonde teased as she kicked a rock aside with a smirk. She felt the gentle shove and made her chuckle even more.

Lorenzo didn’t mind have a ‘female’ companion, especially one you could fool around with on occasion but...The family dream was not for him. Having that routine, day in and day out, just huddled in a village with kids till you die. His nose wrinkled at the thought of it.

They continued to walk along the water in comfortable silence till Lucille warned him that he shouldn’t go too close to the edge.

Lorenzo looks around, “It’s noon. Don’t dey sleep around dis time of day?”

“Yea, in the shallows or shorelines. But they’re still quick to wake when easy prey walks by.”

Lorenzo stared at the water and then decided to create a greater distance between him and the water. His attention was drawn to Lucille again when she pointed at the highway in the distance. “Is dat de meeting point?” he asked, spotting 2 figures moving in the distance.

Elsewhere…

A starving coyote was snooping around some abandoned cars in search of prey. But its attention was drawn when it heard a young woman talking. Peeking from behind the cars the coyote stared at Sofia and Dex, growling a low growl with its teeth baring. But it was the call of its pack that forced the animal to stop.

It reared its head around, ears pointing at the distant howls and growls and then it shot off following the ‘sound of the dinner bell’.

It wasn’t long after Lucille confirmed that they were indeed getting close to their rendez-vous point that she spotted a few coyotes emerging from the toppled building nearby.

Lucille had just a tiny ounce of hope in her to believe that maybe, just maybe these dog creatures had already eaten and were only passing by. The coyotes however began to surround them. She swallowed hard as she carefully dropped the cowboy hat onto the ground and out of the way.

Lorenzo slid the machete from his belt, slowly and calmly. “I tink dey’re hungry.” he said quietly to her. Trying not to make any brusk movements.

“No shit…” the blonde replied harshly. She instinctively went to grab her machete but at feeling its absence her breath hitched until she remembered she had borrowed it to Lorenzo. She quickly looked at the blade in his hand, hoping he knew how to handle those while she pulled out one of her hunting knives from its sheath.

 

[Gambit]

"Yeah, she did. But it was difficult to tell since you always gave me that silent begging look, so you could guilt me into giving you the rest of my slice." He shot back, bumping himself back against her as Dex held onto her. He playfully dipped her back, his fingers locked around her slender waist. He returned the mischievous look, shifting in place as they stood together. He looked down at Sofia and longed for one more quiet night alone with her.

"Of course, if we ever find any peaches -" He cut himself off as he felt Fia's body tense suddenly, the grin fading off of her flawless face causing the hair on the back of Dex's neck to stand up. He turned his attention slowly towards where Fia was looking, his blue eyes falling on the mangy beast that had crossed their path. Dex smoothly shifted his stance, turning so that he was placed between the woman and the lone runt, no doubt scouting ahead while the pack followed behind.

"Keep still, there will be others nearby." He moved a hand down to his waist, releasing the clasp on guard that held his hatchet. The blade looked weathered and used, sharp enough to be effective in a pinch, but definitely would need sharpening. He eased the handle out and wrapped his fingers securely around the tool's hilt, lifting it out of the guard and holding it steady at his side.

Dex widened his stance and stood as straight as possible to appear as imposing and broad as possible, in hopes that the mangy beast will think otherwise and warn the pack to steer clear. Though if they were hungry, the dumb canine would instead rely on its natural instincts and view the pair as its next meal. He bared his teeth, raising the weapon in his hand in preparation for the animal to lead the charge.

"Take the gun from my waist, turn off the safety like I showed you and do not close your eyes if you shoot." His voice was calm yet direct, giving her orders that he expected Fia to follow. He felt foolish for not having his bow out and an arrow notched. Again, a crucial mistake that could cost them if things went poorly. He waited for Fia to follow his instructions, feeling the metal at his back slowly slide from beneath his waistband and into the delicate hands of the woman he entrusted to use it.

The gun would be a last resort, unsure if it would even fire as Dex had been the one to put it back together when they had found it. The clip had only housed three bullets and even so, firing the pistol would surely draw unwanted attention.

The eerie silence was suddenly broken up by the shrill howl of the beast's pack, causing the animal to turn its attention on its call before it quickly retreated to join the others. Dex risked a brief glance back at Fia, seeing the nervous and uneasy look on her face and he gave her a small nod. He had been able to rely on her thus far, and he wasn't about to lose his faith in her. He expected her to follow his lead as he took a few steps forward, the uneven path before them inclined and would provide them with a better view on the predators that were no doubt still in front of them.

As they approached the ridge, Dex's sharp vision saw the shapes of two figures surrounded by the pack. The distance between them and the pack provided him with ample time to withdraw his bow from his shoulder and notching an arrow from his shoulder pack. He knew he'd have to hit one with his first shot and follow it up quickly with a second to gain an advantage on the half dozen beasts.

He aimed carefully, looking on as the pack seemed to close in on their prey. He released the arrow, watching as it flew with precision and sank through the chest cavity of the coyote nearest to the surrounded pair. Dex didn't waste any time as he notched his second arrow, this time aiming at the coyote in the back just in time for it to rear its head in the direction of himself and Fia. The arrow pierced the silent air, singing its harmonious song before striking the beast square in the skull with an emphatic thunk.

By now the pack had turned its attention on the nearest two and instead re-focused and turned towards Dex and Fia. Dex had gambled that the armed woman would take advantage of the distraction while he notched a third arrow, leaving him with only one left until he recovered the first two.

 

[RennieD]

Sofia blinked quickly as her world shifted and she craned her neck to keep an eye on the threat. She had gone from glancing up at her partner in a deep dip to upright with her feet on the ground in a matter of seconds. Her disorientation lasted a few seconds while her vision was blocked once more by Dex rising to his full height in front of her. Her dark eyes scanned the back she had so admired over the years, watching his muscles ripple against the fabric while reached for his weapon...his hatchet. He planned to fight close range, she realized taking a step back and bumping into the heated metal she had rested on just a few seconds prior. Growling, deep and guttural reached her ears and she felt her anticipation rise. Dex sunk into a familiar stance and Sofia slowly bent her knees, her head peaking around his thighs to see the coyote raise its hackles and saliva dripping past his sharp teeth.

