ZRP-2 Chapter 6: Scattered

(James)
=Standing up, I grabbed the fishing rod and began workings crank, wheeling in the fish. Whatever it was, it was definitely big, putting up ne hell of a fight. I let it tire itself out, giving it a few feet before stopping then wheeling it back in. It lasted for a few more minutes before I finally pulled it close to water=
"Hibiki, grab that net!"

=I looked at the other metal pole on the floor of the deck, a green net attached=

Grabbing the net, Hibiki readied herself.

(James)
=pulling the rod up, I saw the fish I snagged; a catfish, maybe two feet. It was definitely big, and still thrashing around. Twisting my hips, I brought the fish to hang over the net before letting it fall inside, the hook and line still attached=
"Okay, now we need to get that hook out of his mouth....."

I relax a bit, letting my arms hang at my sides. I exhale deeply and wonder how long we'll last as a group.
Before long we'll more then likely fighting each other. Probably over what little food we've got. So that'll be fun.
I just hope I can get Jennifer and I out alive if it comes to that.

Hibiki brought the fish over the boat, then managed to work it so James had both items in his hands. Now free to use two hands, Hibiki managed to work the hook out of the fish's mouth and drop him into the net.
Taking the n t back from James, she studied it. "Is this a trout?" She asked.

(James)
"Catfish. Blue catfish, I think. I caught a few before, back when I was in the caravan. Pretty tasty."
=Yeah, I knew how to filet fish and prepare them. It was one of the many survival skills I needed to learn=

(Sam)
=We were in luck. With the walkers so attracted to our vehicles and the noise they made, my team and I were practically ignored so long as we kept our heads down. And, there were deer in town. The walkers just ignored them, even gave them something close to a wide berth. I guess anything other than a human, was not really on the menu for them=

"Hey, when are we going to get moving?"
I asked nobody in particular. Just hoping someone would answer. Because we're already wasting energy just standing here.

*Cooper*
=He looked at Tyler=
"We're already moving. If you want to stay here though, be my guest."

(Sam)
=Killing the deer wasnt really the problem. The real problem was getting to the deer, and hauling the carcass back to the safe zone without attracting the walkers. One of us had the bright idea to rummage in a trash bin, looking for something heavy or fragile. They found a glass bottle, and tossed it down the street. Some of the walkers diverted to the sound, and that gave us room to kill Oneof the deers, and run a Ross to its body. It took all of us though,to lift the body and drag it back to the diner=

(James)
=There was a bucket on the deck, large enough to dump the fish in. I checked the other line, but so far nothing=
"Maybe they'll be another bite soon, eh?"

"Maybe." Hibiki said.

Eve sighed softly. She hated waiting, and reading would bore her after awhile.

(James)
=Keeping the bucket close by, I sat back down in the chair=
"So, provided we meet up with everyone....where do hole up? What becomes home for us?"

(Sam)
=Carrying the carcas back was......fun. Tense really, considering we had to move as fast as possible, while carrying the deer, all to avoid hungry walkers. It was interesting, to say the least. But we got bad to the wall of cars, and our friends opened fire on the walkers so we could get back inside. Though I use inside loosely. Leaving the deer with people better skilled at skinning than me, I went to check on Eve=
"Doing okay?"

(Andrew)

=I moved forward along with Mira and Sarah=

Well...time doesn't stand still...

Come on...we're burning daylight.

=I motion for the others to move as I go forward=

"The next place we fortify." Hibiki responded.

Eve looked up, bookmarking her page.
"Yeah..." She smiled. "I'm glad you're back..."

(Sam)
=I slumped down in the seat opposite her, though she and I were actually the only ones sitting down. Everyone else was moving, working on fortifying the windows and doors. I wondered why,since we wouldn't really be staying here long=
"Same. Feeling any better?"

(James)
"And that would be....? I'm asking where would you like to go? Where should we try next?"

Eve nodded. "I still want to snuggle with you...I miss it so much...just us, taking a nap together...it was...normal..."
She tucked her book away. "Sorry..." She blushed. "You doing ok?"

Hibiki sighed. "The hamptons?"

When Andrew (I think) said something about daylight, I thought of the night. Just how terrifying it was.
And I realize again we're vulnerable out here. If we don't find somewhere to hide in for the night...

(Sam)
=I did my best not to smile. Despite earlier thoughts, I couldn't help but reflect on the nights where I'd cuddle next to her when she was asleep, during our three weeks and counting of us on the run. It was mostly when I had been feeling.....well, down. The defeat at St. Louis really got to me=
"Yeah, I'm doing fine."

(James)
"Heh, one can hope the Ohio river goes that far."

"When are we going to stop for a longer amount of time?" Eve asked.

Hibiki shrugged. "We can hope."

