ZRP-2 Chapter 6: Scattered

Eve sighed. "Ok. Lead the way then."

Hibiki flopped beside James. "Oh...feels good..."

(Sam)
"Well then, let's see what's in town."
=I waited for her to follow me as I left the room=

(James)
=This close to her, I could smell the familiar scent of her. It wasn't great considering the lack of showers, but neither was it bad. And it was still her. Plus I hadn't been with her in a day, so I turned my face towards her and nuzzled against her cheek=
"I missed you."

(Andrew)

=I looked around and went to the main bedroom, with Mira, flopping down on the bed=

Wow...I've never been in a bed this comfortable. Ever.

=I let out a contented sigh as I laid down on the bed=

(Sarah)

=I had picked out a bunk bed, finding it somewhat comfortable to sleep in it=

It's better than nothing...

=I smile, feeling a bit of contentment=

Eve followed, one arm around Sam's waist.
"I love you."

Hibiki smiled, rolling closer. "I missed you too."

(Sam)
=I couldn't help but ruffle her hair a little=
"And I love you Eve. Now, shall we go exploring?"

(James)
=And then I found myself kissing her. Nothing passionate, or heated. It was just me putting my lips against hers for more than a few seconds=

Kissing back, Hibiki curled up to James' side. "Been awhile since we really had a chance to be alone."

Eve nyaa'd playfully at the hair ruffling. "Only...if we can go back to you exploring me soo ...ish..."

Mira flopped down beside Andy. "Hey. Now I'll consent to sex." She teased the guy.

Jenn tugged Tyler towards a house. "Let's get a bed before someone else does!"

(Andrew)

=I felt my face flush briefly at that=

So...want to lock the door, so we don't disturb the neighbors?

=I put on a grin=

(James)
"Only been the one day...."
=My hand trailed up to her cheek, fingers getting tangled in her hair=

(Sam)
"Heh, not sure the bunks will be big enough."


=A few miles outside the town, the shepherd caravan reached the area, parked out of sight as they looked at the town. Waiting for the right time=

Hibiki sighed. "Can't blame me for missing you so badly."

Eve pouted. "Then can we at least find a hiding spot and make out?"

(Sam)
"Ha! You never give up do you?"
=As we left the house, I noticed that more people from the caravan were out, taking available houses where they could. It all looked good, except for the fact that with no power and winter coming up, we'd have to start burning things to stay warm=

(James)
=Smiling, I pulled her in for another kiss, pressing my body against her=

"It's why you love me. That or my body. Right?" Eve teased.

Hibiki returned the kiss, hugging James against her.

(Sam)
"Uhmm, six of one, half a dozen of the other."
=Walking down the street, I soon noticed that there was a wall at the end, going through the backyards of two houses and then around the place. Turning around to walk the other way, I got a sneaking suspicion=

(James)
=Yeah, it had been a day. But it still felt forever since Hibiki and I had any alone time. So getting my other arm under her, I lifted her onto me as I lay back. The soft bed, and her on top helped me forget some of the troubles of the world=
"So, think we should do what Sam and Eve are doing, and have a look around town?"

"I'd rather just relax here, James." Hibiki said. "They can explore."

Eve giggled softly. "So...when can we make up for lost time?"

(James)
"Well, we can still go exploring Hibiki....."
=My fingers still twisted in her hair=

(Sam)
"Maybe later. I want to get the lay of the land here, especially if we end up staying here."
=We wandered into the Main Street, where a log of the people in this town had gathered, mostly since it had a few shops it kinda reminded me of the street back in the lockdown town=

Eve sighed, staying close.

Hibiki smiled. "I like that idea."

(James)
"Good, because I want to check the basement and see if there's anything down there. Same goes for the attic."

(Sam)
=Once more, I saw a wall in the distance, cutting off another part of town. And another. And then I realized something: Owensboro was actually too big. So big in fact, that this place was only a s,all piece that had been cut off from the rest and secured. Almost like St. Louis=
"Maybe if we offer to help them clear out more of this place, we can earn our keep here."

"Maybe." Eve said. "Maybe."

Hibiki groaned. "You're mean...Fine."

(James)
=Laughing, I rolled us both over so that I was on top of her, pinning her to the bed both with my body.....and, well my mouth. I broke off the kiss to look at her=
"What, you don't like the basement?"

(Sam)
"Well.......this got boring fast. Want to head back? Or would we give the, some time?"

