Fungi- A Tale Of Two Warriors

28

(Violet)
           Ugh it's been two days of Mary Ann making me rest so I can heal. Espen is doing much better after he got some good sleep. I need to get up because Clark probably knows I came back here. We can't stay here too long. As I get up Espen quickly gets up following. He 
must be awfully hungry too. Stepping out of the office I look around. Blake watches me relieved. Lola curiously watches Espen. Blake offers half of the canned fruit he was eating. "Here, you and Espen need to eat." He says kindly. I nodded hesitantly, accepting the food. I sit on the counter next to him, setting Espen next to me so we can share. "Thanks." Glancing over at him. "No problem." He smiles slightly. "So what happened? I know you wouldn't just disappear like that and not warn anyone." He continues. 
That reminds me. My eye brows furrow thinking of Clark and the outpost. "We aren't safe here, we can't trust anyone but you, me, Alex, and Mary Ann." I say. He looks slightly confused "What about Josh and the new girl?" He asks. New girl? Who the fuck is he talking about? "Who??" I ask. Blake calls out and a woman pops from a room. He pointed over to the 5'10 black girl with curly hair, but her head buzzed to one side. Who the fuck is she?! Espen and I quickly finish up the rest of the given fruit. "I'll be back." I say concerned as I get off the counter and help Espen down. Walking over to Mary Ann who gives me a look to lay my ass back down. I'm frightened of her at times but I don't let it get to me too much. "How are you feeling? Why are you not resting??" She asks. "I-i'm fine I just need time but I'll live, and I got hungry." I say trying to give myself reasons to roam. She gently hugs me. 
"Ok but the second you feel the slightest pinch of pain I want your ass back on that bed." She says concerned. I nod quickly then wander off to find Alex and figure out more about this new girl. 
I figure Alex would be with Josh so I go to find Josh. "Where's Alex?" I ask. "Oh she's in what used to be the frozen aisle." He says. I nod and begin to walk away but he grabs my arm gently. "I’m glad you're back." He says. "Whatever maggot." I say, rolling my eyes and I walk back to the isles to find her. She jumps to her feet when she sees me. Alex hugs me then jumps back remembering our wounds. I wince a little but I know I'll be fine. "You're finally up." She says. I nod. "Who's the new girl?" 
I ask.
 "Oh that's Zoe. I found her barely surviving in the trees. She joined while you were missing. Speaking of that, why the hell didn't you tell me where you were going?! You had me so worried!" She says, punching my shoulder. 
"I got nabbed. We aren't safe here anymore, I'll explain more later." I say sighing. Her eyebrows furrow in concern, I can't tell what she's thinking about. I walk off to Zoe. She raises her gaze looking at Espen following me. Then at me.

 "And you are?" I ask. "I'm Zoe."  She answers quietly. Unsure to trust me. "Where are you from?", I keep firing questions. "Originally Michigan.. And I was found in a small town nearby. If I wasn't so lucky to have run into the girl I don't think I would have lasted this long." She explains. 
"What were you doing there?" I am suspicious. Josh walks out, watching me question Zoe. Blake watches as well. Mary Ann comes over. Shortly after Alex is close by. 
"I was ,uh, scavenging through the town. Ran into all these people doing horrible things so I hid." She continues, you can tell she's thinking. "What things?" I ask. "Wait, you told me that you saw the smoke and went to investigate." Alex says. Mary Ann's eyebrows furrow concerned. 
Something doesn't add up. "You're lying then, what really happened?" I ask Zoe. She looks scared. "O-ok I was with a group, the group that set that museum a blaze and hurt people. But I didn't help! I took the only chance I got to run and hide!" She explains. Mary Ann and Alex step back in shock. Shit! She was with them! I look over at Mary Ann who looks full of emotions. She starts to tear up and yell. 
"Those kids! They're all dead because of you!  All of those people you were with!  Monsters!" She starts to yell and cry. I've never seen her get like this before. 
Blake stands watching, unsure what to do. I stay in between Mary Ann and Zoe as Zoe gets up. Zoe looks scared of what we'll do and guilty. I face Mary Ann. Blake watched cautiously. Lola watching as well. 
"Listen Mary Ann we need to keep her." I say. She gave me a glare "Why?! We don't know what else her or her group will do!" She yells. "Yes I know but hear me out we can use her if something happens, we can maybe bargain with her group to keep ours safe." I explain. Mary Ann backs down. 
"Fine but I don't want anything to do with her so she's YOUR responsibility, Violet." She says before walking away to grieve. Alex looks at me with some sort of unsure look then walks off to comfort Mary Ann. I glare at Zoe before walking off to Blake. "Smart, giving her a reason to keep the girl." He says.
 "Until she proves herself, I don't have any other reason to keep her." I explain. He nods. I sit on the counter, Espen paws at my feet. I slouch over to pick him up but Blake has already got to him before I could. He sets Espen next to me. "Thanks." I say with a slight smile, glad he's looking out for Espen as well. "Welcome. " He says, smiling kindly and petting lola.