Forgetting the Apocalypse

18. The Hoard

"I mean it won't be exactly like the one my brother lost but it'll still do the trick. It could even be better, just saying." I don't even have to turn around to know that Roone is making some childish face at his younger brother.

One of the first things that Riva noticed when he took in my appearance was that I was no longer sporting my infamous bow. Obviously, I wanted to find another one but he was going above and beyond. Occasionally, blaming his brother for the reason why I don't have one anymore made me laugh every time. Roone had told them our ordeal, mostly his, and what he did to save me and get my stuff. Now Riva won't stop bringing it up and teasing him for it. These last few days he's been offering to actually make me one. He said his father taught him how to carve one out of branches. Judging by the look Roone had on his face, I think it's a safe bet that maybe all the lessons didn't stick. Either that or he's exaggerating how well he can make it.

"Thanks Riva baby, but I think I'll see if I can find one in the next shop we come across." his dejected expression makes me feel a little bad so I try to make it up to him, "I'll make you a deal though, if I don't find one the next three then you can make me one. My only request is that if you can please make it burgundy."

Agreeing to let him do it wouldn't be enough for him. I had to give him some sort of challenge. Due to what I've seen and what his older brother had told me, Riva gets really excited when given a task. Especially one where he's not expected to complete or when it's tied to him being patient.

Part of me was just being nice so that he didn't have to go out of his way to get something for me. Let alone make it. However, the other part was a curious little brat antagonizing him to see if he can pull it off without me seeing him.

"Why burgundy?"

Shit! I forget that Roone was walking right next to me with how quiet he can be.

"What?" I ask not really comprehending the question since I'm trying to slow my heart rate back down.

"The color you chose. Why burgundy?"

"One of the houses we were clearing had these little cards with different kinds of colors and one of them said burgundy. I really liked that one the most so that's why I asked him if he could make it or do it like that." It was really simple and after finally growing accustomed to him I saw no reason to not tell him the truth.

In fact I found myself liking the color so much that it made me wonder what my favorite used to be. Being a blank canvas has it's perks most of the time and it can help pass the time if I let my thoughts wander safely. Which leads me to wishing that my favorite color before wasn't pink. No offense to anyone still alive out there that likes that color. I just find pink to be way too bright. Almost like a huge signal sticking out to everything. Though I highly doubt that is the case because when I looked around my old home I saw no trace of the color.

Roone seemed satisfied with my answer because he doesn't ask me anything else and goes back to thinking about whatever he was before. For a while we went on in silence. Only breaking it to ask the occasional question on whether or not Roone and I are ok enough to keep walking. If we're heading in the right direction or passing around some foods as we got hungry.

Before we knew it, sunrise was coming in half an hour and we still haven't food a suitable place to camp. We were hoping to make it one of the houses that weren't too badly damaged. Sure there were some buildings that had their windows and doors left intact but they were too big to clear with what little time that had left. So we came to the decision to head back into the woods. There was one unfortunate straggler that crossed our path on our way to the wooded area. After sticking a knife to his head, we all rubbed some of its dead blood on ourselves. That was all the cover we would have out here.