ZRP-2 Chapter 8: Survivors One and All

James and Marcus stayed close, weapons ready in case of either the undead or if Ivan and Tojo arrived. It was difficult, running in the low light of the forest, unsure if there was something they may trip on.

Cristina went down suddenly with a startled yelp. She felt hands against her boots and kicked out strongly preventing herself from being bitten, but one pale hand had a heavy grip on her right thigh. "Zostaw mnie!" She shouted in Polish which roughly translated to GET OFF OF ME!.

James and Marcus pitched in to help Cristina, with Marcus going to pull her away and James reaching for the hands that were grabbing her. He yanked them off, and the whole damn zombie came up at him, growling and going for his throat. "Fuck!" he yelled, letting go of one hand to punch the thing in the head.

Cristina felt hands pull her away and she scrambled to her feet, shaking from adrenaline. She had yet to realise that she was gripping rather tightly onto Marcus, shaking herself from her daze she saw James punch it in the head and the thing fall over. "Run?" She suggested, deciding to thank them later.

"Run," James agreed, and they ran again.

Cristina ran with them, she had no clue was to where they were fleeing to but staying put sadly would not be an option with a horde behind them.

"We need to find a shelter of some kind," James said as they ran. "See a watch tower or anything? Something a ranger would use?" Marcus asked as they ran. It was fool's hope to see one, the trees blocking their view.

"We could try for the island in the lake" Cristina gasped out, her lungs burning. "Swim across I don't think they could follow us in the water"

"You sure?" James asked, looking to the side and seeing the water, the island on the other side. "It's going to get cold later and we'll freeze once we're soaked."

"Short time survival is more important than the long time" Cristina's English was not perfect but her plan had placed priority on surviving this danger and ignoring the concerns of the other dangers for a moment.

"Dammit......fine. In the water, go!" James said, and they jumped in, him and Marcus as they dove into the water and swam for the island.

Cristina followed them swimming as fast as she could. The water was freezing, numbingly cold yet she forced herself to keep going.

James, despite being a good swimmer, still stopped at times in the cold water. It wasn't winter yet but the swiftly arriving night of fall was starting to chill the waters, and he found it a miracle that he and Marcus arrived at all. But they clambered up onto the shore, both gasping and freezing, bodies shivering in the cold as a breeze blew by rather cruelly.

Cristina dragged herself ashore and collapsed on the bank, gasping and breathing heavily. She shivered so hard her teeth chattered. With a dull moan she dragged herself further a shore, she was completely soaked and her mind slowed from the brutal cold.

"Come on," James said, looping an arm under Cristina's shoulder and lifting her to her feet. "We need to find a place to rest, start a fire."

Eve, blanket wrapped up tightly, sat next to Estel. "So. How long should we stay here? Until morning?"

"Maybe," Estel said as she hunched close to the fire. "First light perhaps, we make for the compound....or its direction at any rate."

Eve shivvered. "I know this will sound awkward, but for our health we need to share body heat.nit's getting cold and...and you have to agree...if we get it, we need to share it." She looked at the floor. "I dont bite." She joked.

"Yeah.....we should be fine with the fire and the blankets Eve," Estel said seriously. "Just put a few more logs there and we'll be fine."

Eve did so.
"Was a suggestion." As the logs crackled.

"Yeah, but still.......an unnecessary one," Estel countered. She hugged the blanket tightly around her as she inched closer to the flames.

Eve followed suit.
"Fucking cold." She muttered. "Couldnt get lost in summer could we?"

"That would mean we'd get a lucky break," Estel said. "The whole world seems determined to continually screw us over."

"Wish it would stop; I want a break, and a Kit-Kat bar."

"Yeah well take a lesson from today Eve: Life is a fucking bitch that doesn't care what you want," Estel said bitterly.

"So. If I said like you, would you accept a hug as apology for a mean joke?" She grinned, sticking her tongue out at Estel. Her voice was entirely light, avoiding sounding serious about it.

"I'd probably punch you in the arm," Estel said.

"...so...I'll not make that joke. Instead, I'll ask for a warm hug and bribe you with the fact...we cant keep the fire going. Come night, the walkers could be attracted. They seem to prefer the night."