Her fingertips touched the searing asphalt, moving around as fast as she dared until she felt the weathered handle of her aluminum bat. Immediately she gripped it tightly, and once again rose to her feet, her eyes never leaving the coyote. Her fighting abilities weren't the best but she could swing a bat and do some damage. Dex had kept her away from most of the sharp objects after she had proved herself to be more of a danger than help. His voice pulled her from her current musings and her focus immediately shifted to his waist. Her brow arched at the mention of the gun. They only had three bullets and those were like freaking gold in this time and age. Her concern mounted at the desperate suggestion but she did as she was told anyway. Sofia doubted she would have to use it considering it was one measly coyote but if things got bad she would do her best to hit the right target. If the situation wasn't so serious she would have rolled her eyes. One time. Just one time she closed her eyes when she shot her first bullet ever.

She quickly placed her bat between her thighs as to not draw anymore noise with it clattering to the ground. Her nimble fingers worked purposely, carefully pulling their only gun free from his person, not wanting to interrupt his concentration. Once it was safely in her hands, she rolled it over and found the little lever she was looking for. It clicked and suddenly her tension rose, not liking to have an active gun in her hand with Dex directly in front of her. Sofia quickly pointed the barrel to the ground and peeked around his shoulders once more. The coyote's ears pricked up and Sofia's brows furrowed in question.

Her blood ran cold when answering howls became closer and several other coyotes emerged from their hiding places. All panting, all starving, and all looking ready to maul their next meal. Her muscles tensed and she licked her dry lips. This was not a good way to start their journey to the new land...She looked them over, noting immediately that none sported the tell tale signs of infection from fungi, a small relief, and as she studied each one she noticed two human figures pause in their tracks as well.. A small sense of relief calmed her rapidly beating heart just the slightest and she took a step back further when Dex drew his bow and notched his arrow. His rapid fire was quite impressive and she loved to watch him practice. In the heat of battle was another thing entirely. His focus was intense and his aim true.

Sofia clicked the safety back in place and tucked it down the back of her pants, her bat once more her primary weapon for this fight. She wouldn't kill the canines as fast as with a knife or arrow but she could dislocate jaws and knock them unconscious. Her hand gripped the handle tightly, seeing what Dex hoped to have happen in battle. They didn't want to cause them to rush towards either pair but she knew any sound would draw their attention. Instead, she twirled the bat in her hand and angled it in front her body, grinning as the light from the sun bounced off her weapon and towards the pack. She had read a while back that canines in general, hated bright lights as much as they hated loud noises. Their brief stay in a library paid off from time to time. While her distraction wasn't much, she felt triumph pull at her chest when the bright light shown directly into several of the members' eyes, forcing them to shift their stances anxiously and shakes their heads, teeth gnashing in agitation.

"Too bad we don't have more time to work on these guys." She said softly under her breath. "Doubt they'll give us much meat but those pelts would sell for a good price." She mentally calculated how much food they could get for trading those furs. It took a long time to scrape the fat free, salt them, hang them to dry, smoke them so they could be used in wet weather, and even take the fat to make soaps. Too bad. Her battle prowess was laughable but her skills in other areas excelled. She was the one that dressed and cooked their meals, tanned their hides, made their supplies, and heckled the hell out of traders. She rolled her grip, changing her pattern to distract the canines, from the two at their backs. Her aim kept the focus on her and Dex, while making sure to avoid getting it in the eyes of the other two humans.

 

[ImaginationGoneWild]

They were trapped.

Their backs dangerously exposed to the murky waters of the stinking lake, and a pack of six hungry coyotes blocked their path on either side of them.

Two coyotes focused their attention on the tall Italian man, closing in on him from his right while a third one hopped onto an overgrown car wreck, salivating at the prospect of food.

Lorenzo’s wrist flicked the machete every now and then, getting used to the weight of it, white-knuckling the handle. “Lucille…” he said, his voice laced with a growing panic.

“Doc, I’ll throw ya to these dogs if ya freak out on me,” she responded with raised voice. Don’t freak out, dude. Don’t freak out. The blonde kept her eye on her own opponents. The dogs were taunting her, trying to inch closer and force her into the water. But the woman wouldn't budge. She knew how they hunted.

They’d try to separate them, pick out the one that looked weaker, and then gang up on them. Tearing down at the legs to topple their prey before going for the kill by biting the throat.

Lucille made a jerky movement with her hunting knife at one of the coyotes with a loud bark of her own, baring her teeth and snarling like an animal, warning them to keep their distance.

Lorenzo looked back and forth between the coyotes before he got startled by Lucille’s shouting. He saw how she was making herself look big by squaring her shoulders and widening her stance. So when turning his attention back to the dogs he did the same, although his already muscled frame was more effective on them.

Something funny happened, he noticed. A light was being shone onto the snouts of these animals, successfully distracting them. He followed where the light was coming from and spotted the two figures he had seen before.

One was using her metallic bat to reflect sunlight, and the other was readying his bow.

Lorenzo was more hopeful about the situation now. If they worked together then surely they’ll get out of this mess. “Keep shining dem in de eyes!” He yelled out to the raven-haired woman.

He gathered his courage and swung the machete at one of the coyotes that flanked him, he missed but the creature was startled enough that it scurried away for a few feet, pacing back and forth in the back as it reassess the situation.

It was at around the same time that Lorenzo called out to the others that one the dogs on Lucille’s side was getting cocky as it tried to snap its jaws at her. Before Lucille could jab her knife at it the creature fell dead before her feet with an arrow stuck in its chest.

Not long after the first arrow reached its target, the second one reached another. Bullseye, right in the skull. Lucille thought to herself as she briefly glanced up to the archer, gave him a quick nod in acknowledgement and then charged for the third coyote.

Tossing her rucksack aside, she barreled down at the dog, causing it the be caught by surprise as it was still distracted by the lights and dead comrades. The dog fell to the ground, tail between its legs as it tried to scratch and bite in defense. But Lucille’ blade was sharper than its teeth as it sunk in between its ribs, letting out a final yelp the coyote died.

Lucille was a valuable asset when it came to outdoors survival, but she was a reckless one. The myriad of scars that decorate her sun-kissed skin were proof of it.

With the score being 3-0 for Humans, the pack decided to cut their losses and scurried off with a series of yelps and howls as they disappeared into the overgrown ruins again.

