Open up, Survivors Inside

Chapter 10

The sound of kids giggling while playing was something Puffer never thought he would hear again. Tess and Elizabeth had settled right in, and it was clear Clementine was happy to have another peer. But something else had happened. A power shift had happened. Instead of looking to Lilly or Kenny for leadership, people began to look to Puffer, which he wasn't sure how to feel about. He did so in that one moment because he was tired of Lilly and Kenny's bickering causing nothing to get done.

So it sucked when people started looking to him when the bandits started attacking the the motor inn with arrows. Thankfully, Puffer's advice of thickening the wall managed to keep them safe for now. Puffer let Lilly continue to keep watch over their supplies, as she was meticulous about keeping track.

Still, there was always a day where someone came to him for something. And today it was Travis. "Are we going to go out hunting anytime soon?" Travis asked.

"Not until the bandits are dealt with," Puffer replied, pausing his work on strengthening the gate hinges, "Hell, the supply run Kenny and Lee are on is dangerous as fuck, but at least they're not in the area long enough for bandits to spot them."

"There has to be a way to stop them somehow," Travis hummed, thinking.

But Puffer shook his head, "Too many of them. The only options we have are to leave or defend our home, and at this point, leaving might be our best option."

"Too bad Lilly won't let that happen," Travis grumbled, "Aren't you in charge now?"

"I wouldn't say that..." Puffer said.

"But you're making all the decisions now," Travis pointed out, "and you and Lee are the only ones anyone is listening to now."

"I mean, I guess I am, even if it feels weird to say," Puffer sighed, "For now, just keep an eye from the second floor."

"On it!" Travis said as he hurried off. Honestly, Puffer wouldn't mind leaving Lilly behind. She did nothing while Lee was about to be killed, and it took Puffer using a rifle for the first time to save him. Puffer feared she would either get someone killed or kill someone.

Puffer took a step back and looked at his work, noticing how much easier it was to move the gate while still only being openable from the inside. Perfect. Puffer felt his ankle flare up in pain, but ignored it as he kept walking. He looked to where the kids were, and saw Duck sitting by himself. That was very strange, as Duck normally hung out with Clementine or Elizabeth.

Puffer walked over, sitting beside Duck, "What's wrong? Not feeling good?"

"I killed Shawn..." Duck mumbled, and Puffer froze.

"Huh?" Puffer asked.

"I got him killed, it was my fault," Duck sniffed, rubbing his eyes, "I didn't realize until now...it's my fault..."

Puffer was silent for a moment, "...No it wasn't, it was an accident."

"But I got the tractor to run his foot over...!" Duck said.

"And I failed to kill the last walker before it bit him," Puffer replied, "Everything happened so fast...you didn't mean to turn the tractor on, you can't blame yourself. Shit happens, and all we can do is move on."

"Like when I ate human meat...?" Duck questioned.

"Like that, it's happened now, so all we can really do it take what happened as use it as a lesson on what not to do," Puffer explained, and that seemed to start to make Duck perk up, "So the lessons you learned?"

"Don't touch a stick on a tractor, and don't eat random things," Duck replied.

"Exactly! See, you got it," Puffer said, then froze when Duck hugged him.

"You're the best Puffer," Duck said.

Puffer would not cry no matter how adorable an event was. Puffer hugged back, patting the kid's back. "Don't be too hard on yourself, alright? No go be a kid," Puffer said as the two got up.

"I will, bye Puffer!" Duck replied, his normal enthusiasm back. Puffer watched ad Duck headed over to Elizabeth and Clementine, who were putting stickers on Clementine's walkie talkie. The bells rang, and Puffer saw Lee and Kenny approaching. When they got in, both headed to Lilly's room so she could count the new supplies.

When the two left, Lilly looked over at Puffer, meaning she wanted something. Puffer walked over, heading inside. "How does it look?" Puffer asked.

"We can make the winter here if we keep getting supplies like that," Lilly replied.

Puffer frowned at this, "We can't stay here, the electricity is dead and we have no heaters. We need to move on."

"First Kenny, now you?!" Lilly grumbled, "Did you know Lee and Kenny let a girl get eaten to get their supplies? Why are you agreeing with monsters like them?"

"Last I checked, I wasn't the one about to let one of our group members be fried on an electric fence," Puffer hissed out, "I trust them a lot. And I can see the writing on the wall. Lilly, if we stay here, we will die."

"If we go on the road, we'll also die if we don't figure out who the rat is," Lilly argued; that got Puffer's attention, which Lilly noticed, "Someone has been stealing our supplies, little by little. If we really are going to leave, we have to figure out who the rat is and throw them out."

"Any ideas on who?" Puffer asked.

"No, that's why I need you," Lilly continued, "I need someone to search for any clues as to where are supplies are going while I try to narrow down the suspect list. And right now? You're the only one I trust." Well that was ironic considering Puffer didn't trust her.

"I'll keep an eye out," Puffer said.

"Here," Lilly said as she handed over a broken flashlight, "I found this tossed into the garbage. We don't throw out broken equipment, we fix it. Unless someone didn't want to be caught going out at night while everyone else is asleep."