"Give them some time." Eve glanced around, sighing. "Um...maybe Andrew and Mira would let us borrow a room...?"

Hibiki chuckled. "Nah. I prefer the bed. Because you gave me a heart attack when the boat was attacked, and you have to pay for that."

(James)
"How was that my fault?"

(Sam)
"Doubt it. They may want the entire house to themselves for all we know."

"It wasn't. I just want an excuse for you to not get off me and keep me nice and warm." Hibiki grinned.

Eve sighed. "Why is it so hard to find time to do the one thing I have fought to do for so damn long..."

(Sam)
=With my eyes closed and my nose pointed upwards in a somewhat sage like way, I responded=
"The universe has seen fit to troll you my dear."

(James)
"What if Sam and Eve come back?"

Eve pokes Sam.
"If we go back home, we could just take over a bathroom and lock the door."

Hibiki sighs. "Then they can go close a door."

(James)
"Still, doesn't seem the least bit odd? Doing it while they're doing it across the hall?"
=Even as I spoke though, my hands went to the hem of her shirt=

(Sam)
"And what, take a shower? No running water around here Eve."

"Kiss." Eve said bluntly. "Or we could just go to our room and use the floor. It had soft carpet."

"Yeah, well, they were just next to us on the boat and you had to ask them to cool it." Hibiki reminded him.

(James)
"Heh, true."
=So I slowly started to lift off her shirt, my fingers brushing against her soft skin=

(Sam)
"Yeah, but soft enough for that?"

"I'm not saying we should take my shirt off...just...kiss...Just sit against the bed and kiss...nothing big Sam...just...be a bit intimate..." She looked up at Sam innocently.

Hibiki savored the feel. "I know I'm being true."

(Sam)
"Oh.....well, that I can sorta get behind."

(James)
"I feel like we should wait though, until the town decides if they'll let us stay or not. That way we can really celebrate."

"Then I promise I won't try anything. Besides kissing. And hugging." She giggled softly. "So...lead the way?"

"I hate it when you're right..." She groaned. "Then don't move. I'm comfortable."

(Sam)
"You're a very demanding girl, aren't you?"
=Still, I took her hand and began to guide her back to the house=

(James)
"Ha, figured you'd be."
=So I lay there, with her on top of me. And while I knew at some point the fight would need to be fought again, I was glad for this moment of peace and comfort. That was, until the distant sounds of gunshots sounded through the open window=

--Two Minutes Earlier--

=The Shepherd convoy moved in, rushing the walls of the compound as they opened fire, trying to take out the guards on top. Instead, the guards ducked and took cover, avoiding the shots as their friends below began to move cars and other heavy pieces of junk behind the gates, reinforcing them=

--Now--

(James)
"God dammit, not even one moment anymore...."

Eve was happy...then the gunshots happened.
"THIS IS NOT FUCKING FAIR!" she screamed out of sheer frustration, her anger very nearly breaking the fourth wall.

Hibiki shoved James to the side of the bed, rolling out. "Fuck fuck fuck...We need to defend another place. This is fucking great."

=While most of the caravan members rushed from their newly acquired houses to help defend the town, the residents, despite tense, reacted with calm, practiced motions. Children and non-combatants were rushed inside their homes, while men and women with guns moved for the wall. Some residents lit molotov's and waited for the cars to get closer, lobbing them over the wall and in their path or on top of them. The Shepherds themselves, unprepared for such resistance, and especially tired themselves after traveling for so long, were staggered and even halted. It was enough for both the town residents and the caravan to come together and fight=

(James)
=Getting up and grabbing my guns, I ran down the stairs and out of the house. But what I heard next was.....unexpected=
Cheers?

(Sam)
=I couldn't believe it. People were cheering from the wall. There were words like "cowards," and "they're retreating." I looked at Eve=
"If they mean, what I think they mean....."

Eve blinked. "I'm still injured. How about we go home and you protect me and uh...wait for someone to tell us what the hell is going on."

Hibiki kept moving, grabbing her rifle. "Let's go."

(James)
=Even as we neared the wall, I could tell it was pointless. Whatever was going on, it seemed like it was over. Hell, some of the people were actually leaving the wall. What the hell?=
"Okay, this is just weird. What happened?"

*Clara*
=Among the guards at the wall, she walked over to James and Hibiki=
"What happened? Your Shepherds happened Mr. Martin. And we just forced them back."

