UNDER EDITING 𝐺𝑅𝐴𝑉𝐸 𝐷𝐴𝑁𝐺𝐸𝑅 | 𝐴𝑃𝑂𝐶𝐴𝐿𝑌𝑃𝑆𝐸 ✔︎

"Burdens" to Bear

Time skip to morning

(Noah's POV)

I see a bit of sunshine peer thorough my tent as I stir awake. I honestly didn't want to wake up yet. I lay my head back down on my pillow.

Suddenly, the tent unzips. "Hey uh... Delores told me to wake you up. There's breakfast if you want it." Jasper. I jump a bit at the sight of him, which he notices.

I glance over to the other side of the tent to see that Lexi isn't there. She must be eating breakfast already.

I don't bother thanking him, and move past him out of my tent. "Whatever."

Jasper jogs to catch up to me. "So... I've decided you and your sister should probably learn how to defend yourselves. It would benefit the group as well as yourselves and we have enough sitting ducks already."

I widen my brown eyes. "You've decided?"

"You both probably should be considering that we could be killed any second at this point." Jasper says as continue to our group.

My breath hitches at that. He acted like getting devoured by zombies was 'no big deal'.

"I guess I wouldn't mind learning to defend myself." I mumble in defeat. "We'll do our part. It's only fair."

"Not that you had another choice anyway. I'll ask my brother today." Jasper shrugs.

I roll my eyes at his tone, but question him out of curiosity. "Who's your brother?" I ask. "You've met him. See him there? That's Cooper." I just nod. Why am I surprised? They are both total dicks and have a similar complexion. Of course they're brothers.

We walk up to three plastic folding tables laid out along with foldable metal chairs lined by it. I sit in between Lexi and Jasper.

There's not much for breakfast but there's enough for everyone to get a sufficient amount.

(Cooper POV) UNEXPECTED, IK.

I eat my breakfast quickly and head back to the top of the hill where I had practiced my knife throwing skills the previous night.

I had also argued with one of our new additions last night.

I didn't feel a tad bit bad though. Lexi and Noah are burdens. They can't fight and I haven't seen either of them start helping with chores yet.

"Cooper!" I hear a voice say. I look to see my brother Jasper running up the hill to me. "What's up?" I say casually as I sit on the ground and begin to sharpen my knife.

"You met the new additions right? Lexi and Noah, I think their names were?" He huffs. I nod. Obviously I met them.

"Yes. What's your point? Those two are no help here, they might as well leave." I scoff.

"Maybe uh... I don't know" Jasper trails off.

I look up at him with a blank expression. "What're you getting at?"

"Well, they could be a lot more of a help around here if..." he trails off once more.

"Out with it, Jasper. Unless it's a bad idea." I say.

"Okay okay. Maybe if you and I taught them how to fight then they could help the group a lot more." He finally says.

"Even if I decided to train them, they wouldn't be able to keep up." I scoff.

"Shouldn't we at least try? Delores and Harold aren't going to kick them out whether they know how to fight or not. So you might as well, right?"

I stand there silently, contemplating. Jasper groans. "I don't like them here any more than you, okay? But I think it's worth a shot... for the sake of our family. Delores and Harold. Everyone."

A sigh slips passed my teeth. Fine. "Not a terrible idea, Jasp. Let's give it a shot."

"When do you want to start then?" Jasper asks.

I wait a second before saying, "Tomorrow morning, at the crack of dawn."