Animal Gone Wild [DISCONTINUED]

39

LIANA AND KATELYN

        "Yeah. Let's go."
    I turned and headed for the main road with the two following closely behind, chatting loudly. I would give one word or a short answer quieter than they were. They're annoying. It's gonna be a long trip...
    "Um, you know the dead's following us, right," worried Liana, pulling her daughter closer to her.
    "Yes, I know," I monotoned, not overly surprised, "their snacks don't last long as you know."
    Katelyn stared at me with curiosity filled eyes, her mother, filled with horror at my analogy.
    "You're weird," Katelyn crinkled her nose.
    I rolled my eyes as we continued moving down the road at a slow pace, considering the two females didn't walk as fast as what I was used to.
    "So, this group of yours," Liana spoke, "what're they like?"
    My eyes had lightened at the remembrance of my group. Familiar laughter flew through my ears as if I was surrounded by them once more, until I blinked and I was reminded of the fact that we were all separated.
    "Family," I grunted, "the best damn family a gal like me could ask for."
    I glanced around our surroundings looking for some place we could hole up for the night before we continued our journey.
    "Why do you say that," Katelyn asked, "what about your real family?"
    I let out a growl, my face consorting anger that coursed through me like wildfire. I think they got the jest that I didn't like my family or wanted to talk about them.
    "Sorry for asking..."
    I grunted in reply before steering off the road and had the two follow me. I tapped on the door of the little hut. Nothing replied so I motioned for them to get in before I followed; covering the entrance behind me with a very strong scent of wildflowers.
    "What is this place," Liana asked, looking around.
    I walked around her and tried to dusted off a chair.
    "Temporarily? Home. Make yourself comfortable," I stated.
    "This is your home?"
    I scoffed as they looked around separately. I put my feet up on the chair across from me.
    "God no. The owner of this shitty place is most likely dead or lost. Welcome to the apocalypse ladies."
    I closed my eyes as I leaned back in the chair, getting a bit of shut eye. My eyes shot open after feeling a stinging sensation on my cheek. I grazed it before turning my head to face a tear-eyed Liana.
    "Don't say that."
    I stared at her with a raised eyebrow. What's up with her all of a sudden?
    "Why not? It's the truth."
    "Just—just don't say that."
    She obviously broke down. Tears were spilling down her cheeks like she lost someone important to her. I looked away from her, crossing my arms and closing my eyes.
    "Whatever."
    And it was left at that. I rested lightly that I could hear the walkers outside get lost off our trail and the small family that were sleeping on the floor, were talking quietly. About Katelyn's father and how he was thriving with some guy named Negan—apparently, Negan was Katelyn's Uncle, Liana's brother.

    I was awake before the other two, so I left quietly. I sat in a tree waiting for any game to stumble past when I saw the doe. I grinned before slowly pulling up the crossbow and stared at it through the sight. I inhaled and closed my eyes. I opened my eyes and exhaled; shooting as I did so. The bolt soared through the air before landing it's mark in the doe's fur. Hitting the heart.
    I watched from my spot as it fell over and kicked like it was running before it stopped. I waited a few minutes longer before assessing that it was dead. I climbed down and looked at it's eyes. Black and open. I pulled out the bolt, cleaning it on my pants before picking up the doe and draping it over my shoulders and headed back to the hut.
    "Where'd she go," I heard Liana fret.
    "What're you fretting about Mom," Katelyn asked.
    She obviously just woke up compared to Liana. By the sound of it, she must've woken 10 minutes before, and I've only been gone for half an hour at least. I kicked open the door. Liana jumped and turned like she was gonna kill me, but by her stance and how she held her knife—there was no way she could've. Katelyn just looked at me tiredly. Liana was the first to jump into action as I took a few steps in and slammed the door behind me with my foot.
    "And where have you been," she ordered; hands on her hips.
    "Well for one, don't talk to me like you're my mother," I stated, throwing the doe off my shoulders, "and second, I was hunting. What, did you want to go hungry all day?"
    I got on my hands and knees, pulled out my knife, and started skinning.
    "And you didn't bother to tell us? Or wake us?"
    I rolled my eyes as I carved the meat after I finished skinning.
    "You guys needed your rest, besides, I highly doubt you would've been happy with me waking you up at about quarter to 7 just so I could go hunt. And if I brought you guys along, you would've just scared the game off."
    I sorted the meat expertly before starting a fire from the sticks I collected earlier. I knew the two were watching for two hours as I set up the fire and cooked the meat quietly. It was like they were studying me and what I was doing.
    "So," Katelyn spoke, "did you go hunting? Before the whole apocalypse thing?"
    "Nope. Well, actually, my brother and I would sometimes go, depending on the game we're feeling like selling for the month," I shrugged.
    "Brother," Liana stated, looking up at me, "where is he?"
    I shielded my eyes and held the stick in my hand tighter as a response. I blinked a few times before inhale silently.
    "Dead."
    I exhaled just as quietly, uncovering my eyes and continued cooking our breakfast. I'd carry the rest of the raw meat with us.
    "I-I'm sorry for your loss. I don't know what I would do if I lost my brother. I hope I never have to go through with it."
    I watched her with a blank stare. Katelyn had fallen back asleep at this point, so Liana looked worried about the walkers—considering she kept going to the windows and checking the door. What a weirdo. I looked back down at the fire and food.
    "They're not out there. They moved on hours ago. It's currently clear."
    "Doesn't mean I can't still worry."
    I could hear the annoyance in her voice that it made me want to shoot her a glare. I refrained, sadly, and instead finished up the meat.