Low Heath

Scavenging

"No... this can't be right... it CAN'T be!" Papers scattered across the table. Multiple chemicals, many extremely volatile, held in test tubes of various sizes. And of course, a lot of empty cups of coffee. The scientist slammed his hands onto the table, rattling some of the tubes and waking up one of his "patients". The infected potted peashooter yawned, its glowing pink eyes fluttering open. It started hopefully at the scientist as it made soft whimpers, desperate to be fed. "What? Are you already hungry? Damn plant." The scientist picked up the pot, holding the plant's head still to keep it from planting multiple kisses on his face while placing it on the ground. As he unbuckled his pants, he grabbed his radio, cranking up the volume. "Greg, do something for once! I need supplies and I'm kinda..... *busy* at the moment, so get off your tail and be useful!" On the other side of the intercom, a chair creaked as the Deadbeard rubbed his eyes,  waking up from his fifth nap today. "Yeah yeah, I hear ya..."

Stumbling down the hallway and marching into the bathroom, the lanky undead flicked on the lights. He turned on the faucet, splashing some cold water over his face and rubbing his eyes. "Everything alright, hun?" Greg looked up, seeing the smiling Electric Slide, May,  leaning against the doorway, grinning. "No. Preparin' for yet another supply run. Damn Doc to the depths, must be nice all safe in 'is lab." He limped past her, a worried look flashing on her face as he headed for the door. "Need some company?" She asked, hopeful. "You already know the answer, lass." Greg grumbled, exiting the bunker. The Electric Slide sighed, opting to go check on the scientist and maybe smack some sense into him. Outside, Greg followed his usual route. Through the sewers, behind the bakery, over the lake, he's done it hundreds of times. Sure, sometimes some infected Tangle Kelp or Seashrooms would try to hitch a ride when he paddled over the lake, but that's nothing some Scurvy Scattershot can't fix. As he approached a chemical warehouse, he suddenly got a gut feeling that something was wrong. He stopped walking, simply listening. Nothing, just leaves rustling and what sounded like hushed whispers. "Just me luck." He muttered under his breath, making sure that his gun was loaded, before pressing on.

Even as he quickened his pace, the whispers persisted, loud enough to hear fragments of what they were saying. Healthy..... Been a while...... He'll do.... Resistance. These words did not make Greg feel safe, the pirate's uncovered eye darting from corner to corner. His gut feeling returned with a vengeance, screaming at him to leave. He knew that wasn't an option, but the thought of it was nice. "𓉔𓅂𓇌-" The stranger barely had time to finish her sentence or react before the old zombie whirled around with a crude knife in hand, slicing blindly. They ducked but weren't able to entirely avoid it, leaving a small nick next to their eye. Greg now was able to get a good look at the stranger, noticing that they were in fact a plant, a rather large cloaked Sun Pharaoh to be specific. She hissed, firing a pulse that struck his hand, causing the pirate to drop his weapon. She then picked it up, holding it at him with a fierce yet not too threatening expression. "𓋴𓏏𓅱𓊪. 𓆓𓅲𓋴𓏏 𓃭𓇋𓋴𓏏𓅂𓈖 𓏏𓅱 𓅓𓅂𓄼 𓂧𓅱𓈖𓂕𓏏 𓅓𓄿𓈎𓅂 𓅓𓅂 𓉔𓅲𓂋𓏏 𓇌𓅱𓅲." The flower hissed, catching Greg off guard. "What? What be ye saying, plant?" The flower scrunched up her face before a look of realization dawned on her. "Forgive this humble soul, for not all who traverse my path grasp the words of my forebears." Greg understood this a little better, but not by much. "Who be ye, an' why 'ave you been trackin' me down like a ship rat?" The flower bows, briefly removing her cloak to reveal her gorgeously bejeweled petals. "I am Aaliyah, and I yearn for the day we might have encountered one another amidst the light of brighter happenings." It takes Greg a minute to process and understand her words, nodding when he does. "Aye, me too lass." The zombie's posture shifted slightly, still cautious. Putting her cloak back on, the flower sighed, tossing the knife to his feet. "In foresight, I should have glimpsed this path, and I honor thy caution, particularly in these tumultuous days of trials." She stepped back, showing that she meant no harm. Greg narrowed his eyes. "That there still doesn't explain the multiple voices I 'eard." He growled, earning yet another sigh from the plant. She makes a strange motion, and a few plants shuffled meekly from the shadows. The group consisted of a NightCap, a sick looking cactus, and two sunflowers. One, a healthy one, leading the other, a clearly infected Metal Petal by a chain. The infected was blindfolded, with tape on her mouth to prevent her from biting or licking. "Be that there a infected!? Are ye insane-" Aaliyah covered his mouth gently, her eyes locked onto his. "Hush! They are my kin, a bond of the heart, and I shall not forsake them." Greg pushed her off, grumbling something while glaring daggers at the infected. "Yer shoddy crew be doomed, but no matter. What does this here 'ave to do with me?" The flower's expression did not change, her walking over and gently ruffling the petals of the other flower, earning a tired smile from her. "I speak with respect, yet no soul could endure these desolate times in solitude. You possess a stronghold, and we seek entrance to your shelter." Greg rolled his eye, turning to continue on his trip. "Ye won't be allowed in. Plants be too risky, an' besides I 'ave a job to do."