Raven gradually stirred awake as the morning light filtered through her bedroom window. She yawned and stretched, feeling the lingering fatigue in her limbs. As she pulled herself up to a sitting position, she began to blink the sleep from her eyes, noticing an unusual amount of clamor coming from outside her room.
Curiosity piqued, Raven pushed back the covers and slid out of bed. The wooden floorboards were cool beneath her feet as she tiptoed to her bedroom door and cracked it open to take a peek down the hallway.
To her surprise, Rick's group had already gathered early in the day and seemed to be preparing for breakfast – but they were in the wrong place. They appeared not to be aware that breakfasts were usually held on the diner floor. Shaking her head with a gentle smile, Raven decided it was best to intervene and inform them of their mistake.
She slipped back into her room, swiftly got dressed, and went over to Beth's room. Tapping on her door softly, she called out, "Beth! Wake up, we've got some early birds."
Beth sleepily stumbled out of bed and quickly threw on some clothes before joining Raven in the hallway. Together, they walked over to Rick's group, who were huddled around trying to make do with the limited kitchen equipment they had found there.
"Good morning!" Raven greeted them cheerfully. "I noticed that you might not know where breakfast is served around here."
Rick Grimes looked up from his haphazard attempt at scrambling eggs in a frying pan. His face flushed with embarrassment as he realized their mistake.
"Yeah, we were just trying to get started for the day," he admitted sheepishly.
Raven smiled warmly and informed him, "No worries at all! Breakfast is actually at 6 am on floor 4 – the diner floor."
The members of Rick's group exchanged relieved glances, thankful that they wouldn't have to eat Ricks burnt cooking.
As they walked, Raven attempted to strike up a conversation with Daryl, who remained hesitant to engage. She shared stories of her life in the bunker, where she had survived for four years by herself. Gradually, Daryl began to warm up to her, his guarded demeanor softening as they exchanged stories and experiences.
Daryl couldn't help but notice how tightly Beth held onto Raven's hand, seeking comfort and safety in the older woman. As they continued, Maggie reached out to touch Beth gently, causing her to flinch and press herself even closer to Raven. The group exchanged glances but kept moving.
Upon reaching the entrance of the bunker, Raven led them inside and down a narrow corridor until they arrived at floor 4. She eagerly showed them various rooms filled with advanced technology and resources that would be invaluable in their fight for survival.
"We can grow crops here," she explained enthusiastically as she revealed a hydroponics room.
"And there's water filtration and solar power – pretty much everything we'll need."
The group stared in amazement as she continued her tour until they came upon a large dining room area. There stood a table with just enough chairs for Rick's entire group. Raven pulled out a chair for Beth and guided her towards it gently.
As they settled in, it became clear that Raven's bunker would be a safe haven, at least for the time being. Their lives would continue to be a struggle, but for now, they had found solace in each other and in the hidden refuge beneath the earth.
"Here we are," Raven announced proudly. She grabbed Beth's hand and gently tugged her toward the chosen table. "Come on, sit down next to Enid."
Beth hesitated for a moment but then complied, sitting down beside Enid who offered her a warm smile. The rest of Rick's group followed suit, finding their own seats as they adjusted to their new surroundings.
Once they were settled, Raven stood up and addressed the hushed gathering. "Now that we're all here, I'll be taking each one of you individually to show you your new jobs within our community." Her voice was reassuring and authoritative as she scanned the expectant faces before her.
She took every member of Rick's group one by one, leaving no one out. They learned about their assigned tasks in this newfound refuge with quivering anticipation.
Finally, it was Rosita's turn. Raven walked her through the various stations until they reached an area filled with intricate machinery.
"I think you'll fit in perfectly here," Raven said. "Your mechanical knowledge is invaluable."
Next up was Tara. Raven brought her to a well-stocked library that housed countless books on various subjects.
"I've heard about your love for literature," remarked Raven. "I believe this would be an ideal job for you – overseeing our library and educating our younger members."
For Abraham, she led him to the heavily fortified armory. His expertise as a military sergeant would provide extra security for their community.
Eugene was brought to a state-of-the-art laboratory where his scientific skills could contribute immensely towards research and development.
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