Lorenzo was shouting Italian curses after them, swinging the machete in victory. When their howls seemed distant enough for everyone to believe that the coast was clear again, Lorenzo bend down, lowering the machete and taking deep breaths. Being a doctor in the village for so long made him rusty…

Lucille was slowly getting up from finishing her kill with heavy panting. She stared at the bodies hit with arrows and figured she’d retrieve them for the archer. Noticing how they were still up on the ridge.

Lorenzo in the meanwhile recovered and slid the machete back behind his belt, readjusted his clothes and backpack before waving his hand at the strangers, “Grazie. I don’t know if we would’ve made it without you.” he said.

Lucille retrieved her rucksack after sheathing her knife again, then handed over the arrows to the archer. “Nice shot.”

 

[Gambit]

Dex looked on as the woman appeared more than capable as she caught the beast by surprise and put an end to it. He kept his bow raised and aimed at the remaining pack which quickly scurried off and disappeared from sight now that they were outnumbered. They wouldn't go far and Dex knew that he'd have to keep a lookout in case the packed decided to return and follow them.

For now, Dex and Fia seemed to have found the other group that they were meeting up with. The dangerous thing was that they couldn't be certain, and trust never came easy in this new world. Instead, Dex had to trust his instincts and his gut in order to determine if the people were worth saving. Mistakes in this world were often the difference between life or death, and Dex reminded himself that the fear of death is what has kept them alive thus far.

"You might not have, but I think she would have been fine." He spoke honestly, replying to the man while his eyes studied the woman and assessing any possible threat from her. It was instinctual, and he expected her to do the same as she brought forth his arrows.

"Thanks, just be glad I hit them and not you." He quipped, meeting her gaze. He retrieved the arrows from her, cleaning off the arrowheads and inspecting the shafts and fletchings before sliding them into his pack. He studied the pair as they stood before them, continuing to assess and read their body language as he always did whenever they came across another group. His instincts guided him to stand forward, placing himself between the pair and Fia in case something happened.

"Are there others coming or..." He asked trailing off . He lifted his gaze to briefly assess the area behind the pair in case there had been others whom he had not seen nearby. "Are you all that is left?" Dex dropped his gaze back towards the woman, his jaw clenching as he met her gaze before turning his attention towards the older man. He figured that these were from the group that was to meet up, but keeping his guard up was what had kept him and Sofia in one piece thus far.

Dex then looked at the dead beasts on the ground, knowing that Sofia would be able to make some use out of the carcasses. "We get to claim the ones that we killed. Sound fair?" He asked the woman, nodding his head towards the three corpses that were strewn about.

 

[RennieD]

Sofia frowned as she tried to distract the pack, changing her targets based on which of the mangy coyotes got too close to the other people. Her dark gaze did not miss a beat, taking in the behavior the pack displaying and tsking when she noticed an arrow lodge into the coyote's chest, a wince when the other was stabbed clear in the ribs. As much as they would love to sell the pelts, she knew that the sloppy work wouldn't earn them much. Pelts with holes sold for much less and the only way to get a decent amount was killing cleanly at the head. They had one, possibly two hides that she could make use of though she knew their time slot wouldn't work in her favor. Her brow did raise at the skill displayed by the young woman, her respect for the only other female rising slightly. It was painfully obvious that the other lacked finesse though his courage would serve them well.

Their voices carried through the mostly open location, something that once again had her questioning the higher ups' decision to make the meeting location so unsafe. With water at their backs, open fields and highway to the sides, and an old decrepit strip mall in front of them...they were basically sitting ducks. The male spoke a language she wasn't familiar with and it quickly piqued her interest. There were not many people educated enough to read or write, many that weren't that bright with proper speech--granted that was the younger generation, yet this man spoke two languages. When the last of the coyotes fled, she lowered her bat, keeping the glare from their eyes as they resumed their trek towards herself and Dex. Her muscles tensed the closer they got, not completely sure they were part of the crew heading toward Haven. A quick glance at Dex's stiff posture immediately told her that she was not alone in her suspicions.

They could easily be part of a trafficking crew, looking for easy prey to sell off or cannibals looking for their next meal. One could never be too careful when interacting with new people especially so far away from town. Upon closer inspection she realized with dismay that she didn't know who these people where, granted, she and Dex stuck to their small group of people so it wasn't unusual that the couple were a mystery to her. Her attention turned to the man, older than herself and Dex yet not old enough to be a burden. Why had he been selected? The young lady she understood given the way she dove without hesitation into battle but the almost clumsy attack from the male was...disheartening. Sofia gripped her bat tighter, nibbling on her full lower lip as she begrudgingly admitted that she was not much better in a fight. Two strong fighters, two who had other skills.

She rolled her eyes at Dex's blunt response. His tone was very matter-of-fact and left very little towards friendship to others. A lazy smile pulled her lower lip free at the true to Dex answer. While she herself would have sugar coated it slightly, she couldn't fault him for being the way he was. Life was hard for all of the people who had made it thus far. They had fell into the normal routine for the duo, Dex assessing quietly while she kept out of his way until it was deemed safe. The one time she tried to push him aside resulted in a brush with cannibals that had targeted them while she tried to search the abandoned research facility for more information. Little did she know they had taken up residence not too far away and little Sofia had walked straight into their path. The knife that had been meant for her throat found itself lodged into Dex's rib cage as as he pushed her out of the way and took the damage for her. It had been the scariest moment of her entire life as he bled profusely, the scar left behind reminded her of the incident every time she saw it.

"As if you'd ever miss." Sofia stepped closer towards his back, peeking her head around his massive frame to study the pair with careful eyes before turning to the carcasses at their feet. "You know...I'm not sure it's worth it. We have to set out today and while I can skin them they need to be salted and hung." She said non-nonchalantly, noting the points of entry into each body. She hoped it wasn't obvious that she had omitted using his name until they knew they could trust the couple. With her attention on the bodies, she realized they could probably get a little for them but the time would set the group back and since only two other people showed up the others may not be as attached to trading supplies for an animal they couldn't claim. "I need...well, almost two weeks to dry them out." She sighed at the waste noting how the starving animals were skin and bones. Their meat wasn't the best but could be useful in dire situations.

