Suffering: Male Reader x TWDG (slow updates)

Chapter 52: They're Called Guardians

Leaves crunch softly underfoot as you stalk through the forest. Charlie follows closely, spear in hand. The spear, which was carved from a tree branch, seems to be the weapon of choice for the Whisperer's hunting parties; of which today you're a part of.

"And you're absolutely sure that a deer came through here?" Charlie asked quietly, "because I don't see any-" 

"I'm not stupid," you growl, catching a glance in his direction. "Trust me, a deer came through here not long ago, I have training. I know what I'm doing."

"Your training is why us Whisperers never roamed far east. We were worried about the Militia finding out about us. Stories of whole camps of bandits slaughtered in their sleep, their brains untouched so they turn into guardians. It's something we'd do if we had the skill; Alpha is obsessed with the Militia. Now it no longer exists . . . well, it won't be long before we begin pushing out further and further east, until there aren't any more resources that way either."

"I know," you reply. "We'll get supplies and get the hell outta here -"

A noise cuts you off. A twig snapping close by. You both turn and witness a deer dart through the trees just ahead. Charlie hurls his spear, hitting it in the rear and wounding it significantly, slowing it down and allowing the both of you to give chase.

You hurtle through the forest, close behind. You aren't gaining on the deer but it's inevitable that it'll slow further due to the wound it sustained from Charlie. You hear more footsteps pounding on the forest floor and see a few of the other boys from the hunting party join the chase. The deer leaps through the treeline into a clearing. Without a second thought, you follow; Charlie hot on your heels.

"Fuck!" you yell, skidding to a halt. The clearing, though a rather big one, had a large group of 'guardians' in it: around 15 - 25. It was hard to tell exactly how many as you didn't exactly have time to count them but there were enough that there wouldn't be a good outcome from fighting them. The deer, now exhausted and bleeding heavily, slumps down on the grass in defeat; as if tempting you to enter further into the clearing and finish the job.

And you do just that..

You put on your Whisperer mask and stride purposefully to the deer, drawing your knife. A swift slit of the deer's throat kills it and you look around; the 'guardians' approaching from most sides including the way you came. You can see the other hunters hiding over by the safety of the trees, watching. Charlie taps your shoulder. "There's a log cabin just on the other side of the clearing, didn't you see it? We might be able to drag the deer to safety over there."

If you're being truthful with yourself, you hadn't seen the cabin. You were too busy thinking about the deer to focus on anything else. You nod in reply and he grabs the deer's rear legs; you rush to grab the front legs and begin dragging it. You make it to the cabin: a decrepit shamble of logs, half rotten; and safely bring the deer inside just before the 'guardians' can reach you.

After you blockade the door shut with a metal framed bed, you slump against one of the walls and sigh.

"We're going to have to wait for the guardians to be herded away by the others," Charlie says, taking up position against the opposite wall and shaking his head at you. "Hopefully it won't take too long."

"It better not," you reply glumly. "The infected might break in -"

"Guardians," Charlie corrected. "They're called guardians." 

"Yeah, whatever."

"Hey," Charlie says, examining his mask carefully. "Have I uh.. have I ever told you about how I joined the Whisperers?"