Surviving the Apocalypse

Episode 2

Author's Note : Just an fyi, please don't leave any comments complaining about them being "too lucky" or the amount of stuff they find being unrealistic. I truly don't understand what the writers were doing during Season 3. If they are still finding non-looted houses/ stores in Season 11, I don't get how they couldn't find anything in Season 3. That just doesn't seem realistic to me, even with the Governor and Woodbury nearby. I know some places are more looted than others, but just one store alone should have something to eat, even if it's a few packs of crackers.

I have worked in several grocery stores, big and small, and there were always 100's of boxes of "backstock" in the backroom. Which are boxes of food and other products, that are basically back up, so the shelves can be stocked, even on days that a truck doesn't deliver. So even if someone looted the store, they shouldn't be able to take every single thing, unless the Governor sent his people to clear everything out with multiple vehicles.

With that being said, I have changed some details about the beginning of S3E1. As well as throughout the story, with them getting at least a little lucky with finding supplies, depending on the situation. Also the prison closest to where I live, and one that I've visited before, was not in the middle of nowhere like the prison from the show is. So even if it's not 100% accurate to the show, I am going off of what I know in the real world too, just so it's more realistic. I hope you still enjoy it! 

     After staying a few nights at the hotel, the group knew they needed to find somewhere more permanent. Lori was getting closer and closer to giving birth, and even though the hotel was a nice spot, it didn't have the ability to be permanent. There were just too many blind spots to keep it completely safe and guarded.

Glenn had found a few flyers in the hotel lobby, one of which had a zoomed in map of the surrounding areas. The main map that they used to navigate and track walker herds was just a standard map, just roads, bodies of water, and such. The second Rick saw the Correctional Facility printed out on the map, you could see the spark of hope.

He immediately got Glenn, Maggie, and Nathan to scout the area, so that they could make sure it wouldn't be a wasted trip with everyone and all the supplies. Carol, Daryl, and Oliver were tasked with searching a thrift store, a few houses, and a hair salon that were all together in a small neighborhood. Rick, and T-Dog stayed behind with Hershel, Elodie, Lori, Beth, Carl, and Charlotte to stay on guard.

The thrift store had a bunch of random, but useful items. They had collected some more boots, some extra clothes, more blankets, and some baby supplies. Daryl had also snagged a polaroid camera off the shelf and some film, and all the art supplies he could find. The small employee room only had a few lunch boxes that had moldy leftovers.

Glenn, Maggie, and Nathan planned on stopping by the neighborhood on their way back from scouting out the prison, so they didn't worry about the amount they were collecting. The hair salon didn't have much, as expected, but Carol did pick out some hair products and tools that the women could use. She also promised Daryl to show him which products he could use to keep Charlotte's hair from getting tangled so often.

The first few houses had a few finds, some batteries, flashlights, tools, a few knives, but the last house they searched was a gold mine. Oliver had to push Daryl up to a window just to get inside, the door had been blocked, and the bottom floor windows were boarded up. The person who was living there had gotten bitten, and Daryl put him down before clearing the door jam.

The pantry was almost completely stocked, there were cardboard boxes with some candles, batteries, water filters, medicine, and an assortment of knives. A few guns sat on the kitchen counter, the boxes of ammo in the cabinets. Carol grinned happily while watching Daryl and Oliver high five, and started loading up boxes into their truck. There were a few empty Rubbermaid containers in a storage closet, which Carol used to put the food, and their finds from the store and salon.