The trip was to be made as quickly as they could, granted a time line wasn't given especially since they didn't know exactly where they were headed. Just Arizona. Still, it wasn't wise to stay in unfamiliar territories too long. She ignored the blood seeping into the dry ground, muddling the dirt an almost dark red color. They needed to be far away from here very soon, she realized quickly. The heat would scorch the bodies, prompting the decaying process and attracting vultures to come and enjoy their feast. The nasty birds had mostly mutated, one of the first bird species to do so or so she had been told. They were larger than before, meaner, and able to make off with an adult in their clutches. It didn't matter whether the food source was dead or not, if they wanted to eat they did yet with the mutation the humans had realized the bird's ability to smell a fresh kill increased. Her group did not have the sanctuary to hide in while she worked on the bodies.

"So..." She drawled out, returning her attention to the new comers. "Did you guys get a look at the list? Are we it then?" She cocked her head to the side. Smaller list meant less people they were responsible for while also meaning it was a greater chance to get ambushed. Fuck. "What part of town are you guys from anyway?" Sofia asked, shifting her weight in a sign of unease. She wasn't as stoic as Dex, something she was sure he wished he could change about her and yet here she was. Even if they could mention the section they lived it didn't make them in the clear. Cannibals had a distinctive look in their eyes, some even sharpened their teeth for more effective eating. This wasn't the full cannibalistic tell, especially among the newer consumers, those looked just like everyone else. While none of these individuals shared a resemblance to that distinct group it didn't clear them from other areas of crime. "Not to be a jerk or anything but we want to make sure we can trust that you're part of the...selected." She caught herself from giving away their destination even if it was unknown.

 

[ImaginationGoneWild]

The blonde male was quick to reply back to Lorenzo when he thanked the strangers for helping them chase away the coyotes. But the answer didn’t please Lorenzo. He glanced at Lucille who was gathering up the arrows from the dog-corpses and begrudgingly agreed to that assumption.

Lucille didn’t show it but on the inside she was smirking. She saw it plenty of times; people get too comfy when they think they’re safe or cling to the illusion that they can lead a normal life...It makes people soft, weak.

Lorenzo watched how Lucille handed the arrows back to the archer. He could tell by the way she ran her tongue over her teeth that she wasn’t pleased with the man’s comment on how she should be grateful that he hit the dogs and not her. That feisty woman never passes a challenge when she hears one…

'nother man who thinks they’re better than me, she thought to herself. We’ll see about that…She was just as observant as the archer was, her ego even allowed her to think she may have been better. She noticed how he behaved around the brunette behind him, he was firmly placed between her and them. Very protective...A clutch. They had this look about their eyes...a look Lucille was very familiar with. It was the same ones she had once relished during her marauding days.

“Almost feels like home…” She muttered under her breath as she climbed up the ridge to get a better view of the area herself. But she was smart enough to keep her distance from the couple, heck, she even turned her back towards them to make them feel a tiny bit more comfortable.

Lorenzo was less observant, but still aware of the tension between the pairs. He was more worried about Lucille’s reactions, having witnessed them plenty of times at the settlement. She was surprisingly calm...He straightened himself again when the young brunette revealed herself from behind the archer. Her comment about how he never missed made him arch his brows. Dat’s good to know, he thought.

When Dex asked if there were any other people coming Lorenzo briefly exchanged a glance with Lucille before returning it to the archer, “We are it... I’m not sure about de other settlements.” Lorenzo trailed off uncomfortably, the strangers must be disappointed that they weren’t big brawny men armed to the teeth. Well...Lucille was armed to the teeth if the archer payed attention, it was hard to miss all those knives clutching to her. The archer might also have noticed the bend pieces of number plates poking behind the laces of her boots.

After an awkward moment of silence it was decided by the archer that whoever killed the coyotes could claim it as their own. Lucille looked down at the dogs, they weren’t much to look at really. “Ya can keep the pelt but I want the meat.” drying meats don’t take as much time as treating pelts.

She listened when the brunette offered her own opinion about the corpses. She frowned briefly though, not realizing that everyone was on a schedule. She figured they’d get there when they get there. If the place was still up and running. It wouldn’t be the first story she heard about people looking for sanctuary only to find ruins instead...

But then Sofia caught them both of guard when she asked them about a list. The two stared at each other, clear confusion painted on Lorenzo’s face while the gears in Lucille’s head began ticking. Their silence must’ve motivated Sofia to ask them more, like what part of town they were from.

Lorenzo piped up then, his accent thick as always, “We’re from past de flooded suburbans,” he said as he pointed a little ways past the lake where neat houses sat side by side with overgrown gardens. He lifted his hand, fully understanding why they needed to be certain. “Va bene. We’d do de same.”

Normally Lucille would be very opposed to telling a random stranger where their homebase was...but in this case….fuck it. She explained, “He volunteered, I got booted out.”

Lorenzo tilted his head at her, feeling sorry for her. “It wasn’t like dat. We're the strongest dey had.”

Normally Lucille would be very opposed to telling a random stranger where their homebase was...but in this case….fuck it. She explained, “He volunteered, I got booted out.”

Lorenzo tilted his head at her, feeling sorry for her. “It wasn’t like dat. You’re one of the strongest dey had.”

Lucille turned to him, still atop the ridge by the couple. “Most of them are old and decrepit. And the ones that ain’t are too busy poppin’ babies. Sarah was practically pickin’ names.” she said with a wicked smile, hands on her hips. “Ya wanted out, I was no longer welcome.”

Lorenzo hated to admit it but she was right. He came to the realization that perhaps none ever planned on sending someone to see if the Haven rumors were true. No wonder he didn’t hear of ‘the list’. In fact they never went to meetings, all there was were rumors and then a decision that needed to be made. He glanced back at Lucille who was climbing back down to grab the dog she killed by the hinds… it was an excuse to get rid of her.

Lucille was getting cranky from the heat and lack of vices in her bloodstream. She dragged the dog-corpse towards the mall, seeing as that place was in better shape then anything else around them.

While she did, she announced, “Don’t know what ya’ll are gonna do but I’m skinnin’ this thing and gettin’ its meat.” She figured if there were supposed to be others joining them then they might as well set up camp for the night. At least they can dry the meat, and make up a game plan. “If no one else comes by tomorrow, fuck ‘em!”

