I wipe a few beads of sweat from my forehead, sighing deeply. The golden-yellow glow of the sunset...it's beautiful. Which is ironic, since down here it's anything but. Bandits, psychopaths infected by the disease, psychopaths who don't have that excuse...Yeah. It's almost like the earth is wearing the sunset as a mask. Or a taunt. Maybe we deserve this. People. It's not like we've really shown ourselves to be worthy of a bright, beautiful world. Maybe the disease was just karma. Who knows.

I pull the photograph from the breast pocket of my jacket. There she is. Long brown hair, slightly curly, with beautiful hazel eyes. And a smile that could light up the world. I wonder if she's still alive. Oh, if anyone could take care of herself, it would be her. Christa Lahar. One of my two best friends, who I haven't seen since the shit hit the fan. She was on the other side of the United States when the virus hit. With the lock-down, I couldn't even try to get to her for the first 2 or 3 years. We lost contact.

But now here I am. Traveling from the east coast to the west coast. It's been 17 years. 17 long years since the Scourge hit. I still don't know if Christa is alive. Or Vincent, a good buddy I worked with. If they're alive I'll find them. I have to. They are all I have left. Even my cat, Audrey, is long dead. She bit it 5 years ago. Group of raiders ambushed me and the group I was with, survivors from Old Town Alexandria. Oh we holed up for a good while, but...that was the beginning of the end. Lost our best people that day, including my cat. She was a damn good cat too. Burried her furry little body in Old Town.

I put the photo back in my pocket, and hoist the strap of my Colt AR-15 a little higher on my shoulder. I also have a desert eagle strapped to my hip, an SOG SEAL tactical combat knife. I got lucky and found this a few years ago on the body of a dead soldier. It was on an army guy though, which is what I don't understand. I'm sure there is a story behind it, but I'll never know what it is.

I'm carying a backpack with a few provisions. Some MRE's I looted from an abandoned car. A gallon jug of water. A blanket, and some extra ammunition. And Audrey's collar. I also wear a necklace, a jade pendant that Christa gave me before she headed cross country to see her family for a few months.

The old run down interstate is at my feet, rusted beat up cars and trucks lining the road. I have many long miles ahead of me. Best keep going until dark.

Jack watched the man look at a picture. He had been following him for a long time, his grey cloak hiding his identity. The hoard he had used to follow had dispersed, making him feel alone again. For weeks he had watched them, noting their habits, and their weaknesses. He patted the M4 slung across his back, with his backpack beneath it. Jack took a sip from his canteen. He felt for the knife in the sheath on his belt, making sure it was still there.

"Oi! Don't move!" Jack shouted, his rifle aimed at the man. He came out from his hiding spot, a tree with a thick trunk. "Put your weapons and your bag on the ground, or I'll blow your brains against the road." Jack hadn't gotten this far by taking chances. He wasn't going to walk up all friendly. Nah, Jack was too smart for that. His rifle was aimed steadily at the stranger's chest. He didn't want to attract oppoes with the noise, but it was a necessary evil.
@LoneSilverWolf

It was that time of the month again. Food and supply run for her house. It always amazed her how much food and supplies one person could through in one month. Although she had a garden and a small farm going on, she still needed curtain items to live on. She self taught herself to create a farm, collecting rainwater and raise chickens, goats, and pigs after a few failed attempted. However, she still needed curtain items, such as fuel and stuff from a grocery store that you cannot produce in such a small area. Although most of her cooking and needs were in filled, she still craved something stuff.

Guinevere, or Ginny for short was never a people person. She was always around the infected, abuse, or places that claimed to be good. However, living on her own proved to be successful. She almost lost her house a few times due to poor security for invaders and the infected. However, she managed to always save her home and stuff. She refuses to trade or take people in, for the fear of something to happening. The fear of getting close, losing her parents home, or everything she worked so hard for. However, she had no problem helping people out who really needed some help.