(Sam)
"When we reach somewhere safer I guess. Somewhere we can.....make a new lockdown town I guess."
=The door to the diner opened, and Marcus walked in=

"Marcus, what's the status?"

*Marcus*
"Well, we have both sides of the road secure enough that they can't get in, least not with the numbers they have now. That gives us some time to scavenge, maybe sit around for an hour before we move again."
=He brought out a map, and laid it out on the table=

"Now look, we have a destination. There's a town further east, a lockdown town. If its still standing, we have safe harbor. I know the guy that runs the place."

(Sam)
"You know everyone don't you?"

*Marcus*
=He cracked a smile=
"She's the only other person I know. Ran into each other and got ourselves out a fox hole once. She owes me one."

(Sam)
"Great. How much farther?"

*Marcus*
"Another hundred miles at least, give or take. It's going to be quite a drive."

(James)
"That, and we still need to meet up with the others."

=The occupants of the train continued their march along the tracks. It would be another two miles before they reached the nearest town=

Eve smiled softly, then waited patiently.

Hibiki looked at the shore. "We have to."


Mira and Jennifer were straggling a bit, but kept together out of necessity. Both lost their better halfs in the mosh pit, but they'd find them soon enough.

(Sam)
"Great, more driving."
=Sighing, I slumped even further into my seat=

*Marcus*
=Quickly changing subjects, he folded the map=
"Thanks for catching that deer Sam. We'll have something ready to eat soon."

(Sam)
"Yay. Uh, mind giving us some privacy! Wanted to talk with Eve."
=Nodding, he walked away, leaving me with Eve=

"So.....how are you doing, really?"

(James)
"Next place we stop, we need to look for equipment to boost the radio signal. We need to get in touch with them soon."

Eve looked at her. "My shoulder's stiff still. Twinges a lot...I...really felt like dying Sam. It hurt so bad." She felt some tears start welling. "I was so afraid. I'm still afraid of feeling that again." She looked at the table. "I feel even more pathetic then I did when I ran away last time. I feel so useless and unable to prove I'm serious about loving you, and serious about wanting to be better."

Hibiki nodded. "Aye. We really need to get in touch with them."

(Sam)
=Feeling bad, I got up, then sat down next to her. Scooting in, I wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close=
"It's going to be okay Eve. You're strong."

(James)
=There was another tug on the line, and I wheeled in another fish. Twice in one day, that was a good sign=
"Wonder where they are...."

Resting her head on Sam's shoulder.
"But am I strong enough?" She asked quietly, snuggling into the embrace without hesitation.

Hibiki helped him get the line ready after putting the fish away. "LSD."

(Sam)
"I know you are."
=Resting my chin on the top of her head, I gently rubbed against her=

(James)
"LSD?"

Eve mewled happily, relaxing. "Thanks for being here for me."

Hibiki chuckled. "A pshyedelic drug that sends people on a 'trip' and is not good for you."

(Sam)
"It's where I'll always be.....when I'm not saving the world, one cute girl at a time."

(James)
=It made me burst out laughing, that joke of hers. Given everything we had been through, it was a good way to ease the tension. Granted, there were other things that could ease tension, but we hardly had privacy=
"Wherever they are, I'm sure they're well fed."

"Hey!" She pouted. "I want to be the only cute girl in your life..."

Hibiki grinned. "I'm sure."

(Sam)
"And you will be, but have a responsibility to all the other cute girls out there. If there was an army of Sams, I'm sure they'd be taken care of."
=Somehow, had a feeling that just picturing an army of me would be enough to make her pass out in awe or desire=

(James)
"Well, looks like we get to have a cookout tonight."

Eve blinked.
"I don't want an army of you. I want you...the real you..." She snuggled more. "Because only the real you makes me want to kiss you."

"You're cooking." Hibiki said.

(James)
=I smirked at her=
"I'll grab my 'Kiss the cook' apron."

(Sam)
=Still smiling a little, I brushed my lips against the top of her head=
"Looks like you get your wish then Eve."


=Back in St. Louis, once the Pariah realized there was no point in staying, he rounded up everyone of his soldiers, and they all left the city. They followed the same route as the bus and the train, intent on finding everyone=

Eve's cheeks grew pink, but she obviously was happy.
"I love you."

Hibiki facepalmed. She didn't respond.

(Sam)
"I love you too Eve."
=I wish I could have stayed there for a bit longer, but I needed to go. I needed to take watch=

"Stay here. Stay safe."

(James)
"What, you telling me you don't want to kiss the cook? I'm hurt."

Eve hugged her quickly, a sweet, tender hug. "One last kiss before you leave?"

"I'll kiss the cook if the cook doesn't poison me with dinner. Maybe show you a trick with some panties and a bed. Deal?"
Hibiki smirked.

(James)
=Chuckling, I tucked away the fishing poles and grabbed the bucket holding the two catfish, and then gave Hibiki a quick kiss=
"Deal. Trevor, warm up the grill! I'll get to work filleting these beauties!"