 

[Gambit]

Dex couldn't help but flash a smirk at Fia's compliment, examining the arrows that he used to ensure that they hadn't been damaged beyond repair. He takes his time, removing the hunks of flesh and meat from the tips, cleaning the sharp points and giving them a final inspection before placing them back in his satchel. It took him quite a bit of practice to learn how to craft and shape the arrowheads, and it was equally difficult to find the right stone. Thankfully Dex had crafted several spares which he hadn't had to replace often, doing his best to avoid using his bow and relying on traps instead to catch their meals.

Dex still felt incredibly wary about the woman, watching her out of the corner of his eye while the older man spoke. He knew that if either of them were to pose a threat to Fia and himself, the woman would be the more dangerous of the pair. Yet, he was surprised when he noticed the woman turn her back to him as she headed up the ridge to scout the area. He dismissed the woman's behaviour, doing his best to give the pair the benefit of the doubt while they decided on their next move. It was difficult to trust strangers in this new world that they lived in, but sometimes the risk was the best option to keep them alive and Dex had to be okay with that.

As per usual, Dex let Sofia do most of the talking as she was often the more civil and grounded of the pair. That and she was better at negotiation and knew which cards to show and which ones to keep hidden. He let the two go back and forth, thinking briefly on some of the things that the man revealed as he spoke. He shifted his attention from him to the fiery woman as she spoke about being removed from their previous group. Dex had to admit, there was something about the woman's brash attitude that he admired, something that he would never admit to.

He pulls his attention away from the other two and takes the limp carcasses, slinging them over his shoulder before grabbing the rest of their belongings and following the woman's lead up the ridge. They would need to find somewhere to camp for the night and it wouldn't do them any good if they waited around longer than they had to, just in case someone else might show up. They would need to figure out their next move soon, especially if there was no one else showing up. Dex played out various scenarios in his mind, his fingers idly fiddling with a lighter in his pocket as he ascended the ridge.

There were several abandoned store fronts ahead, all of which either had their window's blown out or boarded up and there had been no sign that someone had been by recently. He watched as the woman headed towards one, while Dex claimed the store next to it. He wanted to keep a slight distance between them for now, but remained close by in case there were any more surprises.

 

[RennieD]

Sofia ignored Dex, allowing him his time to inspect his weapons while she took over for his lack of attention. The woman jumping on the ridge surprised her and she wasn't quite sure if the action was done out of cockiness or dismissal on their part. Sure there was a threat at every corner but they didn't know that she and Dex weren't a threat to them. Her grip tightened on her baseball bat, the worn material of the handle offering little relief from the heat the sun beamed down on the metal weapon. Her dark eyes shifted between the man and woman, not quite sure which one to keep her eye on for the time being until the woman answered them about their kill. She wanted what little meat was on the canines, which was fine with Sofia. Dex had already carried most of their supplies and in it was a lot of dried meat they had practically hoarded in case things went bad.

Their district, while somewhat safe, was never free from crime. The 'home' they made for themselves was switched up between several locations out of sheer paranoia. Sofia had noticed that those that tend to linger in one place were more prone to crime. Routines were easy to memorize and security was a dream from the past. When Dex had the opportunity to kill animals free from mutation, they would dine on a small amount of cooked meat and she would dry the rest. A good portion of his pack contained their rations of food. Sofia glanced down at the mutts Dex had killed and she felt her mouth water at the idea of having warm meat once more. They could eat until their bellies were fit to burst for the first time in a long time.

"Alright, you can have the meat but we want at least one for meat tonight. We have too much packed for us to carry more, you're welcome to our share of the rest." She motioned to their coyotes with her bat. It felt so odd to turn down any form of fresh meat and Sofia could honestly say it was the first time in her life she had done so. This wasn't a place they would stay for long periods where she could store them for later dining. The harsh reality of traveling was that each could only take what they could carry. She wasn't sure if Dex would be alright with her decision but if he wasn't, he didn't argue or give any outward indication that he didn't agree. Once again, she turned to the others, eyes widening at the realization that they were just as unsure of who was on the list as well. Perhaps only her subdivision created a list while others just decided to join?

"Past them...?" Sofia asked, following his gaze to where he had gestured. A deep chill ran through her body at the thought of living so close to the water. While she held a normal respectable fear for animal and plant life, she made sure to stay clear of any water sources that were deeper than just above the ankle or wider than she could hop across. Dex always was the one to bring water back to their home whether it was for cooking, bathing, or boiling to drink. She had heard horror stories growing up of the monsters that lived in the waters, unable to be seen unless by those knowing what to look for. Sofia pulled herself from her inner fears as she forced herself to focus on the group once more.

"We're from the compound area." She motioned in the other direction. It was common knowledge the compound was where it all began, the research facility basically being ground zero. While they couldn't go into the actual facility for long periods of time, there was an off site neighborhood that housed the families of the employees. The house they grew up in, while covered in vegetation, was their last residence they had stuck with before leaving. They didn't need to know specifics just like they were vague in their response. The admission of getting booted did cause her brow to arch. Sure they didn't expect to have the best of the best traveling with them, especially since she and Dex were more of the loners, but she wasn't sure what would force an entire town would push for someone to leave...clearly this girl had some potentially dangerous secrets.

Her musings were cut short when the girl dragged her kill and Dex claimed his. It did look like they would be staying here for a bit, she sighed, watching the two walk away with their prizes. At least they had a place to hide out but the thought of being so exposed left her with a sinking feeling in her gut. Keeping on the move was smarter but she supposed waiting for others for a night wouldn't be too bad, especially if they got fresh meat. Sofia raised her hand up to hover above her face as she peered at the sun's position. They had left in the morning to be the first ones here and several hours had passed between travel and waiting. Lunch time roughly, she figured since the sun was directly on top of them. Time in numbers no longer was relevant, only how much daylight allowed for the dull human eyes to see.

"Well, I don't know what babies have to do with anything but I guess we shouldn't leave them alone for too long. Neither seems like people persons." She motioned towards the two that had departed, silently approving of the division between the group. The next several days, weeks, or even months would probably not allow privacy between the group members. Settling separately might help them to become a little more open to the idea of trusting each other? "I'm Sofia, by the way, and my partner is Dex." She added, bending down to gather her journal along with her pencil before stuffing it in her pack. The zipper hung on by a thread but would work for now. Backpacks weren't exactly something that grew on trees and Sofia could only once again count how lucky she was that their own survived for so long. "Figured you'd want a name instead of 'girl' or 'boy'. " She shrugged, allowing time for him to offer his name if he desired.

