[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/171007/fae1932f476a2f523ce5653d48b91bfa.png[/img]
[sup]Current Location: Paradise Valley - Interacting With: Trooper #1 & #2, James & Jain - Mentioned: Jain, Hector, April & Raphael[/sup]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnCGL27T5lk[/youtube][/center]
[color=gray][center][i]Take me down to the paradise city
Where the grass is green and the girls are pretty
Take me home (oh won't you please take me home)
Take me down to the paradise city
Where the grass is green and the girls are pretty
Take me home (oh won't you please take me home)[/i][/center]
By any means, Paradise Valley was not a "paradise city." The expedition saddled and geared up, crossing a river only to be met with the same bleakness that most towns had fourteen years after the end of the world. Yellowish grass that was dying, spots of stained blood on the concrete, even a few objects that once showed people lived here stood out to the eye. Jain had given the expedition their orders before they marched into the neighborhood, leaving Maisy guarding the home front once more. Hector was assigned to command the left flank, while April was sent to command the right flank. Upon hearing that Raphael would be replacing Benny in the search, Maisy wondered how well they would work out together. Hopefully being at odds wouldn't result in another death.

[center][i]Dog eat dog
Read the news
Someone win
Someone lose
Up's above and downs below
And limbo's in between
Up you win
Down you lose
It's anybody's game[/i][/center]
Momentarily worrying aside, Maisy had her duties to look out for. Outside guarding the supply depot, Jain had thrown them together with the support reserve in the case either the left or right flanks requested help. However, given the time the operation was to take, Maisy needed to find a way to keep the men and women on their toes, rather than falling into a lax loop of boredom and day dreaming. Surely there was something they could do instead of standing around like goons with nothing to do until they were called upon. Thankfully, an idea came in the form of James. Maisy had noticed that James was staying by Jax's side, and an idea sparked as the rancher glanced around the neighborhood. Taking note of an old lawn chair, Maisy gathered two of the troopers on standby when she heard an obvious shuffling noise.

[center][i]They build the walls around you
And they tell you you don't fit
And still you think you know me
You don't know the half of it
I'm a beggar, you're a savior
I'm your devil, you're a thief
I'll be here until you realize
I'm you and you are me[/i][/center]
As the troopers stepped onto the dying lawn, a Risen shuffled through a section of broken fence. It appeared to be relatively fresh, and Maisy was interested in the rugged pack that the walker was wearing.[/color] [color=moccasin][b]"Spread out. Let him follow me and circle around with the satsumas."[/b][/color] [color=gray]Maisy noted, making a clicking sound to alert the Risen as she swirled the lariat in her hands. After a number of twirls, Maisy flung the rope, catching the walker by his torso. With a yank, Maisy pulled him to the ground, where the other troopers came in and secured him to the ground with the satsumas. Taking a warhammer, Maisy approached the secured walker, and with one clonk on the head, it was no longer a threat to the expedition or anyone else.

[center][i]Lend the hand, say a prayer
Give a smile that he might share
But for the grace of God it could be you instead of him
(But for the grace of God it could be you instead of him)[/i][/center]
Once the walker was dispatched, Maisy had the troopers return to look out as she snatched both the bag and the lawn chair.[/color] [color=moccasin][b]"Here, James. Thought Jax might be a bit more comfortable resting on the lap of someone he trusts."[/b][/color] [color=gray]Maisy explained, giving the veterinarian a nod of her own before she returned her attention to the pack. Typical basic necessities--spare change of clothes, empty water bottles, cooking supplies, but what caught Maisy's eye was a map.[/color] [color=moccasin][b]"Hey, Jain. You might wanna see this."[/b][/color] [color=gray]Maisy called out, pointing to the various inked out structures in red. To what the red ink meant, Maisy had no clue. Either it marked picked clean buildings or Risen nests, but whatever the case, Maisy wasn't sure the slightest.[/color]

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