(Sam)
=Smiling, I gave her a kiss on the lips before leaving. The bus had a ladder stored inside, and right now it was propped up against one of the smaller buildings, a way to the roof for keeping an eye on things. I grabbed the bow and climbed up=


=By now, the group walking along the tracks will have come in sight of a town, not along the tracks but a little bit south of them=

Smiling, Hibiki stayed near James.
"I'll help."

Blushes, not expecting it on the lips, Eve watched Sam go, before turning back to the table.
"...I was expecting the forehead..." she said softly.

(Andrew)

=I took a look though the rifle scope and breathed a sigh of relief=

There it is...food, shelter and hopefully safety

=I bring the rifle down=

There it is...our, for lack of a better word, 'home' for right now.

=I then move forward, looking forward to a good night's sleep=

I poked Jennifer, who looked a little dazed. We hadn't been talking much recently. Shoot, even before the Siege.
"Hey, you alright?"

*Marcus*
=He chuckled from where he sat, over at the bar of the diner (or whatever it's called where there's that narrow table with the barstools) and when Sam left, he walked over to the table and at across from Eve=
"Looks like she's finally shedding her armor."

(James)
=I grinned at Hibiki, thankful. Walking into the dining area, to the kitchen I placed the bucket in the small sink, grabbed a cutting board and a filet knife, and reached for the first fish. Well.....first I had to kill it, then I laid it out on the cutting board. From there, I went about filleting the fish, scraping the slime off the scales and then actually cutting into it=
"Well, if this place didn't stink before...."

*Cooper*
"Don't be so sure, we still don't know if the town is infested or not."
=Granted, they didn't have much choice. It was the closest town they had in sight, and that meant that even if there were walkers, raiders, and Shepherds, they'd still enter the place=

Eve nodded shyly. "Yeah...she is...finally."
She smiled happily. "I feel...warm..."

Mira groaned. "Why can't we get a break?"

Hibiki rolled her eyes. "it always stank. We left the deodorant back at Saint Louis."

(Andrew)

=I grumble a bit under my breath=

Cause fate's a cruel, heartless bitch, Mira.

=I continue on foot toward the town=

*Marcus*
"Fever? Or is it the aftereffect of her kiss?"
=He grinned a little=

(James)
"Oh yeah....along with the showers."
=Of all things, I missed those showers=

*Cooper*
"Because in a world with zombies and fanatics, there are no breaks, at least none handed to you. There's only the refuge you make for yourself."

"Kiss..." Eve admitted.

"I know what you mean babe..." Hibiki groaned in reminiscence.

Mira sighed."I know."

*Marcus*
=Chuckling, he decided to play around a bit, doing something he had not done in a long time. He made a playing card appear out of thin air in his hands, a simple magic trick he had learned a long time ago=

(James)
=Moving on to the next fish, I went to work as Trevor appeared and turned on the grill. It ran on propane, which meant at some point it would run out. But for now there was fuel enough to cook the fish as I laid each slab of fish out along the grill=
"If only we had some spices...."

*Cooper*
"Dex, see any movement in the town?"

*Dex*
=He had already been observing the place, looking through his scope=
"A few walkers. Most of them.....are moving into the town. The center I mean."

*Cooper*
"Something's got their attention then. Alright everyone, once we get closer we need to get low, and spread ourselves out a bit. We can't hide this group under one roof."

I guess she doesn't want to talk..
"I'm sorry that I worry about you. But you haven't talked in a couple days. Is there nothing I can do for you?"
I pretty much already knew the answer, but it was worth a shot if anything.

Jennifer blinked, coming out of her daze. She blinked, shaking her head.
"I'm sorry Tyler. I...I'm still shaken up...that bullet was just too close..."

Eve studied the card. "Sleight of hand?"

Hibiki frowned. "No salt, eh?"

(James)
=I checked the cabinets. There was actually salt and pepper=
"Salt, or pepper?"

=The smell of cooking fish along with the sound of sizzling meat soon filled the cabin=

*Marcus*
"Yeah, I used to practice magic tricks as a hobby."
=Then I made the card disappear=

"Yeah..... that was too close for comfort. But. I'm glad it didn't hit you."

Wait, what am I saying?

Smiling, Jen kissed Tyler's cheek. "I'm glad it didn't, either."

Hibiki grabbed them both. "Both, of course."

Eve smiled softly. "Cool."

*Marcus*
"Now if only I were able to return the world to the way it was...."

(James)
"You can cook?"
=I grabbed a spatula, and flipped both slabs of fish=

"A bit." Hibiki admitted. "Never fish. usually chicken or hamburgers. Or steak."

Eve looked at her lap. "A lot of pain would be gone..." She rubbed her eyes. "Don't forget to send the Shepherds into oblivion."