There's A Time For Everything

One With Nature

You'd been hiking for at least 3 hours. You could feel your muscles throbbing, and you were exhausted. "Let's make camp around here." 10k says while pointing a finger towards a clearing up by the river, surrounded by rocks on one side and river on the other. "Finally. I thought I was going to have to ask you if we could rest." You reply. "You know I'd do anything for you, right?" He suddenly says with a serious expression. His eyes grazing over you. Your cheeks begin flush with redness. "I know. You're my best friend. Best friends watch out for each other." You reply as you shyly walk over and give him a hug. Surprisingly he doesn't do his normal awkward back pat, but reciprocates your hug with intensity. "Alright. I'll go get some fire wood, can you set up camp?" He says, his cheeks still adorably flushed from the hug, handing you a bag with a tent in it. "Yeah sure. Just be safe okay? We can't get seperated. We just can't." You call after him as he makes his way through an opening in the rocks. "Always!" He replies. You just don't know what to think of 10k. Does he have feelings for you, like you have had for him ever since he saved you? You'd dated around a bit pre z but you'd been used. Boys didn't really like YOU. They wanted your body, which they never got. Besides you didn't have time for relationships anymore, you didn't want to hurt anyone. Especially not 10k. You set up the tent, and you were super hot and sweaty so you decided to take a quick swim in the river to clean up and get cool. Stripping your leather jacket with spikes on the shoulder, your flannel shirt, and your leggings, leaving you only in your lack lace bra and boy short panties. You dive in, the water forming shiny droplets in your long    H/C wavy hair. You scrubbed down and dried off with a small towel you had in your bag. You had your back turned when you hear a branch snap. Spinning around your knife at the ready, you spot 10k. "JESUS 10k you fricking scared me!" You say as you let out a nervous laugh. He looks at you with a deep red blush. Why is he blushing? You thought to yourself. Oh wait I'm half naked. "Um s-sorry Y/N!" He stutters out, his cheeks turning a deeper shade of red. You had a light blush and flashed him a playful grin and you pulled your now dry clothes back on. "What! Haven't you seen boobs before, 10k?" You say as you let out a small laugh. "Uh. Well no not REALLY." He says chuckling. "Well there's a first time for everything." You say. He gets a fire started and you go to the edge of the river to bowfish. You draw the string to the corner of you mouth, and exhale as you release the arrow into a large trout. 10k trots over to you, stareing intently as you bag another trout. "What did you do? You know before the apocalypse?" He says as you butcher the fish to be eaten. "Well I was 15 when it happened 3 years ago . I grew up in western Pennsylvania. All I wanted to do was archery, and hunt, and fish. The other girls didn't really like me so I didn't really have any friends." You reply, "You?". "I grew up in the mountains, my mom died when I was a kid, and my dad was a survivalist. He turned about a year ago and I mercied him." He says. "I grew up pretty secluded so I never had friends or relationships or anything.". It was really cold outside all of a sudden. You shivered and your teeth began to chatter. "Can we go to the tent? It's kind of cold out here." You ask. "yeah sure. This area is practically z free so we don't have to keep watch." He replies as he gathers up his bag, rifle, and jacket. You climb into the tent, 10k trailing behind you. "Did we grab the SMALLEST tent they had?" you laugh out. "Yeah sorry. I wanted to pack light." 10k says. You start to shiver as you lay there. Desperate for warmth you slide a little bit closer to 10k, who lays there rigid as you snuggle up. You slowly drift off to sleep, slipping into a dream. You were running through a small town, your sister sprinting behind you, followed by at least a dozen Z's you tried to shoot them but you could hit them while running. You stop and look back about to fire an arrow when you see your sister lying on the ground, surrounded by Z's. You shoot and stab the zombies, and finally get to her. She's been bitten all over and her throat is gashed and covered in blood. "LIBBY, no! Stay with me!" You scream. She looks into your E/C eyes, and whispers something. "Give... m-me... mercy..." Then her brown eyes closed, and she gave her last breath, the life exhaled from her body. "NO!" You screamed "WAKE UP!! Libby!" As you shook her lifeless body. Suddenly her eyes snapped open, a ghoulish growl escaping her dead lips. You rose, walking slowly about of 5 feet away. "Libby. I give you Mercy."

"NOOOO!!" you jolted awake with tears streaming down your face. 10k started and yelled, "Y/N, what's wrong?!?" A concerned look in his eyes as he held your shoulders tenderly. A sob escapes your body, "My sister... I killed my sister!" You sob out. He cradled you in his arms, and you lay there crying. "It's okay Y/N, I'm here, I won't let anything happen to you. I'll protect you." You drift into an exhausted sleep, still embraced in 10k's arms, your face buried in his chest, breathing in the scent of pine needles and gun powder from his shirt. He whispers one last thing that you can't hear.

10k's POV
"It's okay Y/N, I'm here, I won't let anything happen to you. I'll protect you. *whispers* I love you."