Perhaps We'll Meet Another Day

Safety In Numbers

Predictably, the group was slow-going as they made their way through the forest. The women had an easier time of things now that they weren't naked or chained together and were far and away more comfortable to be traveling than they had previously, but the condition of their feet made it impossible to go too far at a time without causing pain. Lexi suggested taking breaks every hour or so, just to give them some respite. Law agreed, but internally, he was impatient to drop them off somewhere and continue on with his own plans.

The forest must have been emptier than Law thought, because they had yet to come across any zombies that may have heard the noise of the ambush hours previously. Law had insisted they walk for several hours through the night before stopping to rest, just to put distance between them and the camp. Once he was satisfied no one would be out searching for them, he and his friends laid out their blankets and whatever comforts they could find for the women to rest. It would be an uncomfortable night for the men, but the women were exhausted, mentally and physically.

Shachi and Penguin volunteered to take first watch, leaving Law to hunker down beside a tree trunk and close his eyes. The rocks beneath the dirt made themselves known and dug into his thighs, but it would have to do. As was common in unfamiliar or dangerous situations, he wasn't really able to get much sleep. The leader found himself constantly shifting positions, and ultimately sighed in defeat. He resorted to keeping an extra watch on the women just in case, his eyes frequently straying to the brunette who was sleeping on the end. She looked to be out cold.

Law still intended to ask her to join them, but he hadn't found the right time to bring it up yet. There was still a part of him that was certain she'd refuse, especially after all of the trauma she'd just had to endure. Her outlook on life could have changed, or she could have now developed an aversion to men. It wouldn't be a surprise to him if she did, but it would certainly cause a kink in his plan.

He also wasn't sure what to do if she were as emotionally scarred as the other women. Law wasn't a therapist, but he knew of techniques that psychiatrists and psychologists used to use for patients. It was a mandatory course at his university, to better connect and understand patients in their times of need, though he was no expert on it. But if Lexi refused to talk about it to heal, there wasn't much he could do to help. Having that white elephant present without a means to address it could affect the way the group worked together. There were a lot of factors that could go into it, and Law realized he wouldn't know for sure until he actually extended the offer. It would have to wait until tomorrow at the very least.

The women didn't seem to have any problems getting sleep, no doubt too exhausted to remain awake any longer. Plus, the added comfort that none of the people present were a danger to them helped their adrenaline levels lower to a large degree. They slept through the night without issue while Law's group kept watch. Miraculously, none of the undead had wandered into camp in the middle of the night, and the watches were uneventful.

When morning came, Law was itching to get moving, but the women were still asleep. He recalled a similar feeling when they'd bumped into Lexi once, offering a place to stay the night. He'd been impatient for her to wake back then. This time, though, he'd quell his impatience enough to not go waking up the camp. There was no rush this time to get to any destination.

It felt like a few hours after sunup that the women began to stir. They sat in place and looked around in a panic, before realizing that they were no longer in danger. Law watched as the relief flooded their eyes and they relaxed.

The boys offered them food and water as they each awakened one by one, until they were all up and awake. The camp spent a little while jump getting used to being up again, before Law suggested they keep moving.