She shoulders her pack and placed her bat between the straps while she glanced at the open field with a mixture of dry and dead grass. It would work perfectly for their fire building, she acknowledged with a nod. Sofia walked a little ways closer to the taller grass and crouched down to begin her task. Carefully she plucked the dried grass, making sure to keep her ears open for any foreign noises. Her back was to the man, showing that didn't feel threatened and, in her own odd way, it was an invitation to join her.

"Are you familiar with how to make a fire?" She asked knowing many people did but not everyone was good at it. There were those that had others do it for them, those were the more privileged in this crumbled society, the elite folks as they could be considered. Still their lack of knowledge was a liability should they ever be without anyone to help. Her question was not entirely innocent as she tried to gain some sort of knowledge about those that were coming with them. She worked diligently making sure to collect any dried leaves she found as a welcomed addition to her growing pile of tinder.

The closer they got to the woods the more they would find for sticks be the kindling and if maybe if they were lucky there were things to burn as the fuel to keep the fire going.

 

[ImaginationGoneWild]

When Sofia mentioned that they came from the compound area it caused Lorenzo to arch a brow in surprise. People still live dere? He’s never seen the area but he heard plenty of stories about that place. The ghost stories of the new era...The juiciest one involved ‘super-shamblers’(infected) lurking inside the research facility that come out at night to wreak havoc on any traveler they find.

Lorenzo watched Lucille and Dex carry away their kills as he adjusted his ballcap, wiping away any sweat clinging to his forehead. He would’ve helped her but she didn’t seem in a ‘accepting-help-mood’...

He chuckled at Sofia’s comment about their ‘partners’ not being people persons. “Very accurate. Mine’s got a bit of a mean streak,” he warned as he watched Lucille disappear into one of the stores. “But...I tink she means well.”

He stood there with his hands on his hips, unsure whether he should join Lucille or stay with Sofia...

Thankfully she made things less awkward for them by introducing herself and her archer friend. Lorenzo smiled friendly at her as he placed his hand on his chest, “Lorenzo Orfeo, and dat was Lucille Wilder,” he said with an Italian accent. “Some advice...Don’t call her ‘Lucy’. She hates it.”

He watched Sofia crouch down to gather dry grass. That’s when the penny dropped for him, tinder! With a quick adjustment of his backpack straps he joined her gathering dried grass and leaves for the fires.

He nodded and hummed at her, responding to her question. “Who doesn’t dese days?” he chuckled when it reminded him of the time he struggled with getting a fire going once. He decided to share it with Sofia as they continued to gather tinder and firewood.

“...after hours of trying I finally got it zmoking. I transfer de tinder to my pit, successfully. And den I kicked dirt over it when I got up…”

Meanwhile at the store…

After unceremoniously dropping the animal on the floor with an audible thud Lucille glanced around. The floor crunched with dried twigs and leaves. Here and there were patches of dirt and weeds that managed to thrive in the shade. The windows were broken but boarded up, walking up to them she licked her finger and cleaned a small spot through the wooden planks.

She continued exploring as she pushed empty clothes racks out of the way...Actually, she thought. She could use them to dry the meat on. But besides some vines and bushes there wasn’t anything of concern.

With hands on her hips, her sunglass covered eyes peering into the distance, spotting Lorenzo and Sofia gathering tinder and firewood. Pleased that she didn’t have to tell him to grab some.

As she headed back inside she dropped her backpack and took off her sunglasses and hat, and worked to make a spot for them to sleep and make a fire, and worked on the coyote.

It wasn’t too long after that Lorenzo arrived with a bundle of wood in his arms, gently knocking on the doorway to announce his presence. “Knock, knock. I brought stuff for de fire.”

Lucille looked up and nodded at him, then pointed at a spot in the store, “Ya can set everything up there. Then place the rack over it. There’s some hangers over there.”

Lorenzo nods and walks over to the assigned spot for the campfire. He took off his ballcap and backpack as he glanced back and forth between Lucille and the windows. “So...what do you tink about-”

Lucille cut him off, “Don’t wanna talk…”

Lorenzo paused, sitting in a crouched position staring at her with a sigh. “Non mi aspettavo che tu lo facessi…” he muttered under his breath which caused Lucille’s dual colored eyes to glare at him suspiciously.

Lorenzo decided to do the talking himself then, she never said about not listening…

“I like dem. De girl is nice. Dey’re called Sofia and Dex…” he glanced at her, wondering if she was listening. His small smile started to disappear when his attention caught both her tattoo sleeves. Particularly the one with the gang tats.

He cleared his voice as he continued to work on the campfire, using his matches to light the tinder. “Maybe...um...Maybe you should hide your...arms.”

Now that made her look up from stripping meat. She glanced down at her arms before looking back at him, surprised by the hint of worry in his voice “They probably already noticed...” she said as she started to pout. Great….now he made -her- worry...last thing she needs is more paranoia, especially this early into the trip.

She dropped the knife in annoyance, glaring at him and licking her lips in frustration.

Lorenzo nodded at his backpack, "I have an extra shirt. Long sleeves."

She reluctantly agreed to his plan, fishing out his shirt and putting it on to hide the tats. "For now...I'll hide them."

 

[Gambit]

Dex dropped the pack he was carrying, enjoying the feeling of relief as the weight on his shoulders eased as the heavy bag rested on the concrete floor. He sighed, suddenly feeling the wave of exhaustion rolling over him after coming this far. Combined that with the anxiety he felt towards the prospect of encountering other groups of people, he was definitely looking forward to resting for a few hours.

He kneels down, unzipping the encumbered pack to withdraw a heavy blanket and some of the dried meat they had kept stored. He'd allow Fia to set up their makeshift 'camp', while he went to work on building themselves a small fire to cook their fresh kill to prevent the risk of the meat going bad. Thankfully, they weren't as exposed in the abandoned storefront which provided them with some semblance of shelter and with darkness setting in, the plumes of smoke from the small cooking fire would be invisible to anyone travelling by.

Dex settled himself down, laying out some items and tools that had been kept inside the large backpack, tools that they had scavenged along their journey. Dex set to work on clearing out a small space along the otherwise messy floor, setting up a small perimeter where the fire would be so Sofia could set to work on cooking the meat. He'd wait until his other half returned with the kindling they would need to get the fire started, in the mean time Dex scoped out their surroundings, making a mental note of their most accessable escape routes and any openings that could allow someone to sneak up on them.

