Disgraced - The Walking Dead

One

Avis traveled alone for only a couple weeks before she was found by another who kindly took her in. She was found alone in the woods struggling to open a can of peaches with frozen fingers when a woman no older than her had sat beside her on the forest floor.

A knife was offered, the bronze skinned woman giving her name through a bright smile that immediately set Avis at ease. "The names Kendra, Kendra Adams. It's nice to meet you."

Avis stabs the knife into the can before she looks to the other, scanning her up and down before sticking out a tanned hand for her to shake. "Avis Braxley. Nice to see someone who isn't interested in eating my brains."   

They stayed together after that. Fighting through the dead and scavenging for whatever they could but it became harder as the days grew colder. Shelter and food became a rare sight during those months of bitter cold. Choosing to stay hidden within the protection of the trees rather than the crowds of hoarded towns overrun with the dead. Though, just as winter turned to spring came sickness and a lack of medicine.

Kendra fell sick towards the end of the seasons change. As both felt the night chill ease and tress begin to green Kendra became unable to keep down whatever food they could find and soon she became warm with fever.

"Kendra," Avis whispered, brushing back the flap to the tent they had stumbled across, revealing the shivering mess that was her friend. Avis pursed her lips in worry as she crawled in beside Kendra, placing her hand against her forehead, trying not to show her worry as umber eyes meet her own. "We need to find you a proper shelter, Ken, and some medicine."

Avis watches as Kendra brings a shaky hand to her own, weakly bringing it from her forehead to her chest. "How?"

"We'll just have to move slowly," She says, hoping her voice doesn't give away how scared she is. "All I know is that you're never going to get better lying here in a ratty tent barely out of the elements or safe from the dead. Our best bet is getting you moving and hoping we stumble upon shelter and medicine or even just someone who can help."

Kendra takes a moment but she gives a shaky nod and that's all Avis needs.

Within 10 minutes she has hers and Kendra's belongings packed and thrown over one shoulder with the sick girl on her other. "Alright," she breathes heavily, breath fogging in front of her and frosted grass crunching underfoot as she begins to walk. Hoping and praying that they found something.

"You know," Kendra breathes harshly, breaking the early silence between the two and the abandoned forest. "I think I'm starting to feel better already."

Avis couldn't help but snort as she looked the women over. She looked like shit.

Auburn curls ratty and home to all things forest. Skin and clothes covered in mud and blood and who knows what else, looking anything but healthy with the sickly tint her skin has taken. Who was she to judge though, she doubted she looked any better. Avis could feel the mud in her dark hair, ponytail hanging loose at the base of her skull, matted with mud and blood. She knew her clothes fared no better.

"You look like shit."

Kendra lets out a laugh that's all breath. "If only...if only you could see yourself," she starts to cough. A wet sounding set of jarring coughs that seems to rattle her brittle bones and leaves Avis biting her lip in worry. Kendra's eyes are hazy as she looks around the forest, a smile playing at her lips still as if no worries weigh upon her shoulders. "I'm not scared, you know. There's no way I'm going to let a measly common cold take me out when...when there's the walking dead scurrying about."

Avis shakes her head, unable to stop the huff of laughter that leaves her lips. Bemused at Kendra's endless optimistic outlook despite her current state and situation. "You, Kendra Adams, are one of a kind," she snickers at the glower sent her way. "Only you."