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Fading Whispers

- Thursday. June 7th, 2040.

Upon their initial arrival in Portland, It took Cedar and her family three more days until they were able to hole up in a rental house located in the coastal town of Florence, Oregon.

As everyone got settled in, Cedar and Luca ran out into the backyard where they were greeted by the Heceta beach.

Smiling to himself, Miguel hurried out after the two young adults. "What are you two doing?".

"This is fucking amazing!". Cedar called back with a grin as she and her brother splashed near the waves.

Miguel shook his head in amusement. "Come over here for a second".

"What?". Luca asked as he Cedar walked over to their uncle.

"Neither of you know how to swim, so I'm teaching you". Miguel replied, rolling his pant legs up.

"Really?". Cedar asked as she watched him grab a surfboard that was laying against the side of the house.

He waded deeper into the water and gestured for both young adults to come forward. "Alright, hop on!".

Cedar did as told, sitting on the surfboard with her legs dangling in the water. "Luca, come on!".

The aforementioned young man was standing at the water's edge, looking a bit nervous. "I'm gonna head back inside, you have fun though!".

Cedar shrugged and watched her brother's retreating form before looking at her uncle eagerly. "Right, Let's do this!".

Miguel laughed and guided the board further into the waves. "Use your hands to keep yourself moving".

"Like this?". Cedar asked, demonstrating what Miguel had told her to do.

"Just like that, good job kid!". Miguel praised.

The two of them messed around in the waves for about an hour until Benji called out to them with a worried look. "We have a problem!".

Miguel frowned as he and Cedar dried off and sat in the living room with the other four. "What's going on?".

"While you guys were getting settled I went out to survey the area -". Charlie began with a sigh.

"And?". Cedar asked nervously.

"We're right in the middle of Resurrection territory". Charlie finished with a grimace.

"You're joking". Andy said, putting an arm around Luca in comfort.

Charlie shook his head. "Nope, the brand is literally everywhere".

"So, what are we supposed to do?". Luca asked quietly.

"Stick close to the house and don't go out after dark... especially you three". Miguel instructed, looking at Charlie, Benji and Andy.

"What about supply runs and shit?". Cedar asked.

"We'll go in pairs, just like always". Miguel replied with a heaving sigh.

"Ceed, Luc, that means no more taking off for days on end to explore, got it?". Charlie said firmly.

Everyone took this information in for a few quiet moments until Benji looked up with a reassuring smile. "Come on guys, everything's gonna be fine alright?".

"You can't promise that". Cedar muttered, rubbing her old bite mark just like she always did when nervous.

"Maybe not, but we're a family right? So we always got each other's backs". Benji concluded, leaning into his partner's side easily.

Cedar smiled at this until she noticed Miguel's distant look. "Iggy, what's wrong?".

"There's something you guys should know, The night before we left Seattle, I was outside and I saw someone standing across the street". Miguel confessed nervously.

"Like an actual person? Not a walker?". Benji asked as he sat up straighter.

"It was definitely a person, When I looked back up they were gone". Miguel finished.

"You think we're being watched?". Andy asked carefully.

"I took out at least ten hidden cameras in the street lights earlier, so It's likely". Charlie replied.

Some seconds passed before Cedar cleared her throat. "I'm gonna head to bed". She said as she got up and headed up the staircase.

Miguel watched in concern as his niece simply passed by him and everyone else in silence, not even bothering to give any of them her usual goodnight hugs.

Some odd hours passed until Cedar awoke from a particularly bad nightmare with a fearful gasp, she took a minute to calm herself before heading downstairs for some water.

When she walked into the kitchen she was startled to see Miguel sitting at the table with his head in his hands.

Hearing the floor creak under Cedar's feet, he looked up and hastily wiped at his tear filled eyes. "Hey, what are you doing up?".

"I could ask you the same question". Cedar said, sitting in the chair at Miguel's left side.

"Bad dream, that's all". Miguel said, running a shaky hand through his dark hair.

"Yeah, I get them too". Cedar replied softly as she observed her uncle. "Why are you crying?".

Miguel shook his head. "I'm fine".

Cedar rolled her eyes and glared at him. "Come on, talk to me".

The older man relented with a sigh. "I'm starting to forget their voices".

"Who's?". Cedar asked gently.

"Ada's, Tony's.... and now Boone's". Miguel replied, his voice breaking at his brother's name.

Cedar considered this for a minute. "Don't even think about leaving us alright?".

"Mija -". Miguel started off wearily.

"Going after whoever you saw won't bring Boone back... or Ada or Tony. Please... just, don't go". Cedar cried.

Miguel released a shaky breath, getting out of his seat and kneeling next to Cedar's chair, pulling the crying young woman into a tight hug. "Alright, I'm right here okay?".

They pulled away as Cedar rubbed her eyes tiredly. "Can you carry me?". she asked softly, gesturing up towards her bedroom.

Miguel almost protested but decided against it, carefully picking up his niece and tucking her back into bed.

Upon her request he stayed at her bedside, rubbing a calloused hand over her forehead in comfort to keep her calm as she drifted off again.