"Took you long enough." Dex muttered as Fia approached, her otherwise silent footsteps padded along the dusty concrete floor. He lifted his gaze to catch her looking down at him as she entered the makeshift camp. His eyes wandered along her features searching her expression for any sort of worry or anxiousness after her brief interaction with the others. He took the handful of branches, dried leaves, and other kindling from her and set to work on starting the small fire.

"What are your thoughts, Fia?" He asked her, focusing on the task at hand while listening to what she had to say. He withdrew a small lighter from his back pocket, hoping that there was enough fuel to at least spark the bundle of dried leaves he held in his free hand. Thankfully the leaves were dry enough that a few sparks we're enough to set the bundle alight. He quickly placed the bundle at the center of the exposed space and added a few of the branches to the growing flame. He would venture out for a few larger pieces of food in a few minutes, but first Dex wanted to hear what Fia had to say.

 

[RennieD]

'Lorenzo Orfeo' Sofia repeated in her head clearly noticing the use of last names. Perhaps it was a thing where they were from but most of the town folk she knew had deemed them useless. Her own last name hadn't been uttered since before a year or two after her parent's death. 'Lucille' She nodded slightly in acknowledgment to his advice, her tongue pressing against the roof of her mouth in thought. Of course she wouldn't use a nickname, the act alone was incredibly personal and if Lucille's prickly behavior was any indication Sofia knew a cuddle fest was not in their future. Not that she had anything against the woman, she didn't know her enough to pass judgement but she didn't live this long without keeping her guard up. Sofia tossed her long braid over her shoulder and wiped the sweat from her brow as she continued her task of collecting the tinder. The dried foliage crinkled as she gathered them, pressing them together in order to collect enough.

Her eyes rolled at his question and she sighed in exasperation. "You'd be surprised." She switched to gathering thicker sticks to act as kindling. "There are plenty of people who still live in denial, thinking that others will care for them." She said almost rhetorically. Her tone was more exhausted, a hint that she didn't desire to continue that conversation. While she was trying to get a feel for the man that would be traveling with her, she didn't want to pretend like they were going to be best pals. It was a dog eat dog world out here, trust few and the chances of survive went up. As if sensing her lack of desire, he flawlessly picked up the conversation. Whether it was to offer comfort for either person or to just eat up the silence, she didn't know. Her burden in her arms began to grow heavier as she applied what flimsy scraps could be called firewood to her load.

Still, despite the scraping of bark against her olive complexion and the tiring of her muscles from maintaining the position, Sofia found herself drawn into the man's story. His accent was charming and helped to paint the scene he was building for her. The chuckle that escaped her dried lips at the end definitely surprised her. Still, she felt the small amount of amusement at his previous plight and the corner of her lips tilted into a small smile.

"That sucks." She laughed lightly as she straightened her stance. Her eyes landing on him briefly before scanning their surroundings once more. She had stories of her own blunders she could offer but she remained silent. Her eyes weren't sharp like a hunter's but movement was easy to notice. Thankfully the other coyotes decided not to return but it didn't mean their danger was over. She shifted the load in her arms, wincing slightly as a sharp edge poked her stomach through her flimsy shirt. "As much as I'd love to hear embarrassing stories, it's getting late." She nodded towards the position of the sun. They would need to establish their shelter with the remaining sunlight they had and try to make it as safe as possible to last throughout the night.

"Let's go back." She said firmly, not liking the way the quiet environment surrounded them. Based of his fighting skills from earlier he wouldn't be much protection until the real fighters could make it. Hell, she was sure they could distract them long enough to be seriously injured by the time the others could help. Sofia waited until he stood as well and both headed back towards the outdoor shopping district. Her mouth remained firm as she focused on listening, turning your back on open area was definitely dangerous. Thankfully their trek was uneventful and Sofia could feel her heart lightening as they came to the part where they would go their separate ways.

"If you guys need anything, let us know." She said awkwardly. It was an odd thing to say. Children always had their protection, mostly Dex did the protecting while she was the second defense, but other adults....she and Max mostly kept to themselves. He exchanged his offer to break the tension and this was hers, even if she didn't fully mean it. Sofia gave a small smile and nod as her parting words before turning towards the shop she had seen Dex claim as theirs. Broken glass crunched beneath her shoes and she inhaled the familiar scent of mildew and disappointment. The run down shop was better than nothing but the smoke stained walls, broken glass displays, and tattered remains of things once beautifully displayed definitely didn't give it a warm welcome. Her footsteps didn't falter despite her dismay, it had been so long since they were able to have nice housing. Even the 'pristine' conditioned homes would have been considered run down in the past. Max's father had painted the scene of what the world was like before hell took over. As she crossed the jagged glass threshold, she shook her head, unable to imagine it to be safe and clean. Where people could walk without any concerns and children had nothing to fear.

Most of the glass had long since been cleared, her footsteps were silent just like Max had relentlessly taught her. A genuine smile lit up her features as she noticed the cleared away space. It never failed to amuse her that he would offer her a clear path so she could work on the rest. Her need to push out clutter from their dirty world was something she refused to sacrifice. Most of the things were long since gone, the plants consuming most of the garbage but there were somethings even the plants wouldn't touch. Sofia nodded at his impatient words, quietly handing over her burden before setting her backpack down. Immediate relief filled her muscles and she arched her back and raised her hands above her head until she heard the little 'pop' and the instant relief.

"Mmm." She sighed in satisfaction before bending down to get started on clearing the rest of the debris. "Well, Lorenzo was interesting to talk to. He's funny too." She added knowing funny didn't really mean much but it did lighten the mood somewhat. She pushed all the rubbish towards the front entrances, knowing that should anything come in, the noise would alert them before the intruders could do harm. She paused in her movements, satisfied that there wasn't much but at least enough was cleared that they could rest without being cramped, a fire could take place, and she could skin the coyotes without worry about getting too much dirt on the fresh meat.

