Camp Cherokee

Chapter 3: Dynamite Plays The Name Game

That night, Kitty was very busy. When Widow came in that morning, she couldn't help but laugh. Everyone's faces and arms were covered in designs. The trash can was full of Sharpies that were out of ink. Kitty had managed to draw on every person who had left any part of their skin uncovered.

Dynamite, hearing Widow's laughter, climbed out of bed. She didn't notice the tattoo's at first. It wasn't until she looked into the mirror and saw the ink all over her face that she started to laugh as well. The twins woke up and immediately to fight about whose tattoos were better.

Kitty laid splayed out across her bed, one hand supporting her head, surveying the scene. Since she was on the top bunk, she could see everything perfectly. She watched as Jaguar tried desperately to scrub the Sharpie off her face. Venus, upon noticing her new body art, started yelling at Kitty. Venus's yelling made everyone else laugh even harder.

All the noise woke Newbie, who was immediately overwhelmed by all the noise. She picked up her pillow and tossed it at Widow, trying to get her attention. The pillow missed Widow and instead hit Dynamite. Everyone suddenly became silent and watched, waiting to see how Dynamite would react. Dynamite turned slowly, her eyes focusing on Newbie.

"Did you just throw a pillow at me?" Dynamite asked.

Newbie yawned and gave her a thumbs up. Dynamite was pretty scary looking for a girl with a mustache drawn on her face. Thump. Another pillow hit her on the back of her head. She turned to face her new attacker. Kitty. Dynamite picked up a pillow and flung it at Kitty's head. Venus grabbed her pillow and smacked Jaguar in the stomach with it. Soon the girls broke out into a full on pillow fight.

Thirty minutes later, the girls collapsed on the ground, panting. The treehouse was a mess.

"I've always wanted to do that," whispered Newbie.

everyone's belongings were scattered about. Kitty finally dragged herself off the ground and began cleaning up, the others following her lead. When everything was back in order, the group gathered at the table for breakfast. Jaguar whipped up a fruit salad, and as everyone ate, Dynamite began to speak.

"Alright Newbie, it's time to figure out what to do with you. We have two choices: Let you become one of us, or leave you for the wolves. We'll do a vote. All in favor of letting her join the gang, raise your hands."

Jaguar, Widow, Dynamite, Venus, and the Twins all raised their hands. Everyone looked at Kitty, who smirked back at them.

"All in favor of leaving her for the wolves, raise your hand," Dynamite continued.

Kitty raised her hand high in the air and gave them a cruel grin. They glared back at her.

"It's decided! Newbie will stay here as one of us. Go prepare for the day. We will meet back here in one hour to officiate her. You are dismissed," Dynamite concluded.

Everyone got up and went to their bunks, picking out fresh clothes and cleaning the Sharpie off their faces. Newbie borrowed jeans and a black tank top from Widow, and Venus lent her a pair of black Converse high tops and a black leather jacket.

Exactly one hour later, the group met to "officiate" Newbie. Their first order of business was to give her a new nickname. The girls were full of suggestions. Newbie had trouble choosing just one.

"How about Fairy?" one of the Twins asked.

"Feather?"

"Princess!"

"Um... how about my real name?" Newbie answered, overwhelmed.

"I like Um. It suits her," Kitty teased.

"Be nice, Kitty!" Venus said, slapping her playfully.

"She could be Ribbon."

"Or Genie."

"How about Glitter?"

"I kind of like Genie." Newbie said.

"We have a winner!" Dynamite said.

"Ooh, Winner! I like that," Jaguar commented.

"What about Lilac?" Kitty asked. Everyone stopped shouting suggestions and turned to look at her.

"I mean, I found her in the lilac field, and she's kinda girly. It fits her," Kitty explained. Newbie reddened and glared at Kitty when she called her girly. The others giggled.

"Well?" Venus asked Newbie. "Do you like it?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I guess so. It's a lot better than Princess," Newbie said.

"Hey!" Twin One complained. "That one was my idea!"

"Going once. Going twice. Lilac it is!" Dynamite declared. Everyone cheered. Newbie, now Lilac, smiled.

"Now that we're done with that, can you answer a few questions for me?" Lilac asked, glad to have been accepted into their gang.

"Fire away!" Jaguar said.

"Why are there only female survivors of the apocalypse?" Lilac started.

"Oh, there are some boys. They just have their own shelter. They live in the old mess hall. They call it 'Fort Payne '. It would be weird if we all live together," Venus explained.

"Interesting. Question two: Where are the other kids from the camp?" Lilac continued.

"They got turned into Deadheads, duh." Kitty said, rolling her eyes.

"Okaaay... Last question: Why do you carry around weapons, and where did you get them?" Lilac said, finishing her bombarge of questions.

"We carry the weapons for safety. If a Deadhead attacks us, we kill them. As for the weapons, when they quarantined us from the outside world, part of the neighboring town was left inside of the Dead zone. There were gun shops and other stores there. We arm ourselves with what we can find," Widow said.

"You kill the Deadheads? But they used to be people! People you knew!" Lilac exclaimed, an astonished look on her face.

"We have no choice. The Deadheads' saliva is poisonous. The moment it touches your skin, you begin to turn into one of them," Dynamite explained, sighing.

"So if the Deadheads' spit touches you, you're dead? End of story?" Lilac concluded.

"Well, there is an antidote, but you have to take it within ten minutes of the contamination in order to become fully human again. If you take the antidote after the ten minutes has passed, then you become this half human, half dead thing. A mutant type thing," Dynamite finished. Kitty looked at the ground, a sad expression on her face. Venus put a hand on her back, as if supporting her.

"Oh," Lilac said, an expression of horror on her face.