When the Dead Walk discussion

A part of the city being taken back by mother nature, survivors often scavenge here or find shelter in the tall, crumbling structures during the winter months.

Aurora sits high up in a tree, gazing down at the water bellow the bridge. This wasn't uncommon for her. She lived anywhere there were trees, so she was most often seen in trees, as it was sort of like a safe haven for her. She liked to watch people from above and would only come out when she deemed it safe. Which was now. She'd prefer not to come down at all, but she had to get more supplies. Mostly food and water. Once she scanned the area with her bright blue eyes, she jumps down into the muddy ground before she approached the river. She looked relax, but her senses were on alert. She was close to population, meaning there was more of a chance that she'd not only run into zombies, but other people as well. She kneels down and softly runs her hands against the water. It was cold, as could be expected. She takes off her black bag which, much like herself, was covered in mud, and takes out an empty plastic bowl container with a lid, beginning to fill it up with water.

Latrece was exhausted, hands trembling. She'd just barely managed to escape an entire horde. But at least she made away with her supplies and more importantly, her uninfected life. She wasn't bitten. Not yet. But she had to keep moving. She was panting, scrapes running down her arms, hair disheveled. But she wasn't dirty curiously enough. Her clothes were tattered, a plaid shirt and torn up blue jeans, but she herself, was clean. For the most part. She approached Aurora, not realizing that she was in fact doing so until she spotted the blonde hair and promptly threw her pistol up, holding it, hand shaky, "H-Hey" she said, obviously nervous. She rarely ran into people and a good fifty percent of the time, those people were hostile.

Aurora slowly looks at the water, whispering to herself,"I wonder if there are fish down the river.." She slowly gazes into the water and blinks at the girl's reflection though the girl had managed to get her gun out before Aurora could grab hers, which was still in her bag. She lets out a heavy sigh of irritation and holds up her hands, slowly standing up,"Hey.." She eyes her. Was this a trap? Were other people waiting around hidden behind trees or something, waiting to ambush her? At the thought, she slowly glances around at all the surrounding trees.

Latrece narrowed her eyes and swallowed harshly. "... okay... this is.. civil" she nodded, though kept her distance, "I'm Latrece" she added after a few moments of hesitation, slowly lowering her gun, but keeping it in hand.

Aurora eyes her. She was.. Lowering her gun.. Interesting. She slowly lowers her hands,"Aurora." She answers simply. This seemed.. Sketchy.. Surely this girl couldn't be traveling alone, right? Well, Aurora traveled alone, so it wouldn't be too surprising. She was covered in scrapes. "..Were you bitten?" She asks, eyeing the scratches on her.

Latrece eyed Aurora,shaking her head slowly, "No... I wasn't. Thankfully. You don't have a group? I mean it's just, hard being out here alone" she inquired, putting her gun away after a few moments of contemplation.

Aurora tenses. How could she know that? She glances away, instead asking,"Were you running from a horde? Where were they heading?"

Latrece understood why she might not want to get into it, but she remained wary, "Yea, it was just a small horde. I lost them a few blocks down so they shouldn't be a problem. But uh, I really don't want to risk anything so..." she shrugged, "Wanna head out with me? I have dinner in my bag, I've been holding up on the rooftop of a parking garage on Bentley, a few streets down." she offered.

Aurora glances back at her, staying silent as she thinks about it before slowly nodding,"I.. Suppose it'd be safer that way.. So sure.." She closes the lid to the container with the water in it and places it in her bag before she stands up with it and waits for her to lead the way.

Latrece gave her a small smile and gestured for her to follow, "Ever thought about getting a real water bottle?" she asked, glancing at her.

Aurora answers while glancing behind them,"I have 2. You need to boil water before drinking it, so I just carry it in this container until I do."

She raised an eyebrow, "I found a whole jug of water in that garage. Just use that to clean up when we get back. You're a mess" she teased.

Aurora blinks though lightly smiles, eyeing her,"Says the girl who tried running with zombies." She teased back. She was starting to relax a little. She still kept her guard up, but this was still progress.

She rolled her eyes and reloaded her gun, "So why are you all covered in mud anyways?" she asked.

Aurora sighs,"There was a horde a few days ago that didn't leave until last night. I was trapped in the sewers for 2 days before I finally made it out and into a tree." She explains.

Latrece nodded slowly as she listened, grimacing a bit as she thought about the idea of being trapped in a gross sewer for two days. "Shit. Literally" she chuckled to herself, "Well uh... we'll get you cleaned up at the garage. It's not a bad place, think I might stay there for the winter" she replied.

Aurora nods, eyeing her,"Thank you." She glances back ahead, gripping her arms as they walked,"Will it be warm enough their for the winter?" She questions.

Latrece thought about it for a moment and nodded, "Yea. I think so. It's not very well insulated but it's really well sealed off. And we could start a fire on the roof, there's a hatch leading directly up there" she explained.

Aurora eyes her as she speaks, slowly nodding. She glances behind them once more before looking at her,"And you are.. Alone? Were you in a group?" She questions. Sure she didn't answer Latrece when she asked the same question, but Aurora had her reasons. Her past group she was in, well.. It didn't go so well. Maybe it was like that for Latrece as well? Maybe she shouldn't of asked.

Latrece frowned a bit, "Uh.. I was... a while back... didn't end well" she replied, eyes averted to the ground as she stuffed her hands into her pocket.

Aurora blinks, glancing away,"I'm.. Sorry.. I didn't mean to upset you.." Great, well that went well. Yes, that was sarcasm. That went a little downhill. She glances at her, attempting to change the subject,"So um.. How long have you been in this place we're heading to..?" She questions softly.

Latrece glanced around carefully, staying alert. "Uh.. Not too long. Couple of days I guess... and don't worry about it. Gotta get over it sometime." she shrugged.

Aurora eyes her again before nodding,"And.. Is it completely safe?" She questions. These were a lot of questions, but this girl seemed interesting and she wanted to get to know her best she could.

Latrece gazed at Aurora, grinning, "Obviously." she replied with a singular shrug, rolling her eyes. "If I wanted to kill you, I probably would have done it already" she added.

Aurora tenses, eyeing her. She.. Felt relieved that it meant the girl wouldn't kill her, but.. She was strong enough to fight her back if needed. She gives a small nod, nervously rubbing her arms,"A-Alright, I believe you.."

She sent a playful punch towards Aurora, hitting her shoulder and smiling, "Hey, lighten up girly." she turned, continuing down the road with her, "You hungry?" she asked.

Aurora blinks, relaxing lightly as she slowly nods,"Y-Yeah.." She hadn't eaten in 3 days. She hasn't been able to catch any deer or animals, and she wasn't dumb enough to go into town by herself.

Latrece raised her eyebrows at Aurora and furrowed her eyebrows, suddenly stopping and pulling a protein bar out of her bag, "Here kiddo, eat" she grinned, holding it out to her.

Aurora blinks lightly in shock, slowly taking it. She smiles faintly,"Th-thanks.." She slowly opens it and takes a small bite,"Are you.. Hungry..?"

Latrece shook her head, "I have a deer back at the garage under a tarp, we can probably cook it there" she replied.

Aurora blinks, smiling and nods,"A-Alright.." She glances around as they keep walking.