Ginny sat at her table and drank her coffee, watching the sun raise. Sipping on it and making a small mental note of the things see needed for her supply run. Fuel, some can goods from the local store, and metal to repair her Z-Wacker. Before she took off from the orphanage, her only friend made it for her to survive the infected. So far, it's helped her in a tight bind. She put her coffee down and sighed, not really in the mood to make a half day journey to town to pick up her monthly items. She stood up and grabbed her bag and weapon, and swung it over her shoulder. She made her way to the back yard and looked out the door to double check her mini farm. She watched for a moment to see if her animals were find, and if the crops where decent looking, since they looked like they were failing once more.

She turned away and made her way to the front door, and left behind her home for the day. As she made it to the end of the street and debated about which way to get. Going straight would take less than a half day, but running the risk of running into the infected, but taking a left would lead her to the highway, and she would have a change to rummage through cars and find anything that may be interesting for her gadgets. She decided the highway since she should think about updating a few things in her house. It was crazy what people brought with them when they tried to leave the town. Once, she found a christmas tree in someones trunk. For the life of her, she couldn't figure out why someone had a christmas tree in there trunk.

She slowly made her way to the highway, avoiding the infected. She was light footed, so they never really spotted her. Once she spotted the highway, she grinned. "Just a bit longer." she mumbled to herself. She walked up to one of the cars and tried to open it, and like always, it was locked. She shook her head and went to another, popping the door open. She plopped into the passenger seat and looked over to the driver side. Nothing. She opened the areas to continue to find nothing. When she reached up to the sun visor, a set of keys fell into her lap. She smiled and hopped out and went to the trunk of the vehicle. She popped it open with the key, and opened it. "Jack pot!" she said with a small smile. There was a few cases of MRE's, case of water, and a could suit cases. She pulled the case of water out and MRE's, and began to zip open one of the suit cases. She flipped it open to find over-sized mens clothing. She tossed the suit case out and began to open the other one. When she opened it, it was flipped with baby items. Pictures, clothing, blankets, and formula. She sighed and picked up the picture and looked it. She wondered if this child had made it. Part of her hoped not.. she wouldn't wish for her children to live in such a place.

She placed the picture back into the suit case and grabbed the couple formula cans that were in there. She knew they were good for just in cases bases if one of her goats past while giving birth. She could feed them this. She stuffed the formula into her backpack and closed the truck. At that moment, she ducked because she saw someone in the distance walking. "AHH Shit.." she mumbled. She peered to the side of the vehicle and noticed the man wasn't alone. A much younger fellow was holding a weapon to his head. "Shit.. shit.. damn it!" she mumbled. She went onto the other side of the vehicle crouching and grabbed her weapon. She peered her head to see the action going on through the windshield. She sighed and slowly made her way to a closer car to hear there conversation. She knew she should had taken the infected way to town.

[i][b]"Oi! Don't move! Put your weapons and your bag on the ground, or I'll blow your brains against the road."[/i][/b]

I was startled as the man--no, wait...the kid--stepped from behind a tree. And startling me isn't exactly easy. I hadn't heard, nor seen any sign of anyone in the area. I briefly considered going for my rifle, but that would be stupid. Besides, I still have my knife sheathed in my boot--out of sigh out of mind, as they say. I look the kid over, his dark brown hair and piercing eyes. Well. I ain't about to be robbed and left to die out here with no food and no supplies.

Well, shit, I think to myself as I slide the rifle from my shoulder very slowly. "Alright kid, don't shoot, you hear? I'm just gonna drop this rifle at my feet, nice and gentle like." As I speak, I lower the weapon onto the asphalt. I don't break eye contact with this stranger, sizing him up. Will he shoot if I just charge him? Probably. He's just a kid and I don't want to hurt him, but it's seeming like I'm going to have to kill him. Or die trying.

Next, I lower my backpack to the ground, then slowly with one hand over my head, he other on the pistol, draw it out so he can see I'm not attempting to use it. "Easy now, kid," I say as I dangle the handgun in front of me. "Not trying to draw down on you, I promise." I bend down, delicately holding the pistol. Then, without warning, I throw the weapon at his face, leap to the right, and charge forward. I have to get on the inside.

My movement is fast, unpredictable. I leap right, charge forward, sidestep left, duck low as I rush once more. As I'm low, I clasp my knife--made more for killing than anything else--and sidestep again before lunging forward, reaching for the barrel of his M-4 with my left hand. I'm not trying to yank the gun away, rather I'm attempting to knock it to my left, then get close enough to stab him in the throat. Hoping this isn't my last day in this fucked up world, I prepare to defend myself as best I can should I fail to take him out here and now.