"What do I think?" She cocked her head to the side, pondering his question. She snagged her backpack, maneuvering around the larger pieces of furniture that would hide them from immediate view. "I think that the girl--Lucille," Sofia corrected herself. "I think Lucille will be a good asset and I know you think so too. You rarely pay anyone a compliment and you gave her one from the get go." She rolled her eyes a little miffed at that. A slight sting of jealousy tightened her chest before she pushed it down. Their small world would get bigger and they would be less reliant on each other, of course others would fill in those gaps.

"I think Lorenzo is...interesting." She studied her skinny blade, appreciating the work Dex put into it the other night. The edges were sharpened beautifully for their journey making skinning animals much easier. "I'm not sure what purpose he serves but he has a nice...calming I guess, demeanor." She shrugged her shoulders. He admitted to volunteering so he must have his uses. "But then again, the same could be said about me. I'm just smart when it comes to plants." She said sarcastically, a little sore about her uselessness in battle. She had already been proven a danger to herself and others when wielding sharp weapons. Sofia plopped down next to the coyote's feet and set to work on skinning the animal. Each cut was precise and she worked quickly. "I think we could do worse..." She added quietly. "And who knows, we could if there are others." She paused to look at Dex.

"What do you think about them?" She asked softly, meeting his eyes for a brief moment before returning to her task. She wasn't sure if Dex had enough info to formulate a good judgement but she knew that he was usually just as weary as she was with new people, sometimes more.

 

[Gambit]

Dex shot Sofia a look when she mentioned about him paying the woman a compliment, knowing that while the statement was true he disliked it when she called him out on it. He also couldn't help but notice that there was some underlying jealousy in her words, something that both of them strove to avoid getting in the way of their relationship. Nevertheless, Dex ignored the jab and continued to listen to what she had to say about their new comrades. He never wanted Sofia to feel threatened by another woman, he had devoted his whole life to her and would stop at nothing to let any single person get in his way of that. Just thinking about someone trying to create a rift between the two caused Dex's grip to tighten around a handful of leaves he held in his palm. He let out a sigh, releasing the fragments of dried leaves and watched as they turned to smoldering embers once they met the flames.

"She is a good asset, one that we will see coming if they try to double cross us. Now Lorenzo, he is the one that I would be more worried about..." Dex trails off, looking into the distance to eye the other pair setting up their own camp for the night. "But like you said, we won't get anywhere in this new world if we don't try and let others help.." Dex's demeanor softened, knowing that there was always something that they had to keep a look out for, and human's were never the most trustworthy, but they had to at least take the chance. Her future depended on it and Dex wouldn't let their lives waste away because they never took a chance.

"Just remember what I told you, listen less to what they are saying and more to the things that they aren't saying." Dex reminded her, rising to his feet and dusting off his hands after determining that the fire was steady. He watched his lover as she carefully and skillfully went to work on preparing the animal. He always admired her ability to show great care when it came to such mundane tasks, something he tried to instill in himself and replicate which was never easy.

"We'll give it more thought later, for now lets just rest and enjoy our time alone for the rest of the night." Dex's tone offering some reassurance to this otherwise new territory that they were both in. He wanted to ensure that Sofia trusted their decision and it was the right choice while also making sure that their bond was unbreakable. "I'll get us a few more pieces of wood to burn for the night, then we can settle in. Alright?" He searched for her gaze while she worked, awaiting for her affirmation before disappearing to find some more kindling.

 

[RennieD]

Sofia glanced at him briefly when he sighed, the crinkling of the leaves telling her of the direction his thoughts were taking. While she could not read his mind, she had learned to pick up little tells that betrayed his mood. Her eyes traveled but a second when the long since dead leaves fell from his large hands to meet a fiery end before they shifted to her task at hand. She tugged firmly at the pelt as it slid down the body, exposing the meager muscle the animal held. Dex's gentle timbre washed over her ears, soothing the indifference she began to feel until she released a sigh of her own. At least they were in agreement about their newest female member. She was a double edge sword and needed to be treated as such. Lorenzo...she would find out more about him before long, given how open he was about breaking the silence...then again, she could be viewed similarly.

She hummed thoughtfully as the last of the pelt left the body, pleased at her skill and the fact that Dex would be willing to let others get a little closer. She rose to her feet, not bothering to swipe at the bits of pebbles that had dug into her skin when she had remained seated on the ground. The ash coated her tanned thighs and the tips of her long hair had turned a dull grey from brushing the ground while she had worked.

The pelt was held at arms length, careful to avoid the bodily fluids that coated the underside. They would have to wash off if they were drenched in blood, much faster than they would from sweat or dirt. Having any type of blood, fresh or old, on your person was asking for a swift death. Dex continued his advice and Sofia was sorely tempted to roll her eyes. Of course he would repeat his advice again. He had drilled it into her head since they were young and once more last night in the flickering amber lights of their last fire at home. She carefully hung the pelt on the table with the least amount of damage, fur side down, until she could construct something in the morning. They would need to cook the meat quickly so that the death didn't call to other predators.

"I know, I know. You've told me, like, at least a hundred times in the past week." She sighed, wiping her brow with her forearm. Once she was certain the fur would have a shot at drying, she turned back to her partner and noticed the worry and tension sewn into his blue eyes. The fire in her own dwindled until she tossed any annoyance out the window. "Okay, I get it." She carefully made her way back to the animal without tripping on any of the debris. Without much grace, she flopped to the floor once more and snagged her knife to begin the process of cutting the meat from the meager corpse.

"I'll be careful." She glanced up at him, noticing the way he watching her slender fingers work. Nothing out of the norm even on a night unlike any other. It was comforting in an odd way, she decided. "I'll watch body language AND I'll listen." She lowered her chin slightly and raised her brows as if to ask 'happy now?'. The silence held between them for a few moments before he spoke up. She waved him away, setting the strips of meat to rest on a few of the sticks she had brought. Not sanitary but the fire would kill any contamination.

"Alright. Make sure to bring back more of the thinner sticks too. I want to try and dry some of the meat for jerky." Her brows furrowed as she looked at the skinned coyote. There really wasn't a whole lot to be had with the poor animal but she would probably cook the organs tonight and save the muscle for the jerky. It wasn't the most desirable but they would not have the luxury of storage on the road and it was much easier to dry the meat than it was the liver. His footsteps were mostly silent, an amazing feat in itself given his size, and she soon found herself alone with the fire before her. The other two in another shop spoke quietly if at all and yet their mere presence helped to offer some reassurance that she wasn't completely alone while Dex gathered what he needed.