It was no use, the animals were way too fast for him. Tom was always a pretty fast runner, he had to be, but he was no match for a German Shepard and a Rottweiler. So after chasing, and chasing, passing by some revenants and dodging their grasps he began to slow down. Chest heaving up and down, all the supplies on his back wasn't helping neither.
Tom paid close attention to the tracks laid out on the dirt. Thanks to the training back at zone blue, he was good at tracking, not the best but he could get an idea of what thing made what kind of track, even types of revenants. It was easy if you paid very close attention to the surroundings of the area too.
Suddenly something up ahead caught his attention, continuing further he stopped at a tree trunk that had been carved into by a knife. Fingers brushed over the deep carving lightly. "I-S-H..." Tom read with confusion, his head tilted slightly to the side trying to figure out exactly what it meant. It could be a whole group of some sort, or maybe a warning, but there was no telling if this was recent or old.
Continuing past that tree, there was still more markings of I-S-H. Following his gut feeling he allowed that to guide him as well, while still following the tracks of the dogs surprisingly. It could be a name of someone's, maybe that someone was already dead though, who knew. It wasn't everyday people marked their names on something, maybe back then, but not now. Not unless you actually wanted people to come and kill you. Some people marked so they could find their way back, but it was never a name, or a message.
Tom knew it wasn't smart to shout, especially at a time like this but he figured that wild dog already howled, revenants were coming whether he liked it for not, plus Tom just wanted to get his partner back safe and sound. "Sumo! Come here boy!" He called out as he patted his lap, he knew Sumo would come back, but it was more of a when he would come back.
They had been separated so many times over the year, still one of them always found the other. They were best friends, what more would be said? Finally getting out of the tree filled forest, he came across a road. There were small stores near by, maybe he was in a small town of some sort, old rusted cars scattered about as well as dead bodies of revenants and humans. Looking left and right, deciding which way to go.
"Well won't you look at that..." Tom mumbled looking straight ahead at a fogged up car window, the letters I-S-H written on it with the persons fingers, it had to be recent. Cupping near his eyes he leaned further to the class window, looking to see if anyone was in there. All he saw through the dirty glass was a two decaying bodies, they were almost complete skeletons. Judging by the trail of dead revenants, it just had to be new.
Taking a right, down the dirty and somewhat distressed road he walked for a bit before crouching down near a rotten body, a bow right in the skull. Dragging his two digits along the pool of blood, it wasn't dry at all. Looking as the blood drip down his finger, his eyes narrowed a bit, someone was here, it was probably the whistle that he heard. Whoever it was, moved pretty fast, and obviously had weapons.
Quickly taking out his gun, he made a run for it, straight ahead following the trail of dead revenants. He didn't know who this person was, but chances are they were dangerous and it was someone he would have to kill. He only hoped Sumo didn't cross paths with them. Most people weren't too fond of dogs, either they were scared of them and shot on the spot, or they shot killed them to use them as food. Choices these days were very slim to say the least.
If Sumo did cross paths with that person, there was also a chance of that person now being dead. He wasn't good around strangers, he knew what people can do. And he was one hell of a mean dog when he had to be. Chewing up his enemies faces until there was practically nothing left, sometimes doing it on his own and other times on Toms go. He was good at listening and well trained, hopefully Sumo won the fight if there even was one.
Continuing to run, it wasn't a while until he heard barking, loud barking. He'd been with sumo long enough to know that it was his. So he made his way towards the noise, pistol in hand, but he started to think if he needed his bigger gun. If it was a group, he definitely needed one. Judging by the small trail, the one whistle and the writing, he had a feeling that it was one guy. A simple pistol would sure do the trick to take them out.
Seeing a figure, he ducked behind a car, hoping whoever it was hadn't seen them. He didn't get a good look either. Having his gun close to him, he took in a few shaky breaths, getting ready to pop right up and shoot. Tom wasn't really much of a talker, nor a waiter when it came to getting the job done, it was less complicated and as long as he was alive, nothing else really mattered.
The boy began to count in his head one, two, th— that was until he heard talking, and it really wasn't something that he was expecting. "Hey buddy, look Daisy. You brought a friend." Tom had came across a lot of people, the ones that were girls were usually bandits. Whether it be against their will or not, but they had a certain type of behavior. They were mean, nasty and cruel, Tom preferred revenants over bandits any day. Peaking his head out of the car, she didn't look like a bandit, and she didn't sound like one.