Rose was sitting on a machine. She was never told what they were called because her mother said there was no point in her to use them. Rose always thought they were funny looking when she was younger and would explore them to see if she could find their use but like her mother said there was nothing. It did come in handy when she and Raphael had to run and find a place to sleep though at times it felt weird and uncomforable even at some the soft big pillows would fall from under her weight.
Rose was on watch while Raphael in the machine slept for a 'nap' but she didn't understand why though it did keep him quiet for a bit. She loved the quiet a bit more than she loved running and fighting. She hears the familiar grunts of an infected and stands up grabbing her hand made spear. It was a long sharp knife on a stick tied together with a rope not the best weapon but it helped in a lot of cases where she was stuck. When the infected appeared it came towards her but didn't get closer that 4 feet when the spear went through its head.

"Wose?" A small voice whispers from below Rose. She got on her knees and hung her head so she was looking through the machines door opening.

"What Raph?" Roses voice was raspy and scratchy.

"Wa'd infected?" The toddler whispers looking scared.

Rose rolled her eyes but froze hearing voices and sat up straight on the car looking around. They weren't alone anymore there were people coming. The girl jumped down from the car and rushed to the spear pulling it until it ripped out of the infected skull. She staggered back a bit but got her balance. Rose turns and motions for Raphael to get out before going and grabbing their near empty sack. Grabbing the boy by the hand she made her way away from the voice and into a near by forest patch to hide for the night

As the man attacked Jack growled. "I'm not dying yet, bruv." When he grabbed his gun, he let go of it, and dropped low, performing a sweeping kick, aiming to knock the man off his feet. Without looking for a result, he backed away slowly, in a fighting stance. "Listen, man. I had to assess you." He said. "Whoever doesn't introduce themselves at gunpoint isn't trustworthy." A grin spread across his face, and he moved closer before he stuck out his hand. "Jack Oakson. You?" He was relying on his test now. His cloak had dried infecteds' blood on it, most likely to try and deter them a bit. His hand was still stuck out. "Don't leave me hanging, mate." His smile was genuine and friendly.
@LoneSilverWolf

It had been a long morning of traveling that had started a few hours before the break of dawn. Night favored Keani and Ronin, as the nights and early mornings were much easier to travel in for them. Ronin in particular, with his thick fur, he'd overheat a lot faster in the afternoon sun. Their travels had since brought them to a large highway, packed with old, rusty and dusty cars, trucks and 18-wheelers broken down many years ago, in a time when things had just begun to take it's turn for the worse. It'd been months since Keani had even seen a car, the sight of them alone brought back broken, faded memories of the fantasy she once lived those 17-years-ago. The sounds of the music on the radio were just jumbled white noise in her mind, unable to recall what music even sounded like, anymore.

It wasn't till Ronin began to growl deep in his chest, head hunkered low as he stared off ahead at something far ahead of them that Keani was brought back from her memory and into the present. Quickly she hid behind a fairly large van, pulling her collapsible binoculars from her back pocket to take a peek at whatever was ahead. A man and a young boy. For a moment, Keani figured they were together until she realized the boy was aiming a rifle at the man's chest, and then suddenly a scuffle unfolded between the two as they rassled back and forth. Keani safely tucked her binoculars back into her pocket before unsheathing her dual swords from off her back, staying in a half-crouched position as she maneuvered through the lines of traffic. Keeping a good hundred feet between her and the two men, Keani could barely make out their voices. It sounded as if one was trying to make peace. Most likely was outsmarted by the other and wanted to save his own skin. 'Figures,' Keani thought to herself.

Holding out her hand in a fist, Ronin stayed deathly still beside her as she peeked up through the car window at the two before her. From behind, Keani could also hear a couple of stags behind her wandering her way, to which she grit her teeth and cursed under her breath. Peering from the two guys to the stags behind her, she didn't want to blow her cover but she also didn't want them to get close enough to chase her from it, either. Either way, her cover would be blown. Keani let out a huge sigh and got up from her place of cover, not caring if the two saw now, walking up to the stags as they growled and moaned at her. With two swift swings of her swords, one for each, both the stags fell to the floor in slumps. Keani clicked her tongue a couple of times at Kai, who responded quickly by running to her side, sniffing at the dead stags on the floor before sneezing at them almost in disgust. Her eyes were set on the two she'd been focused on before, eyes narrowed.