(Sam)
"That.....sounds like a good idea."
=Taking her hand again, I started moving, faster it seemed, for the house=

Eve kept us easily.

Hibiki frowned. "So easily...Wait...tired." She looked up. Clara. Right now. We can wipe out a lot of them and drive them away for a lot longer. But we need to act fast." She looked at the tank. "With that, and enough good shots...I think we can keep the Pariah from coming after us for months at least."

*Clara*
"The who?"
=It was clear she, nor anyone else here in town, knew who or what a Pariah was=

(James)
"It's a long story. Short version, big bad leader of the Shepherds. Kill him.....and, well things might actually be easier for us."

*Clara*
"I'd like to, but by the time we get the gate unblocked and open, they'll be long gone. If I were you, I'd settle for this victory today, and then try again tomorrow. Because I can tell, the lot of you need rest just as much as those Shepherds."

Hibiki stamped her foot, frustrated. "Dammit! We had them..." she looked at James. "James...I just realized..." She went pale. "Some of the soldiers who stayed behind to cover us...they were female...right?"

Eve winced as she stumbled. "Ow...my shoulder really hates me Sam..."

(James)
"Yeah.....I think I know what you're getting at."

(Sam)
"Do you want me to slow down, or carry you?"

"I would like you to carry me...but I'm a big girl..." Eve said.

"We have people captured...and if the camp we saw Jonah at, for the first time since...your escape...then...we can guess who lived and what they are doing to them." Hibiki said grimly.

*Clara*
=She grimaced=
"I don't envy them......but there's nothing that can be done for them right now. If we're lucky, we assault the Shepherd camp, if they even make one close by, and see if we can rescue them. Otherwise........"

(James)
"Otherwise it's a waste of time. Shit..."
=I kicked the dirt at my feet in frustration=

(Sam)
"Then let's just walk."

Eve nodded. "There goes the intimate quiet time...right?"

Hibiki was pissed. "The moment we can, we're saving them James. Or god so help me, I'll kill every last shepherd with my sword."

(James)
"Hibiki, calm down. Hell, we don't even know if any of them were taken with this group."
=Dammit, we needed to think. There was too much at stake now to go and attack the Shepherds because they might have had some hostages=

(Sam)
"Hmm, kinda."
=We reached the house. Going inside, Eve and I climbed the stairs back to our room=

"Okay, so let's try and cuddle on the bunk bed. But no promises."

Eve scooted onto the bunk bed, pressing her back to the wall. "That enough room?"

Hibiki walked off, angry.

*Clara*
=There was a look of comprehension on her face=
"Was she....?"

(James)
"No. No, she wasn't. But there was a very close call."
=Sighing, I looked in Hibiki's direction as she stormed off=

(Sam)
"Close enough."
=I scooted in next to her. It was a bit tight=

As Hibiki stormed off, Eve didn't take pause. She kissed Sam softly, pulling back. "Wish we had a bigger bed..." She said teasingly.

*Clara*
"Ah, I see. Well, I'm afraid I have some bad news for you: this attack may result in things going poorly for you and your people, once the vote begins. People will blame you for bringing the Shepherds here."

(James)
=With a grunt, I cast a glance a the sky, not looking at anything in particular=
"Well, they'd be within their rights to think that. And they wouldn't be entirely wrong either."

=I looked at her=
"Would it be alright, if I was present at the vote. I'd like to speak to the town, when the time comes."

*Clara*
"I don't see anything wrong with that. Just keep it civil."

(Sam)
"Wow, a little eager here aren't we?"

Hibiki found a quiet bench and sat down to cool off.

Eve blushed. "I know...it's all I get right now...so...I want every bit I can get."

(Sam)
"Still. I'm a person Eve, not your personal supply of love."

(James)
"Will do. Come find me when the discussion starts, I'll go talk with Hibiki in the meantime."
=With that, I left and tracked down Hibiki, sitting next to her=

"So, you seem awfully upset. Want to talk about it?"

"You're the person I love. Which amounts to tons better then a personal supply of love." She nuzzled Sam's cheek. "Because I fell in love with you. Not a supply."

Hibiki shook her head. "No."

(James)
"Okay."
=Still, wasn't going to leave her=

"Just, if you ever want to talk, I'm here."

(Sam)
"But, then wouldn't me giving you love make me a supply of love?"