"I... Know" She said through chattering teeth, the water had washed most of the protective layer of mud, grime and dirt that Cristina had on her. The water had robbed her of the camouflage that she usually wore.

Sarah wasn't exactly happy with what happened. Neither was Andrew or what was left of the convoy. They were split, and they didn't dare risk the fuel in a search. So, with limited options, the convoy headed back to the town, licking its wounds and counting its losses.

She wasn't exactly upset them as she was upset at herself. She hated not being able to do a thing.

I wish...something could go right for once in my life...just once...

"Sounds more like blackmail," Estel said.

They trudged along the shore, the three of them; James, Marcus and Cristina, looking for some manner of shelter. The best they could find, was a single large boulder that jutted out at enough of an angle that they could at least sit beneath it. "Sit down," James chattered to Cristina. "I'll find some dry wood we can use."

Cristina did so, removing her rifle and propping it up against the boulder. Despite being frozen her training from back when she had been an athlete slowly kicked it's way in. When soaked the first thing to do was get out of the clothing and start a fire to both get warm and dry the soak clothing. Staying in them would only remove more body heat rapidly. However in the present company she found herself unwilling to do so.

James and Marcus, despite shivering, worked to find wood dry enough to use. Gathering sticks, bark, dried grass, and even large branches broken off of trees, they piled it all together and Marcus produced a lighter, setting it all ablaze and igniting a fire that grew quickly, and warmed them up with its air.

Cristina removed her sodden jacket so that the heat could at least reach the skin on her arms. The heat felt good but it was a slow effect what with so much of her soaked. "Thank you for saving me earlier" She informed them finally thanking them for their effort. "I believe your word is you just saved my ass back there"

"Something like that," James said, sitting down along with Marcus. "Good thing the damn walkers don't swim," Marcus said.

"Yeah... You might want to get out of your damp clothes you'll warm up quicker" She suggested in direct contrary to what she was currently doing. Cristina decided that she would keep her t-shirt on at least regardless of how cold she became because of it. With a weary sigh and an eagerness to not be so cold, she slipped out of her boots and removed her jeans so that they would dry out quicker. Rather uncomfortable with the amount of skin now showing, she hugged her knees to her chest, pressing the damp material of her shirt against her pale skin.

"You know, I would remove my clothes," James said. "But unless you have some singles, that's not going to happen anytime soon." It was his best attempt, at breaking the silence with humor.

She let out her single laugh and smiled. "Why do you think I kept my shirt on? The media will have a field day as it is, athlete with two guys shock horror" She let out a sigh. "At least your paper rattzi would" She meant the press, the paparatzi to be accurate.

"Heh, as if they didn't have enough to deal with, zombies and all," Marcus said.

"Such is the price of fame" Cristina replied still shivering but glad for the warmth of the fire. "I'm sorry about your group..."

"Don't be," James said. "Not your fault what happened.....and we all knew the risks going in." Still, the words sounded hollow.

Cristina just nodded deciding to switch topic. "I take it you two watched the Olympics since you recognised me?"

"He recognized you," Marcus corrected. "I didn't, and no I didn't watch. Was more of a football fan myself." James snorted, and said "Soccer, but I liked to watch the Olympics because the opening ceremonies were cool."

"That they where" Cristina said in agreement her eyes shining with memories. "I always could not wait to get started... I had spent pretty much the better part of three years training now I wanted to serve my country and make them proud"

"Think you did a good job?" James asked her.

"Of course silver medallist, one of the best markswomen in the world as well as skier" Cristina answered with a grin. "Hence my fancy looking rifle a Biathlon Model 1827F ANSCHÜTZ .22 caliber rifle"

"Nice," James said. "Nice to know your talents helped you survive eh?"

"Talents and a lot of luck... Lost a lot of good people and friends in the beginning but we all did" Cristina found herself happy to talk, she had not really had much company for a long time... It made a great change having a pair of friendly faces to talk to.

"I hear ya there," Marcus said. He gave a look around, and said "So, how long we staying here?"

"First light it is too late to travel" Cristina answered believing it a fair point.