The City (Merome AU)

11

~*Mitch*~

I push the door of the boar pen closed, panting. Out of all my years in the wasteland, this was the most difficult thing I've ever done. Why did I think this would be easy?!

"Didn't expect any less from a wastelander," A woman states from nearby. I wipe the sweat off my forehead with the shirt before turning to look at her. "Though, usually there are four people herding those things. Not one."

"Seriously?" I fall to a sitting position and run a hand through my hair. "Why did you make me do this alone then?"

"Just making sure you weren't faking it," She says with a smile before crossing her arms and leaning against the barn wall. "You were born out there, weren't you?"

"Yeah." I look at her in curiosity. "How can you tell?"

"You don't act like a city born. You're more cautious and familiar with weapons." She states calmly.

"Wait, how do you know that?"

"You have a gun." My face heats up in embarrassment. Right... The gun...

"Yeah. Kinda spaced on that..." I laugh nervously and scratch the back of my neck. The woman shakes her head and laughs at me. Not with me, at me. There's a difference.

"Anyways, thank you for the help," She says once she calms down from the laughter. "You're very kind. For a wastelander anyways."

"What's your name? Just incase we meet again."

"Blanche. You are Benja, correct?"

"Yes. How did you know?"

"I overheard your conversation with that Woofless guy. Seems to me that he is your generation's Lone Wolf." Lone Wolf... The man that killed thousands of city folk, and wastelanders without mercy. Yep. Sounds exactly like Woofless.

"He's probably trying to cause more chaos than Lone Wolf ever did."

"That'll be hard."

"You don't know him like I do."

"As I can tell," she smirks. "But you don't know Lone Wolf like I do."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
After getting my pay, I walk away from the ranch. Walking backward and waving as I move away. It seems like everyone here is nice. Maybe everyone in the city had to cooperate so much, they're all willing to help and support each other. Was it always this way for them? Shaking my head, I turn around and jog back to the main part of the city. As I jog, I notice the sun barely sticking out beyond the horizon. City folk curfew must have been a few hours ago.  That means I can't see Jerome until the morning... Wait, why should I care? You shouldn't care Mitch. Every person you cared about has either died, or tried to kill you. Just forget about him.

"Lookie 'ere boys! I found a newbie wanderin' our neck of teh woods." I close my eyes and sigh at the man before me.

His appearance was disgusting. Torn, stained clothing, dirt tangled into his long hair and scraggly beard, and the few teeth he actually had seemed to be rotting out of his head. I'm glad my father taught me how to take care of myself better than this fool ever will.

"What sec' yues from boy?" Another, who looked very similar to the first, asked with a drunken laugh.

"What do you mean by 'sec?' Second?"

"He's asking what sector of the city you're from." A calm voice says from behind the two. "North, South, East or West. Which are you from?"

"Who's asking?" I ask, crossing my arms. In the lack of light, I have to squint to see the third one.

"Since you're new, I guess I might as well let it slide. But this will be the only time." The third man steps closer, letting me get a better view of him.

He looked a hundred times better than the other two. His clothes looked new, he was clean shaven, and didn't seem to have a speck of dirt on his person. Probably some sort of clean freak...

"The name's Nooch, and I own this part of town. These two idiots are just for show. The majority of my clan are more, proper." He looks at the two in disgust. There are clans out here too eh? They're really just a group of scared wastelanders who don't want to be killed by their "leader."

"I assumed so." I clear my throat. "I'm sorry for intruding your land, but there weren't any signs that said where the boundaries are. Back in the wasteland they have signs, barbed wire fences, and guards patrolling the perimeter." Nooch narrows his eyes at me.

"You've been to the wasteland?" He looks at me in confusion. Do I look like a city kid?

"Born and raised," I state proudly, laughing at his curiosity.

"Interesting." Nooch rubs his chin and looks at me in interest. "Tell me, how long were you out there?"

"Up until a few days ago."

"Really? So, what's your name?" I narrow my eyes at him. Why is he asking so many questions?

"Benja." A wide smile grows on his face.

"The Benja?! From the far North?! Son of the greatest archer who ever walked the wasteland?!"

"I didn't know I was that popular."

"Dude, every wastelander from the North stretching toward the East and West know who you are. You're a legend."

"Why?"

"You have something that they want. Something very valuable. If you join my clan, I can help you protect it." He wants me to join his clan eh? No wonder he was asking so many questions.

"Boss! I don't tink is a good-"

"Shut it, Chopper!" Nooch snaps at the man to his right. "Anyways, what do you say Benja?"

"I prefer to travel alone. Not in a pack," I state calmly. Nooch sighs and cracks his neck.

"Fine, fine. But let me tell you this," he narrows his eyes at me. "If you continue traveling on your own, you're going to end up dead. To another clan's hands, or even Woofless. Trust me Benja, it's better to have people watching your back." He does have a point, but I don't want to be remembered as a clansmen. I'd much rather make a name for myself in other ways.

"I'm sorry Nooch, but I have to reject your offer. I've survived this long on my own, and I'm sure I can stay that way for a while longer."

"Right. I see you're hard to convince. Just think about my offer. I'll give you two weeks before I get your final answer." With that, he and his men walk away. Two weeks? I'll probably be long out of the city by that time. Away from Woofless, away from Frags, and away from Jerome...