Regression to the Mean 3: Apocalypse

Guts

Grace P.O.V.

I sit on top of the RV in a blue chair as Dale stands, keeping a look out for any walkers near the camp though his binoculars. It's been a few hours since Liam and I got back from our run and after a quick trip to the quarry to wash up we returned back to the camp. No one has been on the radio since man, not even our group in Atlanta. Listening in on the conversations around camp I horn in on Amy and Lori's conversation.

"Any luck?" I here Lori ask as Amy walks over to her.

"how do we tell it they're poison?" Amy asks as she pours the contents of the red bucket in her hand into a metal bowl Lori holds up for her.

"Uhh... there is only one sure way I know of" Lori replies looking over the contents

"Ask Shane when he gets back?" Amy asks, sitting on a turned bucket

"Yeah, you got it" Lori says butting the metal bowl down and grabbing the red bucket as she stands up then walks away. "Hey Dale" Lori calls up to where he is next to me "I'm heading out" she informs him then turns to Carl who is playing on the ground "Hey sweet heart, I want you to stay where Dale and Grace can see you, Okay?"

"Yes mom" The boy replies to her and I shake my head, movement that catches Dale's attention before he quickly looks to a turned Lori.

"You too, don't wonder to far, stay within shouting distance, and if you see anything, holler, I'll come running"

"What he means is, Grace will come running as he finds his walking stick" I joke getting a playful glare from the man and a chuckle form Lori as she walks towards the woods. Dale moves to sit in the green chair next to me and begins to stare "What?" I ask confused.

"What was that? The head shake?" he asks me, leaning forward a little in his chair.

"We're at the beginning of the Apocalypse and the woman waltzes of to go and most likely have sex with Shane... don't act like you don't know" I add when I see his wide eyed look. "We've all barely known each other a month and she's leaving the kid out in the open with a Teenage girl and a man in a fishing hat to watch over a what, 12-13 year old"

"You think she's irresponsible?" He whispers to me.

"I think she's too comfortable, we all are. They can't honestly believe we are safe here, right? Out in the open where anybody, anything can waltz in and take chunks out of us. It's not right" I say I pick my blue sketch book and silver pencil case from the side and sit it in my lap. Opening it to the first page, I begin to draw the camp from this view. After about half an out the radio on my belt beeps and Allison's voice rings through

"Grace Larrin Hathaway McCall, you better be awake" Allison hisses and I roll my eyes taking the radio from my belt

"Well good morning to you to Miss Argent, it is currently 32° this fine Georgia noon with wind up to, well there are no winds, how's the traps going? You've been gone a while

"I got three Squirrels, but I had to take the long way round. Found a mountain Lion eating a deer"

"There are no mountain Lions is Georgia" Dale interrupts

"Mountain Lion – Shane, Deer- Lori, eating- da nasty" I explain to him, hopeful that Carl is still too young and doesn't understand. "Any Walkers?" I ask Allison, referring to the dead as we've now named them.

"No, I came across a trail but it was Daryl's. I'll be back in a little while, keep the kettle on"

"Always, my love" I joke and put the radio back on my belt.