UNDER EDITING 𝐺𝑅𝐴𝑉𝐸 𝐷𝐴𝑁𝐺𝐸𝑅 | 𝐴𝑃𝑂𝐶𝐴𝐿𝑌𝑃𝑆𝐸 ✔︎

Hunting

(Cooper's POV)

"Should we do a ration run? We didn't exactly grab any food on our way out." Lexi announces later that day in the kitchen. Everything in the fridge or cabinets is rotted or moldy.

Terms between Lexi and I are... weird at the moment. After hearing what she said come from her mouth I just.. I don't know what happened. We've been pretending everything's normal when in reality it's not.

"It's a bit risky, considering we are 'wanted' in two different places." I lean against the counter and cross my arms. Lexi nods. "True, but we can't just starve here..."

The room is silent before an idea pops into my head. "We're in a forest aren't we? Why not hunt?" I shrug. She glances up at me with wide eyes. "You'll have to count us Ashwell's out. We've never done it before."

"We can always teach you." I suggest with a shrug. "You guys kill biters all the time, what's so difficult about animals?" Lexi sighs. "I kill a ton of biters. Noah doesn't."

My eyes widen at that. She isn't wrong. We need to toughen up Noah more eventually. "Maybe this is a good chance to take him hunting then. Animals are a good start anyway right? We can even start with ground squirrels."

Lexi sighs and slouches a bit. "Alright sure. Only if Noah wants to, though. And please kill more than squirrels... that doesn't sound very appetizing."

I chuckle a bit. "What? You're gonna leave us to do all the work? What's your job, huh?" She shrugs. I guess I'll just keep an eye out for any bounty hunters. Go ask Noah. He and Jasper are in their room."

I look at her longingly. I feel so bad for what I did. She doesn't seem to be enjoying talking to me whatsoever. Maybe that's why she doesn't want to hunt with me.

I make my way up to the two teens' room. I lay three knocks on their wooden door. "Come in." I here Jasper shout. I trot into their room. They both seemed to be just sitting on their bed, chatting.

"I wanted to ask if uh.. you guys wanted to go hunting?" Their eyes widen a bit. "Well hell yeah." Jasper grins. Noah looks back and fourth from me and my brother. "I've never really gone hunting."

I nod. "Yeah, Lex told me. She thought it could be fun for you to learn. You don't have to if you-"

"I'll do it. It sounds interesting." Noah interjects. I raise my bushy eyebrows and nod. "Okay then.. let's go."

Short time skip~

We all trot out of the cabin and into the woods carrying weapons and a large bag to carry any small animals we kill.

We came across a few stray biters on the way but they weren't much of a challenge. After about twenty minutes of walking, we hear quiet rustling in some bushes not far from us.

I hold up a hand to stop them from walking any farther. "Okay Noah, this one's yours. When whatever that is comes out of the bushes, shoot it." I whisper while handing him a shotgun. He shakily takes it and holds it up very incorrectly.

I let out a sigh of frustration. He was pointing it downwards. "Jasper. Help him out." I mumble. Jasper nods and quietly walks up to Noah, adjusting the gun to be pointed perfectly at the bushes. He also adjusts his hand placement. "There ya go, Ashwell."

Noah nods and squints his eyes at the target. The bushes rustle more and more until a puppy hops out into plain sight.

"AH!" Noah instantly moves his gun away from the puppy's direction, carefully setting it into the dirt below him. "Holy shit, it's just a puppy."

"A puppy has survived in the woods alone? With zombies?" Jasper questions and I shrug. "I guess it's possible. I mean, she looks small enough to be able to hide away easy."

"Not for long." Noah kneels down next to the little black and white puppy. "Look, her paw has a thorn in it. She's limping."

The pup whimpers and Noah picks her up, instantly petting her. "We have to take her back to the cabin."

The dog in Noah's arms begins to howl in pain, and I look around in horror. "She's being too loud. We're gonna be absolutely fucked."

"Another reason for us to bring her back." Jasper nods, petting the pup's head.

Time Skip~

(Noah's POV)

"Noah, you know you're not a vet, right?" Jasper asks as I set the small dog into our bathroom sink. I roll my eyes at his words. "Yeah, I know. But it would be cruel to leave her in so much pain."

"We need a name for her." Jasper pets her head as I scrounge through the bathroom drawers, trying to find some tweezers.

I shrug, finally finding the tool I need. "I'll leave that up to you. I have no ideas. Will you hold her still?"

Jasper nods, holding her down gently but firmly. I take her little paw into my hand and steady the tweezers. I grab a hold of the thorn and pull slowly. She instantly whines and tries to bite me, but Jasper's strong hold is enough to keep her away. I finally get the thorn out, setting it on the edge of the sink.

"Yikes." Jasper huffs. "That's big."

"She'll be okay now, though." I kiss the top of the puppy's head as she calms back down. Taking some gauze, I wrap them tightly around the wounded area. "It's pretty likely that she's gonna take the bandage off, but it should help to catch any blood for right now. The wound is bad but... not crazy bad. She'll be just fine."

Jasper smiles at her, giving her kisses all over her head. "Awe, she's so cute. Who's a good girl?"

"You think Cooper's gonna let us keep her?" I ask and he shrugs. "I don't know. On one hand, I can see him thinking she'll hold us back. But on the other hand, I could convince him by training her to be a badass attack dog and kill biters." He crosses his arms smugly and I laugh.

"You know how to train dogs, Jasp?" I smile and he kisses me. "I can figure it out. I trained you after all."

With that, I shove him and take the puppy into my arms. I rolls his eyes. "I didn't mean it like that."

"I know, I just wanted to shove you." We exit the bathroom and head to the living room.

"All patched up?" Lexi asks with a smile, petting the puppy. Cooper rolls his eyes. "We can't keep her around."

"Called it." I say and Jasper nudges me.

(Lexi's POV)

"Lexi can you hand me that window cleaner under the sink? We might as well make this place as nice as possible since we're staying here." My mother requests. I nod. "Sure let me just-"

A sudden stench fills the air. I recognize it. Sudden flashbacks appear in my brain. It was a hot day in my girl scouts camp and we were on a hike. What happened that day... oh right! My old friend Katie wanted to see a bunny burrow on our hike but we ended up coming across a-

"SKUNK!" My thoughts are cut off by my mother's screaming. She points in the direction of the doorway. I glance over to see that Cooper, Jasper and Noah had returned from hunting. Jasper and Noah hold weapons and a big bag and Cooper holds...

"WHY ARE YOU HOLDING A BLOODY SKUNK BY ITS TAIL IN THIS HOUSE?! GET IT OUTSIDE!" My mother continues. I hold my nose and nod at him. "Where am I supposed to skin it?"

"Outside! You can skin it outside! I just cleaned this kitchen and there's no way in hell that I'm letting you mess it up again!" My eyes widen at my mother's vulgar language. Cooper just nods quickly and makes his way out the door, being followed by Noah and Jasper.

My mother ducks under the counter, grabbing a stray 'febreze'. She holds her nose and instantly sprays it everywhere. I cough at the stench a bit but indulge in it since it's way better than a skunk smell.

Hunting was a great idea.

A/N- I know this chapter was a bit different but I hope you liked it nonetheless! Stay posted my shawties <3