I stare for a moment at "Jack Olsen." Hmph. Guy tries to jump me, maybe planned on killing me, and wants to shake hands now? I don't know. I don't want to kill the kid though. He's what, 16, 17? If he was even alive before...all of this started, then he has no memory of it. Likely wasn't even alive before. I gaze as his bloody cloak, his outstretched hands, and then I gaze him right in the eye.

"I won't leave you hangin, kid, if you answer 3 questions. You answer honestly now, and I won't have to kill ya." I fold my arms across his chest, and nod towards the stinking, rotting, infected that litter the ground--victims of their own insanity; the Scourge had shut down the parts of the brain that make people who they are. At least that's what the news told us, back when there still was news. I'm no fuckin' scientist so, who knows.

"First question, kid," I say after nodding towards the corpses on the interstate. "How many infected have you killed? I squint my eyes, staring at Jack, ready to put him down at the slightest hint of dishonesty. I hear footsteps approaching, but I pay them no mind. If they were infected they would be ranting and mumbling, trying to form sentences that could not come together with their shattered minds. The footsteps had to belong to a survivor, and that being the case, if they meant us harm, we'd be dead already. So I keep my gaze locked on Jack, waiting for his answer.

Jack shrugged, the cloak hiding the pained look in his eyes. "Around 90. I mostly follow the major hordes, learn their behavior." What he didn't include was try to act like one. This guy was suspicious. But this test was his only chance at getting a companion. "And don't call me kid, or I'll rip out your throat and use it as a bow tie." He asked, a cold smile on his face. He resumed his friendly nature. "Next question please." He picked up his rifle, slinging it across his shoulders. He too heard the footsteps, but he turned for a second and caught a woman walking towards a bunch of stags. Then she killed them. "Move along, yeah?"

@LoneSilverWolf@A Tattooed Girl

"I think their over there." A voice says.

Rose scowls glaring before grabbing Raphael and pushing him forward."Go." She mutters. The child whimpers a bit but does what the other said walking forward.

Rose knew what those men were and she didn't want to be caught up with any of them. Raphael knew that good and well because they're the one's who killed their families or worse. Raphael was raised by one of the more proper families of their group. They mostly handle the 'politics' of the group or at least that is what his mom told him. Raphael didn't even know what Politics were...sounded complicated.

"Ya okay Raph?" Rose whispers walking closer to him.

"Yeah. Jus' tinkin'..Rose wha're Poli'c's?" Raphael asks her looking up at the girl.

Rose shrugs at the question."I don't know. All I know is their snobby. I saw a leader of a group once and Devon offered to trade. He tried to hurt Devon." She whispers to the boy.

"T'at sounds bad." Raphael says feeling scared.

"Shh. Not so loud Raphael." Rose scolds before looking around listening."Look, just know that its 'dult thangs and higher up stuff. My job means I gotta protect because it is a bad world now and if ya wanna survive ya gotta grow up or die."

Raphael remained silent the rest of the walk. He didn't want to grow up but at the same time the boy didn't want to die. It sounds horrible and lonely at that thought he got closer to Rose. "I don' wanta die Wose."

"Then shut the hell up." Rose whispers harshly.

The boy nods and remains silent letting Rose grab his hand and guide him towards a highway where lot's of Machines await them. They got there and slipped between the Machines quickly and quietly. A groan caused Raphael to jump and scream a bit before a hand covered his mouth.

Rose glared at the boy pointing at where the monster was letting the boy see it was restrained. She watched the boy cry softly and rolled her eyes with a groan wishing that her mom was there or her dad. Raphael began to shut down crying softly making Rose more angry. She took her make shift spear and stabbed it through the monsters head. She uses the car as leverage and pulled out the spear before turning to the boy."Get up Raph."

The boy shakes his head crying harder. Rose sighs running a hand through her crazed hair before pacing trying to figure out what to do.